Sue's June to September

June was our last post on the Blog and that was not about what we had been doing. Prior that was May. It's not been a case of nothing happening I can assure you.
As always domestic duties, time out and long projects do come into daily life, not to mention some of mother natures reminders we are getting older and that bugs and flu season is this time of year.


It had been the coldest mornings in Ipswich for some years down as far as -3C but as usual by 10am sunshine in Queensland came to the rescue, sadly this also meant no rain worth speaking about for as many months.

So what has Sue been up to???

Over a few weeks she had created for Knit For Charity these cute wee bears.














Ray spotted some beautiful Yak & Silk for sale from a lovely lady in South Australia 450g's, yet to decide what it will become. Yes I know more fiber!!! I also got 450g' of Camel and Silk too :)

As I am a member of the local Spinners & Weavers I offered while Brighton House was having renovations done to take some equipment home. A couple of looms one being Dee's she was pretty irate about it having been damaged in their last move from Wagga it was in a bad way.

These had a variety of neglect, parts missing and age related repairs. Total strip down and removal of everything was best for them, making string Hedles for one. Hedle beam supports and guides for the other. De-rusting the reed's and reassembly.

I was able to do most of what was required but brought Ray in on a couple of matters which he had to fabricate up bits and pieces that were required.

 

With our Lime tree producing some fruit and some Lemons acquired a few jars of jams, marmalade and curd to go in the pantry.

 

The Double width weave began at last but unfortunately I have sustained arthritis in my left hip reducing the time I can sit and weave so I've been limiting myself to an hour a time. That and other things cropping up means little weaving has been done. As of today 9th September almost 85cm has been done.

 Cooking is fun and so was this Toad in The Hole with red onions.

Ray had a friend come visit and two of the Queensland Metal Artisans members opened their home and shed (I'll let Ray explain in his post) anyway Gillian and I made Pizza for Graham, Andy, Andrew and Ray oh and us also. One we made had Pumpkin on it which Ray and I both totally enjoyed so one night for dinner.














Weighing up wool for Bothwell longest Thread competition later this year. This is being spun on a drop spindle.

Loan my carder to a friend the drive belt was old and had been re-welded once to often it broke on her just as she finished using it. So a new drive belt fitted Weld-belt supplied by Rydell Industries at Dara, this one is a much softer type and more flexible than the old one.

 

Of course that means its carding time and what better way to warm the body than stand outside in the Queensland sun.I've now done two different batches finishing the last one today 9th September and packing it all away.

   
  

 
Two books was given to me on Lace knitting and a compendium of crafts which had lace collar patterns. The books were from Robyn and Dee from the spinners group. These are the two done so far.

The Old Hands on Crafts

As always we both check out a variety of searches on our crafts here's a few links to some Spinning, Weaving videos and on Spinning Wheel making.

Ray's Shed Time

Sue had requested her Swift I made some years back be altered to have larger Yoke arms. I had no idea what course the project would take once I decided to make four full new ones in hope they would be enjoyed by Sue's fellow spinners. All four were snapped up on the day Sue took them up.

Bases, slide blocks and knobs all made from QLD Red Gum from the neighbours tree cut down some time ago. The Yoke arms and connecting arms made from marine Ply. The Dowel is Tassie Oak. The first batch were all lacquered with Brush on Polly.








This was followed by a request for more to be taken along to the Spinners weekend camp this weekend. I had 4 weeks in which to do these a couple of problems popped up over the time including time at the pool 3 days a week we both needed it.

I got 3 completed had 75% of two made but needed more Marine Ply they are the darker ones below.

All the same materials as above except the arms were finished with spray on lacquer while everything else was Danish Oil. The Marine ply is just what you get off the shelf each time.

  

 I had just enough time left to make 4 drop spindles also also QLD Re Gum finished with UBeaut Shellawax. They range  from 28g's to 37g's

 Have to thank Sue for a lot of her help during the making of the Swifts, she did a lot of sanding of the arms and applied the finish to the arms also.

In The Background

On days when Se had nothing to do she sets about making stuff for Charity these cute little mice off to somewhere unknown for children.














As Ipswich Historical Society Spinners & Weavers were having a weekend camp the ladies all had been asked to assist in making some give away combined project to those who attended. These were felted scissor holders.

One in particular got snapped up by Dee as soon as she saw it, she wove up on her inkle loom a strap to hang it from her neck. Something about her being a Whoovia.

 As the weather had cooled down to a mild 26C Sue took to rearranging the vegi garden beds. These were copping a whopping during summer time as the sheet metal sides were heating up drying out the beds and making the soil rock hard.
Sue took 3 days to remove plants, remove the side walls. Dig up the grassed area were the beds would be moved to and re-install the soil with added content, re-plant and re-lay lawn where it was bare.

The other growth around the yard is amazing after just 2 years.

 

I was given by Sally a few new Bonsai as they are selling up and moving. I'd also bought a couple of Juniper to train and Bonsai.

 My Olive which is growing beautifully is all from what was left of a much larger one given to me by son mark some years ago. It after a trim has also produced two further plants, see below right.

 Left one of the acquired Figs

 One of the acquired Rubber tree Plants.

Flowering Wisteria right.