Yes, we're still here in snowy Aberdeen and it's freezing.
We were looking forward to getting home to the (slightly) warmer weather and preparing for Christmas. In fact, we had actually set off on our journey back to Hull to catch the ferry, but luckily had only got as far as Edinburgh. That evening we received a phone call to say Eric's Mum had fallen in her flat and she was being taken to hospital.
The next morning we drove back up to Aberdeen in ridiculous conditions (at one point we couldn't see the road and nearly had to abandon the car) but managed to arrive eventually. It turns out she has had a stroke which has affected her left hand side, not badly, but she doesn't have full use of her arm and leg. The doctor is fairly confident they can regain some, if not all, of that by therapy, so we're just keeping our fingers crossed.
Obviously we had to cancel the ferry back to France, but hope we can get back by new year if all is well. Once she leaves the main hospital to go for convalescence and ongoing therapy, we may be able to think about it.
In the meantime, hope everyone has a good Christmas and New Year.
Wednesday, 22 December 2010
Friday, 10 December 2010
Frozen North
Well, here we are in the frozen north-east of Scotland for our annual visit, and the weather's certainly excelled itself this time. No photos I'm afraid, because the computer we brought with us doesn't have the software to transfer them from the camera.
We stayed the first 4 nights in Cumbria visiting family and friends and, although it was pretty white there too, the roads were fairly clear. We then drove north to Edinburgh to stay with Eric's son Nic and his girlfriend Vika for a night, but got stuck there for an extra night - the snow was absolutely atrocious. It snowed and snowed and snowed on the day we were supposed to leave, and the Forth Road Bridge was closed for some time too. We watched the webcam of the bridge for a while and all we saw were stationary cars, and then people walking off the bridge abandoning them.
Finally, on the 10th day of our visit to the UK (we're staying with Eric's Mum in sunny Fettercairn, about 30 miles south of Aberdeen), the snow is starting to melt, so tomorrow we hit the shops!!
We stayed the first 4 nights in Cumbria visiting family and friends and, although it was pretty white there too, the roads were fairly clear. We then drove north to Edinburgh to stay with Eric's son Nic and his girlfriend Vika for a night, but got stuck there for an extra night - the snow was absolutely atrocious. It snowed and snowed and snowed on the day we were supposed to leave, and the Forth Road Bridge was closed for some time too. We watched the webcam of the bridge for a while and all we saw were stationary cars, and then people walking off the bridge abandoning them.
Finally, on the 10th day of our visit to the UK (we're staying with Eric's Mum in sunny Fettercairn, about 30 miles south of Aberdeen), the snow is starting to melt, so tomorrow we hit the shops!!
Saturday, 27 November 2010
Ashford Traveller Spinning Wheel
. . . and here it is!
When it arrived, I decided to treat the wood with clear varnish to help keep it clean and applied one coat. Luckily, the varnish I used was quite thin and soaked completely into the wood. I say "luckily", because by that time I'd decided that, actually, I'd prefer it waxed! I then spent the next few days coating it with home-made beeswax polish, and I'm really pleased with the result. It's come out a lovely warm colour. Hopefully I won't have to do it too often, because it did take quite a bit of time.
When it arrived, I decided to treat the wood with clear varnish to help keep it clean and applied one coat. Luckily, the varnish I used was quite thin and soaked completely into the wood. I say "luckily", because by that time I'd decided that, actually, I'd prefer it waxed! I then spent the next few days coating it with home-made beeswax polish, and I'm really pleased with the result. It's come out a lovely warm colour. Hopefully I won't have to do it too often, because it did take quite a bit of time.
Dyeing with Woad
On Wednesday last, my friend Sarah (of Camel Farm fame) came to do a bit of dyeing. Before she arrived I picked all the leaves from my woad plants (only 5 plants, but some were quite big) and started the process of turning them from green leaves to lovely blue dye.
First step was to wash and chop the leaves and put them in a large pan. Then just-boiled water was poured over them and they were left to steep for about an hour. The leaves were then sieved out and squeezed to remove all the blue pigment. (The leaves were then put in a bag in the freezer to use sometime in the future to create a pink dye).
Here is the strained dye ready for the next stage :-
Next, washing soda was added (or you can use ammonia, but it stinks!!) and the mix was whisked to incorporate air. You can see the blue froth on the surface.
The bubbles were then stirred into the mixture, as much as possible, and the surface was sprinkled with colour-run remover which removes the oxygen from the mix. Previously I've always used Spectralite (sodium hyhdrosulphite) at this stage, but as I only had the remains of an old packet (it has quite a short shelf life), and I had some colour-run remover in the house, I used that instead. It seemed to work very well, but I really didn't know how much to use so just sprinkled it all over the top.
It then had to stand for about three quarters of an hour before the dye could be used.
The wool (well-wetted out beforehand) was then carefully lowered into the liquid (so as not to create any drips which might re-introduce oxygen) and left for about an hour.
You can see that the dye pot looks quite yellow, and the wool comes out a yellow colour. But as soon as the air hits it, it starts to turn blue - magic! Unfortunately, I didn't get photos of that happening (will have to wait until next year I suppose), but here is the finished Merino :-
This batch has turned out quite a pale blue, I suspect because I gathered the leaves a bit too late in the season. In fact, the morning I picked the leaves it was quite frosty, and the leaves were actually a bit crunchy! A lesson learned for next year. I was still happy with the colour though - a lovely baby blue.
I don't know if it's my imagination, but the wool seemed quite a bit softer after I'd used the dye. If any other dyers are reading this, perhaps you have an opinion and can post a comment. I'd really like to know if other people have encountered this.
First step was to wash and chop the leaves and put them in a large pan. Then just-boiled water was poured over them and they were left to steep for about an hour. The leaves were then sieved out and squeezed to remove all the blue pigment. (The leaves were then put in a bag in the freezer to use sometime in the future to create a pink dye).
Here is the strained dye ready for the next stage :-
Next, washing soda was added (or you can use ammonia, but it stinks!!) and the mix was whisked to incorporate air. You can see the blue froth on the surface.
The bubbles were then stirred into the mixture, as much as possible, and the surface was sprinkled with colour-run remover which removes the oxygen from the mix. Previously I've always used Spectralite (sodium hyhdrosulphite) at this stage, but as I only had the remains of an old packet (it has quite a short shelf life), and I had some colour-run remover in the house, I used that instead. It seemed to work very well, but I really didn't know how much to use so just sprinkled it all over the top.
It then had to stand for about three quarters of an hour before the dye could be used.
The wool (well-wetted out beforehand) was then carefully lowered into the liquid (so as not to create any drips which might re-introduce oxygen) and left for about an hour.
You can see that the dye pot looks quite yellow, and the wool comes out a yellow colour. But as soon as the air hits it, it starts to turn blue - magic! Unfortunately, I didn't get photos of that happening (will have to wait until next year I suppose), but here is the finished Merino :-
This batch has turned out quite a pale blue, I suspect because I gathered the leaves a bit too late in the season. In fact, the morning I picked the leaves it was quite frosty, and the leaves were actually a bit crunchy! A lesson learned for next year. I was still happy with the colour though - a lovely baby blue.
I don't know if it's my imagination, but the wool seemed quite a bit softer after I'd used the dye. If any other dyers are reading this, perhaps you have an opinion and can post a comment. I'd really like to know if other people have encountered this.
Wednesday, 24 November 2010
And the Winner is . . .
Francey!!
Pleased to say that someone nice did win the scarf, and she was thrilled with it. Makes it all worthwhile!
Pleased to say that someone nice did win the scarf, and she was thrilled with it. Makes it all worthwhile!
Saturday, 20 November 2010
In the nick of time!!
Here is the completed scarf for the raffle tonight. I finished it at 1 p.m. today, and we leave the house at 3:30 to set up the band gear at the village hall. I'm really pleased with the way the colours have turned out - they're my colours exactly! Pity I'm giving it away really, but hope the person who wins likes it too.
Friday, 19 November 2010
Thursday's Dyeing and Knitting
Well, I did take some photos of the spun and plied wool for the scarf before it was dyed . . . or rather, I thought I did!! Eric (blame him, because he took a video of me plying the day before) had left the camera on video setting and I hadn't noticed.
Anyway, having washed the finished wool, I laid it on a piece of polythene and hand-painted the dyes onto it. I only used 3 colours this time : blue, red and mauve. Photo below :-
The skeins were steamed for half an hour to set the dyes, then rinsed and hung up to dry:-
. . . and this is where I am with it at the moment. Will probably finish it tonight and get it wrapped up ready for the raffle.
I'm knitting the scarf fairly simply : just seed stitch with intervals of ladder stitch (it grows faster!) because the knots and knobbles in the wool, plus the colours, make it look fairly patterned anyway and I didn't want to overdo it.
I hope whoever wins this will look on here to see the process from camel (this came from Bridget, the white camel, now in Holland) to yarn, to garment. And I hope they enjoy wearing it too - I enjoyed making it!
Anyway, having washed the finished wool, I laid it on a piece of polythene and hand-painted the dyes onto it. I only used 3 colours this time : blue, red and mauve. Photo below :-
The skeins were steamed for half an hour to set the dyes, then rinsed and hung up to dry:-
. . . and this is where I am with it at the moment. Will probably finish it tonight and get it wrapped up ready for the raffle.
I'm knitting the scarf fairly simply : just seed stitch with intervals of ladder stitch (it grows faster!) because the knots and knobbles in the wool, plus the colours, make it look fairly patterned anyway and I didn't want to overdo it.
I hope whoever wins this will look on here to see the process from camel (this came from Bridget, the white camel, now in Holland) to yarn, to garment. And I hope they enjoy wearing it too - I enjoyed making it!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)