RED FOR A WINTER'S DAY

More sketchbook adventures .... playing with the color red today.

COLD OUT COLOR WITHIN

Today in the shop; Jacob fleece and hand knits, rug hooking wool and sari silks, hand spun yarn and felting packs, sock yarn .... Thank goodness for fibre on a white winter's day.

FORM

I'm back to work and looking at form. Open the tiny booklet in the center of my sketchbook and you will find a delightful Coleridge poem about form and starlings. What could be more fun than that?

KEEPING WARM

.... winter is a sleepy time in our barn. Not unlike ourselves sheep and goats prefer comfortable, warm, bedding along with room service as opposed to being out in the biting cold. Here is Hazel-Nut sporting her Carhartt jacket during this rather frosty week in January.

RECORDING PATTERN

Oil rubbings over lace.

SHIVA PAINT STICKS

..... about a year ago I treated myself to some Shiva Oil sticks.
What took me so long to crack them open? They are creamy and decadent and rich and lovely, like an elegant pastry only so much easier on the hips.... Try some!

MY DARLING STARLING ... YOU NEEDED TO BE IN A COLLAGE!

The little rescued starling that lives with us is such a charmer and seems to be cropping up in my sketchbook again and again! Who could resist?

ADDITION TO THE FAMILY

.... January through April are my "carding months". This year I have added a baby brother to keep our electric machines company.
Here is the Ashford Wild carder. Isn't he lovely?




And what does the little wild man have over his big brothers?
The Wild Carder likes to play with bits of ribbon and yarn and paper and .....! You get the idea.
Fun Batts and textured yarns coming right up...



............. just like this ! I am delighted at how easily this little carder takes in all sorts of textured bits and pieces. In this case I layered, cut ends of a rayon slub yarn, a metallic ladder yarn and a silk hankie along with various shades of wool top. Spun and then plied with a silk strand. Very smooth, very easy. Lots of fun.

WINTER COAST LINE

We finished our lovely winter break with a walk along the coast. Holding hands and a little bit giddy on our, new, very own piece of peaceful.