tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15654189038489251392024-02-18T19:44:33.793-08:00Perfect weather for spinning and knittingDeborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109537088382336818noreply@blogger.comBlogger132125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565418903848925139.post-87429118752557952502021-10-17T03:19:00.000-07:002021-10-17T03:19:00.512-07:00This site is now closed. New websites: www.deborahgraytextiles.co.uk www.maisiesemporium.co.ukDeborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109537088382336818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565418903848925139.post-35032147111650365222018-01-01T11:30:00.002-08:002018-01-01T11:30:16.180-08:00New Year, new workshop dates and more<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Happy New Year!<br />
The blog has been very quiet, in fact I've neglected it entirely for months. So a New Year's resolution - blog more frequently. well, maybe....! You can always keep up with what I'm doing on Instagram, where you can find me as deborah.gray7.<br />
I've been winding up one phase of my life, my NHS job, and packing up one of my homes. In a week I will be a full-time resident in Oban, on the west coast of Scotland, and no longer splitting my time between two bases and two occupations.<br />
2018 holds some exciting journeys, both literal and metaphorical. I am travelling to new Zealand and Australia to visit friends and soak up some antipodean inspiration, before spending the summer in Iceland at the Textilsetur in Blonduos. I'm going to be exploring some of the characteristics of the Icelandic sheep's two fibres, tog and thel, and using them to create some new yarn structures.<br />
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I'm also planning to spend more time spinning, knitting and designing, as well as baking, making and growing, all of which will be documented on Instagram if not here. Some of you may know that in my 'other' job I was a Public Health specialist, and I'm going to continue as a freelance mental health trainer, delivering Scotland's Mental Health First Aid and Suicide Prevention training around Scotland.<br />
Some of my travels will involve teaching engagements, already lined up at Edinburgh Yarn Festival (15-17 March) and Shetland Wool Week (23 - 30 September). Those class details have to stay under wraps until the festival organisers release their programmes, but I'm very excited about them! I'm hopeful that the Fasanta Textile Festival will take place this year in Oban in October, and I will have an Open Studio weekend in August to exhibit the work I do in Iceland.<br />
Of course I also have some workshops planned in Oban. Some dates are provisional so e-mail me if you are interested and I can confirm details.<br />
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Sat 3rd March pm Design and knit stranded colourwork bunting. £40 inc materials<br />
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[15th & 16th March - Edinburgh Yarn Festival classes]<br />
Sat 24th March pm Knitting Socks two-at-a-time and toe up. £35 (email me for list of materials and needles to bring)<br />
Sat 5th May pm Inspired by Scotland - blending fibres to create unique shades and mixes inspired by images of nature. £40 inc materials<br />
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Fri 24th - Sun 26th August Open Studio inc exhibition of work from Iceland<br />
Sat 15th September pm Drop Spindle Spinning for beginners £40 inc materials<br />
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[23rd - 30th September - Shetland Wool Week classes]<br />
[12 - 14 October - Fasanta festival of textiles to be confirmed]<br />
Sun 28th Oct am Fleece preparation for handspinning £40; pm Drop Spindle Spinning for beginners £40 (or £70 for both classes) inc materials<br />
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Sat 10th Nov pm Design and knit your own Fair Isle Christmas bauble £40 inc materials<br />
Sun 2 Dec pm Design and knit your own Fair Isle Christmas bauble £40 inc materials<br />
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Individual tuition for anyone who wants to learn or improve spinning or knitting skills can be arranged on mutually convenient dates.<br />
For further details or to book, please email <a href="mailto:Deborah.gray7@btinternet.com">Deborah.gray7</a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null">@btinternet.com</a><br />
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Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109537088382336818noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565418903848925139.post-86983439171234048182017-02-06T07:30:00.002-08:002017-02-06T07:30:47.023-08:00Workshops update - 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This year I am going to be delivering most of my workshops in Oban, at 22A Alexandra Place, Corran Esplanade PA34 5PU - so you can enjoy the view as well as the crafting! I'm also going to be teaching six classes in Lerwick during Shetland Wool Week (September) - details of these will be on the Shetland Wool Week site in due course.</div>
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Here are the workshops I have planned from February to June 2017:</div>
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18th Feb 2 - 5pm FOLDED BOOK ORIGAMI</div>
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Learn how to upcycle an unwanted hardback book by folding the pages to create a design or word. Create an unusual decorative piece which makes a great gift. £35, materials included.</div>
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E-mail me in advance if you want a special word or name as I may have to design a new pattern for it.</div>
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4th March 2 - 5pm FAIR ISLE KNITTING</div>
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Learn tips and techniques for better results with this traditional technique while starting a small project. Yarn provided - please bring a set of 4 double-pointed needles or a long (100cm) circular needle, size 3mm. £35</div>
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25th march 2 - 5pm FIRST STITCHES - KNITTING FOR ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS</div>
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Bring along your own project or use the yarn provided for a pair of simple wristwarmers. £30</div>
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2nd April 2 - 5pm INTRODUCTION TO MAGIC LOOP KNITTING</div>
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If you don't like knitting with double-pointed needles but want to knit in the round, tis is the class for you! knit a phone cover or start a circle while mastering this useful technique, a good one to add to your repertoire for knitting socks, sleeves, hats and circular shawls. Yarn provided, bring a 100cm long circular needle size 3mm.</div>
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15 April 2 - 5pm LEARN TO SPIN WITH A DROP-SPINDLE</div>
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An ancient, portable and inexpensive tool, a drop-spindle is the ideal way to learn to spin your own unique yarns. With the spindle we can slow the spinning process right down to learn the different steps involved. Once learned, the skills are transferable to the spinning wheel. Materials included. £40</div>
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6th May 2 - 5pm FOLDED BOOK ORIGAMI</div>
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Learn how to upcycle an unwanted hardback book by folding the pages to create a design or word. Create an unusual decorative piece which makes a great gift. £35, materials included.</div>
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E-mail me in advance if you want a special word or name as I may have to design a new pattern for it.</div>
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20th May 2 -5pm KNITTING SOCKS TWO AT A TIME and toe up</div>
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No more second-sock syndrome! Knit both socks at the same time, on one circular needle. Knit them toe-up to ensure perfect fit and matching. Knit them as long or as short as you like, or as your patience and yarn supply allow. Add colourwork, lace or cables to the basic pattern supplied. </div>
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Bring sock yarn and a 100cm long circular needle in the suitable size for the yarn (2.5 - 3mm). £30</div>
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If you are not confident with the Magic Loop technique I recommend my Introduction to Magic Loop Knitting workshop on 2nd April as preparation.</div>
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3rd June 2 - 5pm BLENDING FIBRES inspired by the colours of Argyll</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hqup_ROMVxM/UYTJ6DgUCiI/AAAAAAAAB1o/_5m8w91visc7OAeV36vQ9alqHjeCjr1HACPcB/s1600/DSCF5290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hqup_ROMVxM/UYTJ6DgUCiI/AAAAAAAAB1o/_5m8w91visc7OAeV36vQ9alqHjeCjr1HACPcB/s320/DSCF5290.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Delve deep into the world of colour in the Scottish landscape. Inspired by iconic images of Scotland we will deepen our appreciation of colour while blending evocative new shades using only primary-coloured and natural undyed wool fibre. Create subtle new shades or vibrant textured mixes, according to what speaks to you from the image. \your unique blends can later be used for spinning or feltmaking. materials and a selection of images provided - bring your own inspiring image if you have one. £45</div>
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17th June STEEKING, CUTTING AND FINISHING HANDKNITS</div>
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Cutting in to your knitting sounds scary, but steeking and cutting allows you to knit garments in the round and cut openings later. Traditionally used in fair isle knitting. Learn how to steek so that your knitting won't unravel when you cut it, and how to get a professional finish for all your knits. Materials provided. £40</div>
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For further details and to book places, please email <a href="mailto:Deborah.gray7@btinternet.com">Deborah.gray7@btinternet.com</a></div>
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A deposit of 1/3 of the workshop fee is payable on booking to secure your place. The deposit is non-refundable if you change your plans, but would be refunded in full if I had to cancel the workshop for any reason. The balance is payable on the day of the workshop.</div>
Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109537088382336818noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565418903848925139.post-69502296283565231052016-10-26T13:43:00.000-07:002016-10-26T13:43:18.669-07:00Shetland Wool Week 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Shetland Wool Week is one of the highlights of my year. The planning and preparation seems to go on for ages, then the week (well, nine days really) passes in a flash.<br />
I had set myself a busy schedule, teaching six classes in five days, so I flew up to Shetland a couple of days before the official start of Wool Week, to meet my new housemates<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">with Nancy and Gabriella - all wearing Crofthoose hats of course!</td></tr>
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and get myself organised. This included rushing round all of Lerwick's charity shops buying up hardback books for my Woolly Words book origami class, as well as collecting and checking the three parcels of materials and equipment I had posted up in advance.<br />
It also gave me a chance to catch up with Shetland friends, some of whom were kind enough to take me (and my housemates) to the wonderful exhibition of haps in Ollaberry hall. Here are just a few of the 80+ haps that were on show.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">many of the haps were labelled with details - some with photos - of the babies or brides they were knitted for</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAUOBuWGDIZ17tM69VWJP2KbnbEn1W_Ku3yjb0k4uXzclbT_5BA12Owtx3wcCr1zndYCYYiwwmTpa_pdURms_zctGkK1Qt0XBGGAWNzXDooJy3mjGcsui8NCbnFne-vWX4Vz_b4w8o831i/s1600/2016-09-25+15.09.53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAUOBuWGDIZ17tM69VWJP2KbnbEn1W_Ku3yjb0k4uXzclbT_5BA12Owtx3wcCr1zndYCYYiwwmTpa_pdURms_zctGkK1Qt0XBGGAWNzXDooJy3mjGcsui8NCbnFne-vWX4Vz_b4w8o831i/s320/2016-09-25+15.09.53.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love these homely natural-coloured haps showing signs of keeping their owners cosily happed-up for years</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUYKw0m1TrcJbmHXNUuIaP4OBd7IFehsCtcrwsY1HexjsM0nhAa-z9kww6h5ekQ287Q70REKJJXDQiI33xTzM6EPg2KyAhfxTIWq9Srt8ysuENk0-H-OFCMnlhLyLFhPuU_713WMhId9lm/s1600/2016-09-25+15.18.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUYKw0m1TrcJbmHXNUuIaP4OBd7IFehsCtcrwsY1HexjsM0nhAa-z9kww6h5ekQ287Q70REKJJXDQiI33xTzM6EPg2KyAhfxTIWq9Srt8ysuENk0-H-OFCMnlhLyLFhPuU_713WMhId9lm/s640/2016-09-25+15.18.09.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This unusual circular shawl has sparked a lot of discussion on Ravelry</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCe1ePwXA1ZG2mAxfF6lLnyjNp66L6ZFux9xk8ThBBcjfaTdaQIL_WF8XPaPU6DsShQhNMbRtot1I0RvFJire-CIqU2f6vw5gVmChzgK8f-zSSMvDc2j92hWVz-1m9YMq4lVHh4ZO8G6Fq/s1600/2016-09-25+15.20.38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCe1ePwXA1ZG2mAxfF6lLnyjNp66L6ZFux9xk8ThBBcjfaTdaQIL_WF8XPaPU6DsShQhNMbRtot1I0RvFJire-CIqU2f6vw5gVmChzgK8f-zSSMvDc2j92hWVz-1m9YMq4lVHh4ZO8G6Fq/s640/2016-09-25+15.20.38.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This stunning shawl was labelled 'most outstanding exhibit'</td></tr>
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Among the haps and shawls was a knitters order book from 1928 - just look at the prices<br />
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The exhibition of haps was accompanied by a Sunday Tea - itself an exhibition of home baking - which we thoroughly enjoyed </div>
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Stuffed full of sandwiches and fancies, we were then taken on a surprise trip to Eashaness. Nancy was particularly delighted as she is a keen photographer (and I'm sure her pictures are much better than mine). I had never managed to get to this corner of Shetland on any of my previous trips, so I am very grateful to Jan and Yvonne for taking us.</div>
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We got back to Lerwick in time to head to the Opening Ceremony, passing Clickimin Broch as the sun was setting<br />
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The Opening Ceremony was packed, and everyone seemed to enjoy the mix of talks, fashion show, Q and A, music and a taste of Shetland delicacies.<br />
My first class was on Monday morning - Introduction to Magic Loop Knitting. You can see the concentration as people got to grips with a new technique.<br />
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I had a free afternoon, and enjoyed the unseasonably warm weather on a walk.......<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcguxbI_vk7vEX7Ztsxjhgok3wgUirulaGRXoUFoY9ZREiTU1cywckCKoVBZ39NEBdrcVr9XdoMIdy4GVWnbKITJCycMt2-nNH01AbMTdMXWj1AJ8mb9VmavRqN-E-uMs1qi0XgDWfO5Jc/s1600/2016-09-26+13.53.01+HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcguxbI_vk7vEX7Ztsxjhgok3wgUirulaGRXoUFoY9ZREiTU1cywckCKoVBZ39NEBdrcVr9XdoMIdy4GVWnbKITJCycMt2-nNH01AbMTdMXWj1AJ8mb9VmavRqN-E-uMs1qi0XgDWfO5Jc/s400/2016-09-26+13.53.01+HDR.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">King Harald Street dahlias</td></tr>
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....... to the supermarket!!<br />
In the evening I had a full house at my Woolly Words book origami class, so all those hardback books from the charity shops were put to good use as different wool-related words were folded into their pages<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfdVLB4J73mehozwHtL93ELYj2Qpau1njymuJkq9SYbfhipjb5kaZcyNjYUr1f_YFE3dcpFVX5_BK7b0Z_6_LxOgo3FbGUMvi6lFx_3jIj9iBSa7bJ3i13FPJEU2n2x4yndtL3Y3uomb9/s1600/2016-09-22+12.28.00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfdVLB4J73mehozwHtL93ELYj2Qpau1njymuJkq9SYbfhipjb5kaZcyNjYUr1f_YFE3dcpFVX5_BK7b0Z_6_LxOgo3FbGUMvi6lFx_3jIj9iBSa7bJ3i13FPJEU2n2x4yndtL3Y3uomb9/s640/2016-09-22+12.28.00.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">designed for Wool Week - wirsit is the Shetland word for yarn</td></tr>
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It was a pleasure to have Shetlanders in most of my classes this year, and particularly in the Woolly Words class they livened up the discussion and taught us soothmoothers many Shetland words and phrases.<br />
Tuesday morning found me teaching Drop Spindle Spinning in Jamieson & Smith's famous shop. The shop was busy all morning, especially when Gudrun ans Mary-Jane brought their tour group in, but my learners managed to concentrate and produce some yarn.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOW0K0paO7QRx9OKuxgSi9g3cuNnIywnUEjyS9iFy1_s1C16AD5NGNLQtCobA_sU2BmDRPchPfKId50ucen2ud3b39EIPTkkg9fCq4ZX-GhBkelOTGd0CwUYJPYXyMLeCTemgorA8NYA4e/s1600/2016-09-27+11.10.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOW0K0paO7QRx9OKuxgSi9g3cuNnIywnUEjyS9iFy1_s1C16AD5NGNLQtCobA_sU2BmDRPchPfKId50ucen2ud3b39EIPTkkg9fCq4ZX-GhBkelOTGd0CwUYJPYXyMLeCTemgorA8NYA4e/s320/2016-09-27+11.10.52.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marena with her first ever handspun yarn</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibfqHAF_M_9asZafjlkpqOSadGNkw2TGtiux-VUEPybSlZqWAdKG_SRjxvBhYvIwrTwiyhk4g-7oJcaiJyv6irp8fqf2V0HallhHK6Cf6HiPQjAi-GI0AYy7VfFv3OLgXq_VLeATxT4z_t/s1600/2016-09-27+11.13.17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibfqHAF_M_9asZafjlkpqOSadGNkw2TGtiux-VUEPybSlZqWAdKG_SRjxvBhYvIwrTwiyhk4g-7oJcaiJyv6irp8fqf2V0HallhHK6Cf6HiPQjAi-GI0AYy7VfFv3OLgXq_VLeATxT4z_t/s400/2016-09-27+11.13.17.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjIrt67dxgmnd55gQqTn1M4lzbB8LCv4iDjNAIk0h5Iko1xw-XwraZPPirua13EH7llXiRQLMdwLkyRtFblsqCUenkp55bISIkAD6jmfPkGfyFLIwT5O562NGZrFvFUyD9EoxmZ1ZbhiDY/s1600/2016-09-27+11.13.29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjIrt67dxgmnd55gQqTn1M4lzbB8LCv4iDjNAIk0h5Iko1xw-XwraZPPirua13EH7llXiRQLMdwLkyRtFblsqCUenkp55bISIkAD6jmfPkGfyFLIwT5O562NGZrFvFUyD9EoxmZ1ZbhiDY/s400/2016-09-27+11.13.29.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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On Tuesday evening I went to a talk with the intriguing title 'Did Shetlanders Knit their own Furniture?' by Ian Tait from the Shetland Museum and Archives. The talk was fascinating (the answer is no, they didn't!), looking at the wide range of crafts needed for survival when the islanders had to be more or less self sufficient, and the disproportionate amount of attention given to textiles in a range of different archives and sources. The discussions after the talk were lively and interesting and I could happily have stayed much longer.</div>
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Wednesday was a packed day. In the morning I taught my 'Blending the Colours of Shetland' class. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy2Y80ytaEqQ4__DCS532jZOVsHFOK-XRrPHz-Pqo7umxeEfoxudGX-BujnWNVBfJ-rYkmkuE9xc32Dro01U8OL5qfYVkU4R26Cb2Guocm8fvx6gHNJIuAGrId4ozz35YPiBbnwBNJrRxC/s1600/2016-09-22+12.38.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy2Y80ytaEqQ4__DCS532jZOVsHFOK-XRrPHz-Pqo7umxeEfoxudGX-BujnWNVBfJ-rYkmkuE9xc32Dro01U8OL5qfYVkU4R26Cb2Guocm8fvx6gHNJIuAGrId4ozz35YPiBbnwBNJrRxC/s640/2016-09-22+12.38.56.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
I took the photos we used for inspiration last year, the one on the left above is Melby beach on the West Mainland, the one on the right is an upturned boat used as the roof of a small shed, on Kettlaness (Burra). Each learner got a pack of fibre in bright primary colours plus natural black and white, and one of the two photos. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6UKlkeIvPRLczUw1v5yFIpCHMq8wuUtsUKvMvvux23DWvYdHQcyhGpjr3jMv5PXyv02OLx_cdO98mq3Bn5Ew9YULqBVNaWymoD3DMJwUlKGbOnjG41y2eafUj1PW8Tc-bR8bvia4WiKTr/s1600/2016-09-28+10.49.00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6UKlkeIvPRLczUw1v5yFIpCHMq8wuUtsUKvMvvux23DWvYdHQcyhGpjr3jMv5PXyv02OLx_cdO98mq3Bn5Ew9YULqBVNaWymoD3DMJwUlKGbOnjG41y2eafUj1PW8Tc-bR8bvia4WiKTr/s400/2016-09-28+10.49.00.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
Using handcarders they blended shades that they could see in the photo.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1CNYMxiTA10iByoVB9L_NZfwe97y9_FIkigrDiba-SRqzFm9LYdM9YfPaM4F4Kgwh90y3Oam4_G9VSxbnECfN7kSHCOsPT1rMMxHudBrZHuHZ9CB3rMfQJ6AnbN0HAvMUZg5r5_6wbkAe/s1600/2016-09-28+10.51.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1CNYMxiTA10iByoVB9L_NZfwe97y9_FIkigrDiba-SRqzFm9LYdM9YfPaM4F4Kgwh90y3Oam4_G9VSxbnECfN7kSHCOsPT1rMMxHudBrZHuHZ9CB3rMfQJ6AnbN0HAvMUZg5r5_6wbkAe/s320/2016-09-28+10.51.11.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRm5sXJPl2NIE3WlS0yjlhxMU8elR0iJuC00WHcYW_QId9L9KWgF9Th7VUfhh2ehp5NtFSJV_u4f0cY29lHYhhCqeskTL5W6pbD5ZUylW-ATGrDMXW2M13_d0wWE_ORNFmaJOCcT7Fvo0H/s1600/2016-09-28+12.22.47-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRm5sXJPl2NIE3WlS0yjlhxMU8elR0iJuC00WHcYW_QId9L9KWgF9Th7VUfhh2ehp5NtFSJV_u4f0cY29lHYhhCqeskTL5W6pbD5ZUylW-ATGrDMXW2M13_d0wWE_ORNFmaJOCcT7Fvo0H/s640/2016-09-28+12.22.47-2.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">so many shades - all inspired by the 'boat' picture</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcRqOjpoWJ7fouzCRTJRGJxzfVICxZYE6NrwcvsSBXHpcdIUNXo7BWpxCZON6YJE6ifT4FEujpUBxK12yUg4EkvAPgbGA5M683RcVm7ndoNPytsMMaauPKVh3dgMFZ9p1OHW1XA8bpGQuZ/s1600/2016-09-28+12.29.43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcRqOjpoWJ7fouzCRTJRGJxzfVICxZYE6NrwcvsSBXHpcdIUNXo7BWpxCZON6YJE6ifT4FEujpUBxK12yUg4EkvAPgbGA5M683RcVm7ndoNPytsMMaauPKVh3dgMFZ9p1OHW1XA8bpGQuZ/s640/2016-09-28+12.29.43.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">two different palettes, inspired by Melby beach</td></tr>
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I have taught this class many times, often using local images, and am always amazed that two people sitting next to each other, and using the same image, can come up with very different shades, all clearly related to the image and all beautiful. I'd love to see what people go on to make with their blended fibres.</div>
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After a quick sandwich I taught a Drop Spindle Spinning for Beginners class, and was too busy to take any photos! As usual, some people produced more yarn than others but everyone left with some yarn they had spun, knowing how to go on spinning, and with a smile - which is the 'product' I'm most interested in.</div>
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In the evening, 'In search of lace, tweed and haps' was three talks, by Carol Christiansen, Andy Ross and Louise 'Knit British'. All were very interesting, the result of lots of research into their respective topics. Haps are particularly 'hot' at the moment after the publication of <em>that</em> book, and several haps knitted from patterns in The Book of Haps were in evidence. Here is my housemate Nancy in her Montbretia hap, which was greatly admired by all.</div>
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Thursday was my day off from teaching, so I headed off to one of my favourite non-woolly places in Shetland</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvlyOUAGYMhWXFa4cBl_9S7V68GNlG4ybwEI7SJVqUau27hwL4Na0W0Bbg49MscovdtM3wL1264ZQQC0PUyxChWK2PyihXoD-6byuFLWPR-B9gRWri1h2IORUpYa4V0M6jOGM5VZdP7PdC/s1600/2016-09-29+15.04.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvlyOUAGYMhWXFa4cBl_9S7V68GNlG4ybwEI7SJVqUau27hwL4Na0W0Bbg49MscovdtM3wL1264ZQQC0PUyxChWK2PyihXoD-6byuFLWPR-B9gRWri1h2IORUpYa4V0M6jOGM5VZdP7PdC/s640/2016-09-29+15.04.28.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Houss Shetland, on East Burra, the studio of Mike Finnie</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ahdv8qJzF8l1EJkgmsRVgvPR_athuNVCqtWr4lSFRVT4-y7d3I5L_ye5-snjIlNIoY2DV_F7gtz6OcJroqd4TR115dctl8xj5UVn5UvET7gA9Ip9Lwxwsf9RWCEbh_iioonxQHREMbtU/s1600/2016-09-29+15.04.50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ahdv8qJzF8l1EJkgmsRVgvPR_athuNVCqtWr4lSFRVT4-y7d3I5L_ye5-snjIlNIoY2DV_F7gtz6OcJroqd4TR115dctl8xj5UVn5UvET7gA9Ip9Lwxwsf9RWCEbh_iioonxQHREMbtU/s400/2016-09-29+15.04.50.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">with great views in all directions</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_zGJX_QrilyMUdAujYi3rqfnA2bWJVUumbFmaQgnkKDk3nG6MnsHaYggckfYY0cdowWn_UC9jTVNDQPeXMvRgt02kSlC-ely9vVGP9YkSzciOqyFfIG2xLT4pKF1GLRPI6ji80kmEjP6t/s1600/2016-09-29+15.11.55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_zGJX_QrilyMUdAujYi3rqfnA2bWJVUumbFmaQgnkKDk3nG6MnsHaYggckfYY0cdowWn_UC9jTVNDQPeXMvRgt02kSlC-ely9vVGP9YkSzciOqyFfIG2xLT4pKF1GLRPI6ji80kmEjP6t/s640/2016-09-29+15.11.55.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXnW4peNTS8OdBoVWWfDNNasZe8k5ZbbSl_dZ2YOrtUDx6pFXTjowxEOjlAgU2G5DPOjBIxkqpl-OhfJKzX9idPL4wK-_19_cTMMg0rtO0gGnlqkCzacmtTR_O9uxuZLv9KgtWksn8dSfM/s1600/2016-09-29+11.30.53-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXnW4peNTS8OdBoVWWfDNNasZe8k5ZbbSl_dZ2YOrtUDx6pFXTjowxEOjlAgU2G5DPOjBIxkqpl-OhfJKzX9idPL4wK-_19_cTMMg0rtO0gGnlqkCzacmtTR_O9uxuZLv9KgtWksn8dSfM/s640/2016-09-29+11.30.53-1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
- here are some clues to what I was doing there:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDsta4f37ZN1mUqo9Gjtz5FJCaKE0tRA0IGKe_SQqVAIDRRkpBOOZb4UEvnDO7RUhYTaimpZwGmYhw2eR49jkJtqYQuExzhMNLNYAK6U0V7VuNZt3utUwDHnUWbG5Nb9cyKf3sOSTJUXXA/s1600/2016-09-29+11.29.29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDsta4f37ZN1mUqo9Gjtz5FJCaKE0tRA0IGKe_SQqVAIDRRkpBOOZb4UEvnDO7RUhYTaimpZwGmYhw2eR49jkJtqYQuExzhMNLNYAK6U0V7VuNZt3utUwDHnUWbG5Nb9cyKf3sOSTJUXXA/s400/2016-09-29+11.29.29.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivazZH74ztQfLxguECFweFmJhTGiDqLW-jrogrYlWdn106cW2WKiRjBYNDTlWZ0NdAUu2scPWxLKh6CHk1r9eLu_ETNTbIpg6b8hi44ymYRGKaWO00z-4fERvjbsK_LWKEsupns_bu7-av/s1600/2016-09-29+15.11.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivazZH74ztQfLxguECFweFmJhTGiDqLW-jrogrYlWdn106cW2WKiRjBYNDTlWZ0NdAUu2scPWxLKh6CHk1r9eLu_ETNTbIpg6b8hi44ymYRGKaWO00z-4fERvjbsK_LWKEsupns_bu7-av/s320/2016-09-29+15.11.28.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrz1Gvl4_ZHaPrg4WKPjYrTTXjGOSEaN-mRfsl6FITE0e1bCVWg2NOyvF-Gm-yrqYsEP3DhTK6IwBHkB3CccxkMWBtM8_4W5RvQnMZxURY9t-XtuqH4sN_0IM2UQi-K8f5jCKQRGEmuE4E/s1600/2016-09-29+17.03.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrz1Gvl4_ZHaPrg4WKPjYrTTXjGOSEaN-mRfsl6FITE0e1bCVWg2NOyvF-Gm-yrqYsEP3DhTK6IwBHkB3CccxkMWBtM8_4W5RvQnMZxURY9t-XtuqH4sN_0IM2UQi-K8f5jCKQRGEmuE4E/s640/2016-09-29+17.03.58.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Ee4QbWa1yFRSJ5mncJdEohOTctRRYGZSccGjJpVbItToEukrj2XWEFafp_oQAdeKVVHq_VExJxBHn-WvFUEbz_wE-79sLB_jK-B0jpiqA7zKXlyIsJm-itSysd02RVQhUPiHUdkQwl8B/s1600/2016-09-29+17.36.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Ee4QbWa1yFRSJ5mncJdEohOTctRRYGZSccGjJpVbItToEukrj2XWEFafp_oQAdeKVVHq_VExJxBHn-WvFUEbz_wE-79sLB_jK-B0jpiqA7zKXlyIsJm-itSysd02RVQhUPiHUdkQwl8B/s320/2016-09-29+17.36.23.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Setting some of my Willow Pattern beach pottery, which I have used as inspiration for stranded colourwork knitting, into silver to make a pendant took all day - in fact Mike had to finish it for me later - as there were so many visitors to his studio.</div>
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Thursday evening was Baltic Knitting Night with Outi Kater and Kristi Joeste. I have knitted some of Outi's designs but some of Kristi's Estonian mittens have over 200 stitches per row so... maybe not!</div>
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On Friday morning I taught my final class for this Wool Week, Knitting Socks Two-at-a-Time and Toe-up. Like the others, this class was full. Everyone made a good start on their socks, and went away knowing how to finish them. Hopefully by now (a month later) they are keeping some people's toes warm.</div>
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I was lucky enough to get a place in Donna Smith's Traditional Shetland Haps class on Friday afternoon - it was the one I most wanted to do but as most of my week was filled with teaching I didn't have much opportunity to attend other classes, so I was very glad it fitted in with my schedule. Donna showed us some lovely old haps knitted by her great aunt and others, and explained the different construction methods. We started to knit a mini hap, following all the steps used for a full size one. I finished mine a few days later as I wasn't fast enough to finish it in class.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBvPT1pt9oZ9WhyO_BjRFxVSCwrdeoLmgsD6yEX6QUBePiNxrOpEtMzWcA_PdzhCFD0HCs2rr33ezDfYBFRixtkhXeSmCYH0bL_FTCNb88GsuoIZWL0vSXp74M7ARk25pzerV9tkUlBaHy/s1600/2016-10-08+10.17.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBvPT1pt9oZ9WhyO_BjRFxVSCwrdeoLmgsD6yEX6QUBePiNxrOpEtMzWcA_PdzhCFD0HCs2rr33ezDfYBFRixtkhXeSmCYH0bL_FTCNb88GsuoIZWL0vSXp74M7ARk25pzerV9tkUlBaHy/s400/2016-10-08+10.17.12.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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The other class I went to was 'Wirds in Wirsit', making words out of wire covered in wirsit (yarn). We all chose Shetland words connected with wool - I chose makkin (knitting) and spent a satisfying couple of hours bending wire and wrapping it in yarn (100% Shetland wool of course!) while drinking tea in the Peerie Café</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW7-mqV7kpBqMK5o_o5Rm0W5_yaSQz9zs-x7updhJK1PgZGLoy5ntSLvT1aP62XAMpui0OQ3BAxyku6IIGzHFc4IP9YD6baBXStk1aI9uG5o6xsEXDQXBzVZ4jh4V9r26XunSKHp1JXS6J/s1600/2016-09-30+21.33.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW7-mqV7kpBqMK5o_o5Rm0W5_yaSQz9zs-x7updhJK1PgZGLoy5ntSLvT1aP62XAMpui0OQ3BAxyku6IIGzHFc4IP9YD6baBXStk1aI9uG5o6xsEXDQXBzVZ4jh4V9r26XunSKHp1JXS6J/s320/2016-09-30+21.33.03.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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On Saturday I stayed away from the Flock Book - even though I enjoyed it so much last year. I'm still spinning and knitting the championship fleeces I bought there last year! I expect I'll go next year as it is a fascinating day (if you are interested in sheep!).</div>
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I had some errands to run, including delivering some spindles and carders to Jamieson & Smith. Somehow while I was there I accidentally bought a kilo of their new Heritage naturals yarn - how did that happen?!!</div>
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I found this poem in the public conveniences:</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUOpIjM71jorzii1E0iAwXhYsZF6_Us4FYW2NbmfhiLiYof4gvsjgk-qmB530hOYBbbxJbev8ZEsfZgjm7P5MXr9g5kCty_FlNuwudNAb0PU-oMFcuHUPB7eiu_NBmXgcMdJY4kPhhtFYU/s1600/2016-10-02+13.31.47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUOpIjM71jorzii1E0iAwXhYsZF6_Us4FYW2NbmfhiLiYof4gvsjgk-qmB530hOYBbbxJbev8ZEsfZgjm7P5MXr9g5kCty_FlNuwudNAb0PU-oMFcuHUPB7eiu_NBmXgcMdJY4kPhhtFYU/s640/2016-10-02+13.31.47.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bards in da Bog - what a brilliant idea! Great poem too!!!</td></tr>
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Mike and Gill Finnie came to lunch and brought my finished pendant, with which I am absolutely delighted.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK904AkttYpG8P5kAJ60-d-JOake2Px5JBdET9-dsNIqmp4RpSZPuRBWf-D5d_ySNrDFI0a10BST3l-IXQ8mTHpjYOPCik6gCCnEdh8RO0mQipbEYzwY79kGCJ0m1rxfpdUfohyphenhyphenJy3_tM-/s1600/2016-10-01+13.15.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK904AkttYpG8P5kAJ60-d-JOake2Px5JBdET9-dsNIqmp4RpSZPuRBWf-D5d_ySNrDFI0a10BST3l-IXQ8mTHpjYOPCik6gCCnEdh8RO0mQipbEYzwY79kGCJ0m1rxfpdUfohyphenhyphenJy3_tM-/s640/2016-10-01+13.15.20.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Mike also delivered a picture I had bought from him, securely wrapped for travelling. It now graces my bedroom wall and makes me happy every time I look at it.</div>
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The Makers Market was doing brisk business when I got there, not least the splendid Teas, with another amazing selection of home baking. Having encouraged Nancy to buy one of Nielanell's creations, I contented myself with a new shawl pin.</div>
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After a stroll round Lerwick and a fabulous hot chocolate in the Peerie Café we had a spell in the Wool Week Hub with other knitters (all looking a bit weary after a packed week!), then a fish supper (which is mandatory at least once per visit to Shetland). Suitably restored we went to Mareel for the launch of Ann Cleeves' latest book in her Shetland detective series. </div>
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Sunday was my last day in Shetland but the morning was bright and calm and I had time for a walk to Hay's Dock and the museum.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1ViBAHDZVg20KBjO1uELcKbYjm6IEareTa9jzFxxkmZkO3Y5Cw4X6bgfRr45s7O6PdWJLofW8aUYLXHK4fQxa0xMWo58jksjUJbpDQBvwWh3vW2724sdb97knisSPhYEEOgKdyIVIS2d/s1600/2016-10-02+10.00.36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1ViBAHDZVg20KBjO1uELcKbYjm6IEareTa9jzFxxkmZkO3Y5Cw4X6bgfRr45s7O6PdWJLofW8aUYLXHK4fQxa0xMWo58jksjUJbpDQBvwWh3vW2724sdb97knisSPhYEEOgKdyIVIS2d/s400/2016-10-02+10.00.36.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love the way the shape of the new building echoes the shape of the old one</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDBlLY5hHC7e7kP1Cc4jKpgCwjhFVaqOBR7Wzpg6Vb2Q7_bADzl2CCAa1P3Ra0FwW_Lo5BDLE_hVwofRtwPk7TuFwk8ckqgIo8Wj8Zk7BQU9W_9Fnnme34o6q-oqSay6_ZfTzZbK1cgZs4/s1600/2016-10-02+10.01.14-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDBlLY5hHC7e7kP1Cc4jKpgCwjhFVaqOBR7Wzpg6Vb2Q7_bADzl2CCAa1P3Ra0FwW_Lo5BDLE_hVwofRtwPk7TuFwk8ckqgIo8Wj8Zk7BQU9W_9Fnnme34o6q-oqSay6_ZfTzZbK1cgZs4/s640/2016-10-02+10.01.14-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO_mmqaJthicNnUFidThTNenFLc8ERS7Gwn-s5le8O-WiiJUnm6_eqSnmHv7Vg9SNYPq4gKwCskmpLL6Ut2Otu2tSyAClre1uyRkUHPAfp5kbMetLfgrP9UOeZGK9QMNDoRkdrfmCnQtTq/s1600/2016-10-02+10.01.56-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO_mmqaJthicNnUFidThTNenFLc8ERS7Gwn-s5le8O-WiiJUnm6_eqSnmHv7Vg9SNYPq4gKwCskmpLL6Ut2Otu2tSyAClre1uyRkUHPAfp5kbMetLfgrP9UOeZGK9QMNDoRkdrfmCnQtTq/s640/2016-10-02+10.01.56-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiixu6jwZe41aPGWu-68eMECJ7rfEmZgxKO0WNvftuh02-TOhbN9XNNETNHC9iRjpuJueP4vTBnEt_PR5u9a1l579qn-uNseR4flKJfI-lb2uyLcEqBEDK4L6s4D453enp3UGOX-wECRIMa/s1600/2016-10-02+10.03.35-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiixu6jwZe41aPGWu-68eMECJ7rfEmZgxKO0WNvftuh02-TOhbN9XNNETNHC9iRjpuJueP4vTBnEt_PR5u9a1l579qn-uNseR4flKJfI-lb2uyLcEqBEDK4L6s4D453enp3UGOX-wECRIMa/s640/2016-10-02+10.03.35-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nil Desperandum</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJa9EcvSA4OyvGjm4jfn7cKgd8aAHjaI65eTd5MpepR1D3HCGToNvL37jtPoET8mwDHNPmoJzaGCn34qqzB-zS41vYH4dqkozbyc6ZvVEReZ0EcVwQCaFlLU7FI4iho6ObX9sAT8_ZEKM/s1600/2016-10-02+10.15.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJa9EcvSA4OyvGjm4jfn7cKgd8aAHjaI65eTd5MpepR1D3HCGToNvL37jtPoET8mwDHNPmoJzaGCn34qqzB-zS41vYH4dqkozbyc6ZvVEReZ0EcVwQCaFlLU7FI4iho6ObX9sAT8_ZEKM/s640/2016-10-02+10.15.06.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0LwlR6dgE5110ayIBe92Nf0odxpYfmQwj5PLyFGQ1c6cEtL8yD5rjF8pw_iVjCJlYy54KF6eyZa3ZuU3gNJsFM3FzwPTEjQnJvrNBGj4k_gH8FIxKUYYy_ur0uj62vMFx1alGbeOAIckW/s1600/2016-10-02+10.15.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0LwlR6dgE5110ayIBe92Nf0odxpYfmQwj5PLyFGQ1c6cEtL8yD5rjF8pw_iVjCJlYy54KF6eyZa3ZuU3gNJsFM3FzwPTEjQnJvrNBGj4k_gH8FIxKUYYy_ur0uj62vMFx1alGbeOAIckW/s640/2016-10-02+10.15.28.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG2iDRxlBY6XLHUpGrQKbXkPhUg-Nug9MiqASDZtVgZhrbCyeRLV8rp2SOotPfSetGMcTqw70ni5sZa-6FyvTMsHmmWYclO5avFVzOBccdRkDKp8Uw8NwLkeYoe3Dao4FQ6BqDOJei_tJI/s1600/2016-10-02+10.16.37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG2iDRxlBY6XLHUpGrQKbXkPhUg-Nug9MiqASDZtVgZhrbCyeRLV8rp2SOotPfSetGMcTqw70ni5sZa-6FyvTMsHmmWYclO5avFVzOBccdRkDKp8Uw8NwLkeYoe3Dao4FQ6BqDOJei_tJI/s400/2016-10-02+10.16.37.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZ44T8nvYBrdqQlNJbiq2goimflIw-rCtXHhQGm5K-F2W4DnxuPxNlP4qQ9ECc0ntCaXFmbiLWQ0CyEDUjU857wGW43en1UBy2cZMuVYzgIYsSl7GOSo2lFu1tgTrQPhaJUD77OojeLPy/s1600/2016-10-02+10.19.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZ44T8nvYBrdqQlNJbiq2goimflIw-rCtXHhQGm5K-F2W4DnxuPxNlP4qQ9ECc0ntCaXFmbiLWQ0CyEDUjU857wGW43en1UBy2cZMuVYzgIYsSl7GOSo2lFu1tgTrQPhaJUD77OojeLPy/s400/2016-10-02+10.19.14.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I've just had a pair of these glove boards made for me</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVv-73Zz3BYIOMiGjw7lDlYXZzSyzreQpqnlKjo8fueiv8QfyY6jNFkkxGLA2QYRBExQYSpUei8zLrl03D2jUUYxW9rq61vgw7TZ7jOshhpujI_baOxHH9U5Fe7U6lP14JoEe708CCAfXx/s1600/2016-10-02+10.19.44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVv-73Zz3BYIOMiGjw7lDlYXZzSyzreQpqnlKjo8fueiv8QfyY6jNFkkxGLA2QYRBExQYSpUei8zLrl03D2jUUYxW9rq61vgw7TZ7jOshhpujI_baOxHH9U5Fe7U6lP14JoEe708CCAfXx/s640/2016-10-02+10.19.44.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINcJnACJnWcp68Uw54KT1RTj59xdVrG00IovyrTsVNEp8LvuVWtHC4QmzX5j5jbDjt8_T-Irtx_PtiWc7sS3NZQ0b9p8Ovz9UuV-CXkfiL8-BS87o4vgC5MpEoNAdPDq4-rOLzyqbZ5UB/s1600/2016-10-02+10.20.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINcJnACJnWcp68Uw54KT1RTj59xdVrG00IovyrTsVNEp8LvuVWtHC4QmzX5j5jbDjt8_T-Irtx_PtiWc7sS3NZQ0b9p8Ovz9UuV-CXkfiL8-BS87o4vgC5MpEoNAdPDq4-rOLzyqbZ5UB/s400/2016-10-02+10.20.06.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rather blurry - but this 1910 - 20 makkin belt is almost identical to mine, which I got second-hand</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Too good a day to have to leave Shetland</td></tr>
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I have already started planning for Shetland Wool Week 2017.....Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109537088382336818noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565418903848925139.post-29973906404356033742016-08-14T09:47:00.000-07:002016-12-04T06:09:45.168-08:00Autumn / Winter Workshops This autumn's workshops will be in Oban, Shetland, Birnam and Pavia, Italy - dates and details below.<br />
I'm starting the autumn with three Open Studios days in Oban, then off to Shetland to teach six classes during Shetland Wool Week. In October there will be a workshop on drop spindle spinning, in Oban, ideal for beginners. Next up, also in Oban, knitting Scandi-style Christmas baubles, a good introduction to Fair Isle and knitting on double pointed needles. That is a popular workshop so I'm running it in plenty of time for you to have the baubles finished to decorate your tree - or give as hand made presents.<br />
Also in November I've been invited to run a weekend workshop on natural dyeing at Birnam Arts. Over two busy days you will learn the important differences between dyeing protein fibres ( wool and silk) and cellulose (cotton and linen). We will use natural and mineral mordants and a range of dye plants to create a library of samples for you to take home. You will also take away the skills and knowledge to continue experimenting with natural dyeing.<br />
Then towards the end of the month I'll be teaching a weekend of spinning workshops in Pavia, Italy - one day for beginners and one day more advanced.<br />
The second Christmas Baubles workshop is in Oban in December, you should still have time to get them finished!<br />
In February there will be a workshop in Oban on spinning with a spinning wheel, suitable for beginners and improvers, and one on Book Origami, when you can learn to. Up cycle an unwanted hardback book into an unusual decorative item.<br />
In March the Oban workshop is Fair Isle knitting techniques and tips, and later in the month a workshop called First Stitches for absolute beginner knitters. I've also been invited to run a workshop for the Edinburgh Guild of Spinners..<br />
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2nd, 3rd and 4th September - Open Studio Days - 10am - 5pm at 22A Alexandra Place, Corran Esplanade, Oban. Demonstrations and Displays. Free, no need to book, just drop in and see what's going on<br />
26th September (am) Introduction to Magic Loop Knitting, Lerwick - SOLD OUT<br />
26th September (evening) Woolly Words Book Origami, Lerwick - 2 PLACES LEFT<br />
27th September Drop spindle spinning, Lerwick - SOLD OUT<br />
28th September (am) Blending the colours of Shetland (fibre blending), Lerwick 4 PLACES LEFT<br />
28th September (pm) drop spindle spinning, Lerwick - 4 PLACES LEFT<br />
30th September Knitting Socks 2-at-a-time and Toe-up, Lerwick, SOLD OUT<br />
(To book Shetland Wool Week classes go to www.thelittleboxoffice.com)<br />
15th October Drop Spindle Spinning - 10am - 1pm at 22A Alexandra Place, Corran Esplanade, Oban £40<br />
3rd November Knitting Christmas Baubles 10am - 1pm at 22A Alexandra Place, Corran Esplanade, Oban £35 including materials for 4 baubles<br />
12& 13 November Natural Dyeing at Birnam Arts, Birnam, Perthshire ONLY 6 PLACES ( bookings via Birnam Arts)<br />
19& 20th November Spinning workshops, Fattoria del Gelso, Pavia, Italy<br />
4th December Knitting Christmas Baubles 10am - 1pm at 22A Alexandra Place, Corran Esplanade, Oban £35 including materials for 4 baubles<br />
5th February Spinning with a spinning wheel 10am - 5pm £75 at 22A Alexandra Place, Corran Esplanade, Oban<br />
18th February Book Origami 10am - 1pm £30 at 22A Alexandra Place, Corran Esplanade, Oban<br />
4th March Fair Isle Knitting 10am - 1pm £30 at 22A Alexandra Place, Corran Esplanade, Oban includes materials for a phone cover - or bring your own project<br />
18th March. Edinburgh Guild workshop - contact Guild secretary<br />
25th March First Stitches - knitting for absolute beginners 10am - 1pm £30 at 22A Alexandra Place, Corran Esplanade, Oban includes materials<br />
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Except where stated otherwise, email me on Deborah.gray7@btinternet.com to book or to arrange individual tuition on other dates/topics<br />
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<br />Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109537088382336818noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565418903848925139.post-71839493651521343792016-07-14T03:51:00.000-07:002016-07-14T03:51:42.886-07:00everything is turning blue<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well, not quite everything, but now that I have my very own indigo vat (see my last post), I do seem to be looking around for things to dye blue!<br />
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Yesterday afternoon it was nice and sunny so after work I got myself set up for an outdoors indigo session. I had spotted a traycloth and a small tablecloth which were not as white as they used to be. The tablecloth has a beautiful hand crocheted lace edging which must have taken someone hours and hours of work. So, into the indigo vat with them.<br />
Two white linen tops were also lined up for a dip (or four), and I had prepared them for shibori.<br />
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Of course I had barely got started dipping when the heavens opened and I had to clap a lid on the vat and bring everything inside! Once I had changed my clothes (I was soaked through in the time it took to rescue everything) I carried on in a rather more cramped, but dry, space.<br />
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Ori nui is the Japanese name for the pattern on the shirt - created by folding the fabric and then stitching a line of running stitch close to the fold. Once a series of folds have ben stitched the threads are pulled up as tightly as possible and tied off. Then it is ready for the vat.<br />
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Michel taught us that three short dips should be the minimum, with a couple of rinses in cold water between to oxidise the indigo. I gave the shirt and the tunic three short dips followed by one longer (3 or four minutes) dip in the vat.<br />
Then I hung them up to drip overnight before taking out the shibori stitching to fully air the fabric.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parts of this pattern look a bit like dental x-rays!</td></tr>
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The tunic was patterned by clamping. The traditional Japanese technique called Itajime involves folding the fabric and clamping between boards. For my tunic, I folded the body and the two sleeves into accordion-style pleats and 'clamped' them with pairs of clothes pegs set on alternate sides of the folded fabric. It used a lot of pegs!<br />
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This one was quite tricky to dip and impossible to squeeze out between dips and rinses.<br />
Removing the pegs is quick and reveals the pattern.<br />
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I now have a lot of blue clothes pegs, which I will not be using to peg out my laundry!Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109537088382336818noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565418903848925139.post-41933364412647620822016-07-07T09:44:00.001-07:002016-07-07T09:44:27.031-07:00A week with Michel GarciaI've been dyeing for almost 40 years, mainly with natural dyes and almost always on wool or silk fibres. Those are the fibres I love to spin and knit, so I have rather neglected the cellulose fibres - linen, cotton etc.<br />
But when the chance came to spend a week at Big Cat Studio in Newburgh, learning about Ecological Methods of Dyeing Cellulose Fibres with Michel Garcia, I jumped at it.<br />
Fifteen eager students gathered on the Monday morning, and we worked together, learned and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves for five very full days. Each day we were fed a delicious and nutritious lunch by Alison and the Big Cat team. Some people stayed overnight in Newburgh but our days were so busy that I was glad to be at home at night.<br />
On day 1 we learned about plants which accumulate aluminium in their leaves and can be used as mordants. We also learned how to properly scour and prepare cellulose fibres to get the v=best results in our dyeing. We used Symplocos, Camellia and Lycopodium as mordants, and tried them out with Weld, Madder, Cochineal, Cosmos and Logwood dyes.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Samples dyed using Symplocos leaves as mordant. Clockwise from top left: cochineal, Logwood 5%, Logwood 20%, madder, cosmos, weld+logwood, logwood 100%, weld</td></tr>
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On Tuesday we learned ecological methods of using mineral mordants - Aluminium, Iron and Titanium - in ways that create no waste or pollution.<br />
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We prepared samples of fabric in nine different mordant concentrations and mixes, before dyeing one of each in the same five dyes we had used previously.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nine mordants painted in stripes, dyed with weld</td></tr>
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Already our sample collections were starting to grow, as we worked together to create small samples of each combination to mount on the pages Michel had prepared for us.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Samples dyed with fresh weld<br />
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That evening we went out foraging for additional dyestuffs to use the next day.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front: white clover. Eucalyptus. Silver Birch. back: Sweet Cicely</td></tr>
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Our third day expanded the range of dyes we tested with the nine mordants - Sweet Cicely, Silver Birch bark, Eucalyptus bark, white clover <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silver birch bark straight from the log</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Extracting dye from eucalyptus bark</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The white clover dyebath</td></tr>
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and cherry tree leaves found their ways into our dyepots. All the time we were learning the chemistry that explains the magic. Michel also showed us ways to create patterns by painting or screen printing different mordants on to the fabric before dyeing, discharge printing <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Discharge prints - logwood and cochineal on ferrous mordant discharged with a cut lemon</td></tr>
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and how to create a colour series using different proportions of different mordants and one dyebath.<br />
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In the evening Michel gave us a very informative slide presentation covering history, chemistry, botany and showing some of the fascinating projects he has undertaken.<br />
Thursday and Friday were given over to Indigo. More chemistry! <br />
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We extracted indigo as a paste from dried indogifera leaves, <br />
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made fructose solution by boiling dried orange peels, and each of us set up our own organic indigo vat. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J8ZDv6cYv2Y/V3Qo3p701fI/AAAAAAAAFCs/TeJCYViCLAogtQImkp2UUfNuEOJ5kR70gCKgB/s1600/11%2Bmy%2Bindigo%2Bvat.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J8ZDv6cYv2Y/V3Qo3p701fI/AAAAAAAAFCs/TeJCYViCLAogtQImkp2UUfNuEOJ5kR70gCKgB/s320/11%2Bmy%2Bindigo%2Bvat.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful bubbles are dark blue!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Michel demonstrated the dyeing process and we got the first blue samples to add to our pages.<br />
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On Friday we were let loose to dye our own samples - everyone had brought something special to dye: handspun (and I think homegrown) linen yarn from Norway, silk fabric from Australia, bamboo cloth and other fine fabrics. I had prepared skeins of cotton yarn, which I dyed in my vat. One skein was already dyed with madder, and I dipped one end of it in the indigo to create a self-striping yarn. <br />
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To create a gradient I had knitted some wool yarn into a sock blank, which I dipped at one end only making a gradient from natural through light blue to dark. <br />
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I will dye the natural end and the light blue area with another colour and then unravel it to knit socks or maybe a shawl.<br />
I also made and shibori-stitched two kimono-style jackets from vintage linen, which were too big for our individual vats so they were dipped in the large class vat.<br />
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One was previously dyed with madder <br />
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In the final afternoon we explored overdyeing - cloth or yarn that was first dyed with indigo, then mordanted and dyed with other natural dyes. This added even more colour variety to our bulging sample books.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RZMm-t9oXl8/V3QpRDAvmCI/AAAAAAAAFCs/2xOtwmNRty4V88MRQclP6IlR-KMg9FttwCKgB/s1600/24%2Boverdyeing%2Bon%2Bindigo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RZMm-t9oXl8/V3QpRDAvmCI/AAAAAAAAFCs/2xOtwmNRty4V88MRQclP6IlR-KMg9FttwCKgB/s320/24%2Boverdyeing%2Bon%2Bindigo.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cotton yarn. From bottom: indigo, overdyed with weld+cochineal, overdyed with weld, overdyed with cochineal, overdyed with cosmos</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
At the end of the workshop I had learned much more than I expected, and now understand why some of my earlier efforts dyeing cellulose fibres were less successful. My pages of notes and samples will be a valuable resource and reminder, as my world becomes an even more colourful place!Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109537088382336818noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565418903848925139.post-62672159197811652372016-03-30T10:18:00.000-07:002016-03-31T00:04:29.944-07:00New workshop dates<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 24pt; line-height: 115%;">Knitting,
spinning, dyeing and papercraft Workshops</span> April – August 2016</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Auchterarder workshops will take place at 204 or 206 High Street, PH3 1AF (depending on numbers)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Oban workshops will take place at 22A Alexandra Place, Corran Esplanade, PH34 5PU<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Date<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Venue<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Workshop<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">cost<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Sat 30<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> April <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">2 – 5pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Auchterarder<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Solar Dyeing - use natural dyes and solar energy to capture clear and delicate colours on wool and silk<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">£40<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Inc materials<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
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<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Sat 7<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> May<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">2pm – 5pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Oban<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Fair Isle and stranded colourwork knitting</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Techniques and design tips</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">£30 </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">*</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Sat 14<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> May<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">2pm – 5pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Oban<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Inspired by Argyll<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Blending fibres, creating new shades from<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Primary colours, for spinners, felters, knitters, fibre artists <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">£45<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Inc materials<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Sat 4<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> June<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">2 – 5pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Oban<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Introduction to Magic Loop Knitting – knit a seamless phone or
mini-tablet cover, or start a circular shawl<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">£30<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Sat 18<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> June<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">2 – 5pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Oban<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Folded book origami – upcycle an unwanted hardback book into a unique decorative piece which can incorporate a special name or word<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">£35</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p>inc materials</o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Sat 25 June<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">2 – 5pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Auchterarder<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Drop spindle spinning for beginners<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">£40<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Inc materials<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 7;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Sat 2 July<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">2 – 5pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Oban<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Learn to knit – absolute beginners<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">£35<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Inc materials<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 8;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Sat 16 July<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">2 – 5pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Oban<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Folded book origami - upcycle an unwanted hardback book into a unique
decorative piece which can incorporate a special name or word<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">£35<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Inc materials<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 9;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Sat 23 July<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">10am – 1pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Oban<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Fleece and fibre preparation<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">£40<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Inc materials<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 10;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Sat 23 July<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">2 – 5pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Oban<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Drop spindle spinning for beginners<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">£40<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Inc materials<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 11;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Sun 31 July<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">2 - 5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Auchterarder<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Folded book origami – upcycle an unwanted hardback book into a unique
decorative piece which can incorporate a special name or word<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">£35<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Inc materials<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 12;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Sat 6 Aug<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">2 – 5pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Oban<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Knitting socks two at a time and toe-up<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">£30<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 13;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Sun 14<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> Aug<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">10 - 4 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Oban<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Spinning with a spinning wheel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">(beginners or intermediate)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">£70<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Inc materials<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 14;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Fri 26<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> Aug<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">10 - 5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Oban<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">OPEN STUDIO<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>DROP-IN<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">DEMONSTRATIONS ALL DAY<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">FREE<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 15;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Sat 27<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> Aug<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">10 – 5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Oban<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">OPEN STUDIO<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>DROP-IN<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">DEMONSTRATIONS ALL DAY<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">FREE<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 16; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Sun 28<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> Aug10 – 5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Oban<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">OPEN STUDIO<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>DROP-IN<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">DEMONSTRATIONS ALL DAY<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">FREE<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Small groups for individual attention. Booking essential –
please email </span><a href="mailto:Deborah.gray7@btinternet.com"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "calibri";">Deborah.gray7@btinternet.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";">.
A 30% deposit is payable on booking, the balance payable at the workshop.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">If materials are not included you will be told what to
bring, some additional materials will be available to purchase<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109537088382336818noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565418903848925139.post-64345305532489038132016-01-18T12:08:00.000-08:002016-01-18T12:08:16.285-08:002015 - a look back at my projects
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">12 months, 12 finished objects – and much more<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Looking back on 2015 I seem to have had a pretty productive
year. My Ravelry projects page </span><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/deborahgray"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.ravelry.com/projects/deborahgray</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
shows 12 finished objects, but there has been much more besides.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I suppose my biggest project for the year was the renovation
and refurbishment of my flat in Oban, in the white building above, to create a weekend retreat and
workspace. I’m so pleased with the result that I may well move there full time
in a couple of years’ time, when other commitments no longer tie me to
Perthshire. The large main room looks out over Oban Bay,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>with boats of all types coming and going all
day against a background of ever-changing weather and views of the islands of
Kerrera and Mull. I have been delighted to host a monthly knitting group there
since May on the first Saturday of each month, as well as workshops on folded
book origami, drop-spindle spinning and sock knitting. It is a lovely place to
knit or spin, bright in summer and cosy with a woodburning stove in winter. I’m
looking forward to more knitting groups, workshops and creative adventures
there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What was I spinning<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>last year? As well as numerous small samples and test-blends, I spent a
considerable amount of time early in the year on yarn which I called ‘Amethysts
and Carnelians’. I had dyed a series of batches of wool, silk and kid mohair
using a semi-exhausted mix of logwood and madder,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>which I then blended. I spun it (lots of it!)
into an aran-thickness two-ply yarn. Along with some silver-grey Gotland spun
to the same thickness, I knitted a cardigan (Brynja)to be finished with some
very special silver buttons which I made at Red Houss in Shetland.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HdF5otaOJZA/Vp08L0yIcdI/AAAAAAAAExo/7N_6IOX3VsU/s1600/Brynja%2Bon%2Bboard.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HdF5otaOJZA/Vp08L0yIcdI/AAAAAAAAExo/7N_6IOX3VsU/s320/Brynja%2Bon%2Bboard.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My next big spinning project, started in October and likely
to continue until this October if not longer, is to spin the three wonderful coloured
Shetland fleeces which I bought at the Flock Book sale in Lerwick. They were
the champion fleeces – one black, one grey and one moorit-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and deserve to be spun and knitted into
really special projects.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqcuPi7fMoj76x9Oiu1HS7eDRBg7wscwtIGCDk7V3Vfiq0qqsM4WA9aG6CAV_pmInf4MJv3zr0d6EBCiYbP4B1HYPPItU_5GtH8C3ilZeEdWl3h0BwLNLBkja6T5hLJ6I6PGVc4N8UIcD2/s1600/IMG_1572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqcuPi7fMoj76x9Oiu1HS7eDRBg7wscwtIGCDk7V3Vfiq0qqsM4WA9aG6CAV_pmInf4MJv3zr0d6EBCiYbP4B1HYPPItU_5GtH8C3ilZeEdWl3h0BwLNLBkja6T5hLJ6I6PGVc4N8UIcD2/s320/IMG_1572.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> I have several ideas in mind for them, first up a
version of Kate Davies’ Puffin (in natural coloured yarns and with the addition
of some very good white Shetland<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>it will
be ‘More Penguin than Puffin’). So I am spinning my way through the black
fleece, creating a fine semi-worsted 2-ply yarn which will enhance the almost
silky texture of this superb fleece. Because the singles are so fine it is
taking me many hours to fill each bobbin, I expect I will have lots of yarn for
other projects as well.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I blended some rollags based on colours from a Bressay beach
for the Colours of Shetland workshop I taught during Wool Week this year, they
sit in a Perspex-lidded box waiting for inspiration to hit me so I can plan,
spin and knit a small project from them. I have selected another image, from
last year’s trip to Shetland, which I think will inspire even more creative
blending of colours for the Colours of Shetland workshop in 2016. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Glancing through my Ravelry finished objects, I’ve knitted
everything from a fine lacy shawl (Sea Nymph-alidea)<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JLNkWGBTLt0/Vp07eSQqr1I/AAAAAAAAEws/cNfcvkZXR3g/s1600/Nymphalidea%2B1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JLNkWGBTLt0/Vp07eSQqr1I/AAAAAAAAEws/cNfcvkZXR3g/s320/Nymphalidea%2B1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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to a cosy Icelandic-style
cardi in handspun yarns, (my Brynja, above). I knitted a little dress for a friend’s
baby, using lovely Italian yarn given to me by another friend. Several pairs of
socks feature -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a couple of
straightforward pairs in self-striping yarn,</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7OCzzxRNGyg/Vp08LVd6EzI/AAAAAAAAExk/O6av767xHB4/s1600/Blue%2Bstripey%2Bsocks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7OCzzxRNGyg/Vp08LVd6EzI/AAAAAAAAExk/O6av767xHB4/s320/Blue%2Bstripey%2Bsocks.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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a knee length pair in all-over
Fair Isle,</div>
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and (only half finished) a pair with colourwork inspired by the gold
tooling on the spine of an antique book. </div>
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Slippers in felted Icelandic wool
(Midnattsol) have kept my feet cosy as well as helping polish my wooden
floorboards. Hamish likes them too!</div>
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<o:p></o:p> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I seem to have knitted a lot of Fair Isle this year – the
Hairst yoked cardigan designed by Sandra Manson turned into a sweater on my
needles, and has been worn loads since I finished it.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o9iZI-s0OP8/Vp077pGmjAI/AAAAAAAAExQ/e9gHI5Ddgbw/s1600/Hairst%2B1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o9iZI-s0OP8/Vp077pGmjAI/AAAAAAAAExQ/e9gHI5Ddgbw/s320/Hairst%2B1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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My version of Donna
Smith’s now iconic Baa-ble hat (‘No-baa-ble’ or even ‘Snow-baa-ble’ as I
replaced the sheep with snowflakes, and the pom-pom with a tassel) had its
first outings in Shetland during Wool Week and has really come into its own
recently in the snowy weather.</div>
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On Burra I developed a colourwork swatch based
on bananas and fuelled by chilli-vodka-chocolate fudge, and knitted a jumper
for a small monkey(as you do!). </div>
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You can see the result on Felicity Ford’s blog
here :<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I plan to knit a tablet-cover
using the same colours and banana motifs (that’s a very Scottish pun – there is
a type of fudge in Scotland called tablet). </div>
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While in Shetland I collected a palette of yarns for a new project, to design some colourwork inspired by a scrap of original wallpaper (1870's?) discovered during the renovation of my Oban workroom. A couple of knitted cushions would add to the hygge next winter...</div>
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Further knitting on my Water and
Rock project (coloured fibres blended, spun and now knitted,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>inspired by a picture of river water flowing
past a rock) and three small Fair Isle projects got me up to Christmas – a
Thrift Tam (designed by Outi Kater) </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rWuIu3W7gBk/Vp1BCG49IwI/AAAAAAAAEzw/ewPuzLaFMrM/s1600/Thrift.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rWuIu3W7gBk/Vp1BCG49IwI/AAAAAAAAEzw/ewPuzLaFMrM/s320/Thrift.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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knitted on a trip to Florence in November,
a pair of boot-toppers for the Jamieson & Smith Winter Woollies knit-along,</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w7kS0WqqmhE/Vp07oFX6UDI/AAAAAAAAExA/9ZSueKjUzQc/s1600/Knots%2Band%2Bchecks%2B4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w7kS0WqqmhE/Vp07oFX6UDI/AAAAAAAAExA/9ZSueKjUzQc/s320/Knots%2Band%2Bchecks%2B4.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">
and a pair of fingerless mitts based on Donna Smith’s design Maggie’s Mittens,
just finished in time for Christmas giving. Then on Christmas Eve I took a deep
breath, put on my Shetland knitting belt and started on Peace, an all over
Norwegian colourwork gansey, which is likely to take me a very long time to
finish. It is in 2-ply jumper weight on 2.5mm needles, and my first big project
using the knitting belt and long double pointed needles. After about three
weeks I am getting quicker.....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The first two days of the New Year saw my knitting machine
getting a rare outing, as I made a dent in my stash of fine yarns on cone to
knit a large poncho and the plain bodies and sleeves for three cardigans which
will get hand-knitted yokes and welts. The welts will give me some
uncomplicated knitting when I need a rest from the all-over colourwork of
Peace. And Fair Isle yokes are such a joy to knit as you get quicker and
quicker and the pattern develops while the number of stitches decreases!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A non-wool (gasps of amazement!) project that I am very
pleased with is the refurbishment of my dining chairs.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OS1uCKifyuc/Vp0812Bme-I/AAAAAAAAEyQ/ZVz27frn7Sg/s1600/IMG_1348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OS1uCKifyuc/Vp0812Bme-I/AAAAAAAAEyQ/ZVz27frn7Sg/s320/IMG_1348.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> I painted the dark oak
frames pale grey, and re-covered the drop-in seats with the ‘seat’ area of old
pairs of jeans, complete with the back pockets. The hardwearing covers should
last a good long time, and I have another project in mind for the legs of all
the jeans.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I also spent a couple of busy days on an Indigo and Shibori workshop with Molly Bullick, dyeing just about every natural fibre except wool.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EFynpaxoNEU/Vp08oAWoBbI/AAAAAAAAEyI/FXQkw4rpcSc/s1600/shibori%2Bon%2Bramie%252C%2Blinen%2Band%2Bhemp%252C%2Bbourette%2Bsilk%2Byarn%252C%2Btied%2Blinen%252C%2Bpole%2Bwrapped%2Blinen.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EFynpaxoNEU/Vp08oAWoBbI/AAAAAAAAEyI/FXQkw4rpcSc/s320/shibori%2Bon%2Bramie%252C%2Blinen%2Band%2Bhemp%252C%2Bbourette%2Bsilk%2Byarn%252C%2Btied%2Blinen%252C%2Bpole%2Bwrapped%2Blinen.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Threaded through all of this I did a fair amount of teaching
in 2015 – in Italy in March and May, in Auchterarder and Oban at various times,
and in Shetland in September. Workshops in spinning, felt-making, solar dyeing,
knitting and folded book origami, and taking part in Perthshire Open Studios,
allowed me to meet a lot of interesting people and share some inspiring ideas.
Which is really the best part.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Plans are already made for some workshops in 2016, events
like Shetland Wool Week and trips abroad do require a lot of forward planning,
but there is still room for unexpected opportunities and encounters. And lots
of wool.....<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109537088382336818noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565418903848925139.post-8876609743802634302015-10-24T08:26:00.000-07:002015-10-24T08:26:10.656-07:00Shetland Wool Week 2015 - more woolly adventuresSo much anticipation, and preparation, then it was time to set off for my third Shetland Wool Week.<br />
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I had only just got through security at Edinburgh Airport when I met the first Wool Week-ers Christine and Amore. It was nice to have them to chat to, especially as the plane was a bit late. On arrival at Sumburgh Felix was there to pick me up and whisk me off to our very luxurious rented house in Lerwick, found by our third housemate Jeni. Amid lots of chat and catching up we baked the first of our braided Nutella pastries, thus inaugurating the Shetland Nutella Festival. Despite rumours, I had not consumed a drop of Nutella since last year's Wool Week!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DxqGKradpoU/VioYVRt69oI/AAAAAAAAEjQ/8WqcBKApP08/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DxqGKradpoU/VioYVRt69oI/AAAAAAAAEjQ/8WqcBKApP08/s320/image.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">just out of the oven</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-boEGHSDny2I/VioYHJARgvI/AAAAAAAAEjA/tJTkbqteiO8/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-boEGHSDny2I/VioYHJARgvI/AAAAAAAAEjA/tJTkbqteiO8/s320/image.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">take a quick photo</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I92eAKNXp6Q/VioYWf1lFQI/AAAAAAAAEjU/2htlUEX3ljU/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I92eAKNXp6Q/VioYWf1lFQI/AAAAAAAAEjU/2htlUEX3ljU/s320/image.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and then its gone.....</td></tr>
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Saturday morning saw Felix and me out on a few errands, which inevitably took us in to Jamieson & Smith.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KUsHwbaTt8M/VioYWRodsuI/AAAAAAAAEjc/8GvUq8ymPGI/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KUsHwbaTt8M/VioYWRodsuI/AAAAAAAAEjc/8GvUq8ymPGI/s320/image.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">admiring the new sign on the back of the wool store</td></tr>
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I had supplies to pick up for the classes I was teaching, and some yarn to buy on behalf of a friend who couldn't get to Wool Week. And for a couple of projects of my own, of course!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2mhIViJ_5Q61NV-gRALzmElOY-cng4gt6hvKkwJVqGb1qpYu_pXFMmv9MdhQUsX-S0hNaFyQswcb3eLu5T2aB6nAqSdCmcEvuBcTAwOiHkTAdLH6AJyI_tuKfsVs-BwbBUa5KqNkBqgjE/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2mhIViJ_5Q61NV-gRALzmElOY-cng4gt6hvKkwJVqGb1qpYu_pXFMmv9MdhQUsX-S0hNaFyQswcb3eLu5T2aB6nAqSdCmcEvuBcTAwOiHkTAdLH6AJyI_tuKfsVs-BwbBUa5KqNkBqgjE/s320/image.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">not (quite) all for me.....</td></tr>
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A visit to the Shetland Times bookshop, the post office and a couple of the Lerwick charity shops completed the quest.</div>
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Our home-from-home was so comfortable it was tempting just to stay in and knit but we did venture just along the road to the Wool Week hub, in the Islesburgh Community Centre. The first thing we spotted on entering was a big pop-up banner featuring Felix' design, also used on the official Wool Week tote bags.<br />
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(There might still be a few of the bags available if you pop over to the Shetland Wool Week website). Upstairs in the Hub we met several woolly friends and caught up over knitting and tea. Moving the Hub to Islesburgh was a good decision, it was lovely to have Wool Week activities going on alongside other community activities, and the central space was well lit and comfortable for knitting, spinning and catching up with friends. Free tea and coffee much appreciated too!<br />
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On Sunday morning I made the second version of the Braided Nutella pastry (can you have a cake mascot? If so this is it for Wool Week 2015).<br />
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This one used croissant dough instead of puff pastry, judged to be an improvement although a bit tricky to roll out. <br />
Suitably fortified, I had the first of my classes as a learner - Pattern Writing taught by the lovely Outi Kater. Outi's advice on layout, phrasing and how much information to include, and many more aspects of converting a design into a written pattern will be very useful. Shame I didn't have time to convert my rather rambling instructions into a proper pattern before Outi attended my sock knitting class a couple of days later!</div>
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Sunday evening saw us at the Opening Ceremony in Clickimin Leisure Centre, having found an excellent Tarmac Tuesday photo Opp on the way (yes we are all about 7)!<br />
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The opening ceremony included fabulous Shetland fiddle music,<br />
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question and answer sessions about wool production and processing (Oliver Henry, Ronny Eunson and Gary Jamieson) and on knitting and design (Donna Smith, Hazel Tindall and Niela of NielaNell). Donna, as this year's Patron, welcomed everyone and cut the now traditional Wool Week cakes.<br />
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The evening was rounded off in hilarious form by Felix and Louise Scolley imagining what it would be like if knitting got the same media attention as football. They got everyone involved in creating the crowd noises, and their Knitting Pundits will be available as a podcast soon. (I was laughing too much to take any photos)</div>
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I had a really busy day on Monday, starting with a class on Designing Fair Isle Yokes with Hazel Tindall. What Hazel doesn't know about designing and knitting Fair Isle probably isn't worth knowing, and she very generously shared her wealth of experience as we carefully chose our colours and knitted yoke swatches. I just managed to get mine cast off as we ran out of time.<br />
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Hazel also shared some hints and tips on using a Shetland knitting belt, so now I know why I have not been getting on well when trying to use the vintage belt I got on my first trip to Shetland, and am determined to have another go.</div>
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In the afternoon I went to Spinning for Lace with Margaret Peterson. I've been spinning for over 35 years and have on occasion spun fine lace yarns, but not often and not recently. I first met Margaret four or five years ago when she showed me examples of her exquisite work, and I was intrigued to learn whether her methods were very different to my own. In fact they were not - we both prefer to spin the fine wool in the grease, after combing with a dog comb. Actually everyone in the class found it easier to spin a fine and consistent yarn from the unwashed wool than when we (at Margaret's insistence) tried spinning some industrially cleaned and combed tops. Margaret also showed us the traditional way of winding the 'wirsit' on to small squares of wood (I used folded up paper) so that's it doesn't knit or roll about when you are knitting.<br />
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I just about had time to catch my breath before heading to the Shetland Museum for the evening talk by Ella Gordon and Kate Davies on Collecting Vintage Knitwear. Ella and Kate have quite different approaches to their collections but share a passion for not only preserving and recording vintage knits, but also keeping them in regular use. Felix ably chaired the Q&A session and clearly relished her task of holding out each piece as either Kate or Ella spoke about it. It is amazing how much they have been able to find out about the history of each garment, sometimes even who knitted it.<br />
On Tuesday morning it was time to start teaching. My first class Colours of Shetland: Blending Fibre was designed to complement Felix' Colours of Shetland: Stranded Colourwork class in the afternoon.<br />
Using a photo taken on Bressay last year for inspiration, the learners in my class blended primary coloured wool fibre, plus natural black and white, on hand carders to create a palette of shades. <br />
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Everyone had the same photo, everyone had the same fibres, but everyone created a different palette of eight or more shades. Some people spun samples from their blends to see how the appearance of the colours changed. Three hours of carding produced an impressive amount of blended fibre ready to be spun or felted.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QroTAGluj-I/VioZXQa4yRI/AAAAAAAAEk0/TsA9yfRBWxU/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QroTAGluj-I/VioZXQa4yRI/AAAAAAAAEk0/TsA9yfRBWxU/s640/image.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">all this and more in just three hours</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">hard at work</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fjfHYSQ8FUg/VioZWV-fl3I/AAAAAAAAEkw/psNEXOXGpn8/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fjfHYSQ8FUg/VioZWV-fl3I/AAAAAAAAEkw/psNEXOXGpn8/s640/image.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maggie's meticulously labelled and recorded colour experiments</td></tr>
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I spent the afternoon in Felix's class, using the same image and the Knitsonik system to look at shapes and colours and come up with a stranded colourwork motif. Again it was fascinating to see the very varied interpretations that people came up with, based on a small selection of images and a carefully curated palette of Jamieson & Smith yarn.</div>
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My next teaching stint on Wednesday morning was Knitting Socks two-at-a-time and toe-up. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C4OCCGCkxdA/ViuOJzleHqI/AAAAAAAAEsc/vWTqba0rr-Q/s1600/IMG_1436%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C4OCCGCkxdA/ViuOJzleHqI/AAAAAAAAEsc/vWTqba0rr-Q/s400/IMG_1436%255B1%255D.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my socks with Fair Isle motifs, knitted two at a time and toe up before the class<br />
using Jamieson & Smith Shetland Heritage yarn in traditional colours</td></tr>
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This was a very popular class, although for a while the learners seemed to be struggling with the closed cast on, which is the trickiest part of this way of knitting socks. Those who were familiar with the magic loop technique had an advantage - next year I will offer an Introduction to Magic Loop class a couple of days before the Knitting Socks two-at-a-time class. Eventually everyone had the toes of both socks started, and the atmosphere relaxed quite noticeably!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vFPU0dnG9ag/ViuRx8t5h7I/AAAAAAAAEsw/H-hqefA9v5U/s1600/IMG_1392%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vFPU0dnG9ag/ViuRx8t5h7I/AAAAAAAAEsw/H-hqefA9v5U/s320/IMG_1392%255B1%255D.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">toe-caps of two socks on one needle, straight forward knitting from here on</td></tr>
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From there, the knitting is quite straightforward, and although no-one got to the heels during the class I was able to show how to turn the heel, which I think is easier on toe-up socks.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ig77i9NsH9Q/ViuQkd1Ta4I/AAAAAAAAEso/IkJxor85Hik/s1600/IMG_1501%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ig77i9NsH9Q/ViuQkd1Ta4I/AAAAAAAAEso/IkJxor85Hik/s320/IMG_1501%255B1%255D.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my Macmillan Pocket Kipling socks showing gusset and heel construction</td></tr>
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During the rest of Wool Week I occasionally met people who showed me how much further their socks had progressed, and since the end of the week I have seen at least one pair from my class completed and posted on Facebook, which is nice. I'm repeating this class next weekend in Oban and sometime in the New Year in Dundee, before running it again during Shetland Wool Week 2016.<br />
A bit of free time in the afternoon saw me making a third Braided Nutella pastry, to test a further variation. It looked and tasted just the same as the last one but was easier to roll out, as we had invested in a small bag of flour. <br />
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Lerwick Library hosted Stitches from the Stacks on Wednesday evening - all their knitting-related books on display, lovely knitted bunting decorating the library, and teas and wonderful home baking. Are you picking up on a non-wool theme yet?!! It was lovely to meet and knit with local knitters as well as those who were visiting for Wool Week. </div>
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We had a day off from wool (well, nearly - but not cake!) and went to visit Mike and Gill Finnie on Burra, where Mike helped us make lovely silver buttons etched with Fair Isle designs. Gill's home baking is legendary! I had knitted a cardigan specially for my buttons and sewed them on that evening. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLRMkNaoWc1Lk1-dVvf_gBJoHXJIjlI-rVZx9AQCIuEWZoiXzrAE5_eQN2efLBa7tt4F4DGr0CwJ4qN_kWI_w_HM4fQBmkU3FCDuvmSQXEV_BrPTMjLrtECBoBC8SWLwuw23_9fpirgMcb/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLRMkNaoWc1Lk1-dVvf_gBJoHXJIjlI-rVZx9AQCIuEWZoiXzrAE5_eQN2efLBa7tt4F4DGr0CwJ4qN_kWI_w_HM4fQBmkU3FCDuvmSQXEV_BrPTMjLrtECBoBC8SWLwuw23_9fpirgMcb/s320/image.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">three hand-made silver buttons in place on my naturally-dyed, hand-blended, hand-spun and hand-knitted cardigan <br />
(Brynja designed by Helene Magnusson)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k7L2obLE0ss/VioZZvkvtYI/AAAAAAAAElE/jdKvzqVGnpE/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k7L2obLE0ss/VioZZvkvtYI/AAAAAAAAElE/jdKvzqVGnpE/s640/image.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">beautiful patina on one of my silver buttons, against my wool/silk/mohair blend yarn</td></tr>
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I love Mike's Red Houss jewellery so much that I have had to make a self-imposed rule to only wear two items at a time (over four years I have made quite a collection!) but I bought one of Mike's Gulls Egg necklaces which will be an exception to that rule as it is very different. </div>
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My last teaching duty was on Friday afternoon, so in the morning I was able to visit the Shetland Organics exhibition in Vaila Fine Art, and then browse in some of the shops before a quick bowl of chowder in the Peerie Shop café. After a brisk walk I was back at Jamieson and Smith in time to visit the inner sanctum of the wool store and stock up on fleeces for the next year, before starting to teach my drop-spindle spinning class. J&S had asked me to teach using their Shetland Wool combed tops, so I showed some more advanced spinners how to spin thicker woollen style yarns from tops instead of their 'default' fine worsted, and gave them a selection of silk, linen and other fibres to blend with the wool tops. The beginners in the meantime were also using the tops to spin woollen style, as it is easier to start that way than spinning worsted. They all did very well and most managed to produce a small skein of 2-ply yarn - although the smiling faces at the end of the class are the most important product to me.</div>
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After a day on my feet it was nice to put my feet up and have my dinner cooked for me (thank you Tom). Good company and a glass of wine soon made me forget my aching toes!</div>
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Saturday was Flock Book day at the mart, one of the highlights of Wool Week for me. Since the 1920s the Flock Book Society has ensured that only the best rams are used to keep up the standards of the Shetland sheep breed and the wool they produce. Rams are carefully and thoroughly inspected for their wool, judged by Oliver Henry assisted by Jan Robertson. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9zbbJbZv2YY/VioZaIh-YsI/AAAAAAAAElM/J7LUiHkXmvQ/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9zbbJbZv2YY/VioZaIh-YsI/AAAAAAAAElM/J7LUiHkXmvQ/s640/image.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oliver and Jan judging the wool on a lively ram lamb</td></tr>
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Then other judges check their teeth, toes and testicles. When the best six in each category have been chosen they are taken in to the ring for the final judging. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">judging rams</td></tr>
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After lengthy deliberation rosettes are awarded, then the next category is judged. This all takes a considerable amount of time occasionally enlivened when a lively ram makes a bid for freedom by trying to jump out of the ring. Some of them nearly succeed. After the judging was complete and a hearty lunch taken in the mart café there was a sale of rams. I was fascinated to sit through the sale with Jan, who was both selling and buying, but was not too busy to give me a commentary on the sheep as they came through the ring. There is also a competition for the best group of three coloured fleeces, won this year by Addie Doull of Islesburgh. <br />
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These three superb fleeces scored 96 out of 100 and, after some negotiation, are now residing in my fleece shed - I cant wait to get started on them! I already have several projects in mind for them.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my Flock Book haul</td></tr>
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The Flock Book marked the end of Shetland Wool Week 2015, and in fact many of the visitors had already headed back south, with many goodbyes and 'see you next year'. We had decided to stay on for a few more days so several friends donated their left over groceries to us - enough to feed far more than three people for a week! Thank you Ysolda and Becks, Tom, Anthony and Anna, and Team Holland! On Sunday morning we left our very comfortable and central house in Lerwick and moved to a fisherman's cottage on West Burra Isle. A more beautiful setting would be hard to find, with a view over East Burra to the Shetland mainland, and a beach at the bottom of a small sloping field beyond the modern-day planticrub (a small sheltered vegetable plot).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">evening sun on East Burra, with Shetland mainland behind</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Papil sunset</td></tr>
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The good weather we had enjoyed so far continued on Monday and Felix and I had a lovely walk over the tombolo at Bannamin to Minn and and around Kettla Ness. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the tombolo at Bannaminn</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">clear clear water and nosy (but camera shy) seals</td></tr>
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We wandered among deserted and ruined croft houses <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">last year's shwook hat in colours that blend with the landscape</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">so that's where the sheep that escaped from my baa-ble hat went </td></tr>
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and then over to the far side of the island, with its dramatic cliffs and seabirds - and of course, sheep.<br />
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We spotted two sheep on an isolated stack and wondered how they had got there.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">completely cut off and surrounded by the sea</td></tr>
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On the way back I was fascinated by a hut roofed with an upturned boat. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">view towards Papil</td></tr>
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Some of these photos may be the images for my Colours of Shetland: Fibre Blending class next year! Heading back across the tombolo we gathered sea spaghetti, dulse and sea lettuce and made a foraged seaweed salad, with walnuts, for lunch. We all survived. Actually it was delicious.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">free lunch (except the walnuts)</td></tr>
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By Monday evening the wind and rain had set in, for the next two days we had gales and horizontal rain. Time for some serious knitting inspired by bananas,<br />
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and aided by some seriously good chilli vodka chocolate fudge from the Shetland Fudge company. <br />
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bad weather is also conducive to baking - as there was a can of stout in the fridge, left by previous occupants of the cottage, we made a chocolate stout cake with peanut butter icing, and stout and oatmeal bread. We really should rename it Shetland Cake Week!<br />
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On Tuesday evening we braved the weather and went in to Lerwick to knit with the Islesburgh Spinners and Knitters. They were very welcoming and we had a jolly evening, but I was very glad I wasn't driving home. Wednesday saw us back in Lerwick for some errands including posting my many purchases home.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzvJ2bRQjEuhr9jNxWmdZHbx4quTTLlm_qC6bA3foJWz_vps8W8Xzix5dNIVEtq1YQ7ZbwQ0dQgZDNBM27srFg3G2jCpYImRtL7H-vBEksj-9gXMjhp8W744JG_kVR9e4VlmBze5jvDihc/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzvJ2bRQjEuhr9jNxWmdZHbx4quTTLlm_qC6bA3foJWz_vps8W8Xzix5dNIVEtq1YQ7ZbwQ0dQgZDNBM27srFg3G2jCpYImRtL7H-vBEksj-9gXMjhp8W744JG_kVR9e4VlmBze5jvDihc/s320/image.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">plus three more parcels sent earlier...... all wool!</td></tr>
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Our errands also took us to Jamieson & Smith. We didn't get any further than the wool store as Oliver and Jan wanted to know all about the sheep we had seen on the stack.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbEiqWQ2kEtfbwpbpluG4CIqq44go2HRg2Y0kYLB7FJOcZ5DDo7uUA14hVrOt6r-dEmimpqEU0O5AFH2sQqlLkdIVh9_eWBKWWxwgxy0WVTx51gvKLvb1O97j-hGjfrdAp1ppfHuscR9S-/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbEiqWQ2kEtfbwpbpluG4CIqq44go2HRg2Y0kYLB7FJOcZ5DDo7uUA14hVrOt6r-dEmimpqEU0O5AFH2sQqlLkdIVh9_eWBKWWxwgxy0WVTx51gvKLvb1O97j-hGjfrdAp1ppfHuscR9S-/s400/image.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jan having a well-earned cuppa and telling stories</td></tr>
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Oliver thought the likely explanation was that a pregnant ewe had fallen off the cliff into the sea, and had managed to scramble up onto the stack. There was plenty of grass up there for her and her lamb to survive on. Oliver knew who crofted the land and would let him know about the sheep. He also showed us a very special and beautifully photographed book, In Search of the Precious Wools of the World, in which he is featured - as are some of Jan's sheep.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oliver in the wool store - twice</td></tr>
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We spent the afternoon with Donna Smith and her young son, knitting, drinking tea and eating lovely home-made bannocks.<br />
Our last full day in Shetland was spent with Hazel Tindall. The weather had changed again, sunny and mild with no wind. We went out west to Sandness and visited Jamieson's spinning mill, where we had a good look round. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">weaving Shetland tweed</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">washed wool</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">carding</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">carded sliver</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">spinning</td></tr>
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I bought some of their tweed - wool grown in Shetland, dyed, spun and woven in the mill. It feels like a piece of the land. After the mill we went to Melby beach, where the water is a rich deep brown because of the run-off from the peat. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Felix recording the sound of the water</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the end of the road?</td></tr>
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Hazel fed us home made soup for lunch before we headed back to Lerwick in search of knitting belts for Felix and Jeni. I got two more sets of the long double-pointed needles to use with my vintage knitting belt, now that I have a better idea of how to use it. <br />
A sunset walk on Bannaminn beach seemed like the perfect way to end our stay<br />
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but, as a special treat for our final night in Shetland, later on there was a display of the Mirrie Dancers (Northern lights). Thanks to the internet I knew that they were predicted, so once it was dark I went out every ten minutes or so. It was a remarkably clear night, with the Milky Way bright overhead, and out at Papil virtually no light pollution. On my third or fourth trip outside I could see a glow arching over the horizon to the north. I walked up the hill a bit and was rewarded by green fingers of light and shimmering curtains reaching up towards the Milky Way.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">proof that a phone camera is not good enough to capture the Northern Lights!</td></tr>
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Shetland never fails to make an impression, but it certainly pulled out all of the stops this year! I will be back for Shetland Wool Week 2016, if not before.<br />
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Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109537088382336818noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565418903848925139.post-58967885554161803962015-08-19T09:26:00.000-07:002015-10-27T01:44:31.620-07:00Prossimo corso di filatura in Italia <div style="text-align: center;">
Il corso sottoscritto<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">È stato CANCELLATO dall'organizzatrice</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">DATE PER CORSI IN UK qui:</span><br />
http://perfectweatherforspinningandknitting.blogspot.co.uk/p/workshops-in-scotland-2015.html<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sono emozionata!!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Abbiamo confirmata le date per il mio prossimo corso di filatura in Italia</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">21 & 22 Novembre 2015</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">presso Chianti Cashmere Goat Farm, poco distante di Radda in Chianti</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Luogo incantevole, immerso nella natura Toscana - devi vedere le immagine sul sito <span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1439988150591_62469" style="font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.chianticashmere.com/" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1439988150591_62468" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" target="_blank">www.chianticashmere.com</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">inoltre di imperare la filatura della lana, avremmo la possibilita' di vedere la produzione di una delle fibre piu' deluxe del mondo, il cachemire, forse anche di toccare le capre chi lo producono....</span><br />
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Sia un corso base, adatti ai principianti e persone con poco esperienza della filatura manuale</span></div>
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<strong>Programma del corso</strong></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Sabato mattina(3 ore): Le fibre e la
preparazione. Tipi e caratteristiche della lana e delle altre fibre. Il
velo sucido, come dividerlo secondo la qualita, istruzioni per quando e come
lavarlo (o non), la cardatura e la pettinatura a mano - i motivi per metodi
diversi di preparazione. Come preparare altre fibre, esempio la seta.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Pausa pranzo <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Sabato pomeriggio(3 ore): La filatura
col fuso - base importante anche per chi volgono filare col filatoio. Filati
'singoli', come e perche' doppiare i filati. Come fare le matasse e 'finire' il
filato.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Domenica (6 ore + pausa pranzo): Il
filatoio. Modelli dei filatoi, come sceglere, le parte, come mantenere il
filatoio. La filatura col filatoio - filati singoli, la doppiatura - creazione
di una matassa di filato a due capi.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">(Per chi preferiscono continuare col
fuso, - esercizia di
piu' col fuso,) come mescolare fibre per creare filati fantasie.</span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Per iscrizioni, o per maggior dettagli del sede, prezzi ecc. rivolgervi a <a href="mailto:info@chianticashmere.com">info@chianticashmere.com</a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Avro' anche' la possibilita' di organnizzare
una spedizione al'ingrosso di attrezzatura di filatura (gamma Ashford) prima
del corso, vendesi a prezzi scontati e senza spese normale di spedizione, ma
devo avere le ordine (e il pagamento, effetuato per PayPal) almeno una mesa in
anticipo - prima del 20 Settembre. I dettagli e i prezzi si trovano sotto il tab 'Attrezzatura' (sopra). Per fare ordine, contatte <a href="mailto:Deborah.gray7@btinternet.com">Deborah.gray7@btinternet.com</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rimanete aggiornati con Facebook:<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1439988150591_62470" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">CHIANTI CASHMERE GOAT FARM</span></span></span><br />
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1439988150591_62469" style="font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.chianticashmere.com/" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1439988150591_62468" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" target="_blank">www.chianticashmere.com</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div>
Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109537088382336818noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565418903848925139.post-56283203204083195792015-08-17T09:00:00.000-07:002015-10-27T01:47:19.219-07:00New workshop dates Autumn 15 - Spring 16<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Spinning, knitting
and dyeing Workshops <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Autumn 2015 – Spring 2016<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;">(Please note November workshop in Radda in Chianti has been cancelled by the host)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">For updates
and further details find me on Facebook and keep an eye out here</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Materials and
equipment for use in the workshops are included except where noted otherwise.
Additional materials may be available to purchase. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">To book,
e-mail <a href="mailto:Deborah.gray7@btinternet.com"><span style="color: blue;">Deborah.gray7@btinternet.com</span></a>
or call 07776092903<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">29<sup>th</sup>
Sept<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Lerwick<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Shetland<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Colours of
Shetland: Blending fibres for spinning or felt 3hrs £40<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Inspired by the Shetland landscape
we will create our own collections of subtle shades of blended wool fibre
ready to spin<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">30<sup>th</sup>
Sept Lerwick<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Shetland<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 357.45pt;" valign="top" width="477"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Knitting Socks:
two-at-a-time and toe-up 3 hrs £30 + materials*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Knit perfectly matching socks that
fit and never experience second-sock syndrome again – customisable - Fair Isle
optional<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 68.65pt;" valign="top" width="92"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">2<sup>nd</sup>
Oct<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Lerwick<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Shetland<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 357.45pt;" valign="top" width="477"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Drop
spindle spinning for beginners<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>3 hours
£40<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>learn to spin the easy way before venturing
onto a wheel. We will use Jamieson & Smith’s combed Shetland wool tops<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 68.65pt;" valign="top" width="92"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">17 Oct<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Oban<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 357.45pt;" valign="top" width="477"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Drop
spindle spinning for beginners<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>3 hours
£40<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>learn to spin the easy way before venturing
onto a wheel. We will use carded wool fleece and combed wool tops</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 68.65pt;" valign="top" width="92"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">25<sup>th</sup>
Oct<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Auchterarder<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 357.45pt;" valign="top" width="477"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">(am) Fleece
sorting and Fibre Preparation 3 hours £40<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The essential basics for preparing fibres
for spinning<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">(pm) Drop
spindle spinning for beginners<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>3 hours
£40<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>learn to spin the easy way before venturing
onto a wheel. We will use carded wool fleece and combed wool tops<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Save
£10 if you book both - a great day for beginners!</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 68.65pt;" valign="top" width="92"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">1 Nov<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Auchterarder</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 357.45pt;" valign="top" width="477"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">10 a.m.
Solar Dyeing;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>3 hours £35<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">An eco-friendly way to use natural
dyes on fibre, yarn or fabric</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 68.65pt;" valign="top" width="92"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">1 Nov<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Auchterarder</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 357.45pt;" valign="top" width="477"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">2pm
Gossamer Felt Scarf; 3 hours £30<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Create a scarf so soft and light it
is hard to believe it is felt!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 7;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 68.65pt;" valign="top" width="92"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">8 Nov<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Oban<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 357.45pt;" valign="top" width="477"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Knitting Socks:
two-at-a-time and toe-up 3 hrs £30 + materials*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Knit perfectly matching socks that
fit and never experience second-sock syndrome again – customisable -Fair Isle
optional</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 8;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 68.65pt;" valign="top" width="92"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">15 Nov<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Auchterarder</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 357.45pt;" valign="top" width="477"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Purposeful
spinning<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>6 hours, £70 <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not suitable for beginners<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Learn to design and spin the yarn
you need for any project<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 9;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 68.65pt;" valign="top" width="92"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">21 & 22
Nov<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Tuscany<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 357.45pt;" valign="top" width="477"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Beginners’
spinning weekend on an idyllic Cashmere Goat Farm in Chianti, Italy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 10;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 68.65pt;" valign="top" width="92"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">6 Dec<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Oban<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 357.45pt;" valign="top" width="477"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Fair Isle
knitting 3 hours</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">:
</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">£20 plus materials*</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Learn some new tricks
for easier and better results with this traditional technique</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Selection of kits may be available.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 11;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 68.65pt;" valign="top" width="92"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">13 Dec<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Auchterarder</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 357.45pt;" valign="top" width="477"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Folded book
Origami<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>3 hours £30<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Upcycle an unwanted hardback book by
folding a design or a word into the pages to make an unusual decorative piece<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 12;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 68.65pt;" valign="top" width="92"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">17 Jan <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2016</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Auchterarder</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 357.45pt;" valign="top" width="477"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Spinning
Art Yarns<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>6 hours, £75 <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not suitable for beginners<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Combine colour, texture and
technique to create unique yarns</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 13;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 68.65pt;" valign="top" width="92"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">24 Jan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Oban<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 357.45pt;" valign="top" width="477"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Spinning
with a spinning wheel<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>6 hours £75<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">A good follow-on workshop from the Drop
Spindle Spinning class, also suitable for beginners and improvers</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 14;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 68.65pt;" valign="top" width="92"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">31 Jan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Auchterarder</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 357.45pt;" valign="top" width="477"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Spinning
Silk <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>3 hours, £45 <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not suitable for beginners<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Immerse yourself in luxury! Learn to
prepare and spin different forms of pure silk, and create luxurious blends with
other fibres</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 15;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 68.65pt;" valign="top" width="92"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">7 Feb<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Oban<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 357.45pt;" valign="top" width="477"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Playing
with Colour<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>3 hours, £40<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Different techniques for blending fibres
for spinning/felt</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 16;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 68.65pt;" valign="top" width="92"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">21 Feb<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Oban<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 357.45pt;" valign="top" width="477"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Folded book
Origami<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>3 hours £30<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Upcycle an unwanted hardback book by
folding a design or a word into the pages to make an unusual decorative piece</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 17;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 68.65pt;" valign="top" width="92"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">28 Feb<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Auchterarder</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 357.45pt;" valign="top" width="477"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Playing
with Colour<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>3 hours, £40<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Different techniques for blending fibres
for spinning/felt</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 18;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 68.65pt;" valign="top" width="92"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">6 March<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Oban<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 357.45pt;" valign="top" width="477"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Spinning
Silk <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>3 hours, £45 <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not suitable for beginners<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Immerse yourself in luxury! Learn to
prepare and spin different forms of pure silk, and create luxurious blends with
other fibres</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 19;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 68.65pt;" valign="top" width="92"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">20 March<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Oban<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 357.45pt;" valign="top" width="477"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Spinning
multi-coloured fibres (braids and batts) 6 hours £55<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Get the results you want from
delicious multi-coloured fibres<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Price does not include materials –
available to purchase*<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 20; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 68.65pt;" valign="top" width="92"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">27 March<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Auchterarder</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 357.45pt;" valign="top" width="477"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Spinning
multi-coloured fibres (braids and batts) 6 hours £55<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Get the results you want from
delicious multi-coloured fibres<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Price does not include materials –
available to purchase*</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Places must
be booked in advance – please e-mail <a href="mailto:deborah.gray7@btinternet.com"><span style="color: blue;">deborah.gray7@btinternet.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">A <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>deposit of one third of the workshop fee will
be requested to secure your booking. This can be paid in person or by PayPal.
The deposit is non-refundable if you cancel, but would be refunded in full in
the unlikely event that the workshop is cancelled by me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The balance
is payable in cash on the day of the workshop.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">*Where
materials are not included in the price of the workshop (indicated by *)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">they will be
available to purchase, or you may bring your own. Please ask for details of
what to bring.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">For knitting
workshops you are expected to provide your own knitting needles – please ask
for details of sizes etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Auchterarder</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> workshops will be held at either 206
or 204 High Street – the venue will be confirmed shortly before the workshop.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Oban </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">workshops will be held at 22A
Alexandra Place, The Esplanade, Oban.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Both venues
are fully accessible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Individual tuition</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> can also be arranged – please contact
me for details.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109537088382336818noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565418903848925139.post-71956679348869548372015-07-09T08:41:00.001-07:002015-07-09T08:41:20.223-07:00Bums on seats<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-veKlG4VkFis/VZ6ONrmnnLI/AAAAAAAAEgw/HgPr_6UbXbY/s1600/IMG_1354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-veKlG4VkFis/VZ6ONrmnnLI/AAAAAAAAEgw/HgPr_6UbXbY/s640/IMG_1354.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recycling, repurposing, upcycling - we're all encouraged to waste less and re-use, whatever terms we use. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Last week I re-whatevered my dining chairs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Four dark oak chairs bought second-hand in about 1978 or 79 for £5. They've already served us well for a long time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">All I needed to give them a new lease of life was some paint, four old pairs of denim jeans and a heavy-duty stapler and staples.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">First I repainted the wooden frames, starting with a light coloured cheap emulsion as undercoat and then with a coat of Dulux satinwood in Grey Steel 2</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LvsxpUFUGYM/VZ6NnF8SqdI/AAAAAAAAEgA/EvoAbpsx6N0/s1600/IMG_1337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LvsxpUFUGYM/VZ6NnF8SqdI/AAAAAAAAEgA/EvoAbpsx6N0/s320/IMG_1337.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Now to re-cover the drop-in seats. I pulled off the old covers (my Mum's choice of fabric from the time we swapped chairs. I'm sure she wouldn't mind!)</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0v5dUnrUDn0/VZ6NNL2pssI/AAAAAAAAEfo/FoCZbrfDbJ4/s1600/IMG_1335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0v5dUnrUDn0/VZ6NNL2pssI/AAAAAAAAEfo/FoCZbrfDbJ4/s320/IMG_1335.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Then I measured the width and depth of the seats and added a generous amount all round for turning under.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I used four old pairs of well worn jeans</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitrCKVLimYHDJDfBqBqkXTPISTpY2o25eUaoPD2hSywwuFEJ7pFCiAbgs9evoeuP0avShhOTpuxUg5-1yjM4n8HwGios_YsM7-p31-R9EINO8O4de7aAbBoehnPQ9Sv_LAqtneJOJjefHA/s1600/DSCF9416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitrCKVLimYHDJDfBqBqkXTPISTpY2o25eUaoPD2hSywwuFEJ7pFCiAbgs9evoeuP0avShhOTpuxUg5-1yjM4n8HwGios_YsM7-p31-R9EINO8O4de7aAbBoehnPQ9Sv_LAqtneJOJjefHA/s400/DSCF9416.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Cut off the waistband and cut out the zip</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3m517K4mmMg/VZ6OrhAlEsI/AAAAAAAAEhg/IyNkQAVq4C0/s1600/DSCF9424.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3m517K4mmMg/VZ6OrhAlEsI/AAAAAAAAEhg/IyNkQAVq4C0/s320/DSCF9424.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CMQtTkxHwlk/VZ6O0hOGoPI/AAAAAAAAEhw/FYRn1nHILdE/s1600/DSCF9426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CMQtTkxHwlk/VZ6O0hOGoPI/AAAAAAAAEhw/FYRn1nHILdE/s320/DSCF9426.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Cut up the inside leg seams and open them out flat</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Centreing the measurements on the centre-back seam, cut to the size needed</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkpokeV5MYP5ZxZOTNtvSP6d4HVThi5XQNzhpCO_SEFwmxkoOKORIUk2KtJHGgh-zpB0WJZFxieCHlDSVOfx9RZ_4AC-_mdnboOYpoWYD6RUpf4zpVusPs-Mm5wupRFRUgrTpEJa0yR97b/s1600/DSCF9418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkpokeV5MYP5ZxZOTNtvSP6d4HVThi5XQNzhpCO_SEFwmxkoOKORIUk2KtJHGgh-zpB0WJZFxieCHlDSVOfx9RZ_4AC-_mdnboOYpoWYD6RUpf4zpVusPs-Mm5wupRFRUgrTpEJa0yR97b/s320/DSCF9418.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-38_ai1ozbL0/VZ6O0v2hBzI/AAAAAAAAEhs/ZrjPn1uZscY/s1600/DSCF9428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-38_ai1ozbL0/VZ6O0v2hBzI/AAAAAAAAEhs/ZrjPn1uZscY/s320/DSCF9428.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Fold the curved centre back/seat seam across to make a flat piece.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEJ3sJD9GJzS6JUvPDseK3JYR3F1dyrDrsPazSwarrGSq5BZ8JFhTcxkjH6LsCRwTJscpCUfTrqjevFltGIabO1LmWEXypwJwHl27icoNYGCFB-zjfGehFu9VeNlA2gstDi3pibgBi4IJq/s1600/DSCF9420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEJ3sJD9GJzS6JUvPDseK3JYR3F1dyrDrsPazSwarrGSq5BZ8JFhTcxkjH6LsCRwTJscpCUfTrqjevFltGIabO1LmWEXypwJwHl27icoNYGCFB-zjfGehFu9VeNlA2gstDi3pibgBi4IJq/s320/DSCF9420.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZTh9wCrl7Y0/VZ6OpvgBHiI/AAAAAAAAEhY/xkCNbEhOiPs/s1600/DSCF9422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZTh9wCrl7Y0/VZ6OpvgBHiI/AAAAAAAAEhY/xkCNbEhOiPs/s320/DSCF9422.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> Pin and stitch down - I did a small herringbone stitch on the right side which kept it flat.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Once all the denim pieces are ready its time for the fun part - covering the seat pads.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wBnXoEqtI_I/VZ6Nxq20ceI/AAAAAAAAEgI/5Y3szyPGNs0/s1600/IMG_1339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wBnXoEqtI_I/VZ6Nxq20ceI/AAAAAAAAEgI/5Y3szyPGNs0/s320/IMG_1339.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Place the fabric piece over the seat pad so the pockets are towards the back of the seat and the fabric is centred. Turn over. Pull the fabric to the underside of the back edge of the seat so you have about 2cm underneath. Put in a couple of staples near the middle underneath the back edge of the seat. Now lift the seat and smooth the fabric from back to front, turning it under the front edge. Pull it fairly tight and put in some staples under the front edge of the seat. Then pull the fabric out to the sides of the seat and staple it under the side edges.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gaFY4gSY0TE/VZ6N7u-j40I/AAAAAAAAEgQ/fEje0RLPg8g/s1600/IMG_1340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gaFY4gSY0TE/VZ6N7u-j40I/AAAAAAAAEgQ/fEje0RLPg8g/s400/IMG_1340.JPG" width="300" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Making neat tight corners is important, or the seats may not drop back into their spaces. I pulled the fabric out from the corner, turned it under and put in one staple,</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4oCQOna07B4/VZ6N9fTG98I/AAAAAAAAEgY/mcXe5ZaL6-s/s1600/IMG_1341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4oCQOna07B4/VZ6N9fTG98I/AAAAAAAAEgY/mcXe5ZaL6-s/s320/IMG_1341.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> then folded in the side edge and stapled it before folding and stapling the front (or back) edge. I had to trim away some of the surplus fabric so it wasn't too bulky.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B6lRwUziZrk/VZ6OJxt030I/AAAAAAAAEgk/E4J03NRUumQ/s1600/IMG_1345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B6lRwUziZrk/VZ6OJxt030I/AAAAAAAAEgk/E4J03NRUumQ/s320/IMG_1345.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Once the seat pads were fitted back into the frames I was really pleased with the result.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I have plan to use up the fabric from the legs of the jeans too - watch this space!!</span>Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109537088382336818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565418903848925139.post-3931409199835599362015-07-09T08:26:00.000-07:002015-07-09T08:26:24.869-07:00Chelsea Physic Garden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A couple of weeks ago I spent a few days in London. One of the highlights was a visit to the Chelsea Physic Garden. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_1OFBOiy69J08i5PtYMF9nMsNlJuNWpqlDIPpeba33Ia7PG5O7pTuZEljrXEOeuNn1eUR80YIE0oXcW7HL4XcoMJ3pPXx8Qb6Q3EomFISRSi_WJXeB0GQ5KkO_gTs7hiqlxJCKM1exAr/s1600/IMG_1305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_1OFBOiy69J08i5PtYMF9nMsNlJuNWpqlDIPpeba33Ia7PG5O7pTuZEljrXEOeuNn1eUR80YIE0oXcW7HL4XcoMJ3pPXx8Qb6Q3EomFISRSi_WJXeB0GQ5KkO_gTs7hiqlxJCKM1exAr/s320/IMG_1305.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a less welcome visitor</td></tr>
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I spent a very peaceful five hours wandering among the beds and borders enjoying this lovely calm place, right in the centre of London.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xy5LDc_fyLg/VZ6MLZIxYpI/AAAAAAAAEeg/TDG30ycVh6g/s1600/IMG_1306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xy5LDc_fyLg/VZ6MLZIxYpI/AAAAAAAAEeg/TDG30ycVh6g/s320/IMG_1306.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Puya chilensis - about 2.5m tall</td></tr>
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The garden has a long history, it was originally used by apothecaries for growing the herbs and medicinal plants they used. Now it is a research and educational garden which is also open to the public (but not on Saturdays or Mondays).<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OCiTihyxmLw/VZ6MkTfjw4I/AAAAAAAAEfA/yzW452HCRe8/s1600/IMG_1307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OCiTihyxmLw/VZ6MkTfjw4I/AAAAAAAAEfA/yzW452HCRe8/s640/IMG_1307.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the dye garden</td></tr>
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">You wont be surprised that my main interest was the dye plant section of the 'Useful Plants' garden, but really every corner of the garden was interesting.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mfcNL62drvk/VZ6MduiP3bI/AAAAAAAAEew/bbVJ1qxk2gE/s1600/IMG_1308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mfcNL62drvk/VZ6MduiP3bI/AAAAAAAAEew/bbVJ1qxk2gE/s320/IMG_1308.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Genista tinctoria - dyers' broom or dyers' greenweed</td></tr>
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</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RHbEmJIkblg/VZ6MjudQGtI/AAAAAAAAEe8/LouB55x2q8s/s1600/IMG_1309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RHbEmJIkblg/VZ6MjudQGtI/AAAAAAAAEe8/LouB55x2q8s/s320/IMG_1309.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reseda luteola - weld</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1NLcghBmsfw/VZ6M0G49jWI/AAAAAAAAEfI/-SzFJ3OQnjo/s1600/IMG_1310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1NLcghBmsfw/VZ6M0G49jWI/AAAAAAAAEfI/-SzFJ3OQnjo/s320/IMG_1310.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rubia tinctoria - madder</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7LBzTcuZ9mk/VZ6M19yGD_I/AAAAAAAAEfQ/-ML_bGew_-0/s1600/IMG_1312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7LBzTcuZ9mk/VZ6M19yGD_I/AAAAAAAAEfQ/-ML_bGew_-0/s320/IMG_1312.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Asperula tinctoria - dyers' woodruff</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hLgDG5fGiq0/VZ6M7TdQkjI/AAAAAAAAEfw/0leT1HBuqis/s1600/IMG_1315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hLgDG5fGiq0/VZ6M7TdQkjI/AAAAAAAAEfw/0leT1HBuqis/s320/IMG_1315.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Galium odoratum </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pntgXQPg0Vw/VZ6NMy7JdXI/AAAAAAAAEfk/J68v9LtN0sc/s1600/IMG_1316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pntgXQPg0Vw/VZ6NMy7JdXI/AAAAAAAAEfk/J68v9LtN0sc/s320/IMG_1316.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baptisia australis - false indigo</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwsOXK16cykrS6ZESE8a8VAHSq9gG96jtXz4bvUAx5-lh9fb1ZFEiCUEWjBJRDJqfIImhPnuNOYfJPDOWJgBsX_6PkI85uBzObEupPVU98k7HOqW7jS6kGyu1IGdcrH9_KrHBgohBbPn_M/s1600/IMG_1317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwsOXK16cykrS6ZESE8a8VAHSq9gG96jtXz4bvUAx5-lh9fb1ZFEiCUEWjBJRDJqfIImhPnuNOYfJPDOWJgBsX_6PkI85uBzObEupPVU98k7HOqW7jS6kGyu1IGdcrH9_KrHBgohBbPn_M/s320/IMG_1317.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rhus typhina - sumac</td></tr>
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<br />Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109537088382336818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565418903848925139.post-50072808814239235322015-05-20T14:08:00.001-07:002015-05-20T14:15:00.912-07:00Seaside workshops and knitting<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At last my new workspace in Oban is ready to host knitting groups and workshops!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">workshops with a view!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Here is a programme for the next few months - but I may add some additional surprise workshops so watch this space...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The address is 22A Alexandra Place, The Esplanade, Oban - that's the building next to the old Oban Times building. It is on the ground floor so fully accessible.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Knitting Group - informal drop-in get togethers, mostly on the first Saturday of the month, from 10 - 1. Bring your knitting and come for a chat!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Dates: 6th June, 4th July, 8th August (because the 1st is the Lorn Show!), 5th Sept, (no knitting group in October, sorry!) 7th November and 5th December.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Workshops</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Sunday 5th July - Drop Spindle spinning for beginners 10am - 1pm £42</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">A drop spindle lets us slow the spinning process right down and get to grips with each phase of it. The skills you will learn are transferable to a spinning wheel but a spindle is also a low cost, portable and versatile tool in its own right which will let you spin a wide variety of yarns. In this workshop you will learn to spin singles yarns, and how (and why) to ply them to create a 2-ply yarn.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Sunday 2nd August - Folded book origami - 10 am - 1 pm £30</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdV0xwoOgGq6a5sGiJPwA1DppiiguPmjbhyphenhyphenILbYOjbg9EbREStTKRyJxFPi0ajaIX2JYF7OkKCD8TkJMcXo8sSQ3OIqFa6v7cfRWZ6f1-oJWktw-GzCLqdd7p1N65UinXDDDdqF31TbdfA/s1600/wool.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdV0xwoOgGq6a5sGiJPwA1DppiiguPmjbhyphenhyphenILbYOjbg9EbREStTKRyJxFPi0ajaIX2JYF7OkKCD8TkJMcXo8sSQ3OIqFa6v7cfRWZ6f1-oJWktw-GzCLqdd7p1N65UinXDDDdqF31TbdfA/s320/wool.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Upcycle an unwanted hardback book into an unusual decorative piece. We will learn how to fold the book's pages to form a word (it doesn't have to be a woolly word!) or design.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Sunday 6th September - Spinning with a spinning wheel - 10am - 5pm £75</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Relative beginners can learn the basics of spinning with a spinning wheel while more experienced spinners can improve or learn new techniques to get the best from their wheels. Let me know in advance if there is something specific you want to cover. I have three different types of wheels you can try, or bring your own if you already have one.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Sunday 8th November - Knitting socks two - at - a time and toe-up 10am - 1pm £30</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIawm0aDSiDbOO6YesvTTZmkdjxtl8ejMNjgmEp6a0rcdCA8cXrgdHWFid7CPhsSY1mDy0OWmQYL_ZKWY4UGs7yIuwB_t9BLM5Pv3b63snYpB665DNP4_cktotAV7Mte82QZ2n4w0Qo9DK/s1600/Treking+socks+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIawm0aDSiDbOO6YesvTTZmkdjxtl8ejMNjgmEp6a0rcdCA8cXrgdHWFid7CPhsSY1mDy0OWmQYL_ZKWY4UGs7yIuwB_t9BLM5Pv3b63snYpB665DNP4_cktotAV7Mte82QZ2n4w0Qo9DK/s320/Treking+socks+3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Ever experienced second-sock-syndrome? If you knit them both at once you won't! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">One circular needle and two balls of yarn - sounds complicated but once you get going it really isn't. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Ever run out of yarn, or patience, before you got the sock finished? If you knit them toe-up, once you have completed the heel you can cast off any time, short or long, any length of leg you choose (or the yarn allows) and it is much easier to try them on as you go to check that they fit.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Combine the two techniques and you seem to be able to quickly complete a pair of socks which fit and match each other perfectly. You'll never be stuck with single or uncompleted socks again!! You will get your socks started during the workshop, and by the time you leave you will know all you need to know to get them finished at home. Please bring 100g of sock yarn and a long (100cm+) circular needle of the size you need to get the correct tension (probably between 2.5mm and 3mm).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">For all workshops, unless stated materials are included and equipment is provided for use during the workshop. Tea and coffee are provided. Full day workshops include a break for lunch but lunch is not provided.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Places are limited so please book early.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Please e-mail me at <a href="mailto:deborah.gray7@btinternet.com">deborah.gray7@btinternet.com</a> to book a place. I will then ask for a deposit, which is not refundable if you cancel (but would be fully refunded in the unlikely event that I had to cancel the workshop). Payment of the deposit secures your place. The balance is payable at the start of the workshop.</span>Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109537088382336818noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565418903848925139.post-64014643440457453892015-05-15T15:55:00.005-07:002015-05-15T15:55:47.082-07:00Filare in montagna - spinning in the mountains<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Un corso di filatura la settimana scorsa in un posto incantevole - Ostana in Alta Val di Po, provincia Cuneo (Piedmonte)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Spinning workshops last weekend in a most enchanting place up in the Alps in the High Valley of the Po, south-west of Turin</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Ero contentissima essere invitato dare un corso al Agriturismo a Nostro Mizoun / Azienda Agricola di Marina e Roberto Miretto.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I was delighted to be invited to teach a spinning course at the Agriturismo A Nostro Mizoun and farm of Marina and Roberto Miretto.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYzcCxRwJXKPAHZEgCQauaXAr6FBIOYKPOJgnbGKjxhK27QsPtA8NDQ3OWWtnvuexTEhTrzR5wnrcfz-5NrCEsyEfrKxY-O2N76pAw6fn95i1TeqsZXrSZ3ebeWrB4d_-RwZqhKTshq28w/s1600/6+Agriturismo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYzcCxRwJXKPAHZEgCQauaXAr6FBIOYKPOJgnbGKjxhK27QsPtA8NDQ3OWWtnvuexTEhTrzR5wnrcfz-5NrCEsyEfrKxY-O2N76pAw6fn95i1TeqsZXrSZ3ebeWrB4d_-RwZqhKTshq28w/s400/6+Agriturismo.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Sono arrivata a mezzanotte, quindi tutto buio durante il viaggio dal aeroporto di Casselle, non ho visto niente. Una sorprisa mi aspetta in mattina quando ho aperto la finestra!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I arrived at midnight, so it was dark for the whole journey from the airport at Casselle and I couldn't see anything of the views. A real surprise awaited me when I opened my window in the morning!!</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7zrXcv6LdNY/VVIrWXMSbJI/AAAAAAAAERw/hLXFbB5vxgI/s1600/1%2BMonviso%2Bfirst%2Bview.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7zrXcv6LdNY/VVIrWXMSbJI/AAAAAAAAERw/hLXFbB5vxgI/s640/1%2BMonviso%2Bfirst%2Bview.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">All'azienda agricola ci sono capre cashemere, asini e cane pastore. Fanno crescere anche piante diverse per liqore, prodotto nel suo proprio laboratorio.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">On the farm there are cashmere goats, donkeys and sheepdogs. They also grow various plants for flavouring liqueurs which are made in their own workshop.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BHETwMYm7CI/VVIr2quhZEI/AAAAAAAAESk/M_Ee0Ls0FfE/s1600/15%2BGoats%2Bnearer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BHETwMYm7CI/VVIr2quhZEI/AAAAAAAAESk/M_Ee0Ls0FfE/s320/15%2BGoats%2Bnearer.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ujE7x3NM_Yo/VVItdWulvUI/AAAAAAAAEU8/1OtgDvQXjBs/s1600/32%2BJeanLoup%2Band%2BOpe.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ujE7x3NM_Yo/VVItdWulvUI/AAAAAAAAEU8/1OtgDvQXjBs/s320/32%2BJeanLoup%2Band%2BOpe.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">L'aria e' pura e pulita, silenzio tranne un rumore basso dei torrenti, e dei ucelli che cantano</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The air is pure and clean, silent except for a low quiet rumbling of waterfalls and the singing of birds.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FVYG_HgzY-8/VVIr2YyvdPI/AAAAAAAAESg/kLZ06KCme24/s1600/17Localita%2BDurandin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FVYG_HgzY-8/VVIr2YyvdPI/AAAAAAAAESg/kLZ06KCme24/s400/17Localita%2BDurandin.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">E le viste sono incomparibile! And the views are amazing!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Venerdi, dopo mi ho preparato per il corso, ho avuto tempo per una passiegata al Pion del Charm - 1632 m su livello del mare. Gia' piu alta dei monti piu' grandi della Scozia. E in fronte, il Monviso, 3,800 m.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">On Friday, once I had prepared for the workshops, I had time for a stroll to Pion del Charm - 1632 metres above sea level, already higher than the highest mountains in Scotland, while overlooking the other side of the valley is Monviso, at 3,800 metres.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bjc-HAqzK8o/VVIsEiR33MI/AAAAAAAAES0/ksSXFZ1NUQ0/s1600/19%2BPion%2Bdel%2Bcharm%2Bpath.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bjc-HAqzK8o/VVIsEiR33MI/AAAAAAAAES0/ksSXFZ1NUQ0/s320/19%2BPion%2Bdel%2Bcharm%2Bpath.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VTv_kl0I_wA/VVIsHWSeEdI/AAAAAAAAES8/ltA1shg5rNE/s1600/2%2BMonviso%2Bportrait.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VTv_kl0I_wA/VVIsHWSeEdI/AAAAAAAAES8/ltA1shg5rNE/s640/2%2BMonviso%2Bportrait.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monviso</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rq2YIQOIgeY/VVIsyc9ZlMI/AAAAAAAAET8/6wysEQjT-vg/s1600/27%2BCinghiale.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rq2YIQOIgeY/VVIsyc9ZlMI/AAAAAAAAET8/6wysEQjT-vg/s320/27%2BCinghiale.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cinghiale! Wild Boars!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aTS3n5_13l8/VVItGbbBhHI/AAAAAAAAEUc/gT78tpTUmes/s1600/30%2BGentian.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aTS3n5_13l8/VVItGbbBhHI/AAAAAAAAEUc/gT78tpTUmes/s320/30%2BGentian.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and wild flowers...</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Uno dei abitanti della azienda e JeanLoup, un pastore dei Pirenei, taglo di una pecora e anche lanoso. Roberto e Maxim le avevano pettiato, e mi hanno dato una busta della sua 'lana'. Naturellmente la ho filato...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hTbFMfN4YSw/VVItl9bhoDI/AAAAAAAAEVI/49T86H77jmU/s1600/33%2BJeanLoup.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hTbFMfN4YSw/VVItl9bhoDI/AAAAAAAAEVI/49T86H77jmU/s320/33%2BJeanLoup.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JeanLoup</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">One of the farm residents is JeanLoup, a Pyreneean sheep dog, the size of a large sheep and about as woolly. Roberto and maxim had combed him and presented me with a bag of his 'wool'. Naturally I spun it...</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Dopo una buona cena preparata da Marina, abbiamo guardato una mare di nebbia arrivare nel val di Po</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">We had a lovely dinner prepared by Marina, and as it got dark we watched a sea of white mist moving up the valley.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Sabato mattina sono arrivati i corsisti, due che conoscevo prima, otto amici nuovi</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">On Saturday morning the course participants arrived, two of whom I knew already, and eight new friends.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uXkR94g2PbU/VVIts3lvChI/AAAAAAAAEVU/KeeuinlADHI/s1600/35%2Bday%2B1%2Battrezzi.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uXkR94g2PbU/VVIts3lvChI/AAAAAAAAEVU/KeeuinlADHI/s320/35%2Bday%2B1%2Battrezzi.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Abbiamo lavorato in un spazio ampio e molto commodo, come sempre abbiamo comminciato con un vello intero, sucido, dalle isole Shetland che avevo spedito per il corso.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hjN2ZPKOaYg/VVIt5-Efs5I/AAAAAAAAEVg/AyjZ7j85d58/s1600/37%2BDay%2B1%2Bfleece.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hjN2ZPKOaYg/VVIt5-Efs5I/AAAAAAAAEVg/AyjZ7j85d58/s320/37%2BDay%2B1%2Bfleece.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">La divisione del vello secondo la qualita' delle fibre , la cardatura e la pettinatura ci hanno occupate per la mattina.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ny-1qvFmXwk/VVIuNs8tT0I/AAAAAAAAEWE/EFw8FZ9qQDI/s1600/38%2BDay%2B1%2Bcarding4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ny-1qvFmXwk/VVIuNs8tT0I/AAAAAAAAEWE/EFw8FZ9qQDI/s400/38%2BDay%2B1%2Bcarding4.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPr48PGSl_DlUyynGYWuU4To0oUSwCCQ6orX4V_IvzQi7SBjvRSzrM0D4nScmmIpYSFfy5Ws4CCBDIrstwgY2skCQhzXgAeOvhTiK7gIbWw_5sTQ5i3gqlHCEcnLK1wqofPqkJhQ5P-e-g/s1600/40+day+1+Carding.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPr48PGSl_DlUyynGYWuU4To0oUSwCCQ6orX4V_IvzQi7SBjvRSzrM0D4nScmmIpYSFfy5Ws4CCBDIrstwgY2skCQhzXgAeOvhTiK7gIbWw_5sTQ5i3gqlHCEcnLK1wqofPqkJhQ5P-e-g/s400/40+day+1+Carding.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">We worked in a large and comfortable space, ideal for the worshops, as usual starting with a whole raw fleece, from Shetland, which I had sent over for the course. Sorting the fleece according to the quality of the fibre, carding and combing kept us occupied for the rest of the morning. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Nel pomeriggio hanno imperato tutti a filare con fusi semplice. Dopo la filatura di due 'singoli', li hanno binato in un filato a due capi, poi hanno fatto ognuno la sua prima matassa.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hvd9tJfoINQ/VVIut6Oil-I/AAAAAAAAEW0/1Z-OFB8nQv0/s1600/43%2BDay%2B1%2BAndrea%2BStefania%2BMarta.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="338" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hvd9tJfoINQ/VVIut6Oil-I/AAAAAAAAEW0/1Z-OFB8nQv0/s400/43%2BDay%2B1%2BAndrea%2BStefania%2BMarta.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hojmlVQti-A/VVIutdB45TI/AAAAAAAAEWw/MQh2vYglljc/s1600/44%2BDay%2B1%2B44%2BPaola%2BRoberto%2BAlessia%2B%282%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="452" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hojmlVQti-A/VVIutdB45TI/AAAAAAAAEWw/MQh2vYglljc/s640/44%2BDay%2B1%2B44%2BPaola%2BRoberto%2BAlessia%2B(2).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">In the afternoon everyone learned to spin using simple drop spindles. After spinning two singles yarns, they plied them into a 2-ply yarn, and everyone made their first skein.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ISDbIkyxDlA/VVIvAS_TDvI/AAAAAAAAEXM/98GhicMjcEE/s1600/46%2BDay%2B1%2BAlessia%2BPiera%2BAndrea.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ISDbIkyxDlA/VVIvAS_TDvI/AAAAAAAAEXM/98GhicMjcEE/s400/46%2BDay%2B1%2BAlessia%2BPiera%2BAndrea.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Il ristorante del agriturismo era pieno per la cena, abbiamo mangiato troppo bene!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The agriturismo restaurant was full for dinner and we ate too well!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Per Domenica, abbaimo l'uso di tre filatoi Ashford Kiwi, anche Andrea ha portato il suo filatoio di modello tradizionale della zona. </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vkGmCCu1Y8Y/VVIvLfdqGZI/AAAAAAAAEXY/G2QnebaaTJ4/s1600/48%2BAndrea%27s%2Bwheel%2B1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vkGmCCu1Y8Y/VVIvLfdqGZI/AAAAAAAAEXY/G2QnebaaTJ4/s400/48%2BAndrea's%2Bwheel%2B1.JPG" width="247" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_yOBOYPwWUk/VVIvLxDbTXI/AAAAAAAAEXc/_1LgXKyEyzw/s1600/49%2BAndrea%27s%2Bwheel%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_yOBOYPwWUk/VVIvLxDbTXI/AAAAAAAAEXc/_1LgXKyEyzw/s320/49%2BAndrea's%2Bwheel%2B2.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Lo avevo provato la sera prima - non era facile ad usare e Andrea ha fatto bene a produrre un filato regolare e ben ritorto, ma ha devuto pedalare fortemente!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gp0pkKW7pik/VVIvjBSnRaI/AAAAAAAAEXw/1np_WFVxXek/s1600/50%2BDay%2B2%2BAlessia%2B%282%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="504" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gp0pkKW7pik/VVIvjBSnRaI/AAAAAAAAEXw/1np_WFVxXek/s640/50%2BDay%2B2%2BAlessia%2B(2).jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">On Sunday we had the use of three Ashford Kiwi spinning wheels, and Andrea had brought his own wheel, a traditional style for the area. I had had a go with it the evening before - it was not easy to use and Andrea did really well to produce an even and well twisted yarn, but he had to treadle hard and fast to do it!</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LiizjIW5P2w/VVIv5dRUmhI/AAAAAAAAEYU/ceCfJFY-1ug/s1600/51%2BDay%2B2%2BAndrea.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="571" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LiizjIW5P2w/VVIv5dRUmhI/AAAAAAAAEYU/ceCfJFY-1ug/s640/51%2BDay%2B2%2BAndrea.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Ognuno ha filato un capo col filatoio Kiwi e un capo col fuso, e hanno tutti fatto la binatura col filatoio. Al fine del pomeriggio hanno tutti la sua seconda matassa.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y5_gPKnQN0Y/VVIvv0loezI/AAAAAAAAEYE/DqcOHbNkaTE/s1600/52%2BDay%2B2%2BMarta.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y5_gPKnQN0Y/VVIvv0loezI/AAAAAAAAEYE/DqcOHbNkaTE/s640/52%2BDay%2B2%2BMarta.JPG" width="410" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The others all spun one singles with a Kiwi wheel and one with a spindle, and plied them together using a spinning wheel.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4bOGMlo0qPs/VVIv2H5-z8I/AAAAAAAAEYM/FRF0KboA3mU/s1600/53%2BDay%2B2%2BPaola%2BMarta.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4bOGMlo0qPs/VVIv2H5-z8I/AAAAAAAAEYM/FRF0KboA3mU/s640/53%2BDay%2B2%2BPaola%2BMarta.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> By the end of the afternoon everyone had completed their second skein of yarn.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CY0LdMmjSk4/VVIv-SvGnqI/AAAAAAAAEYk/x8HTy-sr-XQ/s1600/54%2BDay%2B2%2BStefania%2BPaola.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CY0LdMmjSk4/VVIv-SvGnqI/AAAAAAAAEYk/x8HTy-sr-XQ/s400/54%2BDay%2B2%2BStefania%2BPaola.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Perche' era la festa della mamma il ristorante era ancora pieno, e il pranzo molto buono.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Because it was Mothers' Day the restaurant was even busier and the lunch was excellent.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">In pomeriggio eriamo interotti per l'arrivo di Ambrogino e Luca </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xxX4qkKckUQ/VVIv960sGLI/AAAAAAAAEYg/Kn1i3Cq-hDA/s1600/55%2BAmbroglino%2Be%2BLuca%2B%282%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xxX4qkKckUQ/VVIv960sGLI/AAAAAAAAEYg/Kn1i3Cq-hDA/s640/55%2BAmbroglino%2Be%2BLuca%2B(2).jpg" width="570" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">- nuovi residenti dell'azienda - due alpaca! JeanLoup il grande cane pastore li ha preso in cura, ma i asini erano un po antipatico al'inizio!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zda_FDpxsuE/VVIwPj7VRsI/AAAAAAAAEZE/HuI5Wz0_YcU/s1600/56%2BAmbroglino.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zda_FDpxsuE/VVIwPj7VRsI/AAAAAAAAEZE/HuI5Wz0_YcU/s400/56%2BAmbroglino.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">In the afternoon we were interrupted by the arrival of Ambrogino and Luca, new residents of the farm - two alpacas! JeanLoup the big sheepdog took them in charge, but the donkeys didn't like them much at first.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Nessuno ha volute partire di questo posto cosi bello, ma pian piano hanno salutati l'arrivederci, con l'esperenza di un secondo corso di filatura, forse anche della tintura al sole.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y8dgptzJWuo/VVIsTU-PoII/AAAAAAAAETM/VsFgS68ZwPI/s1600/20%2BAT%2Bfrom%2Babove.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="464" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y8dgptzJWuo/VVIsTU-PoII/AAAAAAAAETM/VsFgS68ZwPI/s640/20%2BAT%2Bfrom%2Babove.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rHGycBy61nM/VVIsiIRIqkI/AAAAAAAAETg/VsDq4ZAN3LA/s1600/23%2BView%2BN%2Bfrom%2Bpion%2Bdel%2Bcharm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rHGycBy61nM/VVIsiIRIqkI/AAAAAAAAETg/VsDq4ZAN3LA/s400/23%2BView%2BN%2Bfrom%2Bpion%2Bdel%2Bcharm.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">No-one really wanted to leave such a beautiful place, but slowly goodbyes were said, with hopes for a second spinning course, and maybe some solar dyeing as well.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HipIu2nhAz4/VVIrWLu6L3I/AAAAAAAAERs/_WHfohyfCpk/s1600/10%2BAgri%2Band%2Bstalle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HipIu2nhAz4/VVIrWLu6L3I/AAAAAAAAERs/_WHfohyfCpk/s400/10%2BAgri%2Band%2Bstalle.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Ho sistemata la roba, mi sono rilassata con la maglia sulla terassa prima di mangiare la cena insieme con la famigla - tutti noi stanchi, ma anche soddisfatti dopo un fine di settimana impegnativo ma anche piacevole.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I sorted out all my stuff and relaxed for a while with my knitting on the terrace, enjoying the view, before having dinner with the family - all of us tired but also satisfied after a busy but enjoyable weekend.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w-2ab11j-MM/VVIsWGKWDHI/AAAAAAAAETU/VdDECcgaPxI/s1600/22%2BView%2Bfrom%2Babove%2BAT.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w-2ab11j-MM/VVIsWGKWDHI/AAAAAAAAETU/VdDECcgaPxI/s640/22%2BView%2Bfrom%2Babove%2BAT.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Lunedi ho avuto solo un paio di ore dopo la collazione, per appreciare ancora questo posto incantevole, poi ho devuto partire per il lungo viaggio di ritorno alla Scozia. Fare un corso al Azienda Agricola / Agriturismo A Nostro Mizoun era una esperienza bellissimo, ho trovato amici nuove e un posto meraviglioso. Spero di poter tornare!!</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ylb1BvSD7EB3rA01rAjZauftOLzSdRA3rMmTmFKBfsOGEEpv-38XJWXrxwCjHJfKg0qgGNkzam8EP_poTaNHLLvqOOFuO9Ek-qLtn4yznnU5AdJlz5xYD-MqcZQl3MurIfUFUj8sfMII/s1600/24+View+from+water+tank+Saluzzo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ylb1BvSD7EB3rA01rAjZauftOLzSdRA3rMmTmFKBfsOGEEpv-38XJWXrxwCjHJfKg0qgGNkzam8EP_poTaNHLLvqOOFuO9Ek-qLtn4yznnU5AdJlz5xYD-MqcZQl3MurIfUFUj8sfMII/s640/24+View+from+water+tank+Saluzzo.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">On Monday I only had a couple of hours after breakfast to enjoy the peace of this enchanting place before I had to leave for the long journey back to Scotland. Teaching workshops at Azienda Agricola / Agriturismo A Nostro Mizoun was a lovely experience, I found new friends and a marvellous place. I hope to go back!!</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7PQ_nHUjHuk/VVItApMbchI/AAAAAAAAEUU/M4xk9Asrf2o/s1600/3%2BEarly%2Bview%2BSE.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7PQ_nHUjHuk/VVItApMbchI/AAAAAAAAEUU/M4xk9Asrf2o/s640/3%2BEarly%2Bview%2BSE.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<br />Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109537088382336818noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565418903848925139.post-26610637346129777422015-03-11T12:10:00.004-07:002015-03-11T12:10:33.286-07:00Corso di filatura immerso nella natura del Val di Sieve<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v5hOfLMTIK0/VQB5QH2GzcI/AAAAAAAAEN4/JG13RP9ugtg/s1600/IMG_0915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v5hOfLMTIK0/VQB5QH2GzcI/AAAAAAAAEN4/JG13RP9ugtg/s1600/IMG_0915.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sulla strada verso Londa - on the road to Londa</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nel Centro Visite del Parco Nazionale delle Foreste Casentinesi in comune di Londa il 7 & 8 marzo ho avuto la piacere insegnare un corso di filatura. Sono grata al Sindaco, Vicesindaco e personale del commune che ci hanno fatto i benvenuti in questo locale cosi' piacevole.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prima veduta del centro visite - first view of the visitor centre</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">In the Visitor Centre of the Foreste Casentinesi at Londa (about an hour from Florence) on the 7th and 8th of March I had the pleasure of teaching a spinning course. I am very grateful to the Sindaco, Vicesindaco and staff of the commune (council) who made us welcome in such a lovely place.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-czWDlLKcBhs/VQB54-1YJ8I/AAAAAAAAEOg/u3TIaC-FloI/s1600/IMG_0926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-czWDlLKcBhs/VQB54-1YJ8I/AAAAAAAAEOg/u3TIaC-FloI/s1600/IMG_0926.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Venerdi Olena mi ha portato al centro visita per prepare per il corso. Un spazio ampio e tranquillo, immerso nella natura, direttamente vicino al lago di Londa.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">On Friday Olena took me to the visitor centre to prepare for the workshops. A lovely big space surrounded by nature and right beside the lake of Londa</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vkmr5WM-a7c/VQB50VRGJtI/AAAAAAAAEOY/sLGRMOV_Crs/s1600/IMG_0923.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vkmr5WM-a7c/VQB50VRGJtI/AAAAAAAAEOY/sLGRMOV_Crs/s1600/IMG_0923.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lago di Londa</td></tr>
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</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Poi siamo andata a Firenze, una mie citta' preferite, dove abbiamo trovato gelato e ....<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">mandatory gelato</td></tr>
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Then we went to Florence, one of my favourite cities, where we found lovely icecream and the bronze boar (touching his snout is supposed to ensure that you will return to Florence. I did it the first time I went there and it has worked four times, but I thought I'd better do it again incase the spell wore off!)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hYXMQtezb3Q/VQB6LxqIK9I/AAAAAAAAEO8/izNwXSrI86o/s1600/IMG_0933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hYXMQtezb3Q/VQB6LxqIK9I/AAAAAAAAEO8/izNwXSrI86o/s1600/IMG_0933.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">making sure I will return to Florence</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Sabato mattina presto ci siamo incontrati e introdotti, <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAmRvByhtX2-QGxcC6UHnAmFXrECpJJVaBX4MDJtjsP5JpLWCMFJnbcDEMLW4MCeFSsYD32-jMZ9qz2lUy7Ks1Wq6qoFRoJ-2ApiwYtrBjaOBGLoLeSu2S3Jo14tpwjYOA6OkD9KEhfxiN/s1600/IMG_0940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAmRvByhtX2-QGxcC6UHnAmFXrECpJJVaBX4MDJtjsP5JpLWCMFJnbcDEMLW4MCeFSsYD32-jMZ9qz2lUy7Ks1Wq6qoFRoJ-2ApiwYtrBjaOBGLoLeSu2S3Jo14tpwjYOA6OkD9KEhfxiN/s1600/IMG_0940.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sofia, Maitane, Antonio, Tatiana, Esther, DG, Olena, Rossana, Marina, Elisabetta (dov'e' Rossella?)</td></tr>
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poi comminca il lavoro con una mostra dei campioni.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uXjfplDcEGY/VQB5e3u5D8I/AAAAAAAAEOQ/e5VUWYVbqZw/s1600/IMG_0921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uXjfplDcEGY/VQB5e3u5D8I/AAAAAAAAEOQ/e5VUWYVbqZw/s1600/IMG_0921.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a selection of samples</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c5YhCfNEt30/VQB5eCV7ewI/AAAAAAAAEOE/ZkzsgBqOHk0/s1600/IMG_0920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c5YhCfNEt30/VQB5eCV7ewI/AAAAAAAAEOE/ZkzsgBqOHk0/s1600/IMG_0920.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> Abbiamo a disposizione un vello di lana Shetland, proveniente da Jamieson & Smith, Shetland Woolbrokers.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgygoyzSVKwI0uazteaZ97erIyq-mWMMxaHtEv5XsBSx2R2EF24rjOJLewuKMyrk81_W6IwG774ehOb1fSIY3oJ_CmztJD_DIBY7R6HO-LOkHq8-CvAdiZ3YTY866tm_ZMdvvxQ3TsT_AFd/s1600/IMG_0943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgygoyzSVKwI0uazteaZ97erIyq-mWMMxaHtEv5XsBSx2R2EF24rjOJLewuKMyrk81_W6IwG774ehOb1fSIY3oJ_CmztJD_DIBY7R6HO-LOkHq8-CvAdiZ3YTY866tm_ZMdvvxQ3TsT_AFd/s1600/IMG_0943.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
Soffice e caloroso, ma anche pieno di torba secca, causa dei venti delle isole. la torba e caduta mentre la preparazione della lana.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Early on Saturday morning we met and introduced ourselves, and then started with a display of samples before starting work. I had supplied a Shetland fleece from Jamieson & Smith, Shetland Woolbrokers, It was soft and warm but also full of dried peat due to the island winds. the peat just dropped out while we were preparing the wool.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Dopo dividere il vello in tre porzione secondo la qualita' della fibra, abbiamo pettinato e cardato la lana, fino all'ora per il pranzo. Sopra del Centro Visite e un ristorante pizzeria Da Fischio, dove ci aspettano, e abbiamo mangiato bene.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ristorante Da Fischio</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">After sorting the fleece into three parts according to the quality of the fibre, we combed and carded the wool until it was time for lunch. Above the Visitor Centre there is a restaurant pizzeria called Da Fischio where we were expected, and we ate very well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Dopo pranzo commincia la filatura col fuso, tutti molto concentrate sul lavoro.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TckEKvcULsY/VQB6n-Su9HI/AAAAAAAAEPg/vApWmTe45hE/s1600/IMG_0944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TckEKvcULsY/VQB6n-Su9HI/AAAAAAAAEPg/vApWmTe45hE/s1600/IMG_0944.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> Pian piano produce ognuno uno gomitolo di filato singolo, poi un altro, e finalmente ha doppiato insieme i due per un filato a due capi. Prima matassa creata!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HtSEmO41aXM/VQB6z4RylJI/AAAAAAAAEPw/U_X2dtp8fSM/s1600/IMG_0947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HtSEmO41aXM/VQB6z4RylJI/AAAAAAAAEPw/U_X2dtp8fSM/s1600/IMG_0947.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">After lunch the spinning started, using drop spindles.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vDKG7onq11I/VQB6rlPKFRI/AAAAAAAAEPo/upbRM03iHWo/s1600/IMG_0946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vDKG7onq11I/VQB6rlPKFRI/AAAAAAAAEPo/upbRM03iHWo/s1600/IMG_0946.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> Concentrating on the work, slowly each person produced their first small ball of yarn, then another, and finally plied the two together into a two-ply yarn. First skein created!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhaNQ-b8fIVyGldgAXqU73UhrLQc6S2aXTZz17SDR7UyZMQM10XK1TfVTZhEuKvgMgdQlTHRFfMOxYi52UHKEyStYl_PfOx1wnz8eUg3A-Yzk0Ssxf_dHGoHmNSsXJOJv8ODi_j27kx62y/s1600/IMG_0950.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhaNQ-b8fIVyGldgAXqU73UhrLQc6S2aXTZz17SDR7UyZMQM10XK1TfVTZhEuKvgMgdQlTHRFfMOxYi52UHKEyStYl_PfOx1wnz8eUg3A-Yzk0Ssxf_dHGoHmNSsXJOJv8ODi_j27kx62y/s1600/IMG_0950.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">posizione diverse, risulti uguali!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Certi fra noi sono rimasti per prendere la pizza a Da Fischio, una serata rilassante e deliziosa. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">buon appetito!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Some of us stayed to have pizza at Da Fischio, a relaxing and delicious end to the day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Domenica ci siamo troviati alla filatura col filatoio.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WuvMvbD-nws/VQB7D_kj4oI/AAAAAAAAEQI/GFa-yeghfPw/s1600/IMG_0952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WuvMvbD-nws/VQB7D_kj4oI/AAAAAAAAEQI/GFa-yeghfPw/s1600/IMG_0952.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tatiana molto concentrati sul filatoio, Marina col fuso</td></tr>
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Due Ashford Kiwi 2, l'uno di Olena con la ruota rossa, l'altro tutto nuovo per il corso.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QfJVJcquJPc/VQB7Jj8FcQI/AAAAAAAAEQY/7qgsfdEt1Do/s1600/IMG_0954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QfJVJcquJPc/VQB7Jj8FcQI/AAAAAAAAEQY/7qgsfdEt1Do/s1600/IMG_0954.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> Ancora la cardatura per preparare la lana, ognuno ha filato un capo con il filatoio,<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r0YIg0c8CLw/VQB7JJOAVtI/AAAAAAAAEQQ/YYks6CxcbyA/s1600/IMG_0956.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r0YIg0c8CLw/VQB7JJOAVtI/AAAAAAAAEQQ/YYks6CxcbyA/s1600/IMG_0956.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maitane (from Venezuela) and her interpreter (daughter Sofia)</td></tr>
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un capo col fuso, prima di binare col filatoio. Secondo matassa creata!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">On Sunday we found ourselves spinning with spinning wheels. Two Ashford Kiwi 2's, Olena's with the red wheel and a new one I had shipped over for the workshop.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EOWn-ZJbw80/VQB7VhVvGkI/AAAAAAAAEQg/PyByz6MRPnI/s1600/IMG_0958.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EOWn-ZJbw80/VQB7VhVvGkI/AAAAAAAAEQg/PyByz6MRPnI/s1600/IMG_0958.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jumper and socks co-ordinated with the spinning wheel!</td></tr>
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More carding to prepare more wool, then everyone spun one single with a wheel and the other with a spindle before plying with a spinning wheel. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t1HoN7_bXmM/VQB7YQYT_vI/AAAAAAAAEQo/eqzD6r_VaZo/s1600/IMG_0960.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t1HoN7_bXmM/VQB7YQYT_vI/AAAAAAAAEQo/eqzD6r_VaZo/s1600/IMG_0960.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Antonio plying - note the high-tech lazy kates!</td></tr>
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Second skein created!</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dKkMuE1kkoU/VQB7ZiKWDsI/AAAAAAAAEQw/FimYGLEaC38/s1600/IMG_0962.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dKkMuE1kkoU/VQB7ZiKWDsI/AAAAAAAAEQw/FimYGLEaC38/s1600/IMG_0962.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Ci siamo divertiti, con amicizie nuove e lavoro soddisfaciente. Ringrazio Antonio, Elisabetta, Esther, Marina, Maitane, Rossana, Rossella, Sofia e Tatiana per farmi la benvenuta. Spero potere tornare in questo posto bellisimo per fare un secondo corso....... rimaniamo in contatto.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We had fun, made new friends and everyone seemed very satisfied with what they had done. Thanks to everyone for making me feel so welcome. I hope to be able to return to this lovely place and run a second course.... we are keeping in touch.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Sopratutto, devo ringraziare Olena Fossi chi ha organizzato tutto con precisione e cura, chi ha trovato una sede perfetto per il corso e chi e' stata cosi' accogliente mi ha fatto sentirmi davvero fra amici apenna arrivata. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Above all I must thank Olena Fossi who organised everything precisely and carefully, who found us such a perfect venue for the workshops, and who was so welcoming that I felt that I was among friends as soon as I arrived.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span>Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109537088382336818noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565418903848925139.post-14735394780996146672015-01-16T09:37:00.000-08:002015-01-16T09:37:41.059-08:00Corso base di filatura, Londa (vicino Firenze) 7 & 8 marzo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I posti sempre disponibili sono pochi - non aspetate contattarci!</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sono felice di informarvi che il corso si terrà nei locali del Centro Visite del Parco Nazionale delle Foreste Casentinesi in comune di Londa e sull'omonimo Lago.</span><a href="http://www.parks.it/parco.nazionale.for.casentinesi/cen_dettaglio.php?id=62" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1421428759640_2887" rel="nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.parks.it/parco.nazionale.for.casentinesi/cen_dettaglio.php?id=62</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">ORARIO : dalle ore 10 ale ore 18.<br /><br /> PREZZO : 160 euro per due giorni di corso oppure 80 euro una sola giornata.<br /><br /> In questo costo NON è incluso l'alloggio nè i pasti, che saranno a carico individuale. Sarà possibile mangiare nei locali dell'adiacente ristorante Da Fischio ad un prezzo di euro 10 per persona al giorno da pagare di persona sul posto.<br /><br /> In questo costo è INCLUSO il materiale necessario per seguire il corso, anche sarà la possibilità di acquistare altro materiale ed attrezzatura con notevole sconto e senza spese di spedizione.<br /> Per chi fosse inoltre interessato all'acquisto di un filatoio (il cui uso verrà introdotto il secondo giorno) sono in grado di procurare anche in questo caso un buon sconto sulla gamma Ashford , sempre senza spese di spedizione (per ordine confermate con pagamento non oltre il 31 gennaio)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">PROGRAMMA</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Sabato Mattina</u> 3 ore :<br /> Le fibre e la preparazione. <br /><br /> Tipi e caratteristiche della lana e delle altre fibre.<br /><br /> Il vello sucido, come dividerlo secondo la qualita, istruzioni per quando e come lavarlo (o non), la cardatura e la pettinatura a mano .<br /><br /> I motivi per metodi diversi di preparazione. <br /><br /> Come preparare altre fibre, esempio la seta.<br />Pausa pranzo <br /><br /><u>Sabato pomeriggio</u>(3 ore): <br /> La filatura col fuso : base importante anche per chi vorrà filare col filatoio.<br /><br />Filati 'singoli', come e perche' doppiare i filati. <br /><br /> Come fare le matasse e 'finire' il filato.<br /><br /><u>Domenica</u> (6 ore + pausa pranzo):<br /> Il filatoio. <br />Modelli dei filatoi, come sceglierlo, le parti, come mantenere il filatoio.<br /><br /> La filatura col filatoio - filati singoli, la doppiatura - creazione di una matassa di filato a due capi.<br /><br /> Il numero dei filatoi a disposizione sarà limitato, per cui se qualcuno già lo possiede , sarebbe gradito che lo portasse e lo comunicasse specificando il modello.<br /><br />Diversamente , se qualcuno è interessato all'acquisto di attrezzatura dalla gamma Ashford, con prezzi scontati rispetto al costo di listino , per ordine confermate con pagamento non oltre il 31 gennaio può approfittare della proposta contattando <a href="mailto:Deborah.gray7@btinternet.com">Deborah.gray7@btinternet.com</a> Una spedizione all'ingrosso sarà spedito direttamente nel luogo del corso senza alcuna spesa di spedizione, così come anche altri materiali ed accessori aspo,cardatori,fusi ,fibre aggiuntive e altro che potrete richiedere.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Iscrizioni:</u> A questo punto e essenziale </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">contattare subito l'organizzatrice Olena Fossi oppure via email all'indirizzo hollyfoxy@gmail.com oppure al 3286486393</span>Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109537088382336818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565418903848925139.post-40279461324682688562015-01-08T09:22:00.001-08:002015-01-16T10:08:57.065-08:00New Year, New Plans<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy New Year everyone! I hope you all had a lovely festive season and have lots of plans for fabulous fibre-y projects in 2015.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I've been making plans for workshops for the new year! But unfortunately the tab for the page with workshop dates seems to have disappeared and so no-one can find it, so <a href="http://perfectweatherforspinningandknitting.blogspot.co.uk/p/workshops-in-scotland-2015.html" target="_blank">here's (edited to fix link)</a></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> the </span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">link.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yqmofa5dwb0/VK62WoxlnVI/AAAAAAAAELg/t70mkW0qeCc/s1600/065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yqmofa5dwb0/VK62WoxlnVI/AAAAAAAAELg/t70mkW0qeCc/s1600/065.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">I'm planning some experiments with Icelandic and Scottish Valais Blacknose fleece,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6SET57niSsA/VK62kolZ3YI/AAAAAAAAELo/pl2uZ-sTs1c/s1600/13%2BRita%2Band%2Bsheep.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6SET57niSsA/VK62kolZ3YI/AAAAAAAAELo/pl2uZ-sTs1c/s1600/13%2BRita%2Band%2Bsheep.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Icelandic sheep and lambs at Grunegerdi</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTIbd3s3N1pJcbcVddQ2ToXLG3PN5Bv3iJu7w_PwVjHINS1XPXvjoQ8rUawJxl2UQknwPm8MPglg_0GLNHPCpIg1w6XXxj49_xnPZZ6A4Jm9WkMfij3D2BOXLwRGwB5ViqaFn_wqJQUwvg/s1600/Scottish+Valais+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTIbd3s3N1pJcbcVddQ2ToXLG3PN5Bv3iJu7w_PwVjHINS1XPXvjoQ8rUawJxl2UQknwPm8MPglg_0GLNHPCpIg1w6XXxj49_xnPZZ6A4Jm9WkMfij3D2BOXLwRGwB5ViqaFn_wqJQUwvg/s1600/Scottish+Valais+2.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scottish Valais Blacknose sheep at Braco Show</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO4FeH_xnIwJne1bG9naLrR1CH40ywWPKuX9LPKfMEVqOJexe4lsBk0WnP6fNzvbmz54LsdcmowCFiuDJOAV7eMhNyWdzk4Uj6C7qerdGIYB2JLqg_-p9WqEOyxug8t6sCg8XNIkiHTOLT/s1600/Scottish+Valais+Blacknose.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO4FeH_xnIwJne1bG9naLrR1CH40ywWPKuX9LPKfMEVqOJexe4lsBk0WnP6fNzvbmz54LsdcmowCFiuDJOAV7eMhNyWdzk4Uj6C7qerdGIYB2JLqg_-p9WqEOyxug8t6sCg8XNIkiHTOLT/s1600/Scottish+Valais+Blacknose.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scottish Valais Blacknose fleeces delivered to my house!!!!!</td></tr>
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lots of dyeing experiments<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--YKvp_YenmE/VK63CsPJqMI/AAAAAAAAEMg/gR2zPdRS6rk/s1600/solar%2B14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--YKvp_YenmE/VK63CsPJqMI/AAAAAAAAEMg/gR2zPdRS6rk/s1600/solar%2B14.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> including getting into the blues (indigo),</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqkvUE6qeJY7cnubiTB8ORjAahy0KWwjvIxY2nYrr726GkLyr39xAU8X9y7cEAXkX16diDCF1TRN0jkCEHCOFVsFXlXqiPrTMTi0jysuruCmxvmELANy285xFEvDYjiF3SJhmqadC-KKQv/s1600/DSCF5238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqkvUE6qeJY7cnubiTB8ORjAahy0KWwjvIxY2nYrr726GkLyr39xAU8X9y7cEAXkX16diDCF1TRN0jkCEHCOFVsFXlXqiPrTMTi0jysuruCmxvmELANy285xFEvDYjiF3SJhmqadC-KKQv/s1600/DSCF5238.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> and of course loads of knitting projects. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Currently on my needles I have this:<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_WOgzZP74Ag/VK62lUJFrGI/AAAAAAAAELw/BbqD3LFaDGk/s1600/IMG_0641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_WOgzZP74Ag/VK62lUJFrGI/AAAAAAAAELw/BbqD3LFaDGk/s1600/IMG_0641.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jamieson & Smith yarn and pattern for Hairst, designed by Sandra Manson and modelled by Ella Gordon</td></tr>
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a Hairst sweater (designed by Sandra Manson, with a traditional Fair Isle yoke), a Persian Dreams (Jenise Reid) hexagonal cushion in handspun and hand dyed yarn and the next in my Traces series (see last post).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jchQXn4JZY8/VKQlbTWbQ1I/AAAAAAAAEIY/rlacVKJgYNc/s1600/Traces%2B1b%2C%2B1a%2C%2B2a%2C%2B2b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jchQXn4JZY8/VKQlbTWbQ1I/AAAAAAAAEIY/rlacVKJgYNc/s1600/Traces%2B1b%2C%2B1a%2C%2B2a%2C%2B2b.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> I have a lace scarf to block, and on the sketch pad another Knitsonik inspired design, this time based on an antique book binding,</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nVXD5lhIC2w/VK62pBosb1I/AAAAAAAAEL4/9TFk9-qoA9o/s1600/IMG_0688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nVXD5lhIC2w/VK62pBosb1I/AAAAAAAAEL4/9TFk9-qoA9o/s1600/IMG_0688.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">
and a tunic for some hand dyed and blended yarn I spun last year. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There will be a series of workshops in Auchterarder (Perthshire),<a href="http://perfectweatherforspinningandknitting.blogspot.co.uk/p/workshops-in-scotland-2015.html" target="_blank">here's (edited to fix link) </a> the <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">link to details </span>for the first half of the year. There's spinning for beginners on Feb 15th and March 22nd; Solar Dyeing in the morning and Spinning Multicoloured Fibres in the afternoon of April 26th; Blending Coloured fibres on May 17th and Spinning for Texture (art yarns) on 21st June.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Even more exciting than these, the renovation work on my seafront flat in Oban (Argyll) is now underway. It will provide a fantastic space for knitting and spinning, with a sea view</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UjdMiTfruQY/VK62xI4AZ1I/AAAAAAAAEMA/dDRGYG6r6A0/s1600/IMG_0733.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UjdMiTfruQY/VK62xI4AZ1I/AAAAAAAAEMA/dDRGYG6r6A0/s1600/IMG_0733.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"> and a wood-burning stove for colder days. Once the works are complete I will be planning some spinning and knitting retreats, workshops, maybe some guest tutors and hopefully a monthly knitting group on Saturday mornings. I'm also going to 'branch out' and offer a book-origami workshop, so let me know if you are interested.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdV0xwoOgGq6a5sGiJPwA1DppiiguPmjbhyphenhyphenILbYOjbg9EbREStTKRyJxFPi0ajaIX2JYF7OkKCD8TkJMcXo8sSQ3OIqFa6v7cfRWZ6f1-oJWktw-GzCLqdd7p1N65UinXDDDdqF31TbdfA/s1600/wool.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdV0xwoOgGq6a5sGiJPwA1DppiiguPmjbhyphenhyphenILbYOjbg9EbREStTKRyJxFPi0ajaIX2JYF7OkKCD8TkJMcXo8sSQ3OIqFa6v7cfRWZ6f1-oJWktw-GzCLqdd7p1N65UinXDDDdqF31TbdfA/s1600/wool.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">upcycled books</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bhQsX1GruKI/VK63Emos1CI/AAAAAAAAEMo/lZnwwZCL0Q4/s1600/spin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bhQsX1GruKI/VK63Emos1CI/AAAAAAAAEMo/lZnwwZCL0Q4/s1600/spin.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></span></div>
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Plans are also afoot for spinning workshops in Florence in March and near Turin in May, and for a return to Shetland Wool Week in September/October. Jamieson & Smith have invited me to repeat the popular beginners' spindle spinning and fleece preparation workshops that I ran there last year, and I'm cooking up something else too - so keep an eye out here on the blog, and/or on my Facebook page, for updates!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hope you'll join me for some of the activities and adventures I have planned, and that 2015 gives us all time to complete at least some of our projects!</span><br />
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<br />Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109537088382336818noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565418903848925139.post-8333536733989784182014-12-31T09:34:00.000-08:002014-12-31T09:34:39.779-08:00Traces (part 1)<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For my last post of 2014 I want to give you a glimpse of a long - running project - or really a series of projects, under the title of TRACES.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">A few years ago I went to Shetland for the first time, and on several beaches I found sea-worn fragments of blue and white china. Much of it I recognised as Willow Pattern - a design which links back to my childhood when my mother used to tell me the story of the two runaway lovers depicted on the plates she collected.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">In the museum in Lerwick I found a display about the importance of tea in the Shetland knitting economy, illustrated by a tea table set with Willow Pattern china and knitted cakes. <br />
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I started to think of a project that would incorporate the fragments, placing them in to the whole design of the intact pieces in the collection,<br />
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I was thinking about the variations in the design on different pieces and how the fragments, some with the transferred design almost completely worn away, represented traces of the lives of people who had used, and ultimately broken and discarded, the china. And about involving knitting, of course. I started to think about translating elements of the designs on the china fragments into knitting, using stranded colourwork which is a technique so closely linked to Shetland. So the china fragments came home with me and ideas percolated slowly in my brain...<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">On my next visit to Shetland, for Wool Week 2013, I was signed up for Felicity Ford's Quotidian Colourwork workshop. Felicity invited us to bring our 'everyday' inspiration, and she would help us translate it into a stranded colourwork design. Bingo! And so, carefully packed in my hand luggage for the flight to Shetland I had not only the precious bag of fragments, but also the smallest item from my late mother's collection of Willow Pattern - which turned out to be a large and heavy soup plate!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The class was just what I needed to start getting the first design down on paper, and most importantly to start actually knitting it. The Jamieson & Smith palette of colours in their jumper weight Shetland wool yarn provided three perfect shades of blue, as well as the natural white and a soft yellowy beige for some of the stained areas. After a few rows I knew I would have to revise the chart, but I was a bit stuck. Felix carefully considered the problem and came up with a very simple but effective solution. This time the swatch was just what I had had in mind! So Traces 1 was born. </span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zdg1UKOil2U/VKQlmM23NEI/AAAAAAAAEIo/n1T8eQI97fQ/s1600/Traces%2B1c%2Bwith%2Bsherd%2Bclose.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zdg1UKOil2U/VKQlmM23NEI/AAAAAAAAEIo/n1T8eQI97fQ/s1600/Traces%2B1c%2Bwith%2Bsherd%2Bclose.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Once I returned from Shetland, life, and other more pressing projects got in the way of any further work on Traces until it was almost time for Shetland Wool Week 2014. I charted another design based on a different fragment - not Willow Pattern, so I will have to look out for the design that this one is from. I restocked my supply of blue and white Shetland yarn, and cast on the swatch. Traces 2 has parts which require three colours per row which makes it more fiddly to knit, but I do prefer it to the sample I knitted using just one shade of blue throughout.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kv8CRe0Lh6A/VKQmQCHp0oI/AAAAAAAAEJ4/mpsWEtBL5Bg/s1600/Traces%2B2c%2Bwith%2Bsherds.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kv8CRe0Lh6A/VKQmQCHp0oI/AAAAAAAAEJ4/mpsWEtBL5Bg/s1600/Traces%2B2c%2Bwith%2Bsherds.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">When I got home I wanted to experiment with different combinations of blues, but Christmas was also approaching with the need for some small knitted gifts for friends and family. By starting and ending each swatch with a few rows of corrugated rib in blue and white, and adding a steek, the swatches became mug cosies.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jchQXn4JZY8/VKQlbTWbQ1I/AAAAAAAAEIY/rlacVKJgYNc/s1600/Traces%2B1b%2C%2B1a%2C%2B2a%2C%2B2b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jchQXn4JZY8/VKQlbTWbQ1I/AAAAAAAAEIY/rlacVKJgYNc/s1600/Traces%2B1b%2C%2B1a%2C%2B2a%2C%2B2b.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L-R 1b, 1a, 2a, 2b</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I worked three colour variations of each design - my favourites are 1a, the very first one, and 2c which uses a greyer blue for one of the contrasts - unfortunately this was just a scrap in my stash and I don't think it is a J&S colour.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibwQWec_nU_bV1NPIXIA-7SV0L3NS9Rh0DZSgabuwLaubXckSOnFyNjSe5ijSYdW6d8Dsm6Ox6uXmjLhT_DnjQKe-epTqjNUi1FaKtCRkB-dCB1LnNWEiEBDeUZXX34VN787D8FGEVH4fr/s1600/Traces+1a,+2c,+1c.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibwQWec_nU_bV1NPIXIA-7SV0L3NS9Rh0DZSgabuwLaubXckSOnFyNjSe5ijSYdW6d8Dsm6Ox6uXmjLhT_DnjQKe-epTqjNUi1FaKtCRkB-dCB1LnNWEiEBDeUZXX34VN787D8FGEVH4fr/s1600/Traces+1a,+2c,+1c.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L-R: 1a, 2c, 1c</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I have more fragments with different design elements to work on, and also ideas for using the designs in different projects, so Traces will be continuing for some time. Its a great excuse for beachcombing!</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3CGldaxIhHAZ5q3STyxv7MvEDp8FoUXUo4YE1IGAFAOQxe6SPnwMDZHLpTimwhjL93L9XUW_hSFhlOuL0MpWmtYos4Wb69Fxkt5qOFZy6zRLjK18ZAnVvw0ve-wneM51Eo1EtqC4NRAv/s1600/167+Bressay+stony+beach+Maryfield.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3CGldaxIhHAZ5q3STyxv7MvEDp8FoUXUo4YE1IGAFAOQxe6SPnwMDZHLpTimwhjL93L9XUW_hSFhlOuL0MpWmtYos4Wb69Fxkt5qOFZy6zRLjK18ZAnVvw0ve-wneM51Eo1EtqC4NRAv/s1600/167+Bressay+stony+beach+Maryfield.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109537088382336818noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565418903848925139.post-46560882132375549122014-11-10T12:26:00.003-08:002014-11-10T12:26:59.663-08:00The Knitsonik Stranded Colourwork Sourcebook<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Its <a href="http://knitsonik.bigcartel.com/product/knitsonik-stranded-colourwork-sourcebook" target="_blank">here at last!</a></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LCYZDKq6XpY/VGD6YyezLxI/AAAAAAAAEEU/COR5zJMhtoQ/s1600/finding_patterns_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LCYZDKq6XpY/VGD6YyezLxI/AAAAAAAAEEU/COR5zJMhtoQ/s1600/finding_patterns_2.jpg" height="416" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">You might
remember that about six months ago I blogged <a href="http://www.perfectweatherforspinningandknitting.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/the-knitting-book-ive-always-wanted.html" target="_blank">here</a> about the Kickstarter campaign to
crowdfund Felicity Ford’s inspired plan to publish this wonderful book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The story
begins a bit earlier than that – or at least my small involvement in it does.
It all started with Wovember – the month long blog campaigning for REAL WOOL to
be valued and celebrated, which has run each year in November for the past few
years (catch this year’s <a href="http://wovember.com/" target="_blank">Wovember</a> while you can). Felicity is one of the
founders of Team Wovember, so I ‘met’ her (virtually) and came to appreciate
her thorough approach to understanding WOOL and THINGS WOOLLY. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Then during
Shetland Wool Week 2013 I was lucky enough to get a place at her Quotidian Colourwork
workshop. What a joyful day that was – I’ve described it <a href="http://www.perfectweatherforspinningandknitting.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/my-shetland-wool-week-2013.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The idea
behind Quotidian Colourwork – and the Knitsonik Stranded Colourwork Sourcebook
– is that you can celebrate your everyday inspirations – your surroundings and
favourite objects – in woolly form. And, most importantly I think, Felicity
shows you how to <u>do it for yourself</u>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">A day or two
after that first workshop, over a delicious Nepalese curry in Lerwick (am I the
only person to find that a bit incongruous?!) Felicity revealed her ambition to
produce a book which would demonstrate a process or system for people to follow
to translate their inspirational object or image into stranded colourwork
knitting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MCrdFhanuWM/UmLumH13CoI/AAAAAAAACZA/Nuulw-jXibQ/s1600/DSCF6174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MCrdFhanuWM/UmLumH13CoI/AAAAAAAACZA/Nuulw-jXibQ/s1600/DSCF6174.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Fastforward a
year, via a hugely successful funding campaign and an enormous amount of hard
work and creativity, to Shetland Wool Week 2014. The first ever printed copies
of the Knitsonik Stranded Colourwork Sourcebook were sent hot off the press to
Felicity care of Jamieson & Smith (the Shetland Wool Brokers) and actually
arrived while I was teaching a spinning class there! Many of Felicity’s
comrades-in wool were there to share the excitement of seeing those first
copies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">So – what is
in the book? Mainly Felicity’s infectious enthusiasm and her deep love of WOOL,
coupled with her keen observation and connected-ness with the places and
objects around her. She takes us through worked examples with inspirations as
diverse as buildings, electronics, plants, a road and fruitcake. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span> </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3aDAYUQZGIc/VGD6XNzHVPI/AAAAAAAAEEM/9MzWWgxfxL8/s1600/finding_patterns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3aDAYUQZGIc/VGD6XNzHVPI/AAAAAAAAEEM/9MzWWgxfxL8/s1600/finding_patterns.jpg" height="428" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">There are
charts and even a few patterns you could follow to replicate Felicity’s work,
but the real purpose of the book is to give you the tools to develop your own
colour palettes and charts from the things that inspire you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kxs3YbPl1pI/UzgOzaDRZzI/AAAAAAAADAk/0qALy9nbp18/s1600/seaside_inspirations.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kxs3YbPl1pI/UzgOzaDRZzI/AAAAAAAADAk/0qALy9nbp18/s1600/seaside_inspirations.jpg" height="300" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The book is
copiously illustrated with beautiful photos taken by Felicity’s brother Fergus
Ford – it is clear that he obviously understands the essence of the work – and
the pictures, rich colours and layout make it a pleasure just to leaf through
it. Felicity has also written about the objects and places, their history and
her connection to them, in a way that not only explains why she wanted to
celebrate them in knitting, but also reminds you of your own connections, and
that these are deeper than a solely aesthetic appreciation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Most
importantly, the combination of the content and the way it is written, the
book's design and all those gorgeous photos really carries the conviction that
you too can play with yarn, colours and shapes to bring your own inspiration to
life. Choosing colours, drawing your own charts, and then knitting them, is way
too much fun!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">By way of
illustration, here are a couple of projects I have underway – the Willow
Pattern pieces found on Shetland beaches – two of the details now charted<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">And a chart,
not yet swatched, based on the tooling on the spine of a book which has been in
my family for about a hundred years<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GBLiiIogAz8/VGD64vQzNiI/AAAAAAAAEFc/leoJmiXVuKE/s1600/DSCF8700.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GBLiiIogAz8/VGD64vQzNiI/AAAAAAAAEFc/leoJmiXVuKE/s1600/DSCF8700.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jA-ZZjaN5rY/VGD68r-Y-II/AAAAAAAAEFk/LKgYTT_zWAc/s1600/DSCF8701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jA-ZZjaN5rY/VGD68r-Y-II/AAAAAAAAEFk/LKgYTT_zWAc/s1600/DSCF8701.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">You will see
more of these as they progress!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Buying the
book also gives you access to a pdf version which includes black & white
versions of the charts in the book and space for drawing your own charts, so
you don’t have to write on your lovely book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5dQ5xKlft-s/VGERu_Hs8pI/AAAAAAAAEGU/juWkjk9gLD0/s1600/DSCF8766.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5dQ5xKlft-s/VGERu_Hs8pI/AAAAAAAAEGU/juWkjk9gLD0/s1600/DSCF8766.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>this one's mine - buy your own!!</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">You can order
your copy <a href="http://knitsonik.bigcartel.com/product/knitsonik-stranded-colourwork-sourcebook" target="_blank">here</a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">And while
you’re about it, I strongly recommend that you order a shade card from Jamieson
& Smith <a href="http://www.shetlandwoolbrokers.co.uk/Shade-Card-1" target="_blank">here</a> because once the book arrives you will want to get started
straight away!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Felicity and I were reflecting on some of the
Q&A in my original blog post about the funding campaign. This is what she
wrote:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“</span>The
questions that you and others asked me on the first blog tour (the one that
coincided with the Kickstarter campaign) really helped me to clarify my
approach to making the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">KNITSONIK Stranded
Colourwork Sourcebook</i>. I thought it might be interesting to revisit a
couple here and to share how they influenced the book.<o:p></o:p></div>
These are two questions which you asked me which were really
key to my approach to the structure and feeling of the book and I think they
are really related;<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">1. There is a world of difference between giving someone precise
instructions to follow to produce a more-or-less identical product (for
example, a knitting pattern which specifies yarn, needle size, number of
stitches and charts etc), and encouraging people to follow their own
inspiration to create something unique, while giving them enough guidance. Can
you say something about the balance between directing and supporting
creativity?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">2. Is there something in there about learning that 'making mistakes' is
part of the creative and learning process?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
One of the challenges was how to show creative process
without being overly proscriptive. The balance lies somewhere between offering
structure and maintaining openness. Rules and guidelines are really helpful and
often aid creativity because they give clear starting points; on the other
hand, you don’t want to make so many rules that people start panicking that
they are doing things wrong. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
I was really aware of the need to strike this balance
between structure and freedom when writing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
KNITSONIK System</i>, and I found it quite nerve-wracking and scary!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CGX2vjbDZJ8/VGD6WA3TXGI/AAAAAAAAEEE/ohlzyNkJhYs/s1600/01_KNITSONIK_SYSTEM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CGX2vjbDZJ8/VGD6WA3TXGI/AAAAAAAAEEE/ohlzyNkJhYs/s1600/01_KNITSONIK_SYSTEM.jpg" height="580" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
Just like in swatching, there were a lot of early drafts and
mistakes before the words came right. I was helped by Tom (tomofholland.com)
and Kate (katedaviesdesigns.com) and by the folks I have affectionately termed
“the book midwives” in the acknowledgements section of the book; all these
wondrous folks gave me great feedback and helped me to reflect on how to
improve the writing. Feedback is vital to creative process and having folks
read through my work and give me constructive criticism along the way was key.
I think that’s worth mentioning, because it’s also true for the swatching
process that is celebrated in the book. Showing the swatches to comrades,
getting feedback – it all helps your ideas to form along the way.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
I realised that friendliness would be important, too; I
think enthusiasm and warmth go a long way towards opening up the creative
process and when you’re in a room full of people you can smile and make jokes
and play! However it’s harder to concentrate those elements into a printed
format. That’s where the talents of Nic Blackmore (http://laliloo.squarespace.com/)
and Fergus Ford (http://fergusford.com) come in; they added so much.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQFR7-DQAUXUqTDRyTaqGYi0YJErsNl4aRfCyxeWYAdUWvXuvKGy1QoC9CCnGZpD3t3MFRaeHqXwpv3Kx5_M_Y8mxOEeplG92BDKdGQfWGEvVixWxLgGSwLnMCG3g821pUMvkDHnEPhNLj/s1600/Nic_Blackmore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQFR7-DQAUXUqTDRyTaqGYi0YJErsNl4aRfCyxeWYAdUWvXuvKGy1QoC9CCnGZpD3t3MFRaeHqXwpv3Kx5_M_Y8mxOEeplG92BDKdGQfWGEvVixWxLgGSwLnMCG3g821pUMvkDHnEPhNLj/s1600/Nic_Blackmore.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Nic Blackmore</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
Nic really understood the project from the outset, and was
an amazing collaborator on the design side of things. We drank a lot of coffee,
laughed with her lovely dog, Maisie, and discovered a mutual appreciation for
fonts and typefaces.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o_TpQTWbuME/VGD6c-_xMaI/AAAAAAAAEEk/9mfGF7yzHYI/s1600/Maisie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o_TpQTWbuME/VGD6c-_xMaI/AAAAAAAAEEk/9mfGF7yzHYI/s1600/Maisie.jpg" height="594" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Maisie and Felicity looking at proofs - Felicity is the one in the Shwook hat</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
Having these wondrous things in common laid a great
foundation for our work, and a feeling of affinity. The first time I saw The
KNITSONIK System laid out on the pages, my first thought was THIS LOOKS
FRIENDLY! NIC HAS MADE IT LOOK FRIENDLY! I am not sure exactly how she has done
that, but I think it is magic. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
Ferg’s great passion is wedding photography. He originally
studied theatre and though he has a lot of technical knowledge about cameras
and light, I think his background in drama comes through in the emotions he
captures in his work. I learnt a lot about getting a mood or a feeling into a
photograph from working with my brother.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
For instance we had a couple of frustrating afternoons
trying to put everything on a white studio background. I wanted to show all the
things you need to have at the start of the creative swatching process –
needles, pencils, paper, yarns etc. – and was really stuck on this idea of
showing them all neatly laid out and itemised. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">feeling </i>of
starting a creative project; of getting your pencils and paper and your photos,
of ordering your yarn and picking the shades from your shade-card, and Ferg
said that he felt the plain white studio background was sterilising the joy of
creativity. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fULUEql-3Dk/VGD6a0XXYfI/AAAAAAAAEEc/pXIYBcQaG4g/s1600/incorrect_white_background.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fULUEql-3Dk/VGD6a0XXYfI/AAAAAAAAEEc/pXIYBcQaG4g/s1600/incorrect_white_background.jpg" height="181" width="320" /></a></div>
But then we started talking
about the loveliness of the <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><em>feeling </em></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">of
starting a creative project; of getting your pencils and paper and your photos,
of ordering your yarn and picking the shades from your shade-card, and Ferg
said that he felt the plain white studio background was sterilising the joy of
creativity. </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
He suggested instead that we lose the white background for
those shots and use my lovely old worn work table as a background surface. The
table is so much more charismatic than the plain white studio background was,
and the photos we took against the warm wood are a far richer invitation to
play and create and enjoy colour than my original idea had been; Ferg just knew
the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">feeling</i> was all wrong in the
original white studio setup. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S_BllsxvxBg/VGD6emi0F3I/AAAAAAAAEEs/Oh563cFdEb0/s1600/messy_creativity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S_BllsxvxBg/VGD6emi0F3I/AAAAAAAAEEs/Oh563cFdEb0/s1600/messy_creativity.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XEfTanJzxUw/VGD6hKqQPGI/AAAAAAAAEE0/CaDipWgKXEw/s1600/messy_worktable.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XEfTanJzxUw/VGD6hKqQPGI/AAAAAAAAEE0/CaDipWgKXEw/s1600/messy_worktable.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Felicity calls this photo 'messy work table - all I can say is - she hasn't seen my work table!!</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
Another happy experience was when we went around my garden
picking leaves and organised them from dark green to pale yellow. I think our
excitement at finding such a rich palette right there among my plants comes
across in the final image that we got, and I remember still the energy of us
both exclaiming “that one is such a great colour next to that one” “that one is
definitely lighter” and then “let’s get all the yarn out to match!”</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j4uXvjGaU1w/VGD6m2oxi7I/AAAAAAAAEFM/eVohMlzosDA/s1600/pretty_leaves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j4uXvjGaU1w/VGD6m2oxi7I/AAAAAAAAEFM/eVohMlzosDA/s1600/pretty_leaves.jpg" height="506" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
Experiences like these kept reminding me of your question
about whether ‘making mistakes’ would be celebrated in the book the whole time
I was working on it; I think it’s fundamental. For me the number one maxim of
all creative processes is that you have to be allowed to make a mess along the
way; to get it wrong, muddle it up, do bad things to colours and so on.
Remembering this helped me to really enjoy making the book and to savour the
process – even the bad chapters that will never see the light of day and the
photos that didn’t make it into the book... they are all part of the process. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9RkFMmueK-og4BtlmMdIm7TUv6eMDtlJw9H1J5pP0lv7sokcUBFFQg8B7NQCAi3dWojA-1pNNgugu5miVJ3HTpMC94wb-mB-aA0UJW-QEFlupuKZ6GL-a65Rh8p02b69488BW4__o1C6r/s1600/mistakes_swatching.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9RkFMmueK-og4BtlmMdIm7TUv6eMDtlJw9H1J5pP0lv7sokcUBFFQg8B7NQCAi3dWojA-1pNNgugu5miVJ3HTpMC94wb-mB-aA0UJW-QEFlupuKZ6GL-a65Rh8p02b69488BW4__o1C6r/s1600/mistakes_swatching.jpg" height="410" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
I especially relished writing the captions for the swatch
pages in the book that deal with my own creative experiments. It felt very
liberating to put my mistakes and bad knitting into a knitting book, because it
is a way of celebrating the process of how we learn and create and because I
hope it will give other knitters courage. One of my favourite photos from the
book is the one where I am standing under my walnut tree holding the swatch
which I designed from it; I told Ferg the image needed to be really triumphant:
I want to spread the idea that we really can feel this good about knitting
swatches full of original stranded colourwork. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-2p_R9XZ_YyZZkh8EN1r6ZPJX9m3e4Y8ORUNy5sfrxVVMtcyTcd9hat4siM6btV_O-FHrlugHcmXaIYAkP82HfJ_G7Cs5qG_bEL-25pfUjHcQdMWShx2tlE8I_8LLENLv1bEHY4hxZ3VN/s1600/triumphant_swatch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-2p_R9XZ_YyZZkh8EN1r6ZPJX9m3e4Y8ORUNy5sfrxVVMtcyTcd9hat4siM6btV_O-FHrlugHcmXaIYAkP82HfJ_G7Cs5qG_bEL-25pfUjHcQdMWShx2tlE8I_8LLENLv1bEHY4hxZ3VN/s1600/triumphant_swatch.jpg" height="532" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
Thanks so much for asking me about creative process and
mistakes back in April – your questions really helped me! <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109537088382336818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565418903848925139.post-47676397084066092412014-10-18T16:06:00.000-07:002014-10-18T16:06:03.876-07:00ICELAND: Knitting and hiking in the enchanted north<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dYBh1s5f5Eo/VD2H_qTmbwI/AAAAAAAAD8o/55jwYLxXfzM/s1600/DSCF8194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dYBh1s5f5Eo/VD2H_qTmbwI/AAAAAAAAD8o/55jwYLxXfzM/s1600/DSCF8194.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There has been a lot going on in the 3 months since I was in Iceland with Helene Magnusson and others, so my blog is very behind. I'm mostly going to let the photos tell the story. I flew to Reykjavik on 5th July, from Edinburgh</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8H5i3LHNLHE/VD2MntDF1vI/AAAAAAAAD_w/lMFFTMlADRo/s1600/IMG_0507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8H5i3LHNLHE/VD2MntDF1vI/AAAAAAAAD_w/lMFFTMlADRo/s1600/IMG_0507.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Clear skies as I flew over the Forth </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The tour was organised by Icelandic Mountain Guides. We met up at the Sunna Guest House in Reykjavik, an easy bus ride from the airport. As we all arrived at different times we didn't really meet each other until breakfast the next morning. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the group were 3 French, 2 Swiss, a German, 3 Americans, an Australian, a New Zealander and me, with Helene (who is French but has lived in Iceland for a long time) and our Icelandic driver, the only man.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We set off in our minibus, handily labelled 'Knitting women' (I think!)</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cEsmoI2DT3U/VD2CuQ2kcuI/AAAAAAAAD5M/uvR9c346oMc/s1600/DSCF8104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cEsmoI2DT3U/VD2CuQ2kcuI/AAAAAAAAD5M/uvR9c346oMc/s1600/DSCF8104.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We headed up the West coast past Mosfellsbaer</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wL3oooTc2zM/VD1lCz9v8vI/AAAAAAAADk4/Oy1jDQByx1A/s1600/4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wL3oooTc2zM/VD1lCz9v8vI/AAAAAAAADk4/Oy1jDQByx1A/s1600/4.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Under Hvalfjordur</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mqhq_Kt5wSs/VD1lBHpisRI/AAAAAAAADkw/sKeo-V-IkTA/s1600/5%2BHvalfjord%2Btunnel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mqhq_Kt5wSs/VD1lBHpisRI/AAAAAAAADkw/sKeo-V-IkTA/s1600/5%2BHvalfjord%2Btunnel.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">one kilometre deep under Hvalfjordur</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and on towards Borgarnes, and to the farm and tree nursery at Grenigerdi run by Rita and Pall</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0Ss6Z1DIpOA/VD1lGyBwfZI/AAAAAAAADlA/5Mo_83GJ-uk/s1600/10%2BRita.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0Ss6Z1DIpOA/VD1lGyBwfZI/AAAAAAAADlA/5Mo_83GJ-uk/s1600/10%2BRita.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rita in her wool store</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7UlEIdlUrn2l7Z1VLWyL-sn7LC1wyMBBhkqOowKRs9pn8yhhOsL3j1qvemk8WDk_iGQ7kPgphxhvQSofwpJFEOqkLs0iMZuJKoGuhSPqC-MHQDnjnIs0TSoC6Zak8De8PA0ibKLPRJsl_/s1600/12+Rita's%2Bwoolsacks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7UlEIdlUrn2l7Z1VLWyL-sn7LC1wyMBBhkqOowKRs9pn8yhhOsL3j1qvemk8WDk_iGQ7kPgphxhvQSofwpJFEOqkLs0iMZuJKoGuhSPqC-MHQDnjnIs0TSoC6Zak8De8PA0ibKLPRJsl_/s1600/12+Rita's+woolsacks.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sacks of lovely Icelandic fleece</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E1WTuLxaYyE/VD1lmd8UNVI/AAAAAAAADlI/SO7DS-O1O0U/s1600/20%2BPall%2Band%2Blamb.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E1WTuLxaYyE/VD1lmd8UNVI/AAAAAAAADlI/SO7DS-O1O0U/s1600/20%2BPall%2Band%2Blamb.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pall with a lamb - and a gorgeous lopipeysa jumper</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xP6y1hA3wKM/VD1ln7U8RTI/AAAAAAAADlY/Sli2WxNJw0k/s1600/16%2BPall%2Band%2Bsheep.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xP6y1hA3wKM/VD1ln7U8RTI/AAAAAAAADlY/Sli2WxNJw0k/s1600/16%2BPall%2Band%2Bsheep.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rita and Pall's sheep among the birch trees</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Refreshed by homegrown rhubarb juice, we may have<em> purchased some wool</em> as well as lovely reindeer horn buttons and necklaces made by this busy couple.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">then we went a few miles further to Hespuhusid (skein house), the home and studio of Gudrun the dyer.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GQbJ0ywTr6c/VD1mJfqLZ_I/AAAAAAAADlo/fSh-nAMp4rA/s1600/28%2BGudrun.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GQbJ0ywTr6c/VD1mJfqLZ_I/AAAAAAAADlo/fSh-nAMp4rA/s1600/28%2BGudrun.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gudrun in her dye studio</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6fllUZo4rF8/VD1mJ9u-AVI/AAAAAAAADls/ev0mKSI7I78/s1600/31%2BDyepot%2Blupin%2Bleaves.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6fllUZo4rF8/VD1mJ9u-AVI/AAAAAAAADls/ev0mKSI7I78/s1600/31%2BDyepot%2Blupin%2Bleaves.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">dyeing with lupin leaves</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4yf-cWziciAtxTRZ_Xzrx8aTGXpbOeEeyUVe9DdZntyO2JoWVqzkREFOM43Covim8Qy427U9yWJHAVYFRko0RYQWTwHhEXy-ATqvv257t_bRmDCGp0ENSGq97Trl6wpI9Eu28qjelvQfF/s1600/34+Gudrun's%2Bcolours.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4yf-cWziciAtxTRZ_Xzrx8aTGXpbOeEeyUVe9DdZntyO2JoWVqzkREFOM43Covim8Qy427U9yWJHAVYFRko0RYQWTwHhEXy-ATqvv257t_bRmDCGp0ENSGq97Trl6wpI9Eu28qjelvQfF/s1600/34+Gudrun's+colours.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a small selection of Gudrun's beautiful naturally dyed yarn</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had a picnic lunch here and <em>some wool may have been purchased</em> (but this time not by me, which I later regretted!)</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hgldU_1s_0M/VD1mwejXHiI/AAAAAAAADmI/a7uyUVYJY9E/s1600/38%2BGudrun's%2Bview.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hgldU_1s_0M/VD1mwejXHiI/AAAAAAAADmI/a7uyUVYJY9E/s1600/38%2BGudrun%27s%2Bview.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lovely view from Gudrun's house</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QzudvZv1v94/VD1mp5l2KiI/AAAAAAAADl8/_4_P2rBH6nE/s1600/41%2BHvanneyri%2Bchurch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QzudvZv1v94/VD1mp5l2KiI/AAAAAAAADl8/_4_P2rBH6nE/s1600/41%2BHvanneyri%2Bchurch.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hvanneyri church</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ArjYQYqms3A/VD1mwqokT-I/AAAAAAAADmM/Ikn-yt8gF-Y/s1600/44%2Bscattered%2Bflock%2Bin%2BHvanneyri.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ArjYQYqms3A/VD1mwqokT-I/AAAAAAAADmM/Ikn-yt8gF-Y/s1600/44%2Bscattered%2Bflock%2Bin%2BHvanneyri.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Helene's flock starting to scatter</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNSpLHISpYfVTTKxB4-hQLv_x_Xur0cophh0wAyoOm6-_kgfZ9YUntot-ycvT2_idzMlifhR_SJb1-EdGxl1sfkJTCnyGQsuy6aD5XvmPq_ddH7B84nvBLVYIrumrZYtGtXbpjhBHM8jg5/s1600/46+Hvanneyri+view.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNSpLHISpYfVTTKxB4-hQLv_x_Xur0cophh0wAyoOm6-_kgfZ9YUntot-ycvT2_idzMlifhR_SJb1-EdGxl1sfkJTCnyGQsuy6aD5XvmPq_ddH7B84nvBLVYIrumrZYtGtXbpjhBHM8jg5/s1600/46+Hvanneyri+view.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pD3B-Ap-DbI/VD1nRw1Q3hI/AAAAAAAADmc/ElswICS4R30/s1600/48%2BHvanneyri.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pD3B-Ap-DbI/VD1nRw1Q3hI/AAAAAAAADmc/ElswICS4R30/s1600/48%2BHvanneyri.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the woolshop (Ullarselid) is on the signpost </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wRpG777l37I/VD1nUSAAf-I/AAAAAAAADmk/On57V__yuGQ/s1600/57%2Bshawl.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wRpG777l37I/VD1nUSAAf-I/AAAAAAAADmk/On57V__yuGQ/s1600/57%2Bshawl.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm knitting one like this at the moment, but not so fine</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_CPuFpwwRO4/VD1n146mIHI/AAAAAAAADm8/aq0eSVdW-QE/s1600/65%2BUllarselid%2Bsign.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_CPuFpwwRO4/VD1n146mIHI/AAAAAAAADm8/aq0eSVdW-QE/s1600/65%2BUllarselid%2Bsign.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the wool co-operative and museum at <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hvanneyri</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A visit to the wool co-operative <em>where quite a lot of wool was </em>purchased (by all of us)</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mP5wFuR7RU0/VD1oZTjEsfI/AAAAAAAADnU/Gy6fGbofAu4/s1600/70%2BBarnafoss.JPG" height="480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barnafoss</td></tr>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mP5wFuR7RU0/VD1oZTjEsfI/AAAAAAAADnU/Gy6fGbofAu4/s1600/70%2BBarnafoss.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then on to visit a goat farm, which has the last remaining pure Icelandic goats</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTF6B7d2_5-EXEGyfEYHWrbro1jhERn9mD8uAp_DRDJovhQCC1RsComrXGEiEnydURkcNm83K-WOa-eZDJ08eKVufL2izYWVjlHd07S-9QE-0KToz0jAFQ7UKnOTkvUEO9vHEqJ2XaKjGC/s1600/79+Svava+with+kid.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTF6B7d2_5-EXEGyfEYHWrbro1jhERn9mD8uAp_DRDJovhQCC1RsComrXGEiEnydURkcNm83K-WOa-eZDJ08eKVufL2izYWVjlHd07S-9QE-0KToz0jAFQ7UKnOTkvUEO9vHEqJ2XaKjGC/s1600/79+Svava+with+kid.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pdy4f1ry_l8/VD1o7AhHK3I/AAAAAAAADng/j4oitIw8ZDY/s1600/81%2BDG%2Bwith%2Bkid%2B2%2Bwks%2Bold.JPG" height="640" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What can you do when a two-week old goat kid falls asleep in your arms?</td></tr>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pdy4f1ry_l8/VD1o7AhHK3I/AAAAAAAADng/j4oitIw8ZDY/s1600/81%2BDG%2Bwith%2Bkid%2B2%2Bwks%2Bold.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LA_88v6wX28/VD1o8YPCUBI/AAAAAAAADns/cKi_e1T2IOs/s1600/80%2BHelene%2Bwith%2Bkid.JPG" height="640" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Helene (with kid) wearing one of her own designs</td></tr>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LA_88v6wX28/VD1o8YPCUBI/AAAAAAAADns/cKi_e1T2IOs/s1600/80%2BHelene%2Bwith%2Bkid.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MqTSL-E3Xpk/VD1phq4vkJI/AAAAAAAADoA/YPr8fPQZhi4/s1600/84%2BSue%2BG%2Bwith%2Bkid.JPG" height="480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sue G in another of Helene's designs, with a lively little goat</td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MqTSL-E3Xpk/VD1phq4vkJI/AAAAAAAADoA/YPr8fPQZhi4/s1600/84%2BSue%2BG%2Bwith%2Bkid.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gbgWQhlFO1o/VD1pkNVgEFI/AAAAAAAADoI/LSc1UluIktM/s1600/85%2BGoat%2Bfarm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gbgWQhlFO1o/VD1pkNVgEFI/AAAAAAAADoI/LSc1UluIktM/s1600/85%2BGoat%2Bfarm.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> We heard that the farm was in danger of foreclosure, but thankfully it has since been saved by an online crowdfunding campaign. Such a lovely place where these unique animals are cared for and provide a family's livelihood should not be lost. And where would the Game of Thrones sequel find its caprine stars? (some of the goats from this farm were eaten by a dragon in the Game of Thrones film)</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xi18UscwFcM/VD1qBbaky2I/AAAAAAAADoc/lZZNJSXhD-c/s1600/89%2BCashmere%2Bgoat.JPG" height="480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of these goats produce lovely cashmere</td></tr>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xi18UscwFcM/VD1qBbaky2I/AAAAAAAADoc/lZZNJSXhD-c/s1600/89%2BCashmere%2Bgoat.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Back on the road for the long drive to Blonduos on the north coast</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2Zi8sbp7GVY/VD1qH4_RzBI/AAAAAAAADok/MDs5Y4RDgbM/s1600/92.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2Zi8sbp7GVY/VD1qH4_RzBI/AAAAAAAADok/MDs5Y4RDgbM/s1600/92.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZG_tJan1_d8/VD1qjAHerII/AAAAAAAADos/dTz8dC6Z3wU/s1600/96.JPG" height="480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from my bedroom in Blonduos - maybe not the prettiest but this photo was taken at MIDNIGHT!</td></tr>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZG_tJan1_d8/VD1qjAHerII/AAAAAAAADos/dTz8dC6Z3wU/s1600/96.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> In the morning we walked around to the famous textile centre and museum. It is full of fascinating exhibits</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTZRCWwghulBrpXNqZNWp4PnlGF7hvE6kiWnYW5WcRxv6kx2x4iyLSiRainEj71Nl2Xqyxocgc5JFMmwdox96edfWYW8Kb89WTpCUQdMrj3q4kSYvkxjNx2mESl8U6jtFWSgV_b0i8R1cy/s1600/118+inserts+Blonduos+textile+museum.JPG" height="480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Traditional wool shoe inserts - garter stitch intarsia</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTZRCWwghulBrpXNqZNWp4PnlGF7hvE6kiWnYW5WcRxv6kx2x4iyLSiRainEj71Nl2Xqyxocgc5JFMmwdox96edfWYW8Kb89WTpCUQdMrj3q4kSYvkxjNx2mESl8U6jtFWSgV_b0i8R1cy/s1600/118+inserts+Blonduos+textile+museum.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HaA5KN3rT7Q/VD1qouvHFQI/AAAAAAAADo4/hvZNhnCaoF0/s1600/111%2BBlonduos%2Btextile%2Bmuseum.JPG" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">everyday objects like clothespegs</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yJ1bGew50Wg/VD1rHmsVTYI/AAAAAAAADpE/AniheguBqdg/s1600/115%2Bladies%2Bin%2Bnational%2Bcostume%2BBlonduos%2Btextile%2Bmuseum.JPG" height="480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A collection of national costumes and these stern ladies in their traditional headgear</td></tr>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yJ1bGew50Wg/VD1rHmsVTYI/AAAAAAAADpE/AniheguBqdg/s1600/115%2Bladies%2Bin%2Bnational%2Bcostume%2BBlonduos%2Btextile%2Bmuseum.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-73itJ31gZ1A/VD1rKgb4HAI/AAAAAAAADpQ/0q40q9jmz0U/s1600/DSCF7687.JPG" height="640" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a room dedicated to Halldora Bjarnadottir including this lovely knitted blanket</td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-73itJ31gZ1A/VD1rKgb4HAI/AAAAAAAADpQ/0q40q9jmz0U/s1600/DSCF7687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiY_87tGgZ0Y3j82iv2xDQTWibX8vvh7qUXCZCLghnd5aq4Nx0WuG0oA_DNFZF_VmZqaM4-4c-ANaa1w2yaLKChyYRa8f9q_fYt6tKf4biZdH9E2jUq8ENYTTGoepxusS3M6NCT3PLkpHF/s1600/DSCF7689.JPG" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">meticulously woven braids</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiY_87tGgZ0Y3j82iv2xDQTWibX8vvh7qUXCZCLghnd5aq4Nx0WuG0oA_DNFZF_VmZqaM4-4c-ANaa1w2yaLKChyYRa8f9q_fYt6tKf4biZdH9E2jUq8ENYTTGoepxusS3M6NCT3PLkpHF/s1600/DSCF7689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ6A6Od8tmVpSfT6QrF914mohqmkJZIt_R9zVPXyznzITNrBGeNsi2SR9oh_EAGGPy3e8N70-YB4EPQEknNFxZ0QctaKIi-4SB-UJNYIZAuDqeyrK6sjz5MKXh-GYZdF2qjPUy3R-Qli73/s1600/DSCF7703.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ6A6Od8tmVpSfT6QrF914mohqmkJZIt_R9zVPXyznzITNrBGeNsi2SR9oh_EAGGPy3e8N70-YB4EPQEknNFxZ0QctaKIi-4SB-UJNYIZAuDqeyrK6sjz5MKXh-GYZdF2qjPUy3R-Qli73/s1600/DSCF7703.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jegi9DTL2YM/VD1swgiWzzI/AAAAAAAADqQ/YW-4Zl6HllQ/s1600/DSCF7705.JPG" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">lots of mittens including several with two thumbs, like this pair</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EsLMZ5yPAko/VD1s3sg2arI/AAAAAAAADqg/xtpoBkvA2A8/s1600/DSCF7708.JPG" height="480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">very fine handspun yarn in a gradient of shades</td></tr>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EsLMZ5yPAko/VD1s3sg2arI/AAAAAAAADqg/xtpoBkvA2A8/s1600/DSCF7708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> After a picnic lunch we had a workshop in the textile centre's dining room, knitting with unspun plotulopi and working a sample for an afterthought thumb, to practice for our Skagafjordur mittens (like the black embroidered ones above)</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-68mIg4ULnpE/VD1tXi2uUYI/AAAAAAAADqo/zZ-ms-Wp_AM/s1600/DSCF7710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-68mIg4ULnpE/VD1tXi2uUYI/AAAAAAAADqo/zZ-ms-Wp_AM/s1600/DSCF7710.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZLjcSRkv452ZKEXsNWR_beZHMgB-89_ATOJSgJ9VCZ7FZ8VU6fwQe7MOuCjRzRze-gPdsS6nuKDm9VPhpkqFxOZpItfv0PxEfIho1odFVHnvqg7ouub2myVNVCBdYXqtejuc7oLf85C-X/s1600/DSCF7727.JPG" height="480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the new museum building - it used to be in the old cowshed at the back</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZLjcSRkv452ZKEXsNWR_beZHMgB-89_ATOJSgJ9VCZ7FZ8VU6fwQe7MOuCjRzRze-gPdsS6nuKDm9VPhpkqFxOZpItfv0PxEfIho1odFVHnvqg7ouub2myVNVCBdYXqtejuc7oLf85C-X/s1600/DSCF7727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjPUo_e1wkghCdSj40sknwKrxsfK2YKC-9vYunvTgGN-HlhnKyv4ZTiCxfnJcCnUxAMzRpKJIH30eFX9Jy6772ErIa7UUxRU1HENfEwiy-DzczjC93aJvPjBYEFUS9N5Si1rtywIEEKPiq/s1600/DSCF7712.JPG" height="480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Textile College at Blonduos<br />
</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjPUo_e1wkghCdSj40sknwKrxsfK2YKC-9vYunvTgGN-HlhnKyv4ZTiCxfnJcCnUxAMzRpKJIH30eFX9Jy6772ErIa7UUxRU1HENfEwiy-DzczjC93aJvPjBYEFUS9N5Si1rtywIEEKPiq/s1600/DSCF7712.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw12bjMkvRUJ7sIGZQsyFySgh0iqMGUDskFALyxf3trVQ3ixzZ38k5QkWyIrAPnZOa4GyNGpISezUSxB7zmsEjlR2c9Gw2M2XfnT0gRKQmLxC8yPphoIX67HXwZkaS0qlHbJRLTP-pVW04/s1600/DSCF7734.JPG" height="480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The shoogly bridge to Hrutey</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That evening Helene and our driver made us a delicious Icelandic dinner, and afterwards we set off for a walk on the island of Hrutey, in the Blanda river</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw12bjMkvRUJ7sIGZQsyFySgh0iqMGUDskFALyxf3trVQ3ixzZ38k5QkWyIrAPnZOa4GyNGpISezUSxB7zmsEjlR2c9Gw2M2XfnT0gRKQmLxC8yPphoIX67HXwZkaS0qlHbJRLTP-pVW04/s1600/DSCF7734.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpJQXXDjidJtX6_IuJNeWqFBwoitI8yPcltpyGWiJXrrfuc9pouUVOsgZfYs6jRTQC-dcX4hmL5Omky5XWToOfWjGPX7XLwq1j6X4ErV4QInpAaIeVgm3NRwWg_Oov5UhnFZeFWNII4OEG/s1600/DSCF7737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpJQXXDjidJtX6_IuJNeWqFBwoitI8yPcltpyGWiJXrrfuc9pouUVOsgZfYs6jRTQC-dcX4hmL5Omky5XWToOfWjGPX7XLwq1j6X4ErV4QInpAaIeVgm3NRwWg_Oov5UhnFZeFWNII4OEG/s1600/DSCF7737.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lv6Eionisj4/VD1vil60-VI/AAAAAAAADsM/Iqy-Zzl5h5E/s1600/DSCF7748.JPG" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Geese lay large clutches of eggs on the island - it is a nature reserve - we thought these were old infertile eggsas there were no adult geese around</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">lots of wild flowers on Hrutey</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTJ9q2wW-zbOCxwpcZAIuWHCZeV2ZT_GQfd_wXulHuTtQ-_Dgd-jeKVezblsmKf19f3WH79qCXcTaXUPiL5kBx86g5CdtnNRXAjbhDpllTL8Yv5Pq8DlefEOHHMoWtFc_d-UZv09mJZzoU/s1600/DSCF7750.JPG" height="480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black volcanic sand beaches at the mouth of the river at Blonduos</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTJ9q2wW-zbOCxwpcZAIuWHCZeV2ZT_GQfd_wXulHuTtQ-_Dgd-jeKVezblsmKf19f3WH79qCXcTaXUPiL5kBx86g5CdtnNRXAjbhDpllTL8Yv5Pq8DlefEOHHMoWtFc_d-UZv09mJZzoU/s1600/DSCF7750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> After two days at Blonduos we set off again, visiting the turf farm museum at Glaumbaer</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1snP_jqoGBA/VD12eEg34LI/AAAAAAAADw8/o1oybNwYgQE/s1600/DSCF7828.JPG" height="480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The farm buildings are constructed of thick slabs of turf, under turf rooves</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YK02KRFuo1I/VD1wMjw4qXI/AAAAAAAADss/XuOxAWy08Zw/s1600/DSCF7756.JPG" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">part of each building is below ground level</td></tr>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YK02KRFuo1I/VD1wMjw4qXI/AAAAAAAADss/XuOxAWy08Zw/s1600/DSCF7756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu_lKPsflRaYWb_uGiF0p-dJlsTpKxPh-i7M-Jv8PNZNd7h5TY3KF01Q26E4Ehc0aP4UGE10I5ZKHG9E4W0E1JwGpgs2IdwRmC033Q43583OFm1YiNTbzxjHqsDhhWVEVoURhKFe0f5kBG/s1600/DSCF7757.JPG" height="480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the turves are laid herring-bone style</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu_lKPsflRaYWb_uGiF0p-dJlsTpKxPh-i7M-Jv8PNZNd7h5TY3KF01Q26E4Ehc0aP4UGE10I5ZKHG9E4W0E1JwGpgs2IdwRmC033Q43583OFm1YiNTbzxjHqsDhhWVEVoURhKFe0f5kBG/s1600/DSCF7757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1hw7EBG_36E/VD1woTqoYFI/AAAAAAAADs8/C-l10_wzKvU/s1600/DSCF7764.JPG" height="400" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">everything was small as there was little space</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">inside were lots of the things used by the family in their daily lives, all made with great care and attention to detail</span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1hw7EBG_36E/VD1woTqoYFI/AAAAAAAADs8/C-l10_wzKvU/s1600/DSCF7764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4hP50_GLkRf2G5HLSpF4v0sgV-goYbHi-ffaZoQII6JfvjfIhuWevWg7gpKrez5OkfkwlIwnk7UhVANdjGl72R3ungkzG3YazYCReCd9ZQK0cCEAPoEF3QEnC-om_0qsf06sxY-zaF0l1/s1600/DSCF7774.JPG" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a carved spindle</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4hP50_GLkRf2G5HLSpF4v0sgV-goYbHi-ffaZoQII6JfvjfIhuWevWg7gpKrez5OkfkwlIwnk7UhVANdjGl72R3ungkzG3YazYCReCd9ZQK0cCEAPoEF3QEnC-om_0qsf06sxY-zaF0l1/s1600/DSCF7774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IP2sPU9Z7zU/VD1xP5Rve-I/AAAAAAAADtU/2de2PeJRoKw/s1600/DSCF7776.JPG" height="480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I could use one of these to keep my spinning things in</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IP2sPU9Z7zU/VD1xP5Rve-I/AAAAAAAADtU/2de2PeJRoKw/s1600/DSCF7776.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-91r9XSGdDKU/VD1xUF5ZQsI/AAAAAAAADtk/l1YGhI6TtEc/s1600/DSCF7778.JPG" height="400" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the carved board on the side of the bed had a symbolic meaning to create privacy in a bedchamber shared by all</td></tr>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-91r9XSGdDKU/VD1xUF5ZQsI/AAAAAAAADtk/l1YGhI6TtEc/s1600/DSCF7778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo6ghTZXftKxjJKt27X5W0rxsi4oxEasHx3WJ-tc2xW7jeI1BP94e0OftSRmZjL-699rhgOt8eXhjwbTprpj5Z6KD9muUu3rsQBmcxBIBy7mg-kHRoChEaPsT3TGmjUraf2g-ZtkYoM9nq/s1600/DSCF7779.JPG" height="400" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I use something quite similar for making skeins</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo6ghTZXftKxjJKt27X5W0rxsi4oxEasHx3WJ-tc2xW7jeI1BP94e0OftSRmZjL-699rhgOt8eXhjwbTprpj5Z6KD9muUu3rsQBmcxBIBy7mg-kHRoChEaPsT3TGmjUraf2g-ZtkYoM9nq/s1600/DSCF7779.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XHF6_Tyc0kA/VD1x7lIoCNI/AAAAAAAADt8/f9-6jrMXDng/s1600/DSCF7782.JPG" height="480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Horsehair in different colours was spun using large drop spindles, then braided into patterned ropes for harness - probably for the same horses</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XHF6_Tyc0kA/VD1x7lIoCNI/AAAAAAAADt8/f9-6jrMXDng/s1600/DSCF7782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-4RVT6e6lYJsPSLXr1PLJCR4MwF4J65hrFz3GbKCW9cQI7h6f0eqKBCHs11N-L8usPZj7siZNiPQgWSmqFU8zfzvK5K1qsWS15ZtflSI_BZPp6OE7qDhKAAK697XrJwl-DM7VJQGZJR7-/s1600/DSCF7784.JPG" height="480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">examples of traditional natural dyes - including rhubarb, birch and several gallium species</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-4RVT6e6lYJsPSLXr1PLJCR4MwF4J65hrFz3GbKCW9cQI7h6f0eqKBCHs11N-L8usPZj7siZNiPQgWSmqFU8zfzvK5K1qsWS15ZtflSI_BZPp6OE7qDhKAAK697XrJwl-DM7VJQGZJR7-/s1600/DSCF7784.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O7MUhXhcnQ8/VD1ySBMmaaI/AAAAAAAADuE/CYk1C3jJNzo/s1600/DSCF7785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O7MUhXhcnQ8/VD1ySBMmaaI/AAAAAAAADuE/CYk1C3jJNzo/s1600/DSCF7785.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N0UtoBkH3VQ/VD1ya1ANy-I/AAAAAAAADuM/nRgpLcYge0k/s1600/DSCF7791.JPG" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this is where you kept your most personal posessions</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N0UtoBkH3VQ/VD1ya1ANy-I/AAAAAAAADuM/nRgpLcYge0k/s1600/DSCF7791.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TXMMBfYtXfU/VD1yev6W25I/AAAAAAAADuU/EP92Grp81PY/s1600/DSCF7789.JPG" height="480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and this is your personal dish for soup or stew, with a lid to be used as a plate</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TXMMBfYtXfU/VD1yev6W25I/AAAAAAAADuU/EP92Grp81PY/s1600/DSCF7789.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_0tqzzVGKec/VD1ywFQVx9I/AAAAAAAADuc/fkOlGw2Y-RY/s1600/DSCF7794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_0tqzzVGKec/VD1ywFQVx9I/AAAAAAAADuc/fkOlGw2Y-RY/s1600/DSCF7794.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MjU-1gdZOkA/VD1zEgS9ONI/AAAAAAAADus/5E42_BbaPfY/s1600/DSCF7795.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MjU-1gdZOkA/VD1zEgS9ONI/AAAAAAAADus/5E42_BbaPfY/s1600/DSCF7795.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S0KHMmuUK6k/VD1zA3W-zII/AAAAAAAADuk/xw8Cw5Y8r88/s1600/DSCF7796.JPG" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">beautiful painted chests for clothes or blankets</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S0KHMmuUK6k/VD1zA3W-zII/AAAAAAAADuk/xw8Cw5Y8r88/s1600/DSCF7796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QkSnT82CxDw/VD1zSzp1xxI/AAAAAAAADu0/LtNN4fcec4E/s1600/DSCF7797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QkSnT82CxDw/VD1zSzp1xxI/AAAAAAAADu0/LtNN4fcec4E/s1600/DSCF7797.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_PfPBCzM_sZjMPR_i4DZBRQHF3M3zxm6rkMPfVtY6hNtoCjbdAuGmJeoGBJwjLOhJATeEwvIqxsrbAEIpiYiw2fRoBkX3AiElu2XzRq0ax8y9dORXRE1ANayB7tPfiTq-M6xgtO1ttms/s1600/DSCF7798.JPG" height="480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">interesting carders - one free and one fixed into a device with a long part you sat on to hold it still (I think)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_PfPBCzM_sZjMPR_i4DZBRQHF3M3zxm6rkMPfVtY6hNtoCjbdAuGmJeoGBJwjLOhJATeEwvIqxsrbAEIpiYiw2fRoBkX3AiElu2XzRq0ax8y9dORXRE1ANayB7tPfiTq-M6xgtO1ttms/s1600/DSCF7798.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yBD9819gwPE/VD1zonFjNxI/AAAAAAAADvE/Y_yD6yUyCI8/s1600/DSCF7800.JPG" height="400" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">mitten stretchers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yBD9819gwPE/VD1zonFjNxI/AAAAAAAADvE/Y_yD6yUyCI8/s1600/DSCF7800.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7DcwGnnudOk/VD1z408cqZI/AAAAAAAADvM/JpFLvR92WQA/s1600/DSCF7801.JPG" height="400" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">absolutely huge stocking stretcher (and stockings) to fit a giant, or maybe a troll...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7DcwGnnudOk/VD1z408cqZI/AAAAAAAADvM/JpFLvR92WQA/s1600/DSCF7801.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2b3T-vVBjz0Yh4Jp4vTy1DlKK3rfVwbFKQz7LT6qOaBss_7lzRaKskUrBpZSvECSx6Cw7dHQvqjGJWMcdROWg8N9S4rW09QlyPk60etK_yzKsJ85vLBXUWqxBMilGnhpT6U-tsnAuRZxD/s1600/DSCF7802.JPG" height="480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">fine handspinning and knitted lace</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xd1JJQ5QYbc/VD10d11YThI/AAAAAAAADvk/6k-iLbxe2OI/s1600/DSCF7804.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xd1JJQ5QYbc/VD10d11YThI/AAAAAAAADvk/6k-iLbxe2OI/s1600/DSCF7804.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MHS8FRt62WU/VD12D9T8iwI/AAAAAAAADws/ArgGl_jfz4A/s1600/DSCF7821.JPG" height="480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">wooden facades to the interconnected buildings</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tea and knitting (and yummy cakes) in the vintage tea-room at Glaumbaer, - Sue G, me , Karen and Dawn</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> A bit more travelling and a picnic in a park, and then we visited a tannery where they process sheepskins and make fishskin leather</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjisicDYdz6wjIPdRGlkaJzybGkkvoNliRVkNfmJkyCn1civtsHLdlLd3RepNB3VkoVdqEZoGc69A7Jo6JX5_mGEFyHk-n7QnocxRCKHERoykVFX9ixhYkCHBDA2K4jUOVg36XUQjMkyBNk/s1600/DSCF7834.JPG" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">tanned salmon skins</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">skins with foiled metallic finishes</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Helene found a comfy place to knit!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> From there we headed to our next overnight stop, Hofsos, a very pretty village on the shore of Skagafjordur</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ek7t76wKA3s/VD13rCdJ77I/AAAAAAAADx0/rrIJLLyIiUU/s1600/DSCF7848.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ek7t76wKA3s/VD13rCdJ77I/AAAAAAAADx0/rrIJLLyIiUU/s1600/DSCF7848.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> We swam in the public outdoor pool overlooking the fjord and lounged in the (very) hot tub, and walked along the top of cliffs made of columnar basalt - I saw a whale!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> knitting thumbs on mittens - workshop on the cliff top</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hofsos</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Restaurant where we had an excellent dinner - and went back for breakfast next morning</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> From Hofsos we headed further north, round the headland to Dalvik. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> From the headland we could see the island of Grimsay about 30km away, it lies on the arctic circle</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">At Skjaldarvik we checked in to the nicest guesthouse of the whole trip. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and immediately took over the lounge for knitting (with a telescope for birdwatching)</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dawn and Sue E working on their mittens</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> We went in to Akureyri, a lovely little town where we made for the wool shop and <em>we may have purchased some yarn.</em> Purchases were also made in a fab craft shop, and in the ice-cream parlour</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I met these two in Reykjavik last winter! (the trolls, not the girls)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Midnight view from our guesthouse</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> In the evening after a dip in the hot tub and a fabulous dinner we had a workshop on the special embroidery for the mittens which we had been knitting since Blonduos, mostly on the bus but also in cafes, on the beach, in parks and just about everywhere we had been.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the décor in the guesthouse was full of interesting little touches</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">lots of upcycling and vintage, especially the black-bound books used everywhere</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">loved this chair!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2pFVQh-2HnGgGDXxjXwfsD6V533lHvFJos19Qt_1rTjQLTRW6Wy9280V5H5RkmIEEipeqsaTmJnDHJMijCqu6y_peARdCTTfeKmPvHzFiHTSYifYmRcwXQ5qJb_8Lkhomwe4nH9NsbtOE/s1600/DSCF7932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5gVoakE1qe8/VD18l1Se5aI/AAAAAAAAD1E/wysuch7x6RA/s1600/DSCF7933.JPG" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">in the grounds</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next day we went to Godafoss, where legend has it the king threw all the pagan idols when Christianity came to Iceland (so they can still be worshipped beneath the waterfall).</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q6nVHCenrfM/VD18u1v0XMI/AAAAAAAAD1U/2qipEMnnLLA/s1600/DSCF7948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q6nVHCenrfM/VD18u1v0XMI/AAAAAAAAD1U/2qipEMnnLLA/s1600/DSCF7948.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ImZ5af0C50Q/VD19Tz0hgZI/AAAAAAAAD1k/cqnRjolqiwo/s1600/DSCF7958.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ImZ5af0C50Q/VD19Tz0hgZI/AAAAAAAAD1k/cqnRjolqiwo/s1600/DSCF7958.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7cmnRMseLbI/VD19qkA51iI/AAAAAAAAD10/pR_yq2vBWFE/s1600/DSCF7968.JPG" height="480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bunch of knitters - are they discussing a knitting problem? No, I think they have got chocolate!! Wait for us!!!</td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7cmnRMseLbI/VD19qkA51iI/AAAAAAAAD10/pR_yq2vBWFE/s1600/DSCF7968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Then to the Myvatn area, where we spent some time walking among the pseudocraters (created when hot lava flowed across the lake and the water vapour exploded upwards)</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3_zrT7ol1hc/VD197S-0GPI/AAAAAAAAD2E/_8XY-eFk_g8/s1600/DSCF7983.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3_zrT7ol1hc/VD197S-0GPI/AAAAAAAAD2E/_8XY-eFk_g8/s1600/DSCF7983.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qYrFGP7J_GE/VD1-KshJwzI/AAAAAAAAD2M/0N7cycQmUjg/s1600/DSCF7985.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qYrFGP7J_GE/VD1-KshJwzI/AAAAAAAAD2M/0N7cycQmUjg/s1600/DSCF7985.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u0nJf0T_S-0/VD1-gGCL2gI/AAAAAAAAD2Y/sS1_L7FIw0A/s1600/DSCF7987.JPG" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">flowers amongst the lava</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLkxWczlgoQRZRLh0giu5HfVs9sKhz7qmEIDIywG2yqn1Co4lw7CEmbnwHcz8iZ5g8xdxQExXPi4EqM4m-BB2ds02KU-BYGeoEVmxpWQ15atNHLzAA9Neho7fJmG4tZ5HnYGQIf0V_G_Ee/s1600/DSCF7993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLkxWczlgoQRZRLh0giu5HfVs9sKhz7qmEIDIywG2yqn1Co4lw7CEmbnwHcz8iZ5g8xdxQExXPi4EqM4m-BB2ds02KU-BYGeoEVmxpWQ15atNHLzAA9Neho7fJmG4tZ5HnYGQIf0V_G_Ee/s1600/DSCF7993.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8RsomdB5B5o/VD1_KSC6R3I/AAAAAAAAD20/NMOB7H9-LLo/s1600/DSCF8001.JPG" height="480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">very windy at the top - Sue G, Annegret, Helene, Sue E and Dawn</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--SrMS9z1OeI/VD1_S7orWOI/AAAAAAAAD28/uDPLcooDOSk/s1600/DSCF8003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--SrMS9z1OeI/VD1_S7orWOI/AAAAAAAAD28/uDPLcooDOSk/s1600/DSCF8003.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> A short drive away we stopped for a picnic in a very flowery place</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oG67ZRPcxoc/VD1_2Zy1p1I/AAAAAAAAD3U/vE2LsgETDLI/s1600/DSCF8022.JPG" height="480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">troll cave?</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We visited a well-preserved system of sheep fanks where the sheep would be rounded up in the central ring and sorted</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">into separate enclosures round the edges</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHjeJCEiEJPlq3dWLPzJgRvCaPe7cbjmrFYjPr5aaszM5rxpAV7b0fmX1QA37j4v1FmUNHAWb7qMXzexYrsPZakHxl0XgfTIqwAQyxUsDLnhWQ6ccbRJky48IeCX5J0L-BW0NhzUljqLJ-/s1600/DSCF8033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHjeJCEiEJPlq3dWLPzJgRvCaPe7cbjmrFYjPr5aaszM5rxpAV7b0fmX1QA37j4v1FmUNHAWb7qMXzexYrsPZakHxl0XgfTIqwAQyxUsDLnhWQ6ccbRJky48IeCX5J0L-BW0NhzUljqLJ-/s1600/DSCF8033.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RZN6y_YtL20/VD2AMd_6N2I/AAAAAAAAD3k/3zWg4SzR54w/s1600/DSCF8036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RZN6y_YtL20/VD2AMd_6N2I/AAAAAAAAD3k/3zWg4SzR54w/s1600/DSCF8036.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lyck_sGBN-s/VD2AdHxe8aI/AAAAAAAAD3s/3GvDiE-HO8Q/s1600/DSCF8040.JPG" height="480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the lava blocks are surprisingly light - and support lots of moss and lichen, although they take many years to grow</td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lyck_sGBN-s/VD2AdHxe8aI/AAAAAAAAD3s/3GvDiE-HO8Q/s1600/DSCF8040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> From there we went to a geothermal area where we saw sulphurous steam vents which sound like jet engines, and pools of boiling grey mud, as well as hot sandy areas and steaming hillsides</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RFUjPn15ka4/VD2BDnRLMfI/AAAAAAAAD4E/wOEIdWHoAkk/s1600/DSCF8054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RFUjPn15ka4/VD2BDnRLMfI/AAAAAAAAD4E/wOEIdWHoAkk/s1600/DSCF8054.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DKHxHDDh3zQ/VD2BvHSVPuI/AAAAAAAAD4k/RmYLyoeAhJU/s1600/DSCF8069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DKHxHDDh3zQ/VD2BvHSVPuI/AAAAAAAAD4k/RmYLyoeAhJU/s1600/DSCF8069.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEokXogneww7MJYxOisGazPFB_C8m6wbWhWHHu1SqQ7goxcMXaQlkIkeeQZb8QqZ0A-HyT-OQazUpaUju1LMcOvSuU4ZXCXgwEfxdRBrhibwsZugtf2nPCnExiYIfm-bDNQOLP7Wj_Z6ow/s1600/DSCF8078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEokXogneww7MJYxOisGazPFB_C8m6wbWhWHHu1SqQ7goxcMXaQlkIkeeQZb8QqZ0A-HyT-OQazUpaUju1LMcOvSuU4ZXCXgwEfxdRBrhibwsZugtf2nPCnExiYIfm-bDNQOLP7Wj_Z6ow/s1600/DSCF8078.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ucPpza-rxMo/VD2Cu3fPJ4I/AAAAAAAAD5U/NpvIKxIUGOg/s1600/DSCF8093.JPG" height="480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">mud pots look like boiling grey paint</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Jeo_RNfmaIs5kPsAE2Gidg-Z8l3Qk9tPuLsCqReQCFt2FVB0JosCqz2GgYYMJLw9rfXgo9I-1utF7PCIEHIdw-GW0q_XD7vj-l3wkZqnqoOtyCD_nTKE2a6h6WA8vE7PLi1R7WBE63mv/s1600/DSCF8106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had a wonderful swim in a hot pool - the Blue Lagoon of the North - with opaque milky blue hot (sometimes very hot) water and stunning views over an almost lunar landscape. A chill wind meant we kept as much as possible under the water, which leaves the skin feeling silky smooth for days. We were reluctant to get out but eventually had to make a rather rushed journey back to Akureyri to catch our flight to Reykjavik.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9lQeYUbIfp0/VD2Dxf4aAsI/AAAAAAAAD54/xng2Dfnm9RE/s1600/DSCF8129.JPG" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">near Godafoss</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uzmw10Z86kc/VD2D3xkTi7I/AAAAAAAAD6I/SVcHeN1ibPc/s1600/DSCF8133.JPG" height="480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sometimes the scenery reminds me of Scotland</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c7w-XQXZKm0/VD2EQYxpHUI/AAAAAAAAD6Q/yOr4DEDjvs0/s1600/DSCF8144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c7w-XQXZKm0/VD2EQYxpHUI/AAAAAAAAD6Q/yOr4DEDjvs0/s1600/DSCF8144.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nqDrhnX-tlw/VD2EhRqPHYI/AAAAAAAAD6Y/ALHUYj9D0yQ/s1600/DSCF8158.JPG" height="480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Akureyri across Eyjafjordur</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Of course when we got there our flight had been cancelled - but we had plenty of knitting to occupy ourselves while waiting for the next one</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dawn, Annegret, SueG, Sue E (with tablet) and Helene</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRPNNwtHe-fz7bQvUfEFaS_Q0NNmwO3wYtBg23pTiZGmQhUdWvK39Q786TWtn3Yr7BvKqmpCL-bgNHBEEQZum0Zg1RM4i3B5Ya4dyr4hB6aIQUsfFuayC1RKPAKsMW8o59WPrrE34jno0O/s1600/DSCF8163.JPG" height="480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The francophone contingent - Patricia, Nadeige, Emmanuele and Laurence, with Karen and Beverley (hidden) behind them</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRPNNwtHe-fz7bQvUfEFaS_Q0NNmwO3wYtBg23pTiZGmQhUdWvK39Q786TWtn3Yr7BvKqmpCL-bgNHBEEQZum0Zg1RM4i3B5Ya4dyr4hB6aIQUsfFuayC1RKPAKsMW8o59WPrrE34jno0O/s1600/DSCF8163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> back in Reykjavik we had dinner in an apltly named restaurant</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bj8Ba1PIUqU/VD2Hg_vPcXI/AAAAAAAAD8Y/ssrUjXeAEco/s1600/DSCF8184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bj8Ba1PIUqU/VD2Hg_vPcXI/AAAAAAAAD8Y/ssrUjXeAEco/s1600/DSCF8184.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> And then went to the Laundromat (it really is, as well as a pub!)</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sue G, Dawn, me, Annegret and Sue E in Laundromat at about 11.30pm</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Midnight in cloudy Reykjavik</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> On our last full day in Reykjavik we visited the fleamarket</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NP577pCwOMc/VD2IvEabNxI/AAAAAAAAD9M/MHYdapRGXUc/s1600/DSCF8215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NP577pCwOMc/VD2IvEabNxI/AAAAAAAAD9M/MHYdapRGXUc/s1600/DSCF8215.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> where I acquired this very fragile but lovely spindle box, from a very anxious stallholder who wanted to make sure I knew what it was (!!!!) and would take care of it as it was made in 1883, in Eastern Iceland. I think I was able to reassure him...</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">it needs some TLC<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I took Sue to see the steam vents in the city centre, and we browsed shops and cafes but <em>no more wool was purchased!!! </em>Just several books, some Icelandic moss and flatbread. I've forgotten what I thought I was going to do with the Icelandic moss - dye with it probably, but you can eat it too so that's a dilemma!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">an appropriate name for my suitcase by this time</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">much prettier than a net curtain</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">mural with volcano, pony, waterfall......</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reykjavik's iconic church, from outside our guesthouse</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> By Saturday evening most of the group had left Reykjavik. I spent my last night in a different guesthouse - thankfully just far enough away from the city centre, which is party central on Saturday night - all night! </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">another midnight photo</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I had time on Sunday for more sightseeing - and knitting! The mittens were finished apart from some of the embroidery, so I started a lace scarf in Istex Einband yarn. I called the design Reykjavik 2am because I found myself drawing up the chart for it at that time. It is almost impossible to go to bed when it is daylight all night. Maybe I could shorten the pattern name to Insomnia</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">knitting at the Sun Voyager sculpture</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">great potential for a bit of yarn graffiti</td></tr>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4ySgEnyls60/VD2Ii0vyiqI/AAAAAAAAD9A/ZvrNRnfaaPA/s1600/DSCF8211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4ySgEnyls60/VD2Ii0vyiqI/AAAAAAAAD9A/ZvrNRnfaaPA/s1600/DSCF8211.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> As I walked back towards the harbour I spotted a small boat approaching on the calm water. It turned out to be the boat that does puffin-spotting trips, and as it arrived in the harbour at the same time as I did I just had to go for a trip on it. Well no holiday is complete without a boat trip, is it? Also, we had a running joke about puffins which had lasted for days, instigated by Beverly and maintained mainly by Annegret (well, me too just a bit!)</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lundi is Icelandic for puffin</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> So I set sail on the Lundi round two small islands just off Reykjavik</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">there were lots of puffins but this isn't a very good photo</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> back on shore I visited the concert hall, Harpur, an extraordinary glass structure</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiugOfqqGc1xg9QUYqkJrQySAQh9qOoL4qPyUgQq4gbmonapJTW50z8Z3SoXg8hB9S5HHaY5GpvAblHGXZxh-8RivU1lovNeQFoVo-2EJKeVlOD7N-AChY7a30EPbNm-LdF4B92Lc8zwZw3/s1600/DSCF8288.JPG" height="480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harpur from the inside</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Then it was time to catch the airport bus - at which point the sun came out and the lava fields of Reykanes looked lovely</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And what about <em>all the wool that was purchased? </em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two kilos of Rita's lovely Icelandic fleece is still waiting to be spun - I want to experiment with separating the tog and the thel. I got four different colours so lots of fun to be had with that. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I finished embroidering my Skagafjordur mittens - they will be very cosy for winter being knitted in Istex Lettlopi on small needles. I still have a ball of the Lopilett left.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oy7uCWUm24k/VELtsOjNuTI/AAAAAAAAECE/fhCiyfTcs30/s1600/Skagafjordur%2Bmittens.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oy7uCWUm24k/VELtsOjNuTI/AAAAAAAAECE/fhCiyfTcs30/s1600/Skagafjordur%2Bmittens.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skagafjordur mittens by Helene Magnusson</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The lacy green Einband scarf (Insomnia in Reykjavik?) got finished at Edinburgh airport on my way to Shetland, and while there I learned from Ann Eunson the proper way to dress (block) a lace scarf, (so that is tomorrow's task. I'll add a photo later ).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I have two balls of red Einband still to use.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I bought enough plotulopi to knit a lopipeysa cardigan, which I finished just before I went to Shetland Wool Week (and was very glad to have it during the two days of gales). It is really warm but being unspun yarn it is very light - just over 500g.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NT8tesOd9io/VELtu-WMPwI/AAAAAAAAECM/bOg7-ueFyJg/s1600/Snjoflyksa%2B1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NT8tesOd9io/VELtu-WMPwI/AAAAAAAAECM/bOg7-ueFyJg/s1600/Snjoflyksa%2B1.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snjoflyksa by Linnea Ornstein - pattern on Ravelry</td></tr>
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I only needed two-thirds of the yarn for the cardigan so I am now knitting Helene's Margret shawl with the rest.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The finished projects are on my Ravelry page</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Lovely Sue E gave me two balls of a very soft fuzzy yarn which I think I will include in my next fair isle hat , having seen Felicity Ford's Shwook which includes some of her Granny's angora yarn. She also gave me a part ball of some very pretty sock yarn which might become wristwarmers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The WOOLCANO has been tamed!!! (but I've been to Shetland since then.....<em>some yarn may have been purchased!!</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">As for Iceland - this was my second visit, I went first in winter and now in summer, and I love it - the people, the geology and of course THE WOOL. I already have plans for a MUCH LONGER VISIT in 2018 - you have been warned, Iceland! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span>Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109537088382336818noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565418903848925139.post-90768890337220477542014-10-15T13:17:00.002-07:002014-10-15T13:17:58.580-07:00Workshops November & December 2014<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Workshops November & December 2014</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>2nd Nov 10am - 1pm Fleece and Fibre Preparation </strong>£40 <strong>Only 2 places left!!</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Arial;">at 206 High Street (GRM Podiatry), Auchterarder, PH3 1AF</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8U1WQTxUpewALu62Gvwotx0eWPKdZ-zmA1LSLIZY3FdiGf42FoDlS1uFg6egNp0e8ILui8At22ObyWH0LKdngs1Vy63z18INMgcRE8Y3iT341NSiG561owGYLxbVi1F6mae-rFbXyyTSK/s1600/13+Shetland+grade+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8U1WQTxUpewALu62Gvwotx0eWPKdZ-zmA1LSLIZY3FdiGf42FoDlS1uFg6egNp0e8ILui8At22ObyWH0LKdngs1Vy63z18INMgcRE8Y3iT341NSiG561owGYLxbVi1F6mae-rFbXyyTSK/s320/13+Shetland+grade+1.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a><br /><span id="yui_3_7_2_18_1354354366099_128" style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">Starting from the raw fleece, learn how to sort the wool into different qualities and prepare it in two different ways for hand spinning different styles of yarns.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">We will discuss how to choose a good fleece for handspinning, the characteristics and uses of fleeces from different breeds of sheep, and different non-wool fibres. This is essential for understanding the raw materials and how to get the best yarns possible from them.</span><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Materials and use of equipment included.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>2nd Nov 2pm-5pm Drop Spindle Spinning £40 Only 2 places left!!</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Arial;">at 206 High Street (GRM Podiatry), Auchterarder, PH3 1AF</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">An ideal start for beginners, using a drop spindle lets us separate the different phases of the spinning process and slow things right down while learning how to spin. A drop spindle is an inexpensive, portable and very versatile tool with which you can learn to spin a wide range of yarns.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The manual skills of drop spindle spinning transfer directly to spinning with a spinning wheel and learning to use a spinning wheel is much easier if you have had a little practice with a spindle first.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Materials and use of equipment included. <strong>£10 off if you also book the morning workshop</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>9th November 2 - 5pm Knitting Christmas baubles £35</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Arial;">at 204 High Street, Auchterarder, PH3 1AF</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">For a real home - made Christmas look - and they make lovely gifts. A good introduction to knitting Fair Isle in the round on double-pointed needles, or magic loop.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Workshop includes a kit with instructions and materials to make four different baubles - we will make a start on one, you can finish the rest at home. Yarn is pure Shetland wool.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Please bring a set of 5 3mm double pointed needles, or a 100cm long 3mm circular needle.</span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial;">23rd November 10am - 5pm Getting the best from your spinning wheel £70</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Arial;">at 206 High Street (GRM Podiatry), Auchterarder, PH3 1AF</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Ideal next step for those who have learned to spin with a spindle, this workshop will also suit spinners who want to improve their technique or vary the kinds of yarn they can spin. You can try at least three different models of spinning wheel if you are thinking about buying one, or if you already have a wheel bring it along for a mini-service*.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Materials and use of equipment included. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">*Please let me know if you are bringing your own wheel*</span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial;">30th November 10 am - 5 pm Spinning Multicoloured Fibres £55</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Those delicious hand-painted braids, tops and handcarded batts can be disappointing when spun, unless you know how to control the colour changes. This workshop will teach you a range of techniques to ensure you get the effect you want, whether that is vibrant, subtle, graduated or fractal.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Not suitable for complete beginners</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>NB Price does NOT include materials - either bring a 100g braid and a 50g blended batt or purchase at the workshop (£15).</strong> Spinning wheels and other equipment available for use or bring your own.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>7th December 2pm - 5pm Introduction to Fair Isle knitting £20 plus cost of kit</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Arial;">at 204 High Street, Auchterarder, PH3 1AF</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Learn some new tricks for easier and better results with tihs traditional technique. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>NB Price does not include materials:</strong>Choose from one of a range of kits, all using pure Shetland wool yarn from £12 - £18.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Please bring a set of 5 3mm double pointed needles, or a 100cm 3mm circular needle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></span>Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109537088382336818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565418903848925139.post-57629109328577852922014-09-07T01:44:00.000-07:002014-09-07T01:44:02.639-07:00Firenze, Marzo 2015 Corso base di filatura <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uQRGaiYquMk/U1VLfxJiteI/AAAAAAAADZs/FmZxczztVFg/s1600/44%2Bcarding.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uQRGaiYquMk/U1VLfxJiteI/AAAAAAAADZs/FmZxczztVFg/s1600/44%2Bcarding.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stiamo organizzando un corso di filatura per principianti - vi aspettiamo!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Il corso sara' ospitata di Olena Fossi, per maggior dettagli o per iscrizioni contatta: <a href="mailto:hollyfoxy@gmail.com">hollyfoxy@gmail.com</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Data : Da Sabato 7 Marzo a Domenica 8 Marzo<span class="text_exposed_hide">...</span></span><span class="text_exposed_show"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> 2015.<br /><br /> LUOGO : Firenze ; la location verrà comunicata successivamente in base alle adesioni in modo da agevolare l'arrivo e nei limiti del possibile il soggiorno di chi viene da lontano.<br /><br /> ORARIO : dalle ore 10 ale ore 18.<br /><br /> PREZZO : 160 euro per due giorni di corso oppure 80 euro una sola giornata.<br /><br /> In questo costo NON è incluso l'alloggio nè i pasti, che saranno a carico individuale , anche se ci stiamo organizzando per provvedere varie possibilità di scelta sia dell'uno che dell'altro a prezzi contenuti.<br /><br /> In questo costo è INCLUSO il materiale necessario per seguire il corso, anche sarà la possibilità di acquistare altro materiale ed attrezzatura con notevole sconto e senza spese di spedizione.<br /> Per chi fosse inoltre interessato all'acquisto di un filatoio (il cui uso verrà introdotto il secondo giorno) sono in grado di procurare anche in questo caso un buon sconto sulla gamma Ashford , sempre senza spese di spedizione (per ordine confermate con pagamento non oltre il 31 gennaio)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">PROGRAMMA</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Sabato Mattina</u> 3 ore :<br /> Le fibre e la preparazione. <br /><br /> Tipi e caratteristiche della lana e delle altre fibre.<br /><br /> Il vello sucido, come dividerlo secondo la qualita, istruzioni per quando e come lavarlo (o non), la cardatura e la pettinatura a mano .<br /><br /> I motivi per metodi diversi di preparazione. <br /><br /> Come preparare altre fibre, esempio la seta.<br /> Pausa pranzo <br /><br /> <u>Sabato pomeriggio</u>(3 ore): <br /> La filatura col fuso : base importante anche per chi vorrà filare col filatoio.<br /><br /> Filati 'singoli', come e perche' doppiare i filati. <br /><br /> Come fare le matasse e 'finire' il filato.<br /><br /> <u>Domenica</u> (6 ore + pausa pranzo):<br /> Il filatoio. <br /> Modelli dei filatoi, come sceglierlo, le parti, come mantenere il filatoio.<br /><br /> La filatura col filatoio - filati singoli, la doppiatura - creazione di una matassa di filato a due capi.<br /><br /> Il numero dei filatoi a disposizione sarà limitato, per cui se qualcuno già lo possiede , sarebbe gradito che lo portasse e lo comunicasse specificando il modello.<br /><br /> Diversamente , se qualcuno è interessato all'acquisto di attrezzatura dalla gamma Ashford, con prezzi scontati rispetto al costo di listino , per ordine confermate con pagamento non oltre il 31 gennaio può approfittare della proposta contattando <a href="mailto:Deborah.gray7@btinternet.com">Deborah.gray7@btinternet.com</a> Una spedizione all'ingrosso sarà spedito direttamente nel luogo del corso senza alcuna spesa di spedizione, così come anche altri materiali ed accessori aspo,cardatori,fusi ,fibre aggiuntive e altro che potrete richiedere.</span></span>Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109537088382336818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565418903848925139.post-67140651575406956492014-07-06T04:05:00.001-07:002014-07-06T04:05:29.913-07:00Mixed Flock - complete and signed off!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm looking forward to being cozy this winter!<br />
This morning I finished knitting my handspun Mixed Flock blanket.<br />
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Six different fleeces - three pure Shetlands (from Shetland), white Ryeland, black Zwartbles and grey Blue Texel (all from Perthshire)<br />
Three intermediate shades blended by drum carder<br />
Nine shades of undyed natural wool, hand spun to fingering thickness two-ply yarn<br />
The central Fair Isle part was knitted in the round with a steek. If you look carefully you can find 11 words - the names of each of the breeds and the Shetland words for the different colours of wool, plus my initials and the date - knitted in to the pattern.<br />
Then I cut it open at the steek and picked up the border stitches - just over 1000 to start with, increasing at the corners to 1256 stitches before casting off with an i-cord edge.<br />
It took approximately 320 hours of work from raw fleeces to blanket. It measures about 145 cm square<br />
Design modified from Rams and Yowes by Kate Davies - I made it bigger, knitted in , and modified the border.<br />
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Scroll back for earlier posts about the spinning, knitting and steeking.<br />
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Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109537088382336818noreply@blogger.com3