Saturday, July 27, 2013

woolly times

Last weekend my dear knitting buddy and i took a trip to the Bendigo Wool and Sheep Show...all up a very absorbing and woolly affair! We raced around, meeting folk who knit, spin, whittle, peddle luxurious yarns, design knitting patterns, enter knitting competitions, dye wool and  breed woolly beasts! Pure indulgence for a wool obsessed gal like moi...
I was quite restrained in the wool procurement department, very largely due to a few boxes of the stuff sitting at home awaiting transformation!
Here's a few pics!
This gentleman was a real charmer, wearing the viking mail and helmet (complete with beard) made from his own spun yarn! Marvellous!



 The beasts!!
 Weaving by Heather Dunn, preparing for her exhibition in Bathurst. Below is her "leaf litter" dyeing.
 This gorgeous dress was showing at Viewpoint Handmade Gallery in Bendigo. I failed to note the maker of this divine felt and leaf dyed garment (if anyone know be sure to enlighten me!)



And the very modest booty, but very exciting!
 The Fibre Company Meadow: a 2-ply lace weight blend of merino, baby llama, silk + linen purchased from the lovely Alex of ZigoZago. It was so great to meet her and rant and rave wool!!
The colour is Pennyroyal, and oh my goodness....
I am toying with the idea of creating a Seashore Cowl  like the lovely Lori made, combining with the Suri Silk/Alpaca (above) purchased by the most amazing salt of the earth woman, Robyn Betts, gets this soft heavenly stuff spun from her own animals!!
Below is a skein of her MeriSuri, where she has teamed with a friend to make a truly incredible merino and suri alpaca mix. The colour is also enchanting!

And something else a'brewin'.
Knittin' and sangin'. Just heaven. We got a name'n'all.
 Dear Cedar.
Joining Ginny and her Yarn Along: still going with Hitch (very slowly!) and reading a wonderful book written by an incredible creative couple, Australian actor William McInnes and his wife, filmmaker and animator Sarah Watts (who since writing the book has passed away), Worse Things Happen at Sea. Amazingly intelligent, inspiring read!

4 comments:

Lori ann said...

oh my dear jo! what a post! i wish so much i could have been there, seeing all you saw, the wool and sheep and that dress! incredible.

AND!! you are in a band?! omgosh that is fantastic, i was allowed to peek at f.b. although i don't have an account there. oh my gosh, you three are amazing. you are so humble and beautiful and your singing, somethin brewing indeed. when will a cd be available??

i think i need to purchase some of the fibre company meadow as well, we could have a sort of kal of our own (and anyone that would like to join!), your color is gorgeous.

xxxxx

Lori ann said...

and will you share which shawl you are wearing in the 2nd to last photo?

Jo Windmill said...

Thanks dear Lori for your kind comments,
We are so happy singing such gorgeous folk songs.
The shawl in the last pic is my Ishbel made from Old Maiden Aunt Alpaca Silk. brass taps and oak is the colourway.
I'd love to have a meadow KAL with you!
x

Lori ann said...

jo i've yet to knit with either fibre co or old maiden and have wanted to with both. i know whats in my future, my wooly future anyway!
thank you so much for sharing! i'll try to get yarn for the seashore soon. :)