Elm Grove Patchwork

Nancy's Needle 1850-1880 and Shearing Day

It was a happy day yesterday with the arrival of  Nancy's Needle 1850-1880, the newest fabric released from Betsy Chutchian of Moda Fabrics. Forty lovely bolts of florals and small prints, perfect for lots of small pieced blocks.

I have them listed on the website here.

It was also a happy day for three special men in my life;  Arthur, George and Harold. It was finally sheering day.

This year the shearing was a public affair, done at school in front of my son's Agricultural class. The shearer even demonstrating hand clipping on Harold. Its amazing how much their wool has lightened off over the years, here they are in 2012. It's not just us who grey as we age.

With the postponement of AQC, I am now under huge pressure to spin the wool and knit beanies for the three human men in my life. I did agree to the condition that I could have the sheep if I kept the men in beanies, and as yet my husband is yet to receive one. 

Happy stitching!

Click Go The Shears

Before.

During.

After.

And I have three of the most beautiful bags of wool you could imagine. Gee I love these boys!

Wooly Sunshine

If you have been following along with this blog and my old blog, you will know that I have a little fascination with wool. Eighteen months ago I successfully convinced my husband to fence off a small disused area so I could run three sheep; Arthur, George and Harold.

(Aren't they lovely!)

I love all things wool, from my merino Spencer's and leggings, to woolly scarfs, jumpers and vests. 

About eighteen months ago, I rediscovered wool fabric. (I had purchased some years ago, but for some unknown reason, it never really took hold of me.)  Lovely for applique and embellishing small projects, I was a little frustrated not to be able to find the colours I wished to work with. so I decided to explore the possibilities of dyeing. I purchased some wool dyes and books, and set about learning the process. The more I read and explored, the more complicated the process seemed, and slowly it all crept to the back of the cupboard.

In recent weeks my thoughts have returned to wool (it is an addiction I am sure), and I have slowly started reading the books again.

With the sun shining beautifully yesterday, and a lovely warmth in the air, I was inspired to finally getting out my dye pot and just start dyeing.

And this is the result. I am quite impressed, even though the pink you see was actually meant to be red!

I am keeping a journal to record weights, measures and methods, so that I will be able to replicate any of the colours I invent. I also have ordered some commercially dyed fabric which hopefully will be arriving soon. And yes, the sketch pad is out.

Lenora x.

Ps. Remember me telling you of all that rain we have had. Thought I would share a little snap taken from our out-paddock. Needless to say the cows wont be drinking at the trough for some time. 

 

Shearing Day

Do you remember my boys, Arthur, George and Harold? They have been living comfortably, eating, sleeping and growing wool. This is when they arrived, back in May this year.

And this is them now.

Well and truly ready for the shears.

Here goes.

Down the belly.

Across the back,

and over the other side. 

Some drench to finish up and its Done.

Three magnificent bags of wool.

If I told you how excited I have been, and how glorious the wool is, and how I have touched, smelled, held, and cuddled it, and how incredibly different the three fleeces are, and how I am so pleased that I came home with three sheep even though I told my husband I was buying two, and how I cant wait to sit at my wheel and start spinning, and how I am dreaming of all the wonderful yarn I am going to spin, you would probably think that I am a complete nutter, so I wont mention any of it! 

The boys are recovering. I thought they would be pleased to have their wool off, but they do seem rather grummpy with me, and a little out of sorts.....I guess it is a shock to the system losing over 4-5kg in a matter of minutes.

Lenora.