HazelB Handweaver

Early Morning along the canal

2011-09-18T01:28:00.000-07:00

As the sun just started to peek through the trees

A few mintes later

Cycling into Ellesmere

2011-08-23T10:39:00.000-07:00

I decide to cycle to Ellesmere this morning to do some weaving at my exhibition in SPACE. Thought I would go all the on my electric bike along the canal. Now I have cycled on this bike to Ellesmere with no problem. But didn't check the mileage along the canal. This happens to be more than 5 miles longer than going by road. hence the ******** battery on the bike ran out about 5 miles before Ellesmere. 5 Miles cycling on a bike that weighs around 28kgs is really no fun and to cap it all I got stung by something on my back. Picture me stopping really quickly ripping off my top with no care if anyone was around and dancing around swearing like mad. I was REALLY glad to get to Ellesmere

Magical Sunday Morning

2011-08-21T00:41:00.000-07:00

Got up just after 4am today and cycled down to the River Dee in pitch darkness. There were at least 3 foxes calling in the woods at the end of the road when I got up and several owls hooting as well.

I had to slide down a about 15ft down steep slop on my bum to get to the river and then sat and watched the sky lighten and many bats fly around.
I took loads of photos trying to actually take a pic of a bat but, just could not do it

It was absolutely magical watching the sky lighten and hearing all the birds wake up. I had to make myself leave otherwise I could have stayed there all day

I really enjoyed my bacon butties when I got home though.

2011-06-26T07:00:00.000-07:00

Just got back from a lovely walk near Llanarmon in the Ceiriog Valley. Had a great time playing with my new camera. Will be going full speed next week getting ready for the International Eisteddfod

2011-05-31T04:13:00.000-07:00

Back from Beaumaris. Great weekend, sales were good but the weather was pretty miserable for the whole weekend. I ended up wearing a thermal vest most of the time!!!! I did hope to take some photos of the Menai Straits. The only time I could get out and take the photos ie early in the morning and in the evening (when we finished) you couldn't even see over the straits properly. Lovely sunshine on the drive home till Llandudno though

Woven Welsh Dragon

2011-05-16T04:30:00.000-07:00

First one off the loom About 16" x15". Need to find a frame for it now and give it a good iron

2011-05-13T10:15:00.000-07:00

New scarf off the loom. 16 shaft fancy twill. 75% wool 25 % other fibres

2011-05-12T10:42:00.000-07:00

Latest scarf off the loom. Woven on my 16 shaft loom in a fancy twill weave

At last I have finally decided which weaving technique for the pictures. This has just been washed but not ironed

2011-05-10T00:32:00.000-07:00

This was taken walking along the canal yesterday morning at around 7am. It was a really beautiful spring morning, till the heavy rain started a few hours later

2011-05-10T00:29:00.000-07:00

The next sample is done. This is not a viable way to weave pics for sale as it takes too long and I really can't see people paying the price. One more sample to do which hopefully will be quicker. Could not face getting the iron out just to iron these so a bit creased LOL

2011-05-06T11:10:00.000-07:00

First sample done for my new product. This is woven as double weave structure. A few mistakes in the weaving but I have got the weaving techinque sorted. When it was washed the wool(red yarn) puffed so it looks quilted. 2 more small samples to go. One as double weave pick up and one a finn weave that is quicker. Once I have worked out which one is best I will be weaving a Welsh dragon picture. Watch this space

2011-05-03T06:12:00.000-07:00

My stand at Erddig

The ups and downs of a craft show

2011-05-03T06:03:00.000-07:00

Set up on Thursday at Erddig and finished hanging everything on Friday before we opened. A man with 4 children came round in the afternoon and fell in love with a silk wrap and bought it for his wife and said she would adore it. Only sold a couple of small items that day. On Sunday the weather was lovely but a bit windy. More people visited and late morning in came the wife with the wrap wanting either an exchange or her money back. It was quickly apparent that she wanted the money as she didn't even look at all the other wraps. When I took it back to check if it was still OK she hadn't even taken the wrap out of it wrapping! Pretty bad day as sales were pretty awful.
Sunday the weather was lovely and loads of people came round who seemed more interested and sales were better. Still didn't make up for the weekend though. Ah well onwards and upwards towards the Beaumaris Festival

2011-04-28T04:21:00.000-07:00

Phew just finshed ironing all the wraps, scarves and quilts. Only took me 2.5 hours groan. Everything is ready to be loaded into the car tonight for setting up at Erddig tomorrow.
Fingers crossed it will be a good show

This is not a very good picture as the lighting was not too good.

2 scarves are woven and off the loom but I won't finish the third one till next week now

2011-04-23T07:22:00.000-07:00

I have been working in the garden this afternoon and took up some black plastic that we put on the veggie garden over winter to act as a mulch and, warm the soil up quicker this time of year. Under the plastic I found these.

Put the plastic back down and the runner beans will have to sown elsewhere

What a twit

2011-04-21T03:21:00.000-07:00

Needed to pay a check into the bank and get some shopping. Decided to cycle into Llangollen and as I was sorting out things decided I didn't need my purse. Everything could go into my pockets. Got 3/4 of the way there and realised I had left the cheque at home DUH.
Misty and pretty cold on the way in but when I got home to lovely sunshine. The picture is of the Dee valley from just off the A5

You can see how misty the valley is
All 3 merino wraps are off the loom. When they are finished I will post pics here and on craft pimp.
Baby loom is being set up for some merino scarves in a mixture of periwinkle blue, lovely soft pale green and a silver grey
Have a great Easter everyone x

2011-04-17T09:08:00.000-07:00

Just back from a great day out at Bodnant Gardens. Great to Barbara from Oakwood Glass there in her new unit.Took a few photos to give me some inspiration for new colours of wraps and scarves

Warp is on the main loom for some merino wraps. this yarn is amazingly soft and the first one will be all white. I have got a warp on the 16shaft loom for 3 scarves in a pretty complex pattern. Pictures when they are done

2011-04-14T07:48:00.000-07:00

A trio of woven scarves. the 2 outside ones are pure ultra soft merino,the middle one is 50% merino and 50% cashmere. The left one is for my mother for her birthday.

2011-04-04T10:47:00.000-07:00

Well back from a so so weekend in Kent.
The fabric went off to the fashion student on Saturday. Hopefully he will like it.
One silk scarf off the loom. Pic will uploaded when it is ironed. 2 more silk wraps to weave then will be setting up the loom for merino scarves.
Samples have gone to Canada for my next level of my study course. Fingers crossed for that

Yipee

2011-03-27T08:49:00.001-07:00

Looks like I have just got a small commission to weave a small amount of fabric

Just started a new blog as I couldn't find my old one duh

2011-03-26T09:58:00.000-07:00

Will hopefully post weekly with updates about my weaving journey