A painted ladder, a fab Easter/birthday cake and a pile of freshly dyed fabrics!  All the happenings of a sunny Good Friday.  Can you see the little path to the right of the ladder?  This is the well worn track made by Jazmine (cocker spaniel).  Strange how she always treads the same path!  Today I am off to the Embroiderers Guild at Brighton - so I must get going...have a good day!

There's nothing I like more than to splash around with buckets and bowls of dye....somehow it makes me feel connected to nature and everything around me.  Probably that's why I only like to dye when the sun is shining!!  I am planning to overdye, and maybe stitch and quilt  the fabric - not sure yet - but it's good to re-build my stash.  I'm now off for an early morning swim - before all the kids get to the pool!!

STOP PRESS; computer was repaired within one hour...so it hasn't had to stay in for treatment.  Yipee!

It's a good job my computer is going to hospital today because I've been unable to download images of yesterday's dyeing day.  Never mind, more on that later.  In the meantime here is a photo of the tree outside our bedroom.  It is looking absolutely fantastic at the moment - have a happy Easter everyone.  Back to blogging some time next week x

Nearly had a complete disaster yesterday.  Last week I dyed the blue linen fabric  you can see behind my newly spun wool.  I have never used the washing machine for dyeing  before, but this time I did.  I followed the  dye manufacturers instructions TO THE LETTER.  It will not contaminate the machine they said.  Subsequently I did two household washes with no problem...but yesterday I thought I would be helpful and wash a white clerical robe that was hanging around (this is usually done by the verger).  Well!  What a panic I had - it came out of the machine tinged with bluish purple....help.  This garment costs in the region of £120 - and no chance of getting a new one before Easter.  I was having a panicky coffee with a friend who very helpfully suggested I dyed the whole thing (like Joseph's coat!!).  Anyway I came home and swirled it around in bleach.....washed it again BY HAND but still bluish! In the end I had to confess.....but this morning I'm glad to say that the blue is much less obvious!  I am going to make a statement about this though at the shop where I bought it......

A happy hour in the garden while boys were playing football.  I couldn't resist buying some ready-dyed fleece and felt from the Threshing Barn.  The colours are so spring-like they make me feel good just to look at them.  Also...there's something about sitting in the sun, listening to the birds and to the rhythmic spin of the wheel that sends me slowly into a state of bliss........I guess it's good that I'm so easily pleased!!  In this household we have a New Spring resolution .... to eat more fruit...I'll have to shop today and see what we can do!!

We had an active day yesterday and I must say my swing ball skills are improving...luckily for me Jack likes a bit of creativity when he's in the mood, so we managed to paint a chair, and even start some weaving.  Sometimes I think I must be rather fickle...I never seem to stick at one thing...I love all things textiley (if there's such a word).  I  haven't done any weaving for a while, and it was blissful - so therapeutic and relaxing.  I had my sewing machine out earlier in the day and was very happy to find out how well it stitched on to my painted files...more on this later. Today we are going to go to a local pub for a good help yourself roast.  We are all rather partial to yorkshire puddings.....By the way, I have realised that a coloured background can really mess up the colour pics...so another change!