KILLIECRANKIE FARM CHRISTMAS TREES for TASMANIA 2010

Killiecrankie Farm's beautiful, and specially-grown for you, fresh-cut Christmas Trees are available for order now at The Mill Providore and the Atrium Cafe in Launceston.

Tended by Lee and Chris in the tantalisingly beautiful Tamar Valley close to Launceston, your family needs to experience the scent and ambience these ecologically sustainable Christmas Trees will bring to your festive season this year!

Lurking in my garden....Mutant Ninja Tulip !!

Getting ready

Conara in the Darke

 Lots and lots to do....and ran out of black ink in the printer !

I decided to do new labels - sometimes I think I'm more concerned with the marketing than the work itself, but then I remind myself that it's got to look good and that includes good labels!  So I have been playing around with ideas and also working on that "range" concept.  You know, the one that makes you focus on exactly what you are trying to achieve.  I think the labels have helped !!   Rowena now has everyday and hundreds & thousands for commercial wool and synthetics and then conara and pure for the pure wools and the new spun for the handspun and woven!

Here is a lovely silver grey scarf woven from some of the Bendigo Mohair Farm persian lamb and mohair I have had in my stash for positively years!  Barb has had a great time spinning it and the result is gorgeous.  The warp is a (coned) french pure wool with an interesting finish.

And look as this stunning italian Filatura di Crosa Buffo which looks great in an open weave.  I laid it on a kid mohair warp and mixed in some good old Australian Cleakheaton Astra Khan.  The resulting wool and suynthetic mix makes it light and luxurious! This is a fashion statement scarf. 

Some of the 'pure' scarves

The finishing takes longer than it does to make them!  But there they are, all nicely steam pressed, labelled and hanging on the "competed" rack waiting for next Friday morning!    ...or at least about half of them......so I'd better get back to it. 

Launceston, University of Tasmania Academy Gallery, Niche allwrappedup Market for Tasmanian designers and makers.  10am - 4pm Friday 27 and Saturday 28 August 2010.  Supporting St Giles.

The daphne's out

Barbara's spinning

A Beautiful Day for Weaving and Gardening

Confetti Scarf

What a glorious day for weaving - especially when you don't have to go to "the day job" ! I've started working with some of the beautiful yarn I bought back from Bendigo. Here is the Shiloh Silky Wool in shade "Confetti" laid onto a warp of Tasmanian Super Fine Merino Lambs Wool 2/22s. I think the bronson lace variation emphasises the lightness of the yarn and the subtle variations of the hand-painted fibre are not overwhelmed. I'm really pleased with this scarf!

After the recent rain and the endless fogs and  overcast days, it was wonderful to see blue sky and sunshine! Judging by the garden, the depths of winter are not always so bleak. ......

Weeping Flowering Apricot

All my helebores are out and the weeping flowering apricot is a picture - it's wonderful scent welcome in a time when not much else is out.  The daphnes are absolutely loaded too and it won't be long before their heady scent arrives.

Helebores - Tasmanian Winter