A Green Guide to Country Crafts.....

Have I told you about this fantastic new book? No? Well I really should then! You mean I haven't mentioned that my wool is featured in it? That is very remiss of me - had better put that right straight away!

We went to the launch party for the book last night at Alder Carr Farm Needham Market - we were invited by my very good friend and author of said book Nic Gouldsmith (www.halfpennyhome.blogspot.com). We had a fab evening and got to meet some lovely people, all of whom had a hand in the making of the book.

Here are the author's Nic Gouldmsith and Jacquie Mann

A basket made out of Wensley fleece on show

Other handmade goodies - all the instructions are in the book for all of these fab projects

The barn cafe at Alder Carr Farm

Joking aside, the book is full of fab projects from soap making, to dyeing, to candle making and rug making. All the projects are explained fully and the photography is just amazing. This is a book that you just can't do without! So, put it on your wish list now .......

T x

ps Thanks to Ali for holding the fort last night while we were out gallivanting! No new arrivals in my absence :(

Happy New Year!

Well, I can't believe we are the middle of January already - what happened to the time between Christmas and now?

We have been very busy getting ready for lambing which is due to start any day now. In fact I was hoping we would have had one or two new arrivals but I think because of the awful weather the mums have decided to hang onto them a bit longer - do you blame them? I do have to say though, one or two are looking decidedly fat and fed up! So watch this space for the first photos...... My friend Ali and I have a bet on who will be first - don't let me down Venus!

There has been a lot of exciting things going on though in other parts! My great friend Nicola at Halfpenny Home has now launched her website and great it looks too - do check her out and of course she is selling my yarn - including a special chunky with silk that I have had spun for her - catch the website here. Nic has also written her first book - I have ordered an advance copy so can't wait for March! It is available through Amazon here.

There have been new goat arrivals to - just look at this little one!

A friend nearby bought this little goat Eve and a friend from a lady who said that there was just an outside chance that she may be in kid - despite just being a kid herself still. Well it soon turned out that she was and that an arrival was fairly imminent - despite having been reassured that it was an October mating therefore not due to March. Well look what arrived a couple of days ago - isn't she just gorgeous - her name is Milka and she is sporting a cut down 100% cashmere jumper just to keep her warm! Mum and babe are doing really well ......

Well, that is all the excitement for now - hoping for some babies of my own soon!

Don't forget I will be at the Orford Country Market now every Saturday between 9.30 and 12.30 in the Town Hall - if you are in the area, just drop in!

T x

Where has the last month gone?

I can't believe it has been a whole month since I last did my blog - where has that time gone to? If that happens again we will be in December with Christmas just around the corner! Help!!

Anyway back to business. We spent last weekend at Sutton Hoo taking part in their Christmas Shopping Weekend which was fab. The weather on Sunday admittedly wasn't great but we had loads of visitors and I had such nice comments about my woolly things - aren't people lovely?

Feast your eyes

We have also been dying like mad to keep up with knitting yarns as everyone is thinking about those special Christmas treats - and for wrapping up warm in these cold frosty nights. Really pleased with the results of the wool - what do you think?

Have taken some of our lovely wool over to Nic at Halfpenny Home - my favourite haberdashery shop in the whole world! Do catch up with her blog at http://halfpennyhome.blogspot.com/2010/11/every-other-thursday-evening-sam-and-i.html

Well must get cracking now as getting ready for the 'I make fun stuff' fair at St Peter's Street, Ipswich on Sunday - check out their site at http://www.imakefunstuff.co.uk/ or here are the details of the fair

Hope you can catch up with us there! If you can't make it we will be back to normal from now until Christmas as Orford Country Market Saturdays 9.30 - 12.30 in the Town Hall http://www.orfordcountrymarket.blogspot.com/.

Love for now

T x

Fantastic Haberdashery and Gorgeous Dyed Yarns!

(Some of my wool at Halfpenny Home)

Well I have had a great week exploring new avenues for anything woolly - in fact anything vaguely crafty actually!

With things being flat out at the ranch currently, I have been investigating the possibility of getting some wool dyed off farm, as there are just not enough hours in the day here. Well, I have found a lovely lady Debbie who has done a trial run for me and I think you will agree the colours are just gorgeous ........

I am hoping to have some seasonal colours - starting with these for the autumn and then moving on to some icy blues and greys & greens for the winter - watch this space ....... Do let me know what you think about these though!

So armed with these lovely skeins, I made it my mission this week to get to Halfpenny Home in Needham Market, the fab haberdashery shop run by my new friend and blogger Nic.

Have you ever been into a shop where you shake with the thrill of gorgeous things? I didn't know where to look first - and now I think I missed something I can see in one of my photos! Nic has been a great supporter of my wool and I am very grateful to her for that. She has a real aladdin's cave of everything you could possibly want and runs some great workshops too - you must put her on your ' places I must visit ' list! She sells anything from wool to vintage buttons to fabric to feathers! I bought some lovely buttons, some beautiful cotton yarn and some cape fastenings - not sure what for yet but couldn't resist them!

Feast your eyes!

Nic has a great blog - do check it out at http://halfpennyhome.blogspot.com/

I'm at the Orford Country Market as usual on Saturday, so why not catch up with me there if you can. T x

I Make Fun Stuff Market and photos ...

We visited the 'I make fun stuff' street market in Ipswich on Sunday - primarily to at last meet my emailing and blogging friend Nic from Halfpenny Home - well it felt like we had known each other for years, and scarily, we loved the same things - all those fab buttons! My word, need to save up for a visit to her shop in Needham Market - think I might need more than an hour as well - and definitely not taking him indoors - why do men just not get it! How can you possibly have ENOUGH buttons or wool!

Anyway she had a great stall - just a fraction (she tells me) of her main shop ( note to self - go soon!)

I have also now had some fun photos from our resident photographer of our time at the East of England Show, so here are a few to wet your appetite!

Off to the Norfolk Show tomorrow so wish me luck! ....................