Journey into the unknown...

ooo the suspense... what goodies are in there?

Saturday night I must of woken up 5 times, I was so excited to be visiting Wonderwool Wales the next day.  For anyone who doesnt know, Wonderwool is a HUGE 2 day event featuring all things WOOLY.  After 3 years of not going for one reason or another I was looking forward to it.  Didnt really know what to expect; would it be horrendously crowded?  I dont like crowds at all... but the lure of all the wooly goodness drew me on anyway.  Would Gary and the kids find it interesting.. or be bored stiff?  My lovely hubby suggested we all go as a family daytrip.. I did worry a little that they may regret that.

Well we set out bright and early with a nice picnic lunch packed in the boot.  The weather was amazing and driving through the beautiful countryside (often with fields of sheep and tiny lambs) was extremely pleasant.  Took a couple of hours... but it was such a nice drive it passed quickly.

I was very pleasantly suprised when we got there.  The halls were so spacious that it didnt feel crowded - there was plenty of room to walk around and breathe!  And there was so much to see!  I wanted to look around first THEN go round and buy what I wanted (incase I spent all my pocket money only to find something I wanted even more :)   It took me 4 hours just to get round everything and then I was running round like a mad woman trying to remember where all the stalls were that I wanted to go back to.  

Rachael enjoyed nosing around all of the pretty things.. she inevitably wanted something off each one - got fed up of saying "no". 

 

She even made a friend :)

Gary & Matthew even found a few 'blokes' to talk to about man-ish things.  We had a really nice day (well mine was GREAT, theirs was good :)  I got to meet & chat with lots of lovely people; some that I only know online, others that I dont see very often, and I bumped into Sue (a fellow Woolgatherer) and her parents. 

The journey home was unfortunately very fraught.  First we ended up stuck behind a circus on the move - traveling at half the speed limit for the road, which was mostly single lane & unsuitable for overtaking.  We were behind them for about 20 miles which added a good hour to the journey.  Couple of miles after finally passing the circus the car directly in front of us hit a motorcyclist - absolutely terrifying!  Thank God he seemed to not be badly injured - banged & bruised and a broken wrist.  It was one of those awful slow motion moments when you know what is about to happen - you can see it coming - but cant stop it..  

So yeah that shook us up a bit..  

Anyway, back to something pleasant, my wooly hawl :)

All tipped out

Lots of naturally dyed skeins of BlueFaced Leicester yarn from Alison at Pure Tinctoria

Pretty pencil rovings

Wooden and shell buttons

TOPS: Mauve Falkland wool & black alpaca

I have come back feeling all fired up and inspired.. As the children are home for their Easter hols I may get some spinning and crochet done (once I have sewn and finished off my rabbit & bag!) over the next couple of weeks.  Might indulge in some child labour and get the kids carding batts for me lol. 

We are hoping to get some visiting and days trips in too - although Rachael has come down with tonsilitis and a cold this morning so I think we shall have to take it easy for a few days first.

Lace, Woolgathering and exciting weekend plans

Yesterday was the 2nd Woolgatherers tea morning.. and a lovely morning it was too!  Brenda brought me a suprise pressie :) which was very kind and really amused me.  While shopping in Stroud she came across this and thought of me

Gift wrapping paper made from sheep poo

A bit gross.. but totally tickles my funny bones.  Bless her, she carried it carefully around the town for the rest of the shopping trip, and stored it carefully to avoid creases :)  I have to think of something 'interesting' to do with it now.  I'm thinking along the lines of using it as a backdrop for a piece.. maybe.  Any suggestions will be welcome :)

I'm not going to report back on the tiny frame challenge as Sue, who set the challenge & provided the frames, was unable to join us.  Next time we meet I shall take photos and post them, in fact there will be 2 challenges to report on then.  This months challenge is 'vintage buttons and beads'   - we can make whatever we like - so long as it features vintage button/s and/or beads...

Wednesday and Thursday I played around with lace.  In Fabulous Felted Scarves by Chad Alice Hagen & Jorie Johnson there is a bridal wrap made from lace and strips of merino fibre sort of woven and then felted.  I didnt want to make the wrap project in the book, but the idea really appealed.  SO, when I got my hands on a shoe box full of vintage lace (my aunty kept it from clearing her parent-in-laws house after they died) I decided to play.

Laying out.  I lightly veiled the edges of the lace on both sides. 
There are 3 perpendicular layers of fibre on each of the felt strips

I cut one of nans vintage chiffon scarves in half diagonally & added that as the focal point in the middle of the back.  Threw a sprinke of white firestar in between the merino and chiffon for a little glitz.

Felted & finished and modeled by Rachael - who is too small for it really bless her. 
Will get better photos in the week.

My bunny that will be going to Japan is still unfinished, as is the orange bag.. but as the kids have just broke up for the Easter holidays (which means no felting for a couple of weeks!) I can get on with them this week hopefully.

So whats the exciting weekend I have planned?  We are going to Wonderwool Wales tomorow!  This is the third year that I have wanted to go.. and I'm going YAY.  We are heading off for a family day out.. hope the others enjoy it as much as I am sure to!

I'm off to enjoy the spectacularly sunshine - its been gorgeous the last couple of days; summer clothing weather!

Whatever you are doing this weekend - enjoy xx