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Monday, March 28, 2011

Wool of Many Colours II

1st Bobbin










Progress from my first post on my Scarf Exchange fibre the fibre was divided into two distinct colour ways. Firstly the deeper reds, orange and yellow has been spun and plied. Today it was washed and hung out to dry. The rest, what I consider gelato colours because of their cooler and softer pastel tones were split down their length then split down their length a second time, rolled loosely into balls ready for spinning. Fortunately the dyes used permeated the fibre fairly well so there was quite a uniform progression of colours. When it came to plying the singles the colours matched up fairly well with only small areas where there was a gradual blending of colours from one to another . It was a very interesting exercise watching how the colours graded through from the primary shades into the secondary and tertiary colours. I learned a great deal about colour blending in the process which I thought was a good way of approaching a project where I wanted colour definition but didn't want to use the usual Navaho plying technique. I decided that a three ply would be too bulky for what I had planned to knit from it.


1st Hanks spun

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Woven Scarves

I have been using my 2 shaft loom which was past on to me from Joan Fisher founder of Fairfield Spinners. Its a handy little loom, which sits on top of my treadle Singer sewing machine a nice working height.


Monday, March 14, 2011

Scarf Exchange Wool Of Many Colours

I received my fibre from the Scarf-exchange today. I thought I would show it off prior to spinning and making what ever it is I'll make with it. My friend commented that the colours were really "yummy". I think I'd have to agree.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

An Great Find

In this post my ramblings brought up my passion for Vintage and Veteran vehicles and a time I recall well working weekends at Greens Motorcade Museum. Mr George Green one of the owners a true gentleman with a zest for life and love for his collection, its was a shame to see it sold off. Sydney lost a great family venue a historical museum its location now just a memory along Camden Valley Way a housing estate.

While setting up to take the photo's of the pens using a book on Drawing out fell this leaflet from those days in the mid 70's.
The old Traction Engine which stood at the entrance     




Right In the background old Beecroft Fire Station, Beside The Oaks Tea Room and in front a 1927 Dennis Fire Engine used for rides. Crash gear box with a cone clutch, manual brakes no hydraulics.








Right  The 1912 English Star a dream to drive a pleasure I had often, crank start and it had an Engine compression whistle. Whic I would take pleasure in using when seeing the Golfers next door teeing off.




Left In doors one of the exhibits was this old Charabanc.


Right  Yet another Fire Engine.


I make no apologies for quality of the photo's as they were taken on a Kodak 126.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

To Pass on a message we Write and Sketch

New Guinea Rosewood Sierra pen & Mini Sketch Pencil
English Oak Sierra & Workshop Pencil


Queensland Wallnut Slimeline
As long as man or woman wishes to pass on messages be it drawing, sketches, knowledge, scriptures or sign there life away their will always be a need for writing implements.

I decided to create a matched pair of a Sierra pen and Sketch Pencil sets using different timbers, using
English Oak off cuts from the spinning wheel I am making.
Tassie Myrtle Burl off cuts from Pat a good friend.
Queensland Wallnut also from Pat
Native Olive and off cut from a large piece from Nick.
New Guinea Rosewood from scarp from Rob.

A series of Slimelines from acrylic which young Dave passed onto me as he found the fumes to toxic.
A Queensland Wallnut Slimeline and New Guinea Rosewood Pen and Pencil.

The kits for the Sierra Pen, Mini Sketch Pencil and Workshop Pencil all were supplied by 043turning, with Ian delving into his own stock to accommodate my order for the Workshop Pencils. I prefer to make the Workshop pencil with out the centre band so that it can be easily removed, with the centre band withdrawing the main mechanism is not possible when the sharpener is glued into place. Although a hex-nut is used to stop the pencil rolling off benches etc a need for a clip is there also.

The Mini Sketch pencils come with a 3mm lead while the Workshop pencils are 5mm leads.

New Guinea Rosewood Slimeline Pen & Pencil

The Slimeline kits supplied by David from Timberbits  all but the Slimeline Pencil that came from Jim Carroll of Carroll's Woodcraft Supplies 

Acrylic Slimelines





QLD Wallnut disaster








 Making pens is not without its problems as seen here in making one of the Workshop pencils. An easy repair this time.


Queensland Wallnut & the pencil that exploded
Tassie Myrtle Burl




















Native Olive
Native Olive
Same pen different view.





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