Holiday Craft Project

The place where we have just been on holiday is right next to a brilliant surf beach.. unfortunately dogs are not allowed on during the summer months.  So when the surf is up and we want to go play we have to take it in turns to stay behind with the dogs.  The coastal path and cliffs are beautiful to walk so it's usually a pretty peaceful time.. but if it is raining and you don't fancy getting wet the option of spending time in the tent or van is far less appealing.  PLUS I tend to get twitchy when I spend too long without making..  SO  I went well prepared :)

When my dear friend Heather came to visit a few months ago, she left me with a huge bundle of bright green merino fibre and a challenge to use it for 'something interesting' (previously used here).  

some of the green, with bright colours that I thought would be nice blended in.

Starting to blend on my drum carder

2 lovely, brightly coloured, fat bats to play with.
I split one into thin pieces (like roving/tops) and gently rolled it into 'nests' to travel with

Unpacking my bag in the tent 

I didn't actually spend much time spindling while we were away..
this is what I'd done by the time we got home

A few more peaceful hours spindling at home and I was ready to ply.
I used the Andean Bracelet method

Which involves carefully winding the yarn off the spindle and around your hand

Then removing it from your hand and slipping it onto the wrist like a bracelet.
From there you can pull out both ends and spin them together
(it acts like a centre pull ball.. with just happens to be wrapped round your wrist to keep it out of the way).
Very handy

Plied yarn ready to wind into a hank.

I just need to set the twist now.
This was probably about half a batt

I decided to spin one batt on my wheel - which I did a couple days before we went away.. and the other batt on my drop spindle.  Though the colours are the same the yarns are different.. this one is a 2 ply yarn, while the one done on my wheel is 3 ply - I Navajo plied that one (I love yarns that have been Navajo plied, they are so textural).  I have the 2nd half of the spindling batt left to do.. but think I may spin it on my wheel and add some green eyelash yarn to keep it a little different.  I have plans for all this yarn.. will keep you posted :)

And I just have to show you the beauty that we discovered in our garage when we got home!

Gorgeous Peacock Butterfly liberated from our garage.

I've never seen one this close for this long before, he was stunning!
Made this fabulous rustling / hissing noise as he opened and closed his wings
(I think he was probably warning us to stay away).  

He stayed put for a good 5 minutes after we brought the piece of wood he was resting on outside.. it was lovely watching him flutter away and disappear into the undergrowth.