HELPER IN THE DYE SHED

This week I had a helper in my dye shed. I came in one morning to find this lovely creature having a grand snooze on one of my stove tops. After a gentle waking (I wasn't quite sure that she was well, she was sleeping so deeply) my little friend slowly crossed the shed and found a more suitable place to rest. Unfortunately I was not able to get a nice photo of her beautiful face but she really is a darling. I have been watching her grow all summer. She has been in and around my dye garden since April.
We spent the day together and then, in the dark of night, she went on her way. All porcupine issues aside, I thought is was quite a treat.
I once bottle fed an orphaned porcupine. She remained very shy but did enjoy her meals. I wore a raincoat and rubber gloves to hold her though her quills were very tiny at the time. She had the most beautiful blue eyes, as baby porcupines do. .... so I guess I have a bit of a soft spot in this regard.

THE DYEING DAYS OF SUMMER

.... lots of activity in the dye shed these days. I am happy to say that we are transitioning our dye house so that it is soon to become far more efficient and ultimately more enjoyable to work in. This along with an extension being added to our main building. More on that later.
In the meantime I am enjoying some wonderful weather. Dyeing pounds of the past winter's hand spun, loads of new roving to spin and some mulberry silk for good measure.

IN A DAY'S WORK

..... lots of spinning and dyeing going on as of late.
These are the heavy weight yarns that I use, most often, in my hooked rugs.

PAPER PIECING

Piecing paper piecing pieces. Peace out.
.....more C&G work from sketchbook to fabric.

THE COLLECTOR

I have never really considered myself to be a collector, but really, what fibre enthusiast isn't?
I suppose if one is speaking of tools, like spindles for instance, a collection becomes functional and necessary. The kind of collection you'd be crazy not to have. Wouldn't you say?


................ my fleet of Turkish spindles by Threads Thru Time


...... and this beauty was hand turned by my talented husband Arnold. For the wood oriented, you may be interested to know that the shaft and whorl base of this spindle are formed from one continuous block. Amazing!