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Annie
Just had a lovely weekend in Wales with my husband and a couple of our friends - the plan being that the girls would disappear to Wonderwool for one of the days and the boys would do whatever boys do, then we would go walking on the other day depending on the weather.
As Saturday was predicted to be the best day weather wise it was decided we would walk (and I would have to contain my excitement about Wonderwool for one more day - agony!).
We went walking in the Elan Valley - it was absolutely beautiful. We walked 11 miles and I took lots of photos. The best bit for me was the gorgeous little lambies...
...so cute. The best bit for the boys was when a huge convoy of Aston Martins drove past while we were having a lunch break. For me the lambs would win every time!
The scenery was lovely, lots of beautiful countryside to wander in.
Although I spent a bit of time focussing on the small details (a bit like when I visit a museum or gallery I tend to look at the mosaic flooring and intricate ceilings as much as the exhibitions - I find those things just as inspiring!)
I really loved all the bright limes and greens especially the lichen on the bridges...
...but especially this perfectly formed 'mini-forest' growing on the end of a fence post...
At last on Sunday morning Kim and I ventured off to Wonderwool - all the fluff, fibres and knitting yarns you can imagine. It was like a massive sweet shop! Trouble is our feet were killing us after walking on Saturday so unfortunately we had to stop for a large slice of cake and a cup of tea half way round (the food stalls were great too!)
I could easily have bought the whole show home with me if funds would stretch that far but I had to limit myself to a reasonable bag full (to share with mum of course - although I have told her that she can only rummage in the new stash with her hands tied behind her back!)
Here are the details of the lovely people I bought fluffy stuff from:
Nepps and Slubs (bottom left) http://www.lindseytyson.co.uk/index.htm
I spoke to Lindsey for a while - a lovely lady - she says she is not doing supplies so much now but more focussing on making her beautiful pieces of art and textiles.
Silk hankies and hand dyed silk degummed cocoons (bottom right) from Oliver Twists.
They said they didn't have their own website but would be on Etsy soon - they had a huge range of all kinds of fibres and lovely things.
Silk caps, silk noils, carded cocoon strippings (middle left) www.mandacrafts.co.uk/Fibres.html
Turquoise, lime and orange silk noil (middle right) http://www.hilltopcloud.co.uk/HilltopCloud/Home.html
Chunky purple wool boucle yarn and yellow mohair chunky yarn (middle right) http://www.fivemoonsyarns.co.uk/
Pink sari ribbon (top left) http://www.threshingbarn.com/
Organic cotton slub yarn in yellow Persian berry (near the top) http://www.mulberrydyer.co.uk/
and a few lengths of merino wool top (at the top) from http://www.winghamwoolwork.co.uk/
I also bought some beads, some buttons and some undyed silky bits n bobs to dye cos I've got a bunch of procion dyes I rediscovered recently. So many things to play with!
And here is just one last picture - of some of the gorgeous sheep at Wonderwool! They deserve a mention but I didn't catch their names unfortunately!
