A busy spinning weekend including the great SPINNOTTS reunion

 Many years ago there was a group of spinners who would demonstrate at local events and generally spin in public whenever they got the chance. We disbanded about fourteen years ago as people moved out of the area, went away to uni or had family responsibilities. Some continued as Woolly Outlaws, others joined local guilds and some hung up their wheels.

Recently two of the ringleaders decided that it was time to hold a reunion and see if there is any interest in having social spinning get togethers.

And that is how I fond myself heading into town rather early on Saturday morning.

It was the first time that I had travelled by train for quite some time.

I took the opportunity to grab a coffee and knit a few rows before jumping on the train.

Not many more photos as I was too busy catching up with everyone but Pete (Pete's Fibre Studio ) had some amazing hand dyed fibres and yarns. I may have indulged haha

I did grab a shot of two of some of the wheels though I'm not sure how much spinning anyone managed.

The day was a great success and plans have been made for the next meeting, 

The very next day I was out and about with the local guild outreach group at Greens Windmill, not many visitors due to the fact that the mill is undergoing renovations at the moment but still not a bad way to spend the day.

back again

Hi, I bet you thought I had fallen off the edge of the world!! not quite but family has taken me away from my blog temporarily. Still I have some photos to share, news of a new venture which will probably be the next post and some general nonsense as usual.

Spinning, well we have been as busy as ever:-) getting out and about, this time to the Frameworkers Museum where we appeared as part of a workers playtime event on MayDay.

 

We started all very organised in a gazebo in the garden at 10 o'clock and at 11 o'clock we made a rapid retreat into the Hall to avoid the pouring rain.

 

Pete aka Wikkidknitter provided a display of hand spun and hand dyed fibres for the public to admire and ended up selling some of them much to his surprise.

 

The previous day I had attended a spinning session with the Woolly Outlaws based in the North of Nottingham where there was also a Medieval Market taking place. I had to explore...I did and found a sweet little spinning wheel which after a bit of gentle tinkering span very nicely. So, so tempted to take it home but just don't have the space. Even Biker Ted asked why I hadn't bought it !!

 

cute photo time

Yes, its that time of years again, the spinners are well wrapped up and inside a damp marquee. The reason? Spring Lambing at Clumber Park.

which do you want to see first? sheep or spinners?   OK Little lambs win !! 

  

And here are the spinners from spinnotts and woolly outlaws.

 

and the amazing Woollyelly :-)

Sunday round up

HI, well its been a long busy week but not a lot to show for it! Yesterday spinnotts met at the new Art Exchange in Nottingham for a bobbin lace taster session and we were very happy to have help from Heather who is a lace teacher and member of the Nottingham Bobbin Lace Society.

And I followed this up with a bit of shopping today,  essential shopping for me !!

what we did on New Years Eve.......

.....was have a bit of fun, fluffy fibre style whilst hubby was out with Biker Ted shopping and visiting friends. Firstly we raided the fluff stash as I had bought a bag of off white merino at a bargain price a few months ago and fancied trying to dye it. Some superwash merino yarn was added to the pile and Wikkidknitter bought along some merino/angora to add to the pot.

 first we had a quick check on the colour combinations

seems to work ok

Then we start the chocolates

Then we eat the cheese biscuits fresh from the oven

and bake some cakes whilst the dyes are cooking

I'm thinking this may be my next spinning project, just need something to ply it with...any ideas?

and this may just go to the shop :-)

We had fun as usual, stocked up on a bit of fibre and giggled the day away as good friends often do :-)
Now down to earth with a bump with a spinnotts event to arrange in Nottingham for January 21st where the spinners will be spinning and also looking at bobbin lace.

Knitted critters

I promised knitted critter so here they are :-)

As many of you know, I am a member of the Notts and District branch of the Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers. Which sounds very official but basically boils down to a good old chat and lots of fibre fun on the last Saturday of the month. Occasionally we get to meet other guilds and recently we mooched on up to Mansfield to take part in the Ashfield Guild Hospitality days and in amongst the usual lines of spinners and stalls were....... little knitted thingies!!

There was a farm.

complete with duck pond, fields and trees. The family were outside the house and the horses in the stables.

                                                                                                                                               And an ark complete with animals and family  . Sadly there was a bit of a blood bath later in the day when all the animals were found lying on their sides and the crocodiles had a decidedly evil look about them.look if you dare!!!            

and I loved the tortoise/turtles :-)

Riverside Festival Day three, Rain Dance

The weather was iffy on Sunday with heavy rain at times but we decided to take a chance on it, picked up our wheels and headed back to the music. We had coffee and biscuits, purchased lager and cider and settled down for the afternoon.



The music was provided by dance workshops and a brass band, two of our party did not need any excuse to stop spinning and knitting and dance instead.



but the heavens opened, enableing Sue to show off the dance of the blue groundsheet whilst Wikkidknitter decided to simply hide.



but soon recovered enough to show off the latest way to wear a wheelie big bin liner and carry on dancing.



We had a great time in spite of the rain, met some interesting people and confiscated a football ( long story)

Tour de Fleece Day Eight.

Yesterday was a chill and spin session in one of Nottingham Costa Coffee shops. The guys there are now quite used to the strange people who turn up with spinning wheels. knitting and sometimes bobbin lace!!


I managed to almost fill a bobbin of thick/thin merino/tencel from FeltstudioUK before I headed out and whilst I was there as well as a little more spinning on the falkland braid which I forgot to photograph.

Wikkidknitter joined me with his Kiwi and a braid of merino nylon.





I played with the fleece



and we both stopped for coffee mmmm...iced mocha !!



note the oil can in the pic, true spinners :-)