Custom Orders

I've only been spinning for six months. I sat down at my gifted little Ashford Traveller one July morning in 2013 after dropping my beau at work and just started spinning.

I haven't looked back.

I thoroughly enjoying spinning and dyeing and natural fibres and I feel I've finally found my creative niche.
I could not have come this far without the support and assistance of some amazing ladies who I've never even met,  The wonderful creative genius behind Inverleigh Fibre Farm and another genius behind Elisabet's. Their gentle encouragement and advice has been invaluable. Along with some other wonderful ladies in the Australian Handspinners and Knitters Group and also the Indie Dyers Down Under.
There must be made mention of the creative colourist behind Forest Hill Hand Dyed Yarns also. Without her support I would never have started my dyeing exploits.

I must also mention my bff and creative genius being Get Knitted. Honestly,  without her encouragement and support,  I don't think I would have even started spinning.

Anyway,  that's not what I'm here for today. I'm here to share with you some of my latest spins.

I'm told my spinning is of an exceptable standard and as a result have been receiving many custom order's. I love it. It keeps my mind active and relaxes me at the same time.

So today I'm sharing some images of a recently spun skein. This is a hand spun, hand dyed raw silk. This silk certainly challenged me. I did not expect it to all be in cocoons. I don't own carders or brushes or anything so I just spun it straight from the cocoons. It was hell on the hands,  often tearing into them as I drafted. I'm so glad I persisted,  I'm incredibly pleased with the outcome, although quite organic,  I really like it.
It had been plied with some gorgeously soft cashmere that I've spun.
The end result is so much nicer than I ever imagined.

Stay tuned as this skein will soon be added to an upcoming yarn stocking for sale. You could have it all to yourself.

Ravelry

I've started a Rav Group today called Gladys and Maude click on the banner above or the words Gladys and Maude to be taken there.
You can go here to share anything you may have created with Gladys and Maude yarns.
There is a forum where we can talk, share, question and learn. I also hope to get a SAL (Spin-A-Long) and a KAL (Knit-A-Long) happening soon as well.

Please fell very welcome to come on over and join in. We sure look forward to meeting you :-)

Inverleigh Mohair. Absolutely delicious to work with.

Wedgwood

Today I spun some gorgeous 18.5 micron merino, hand dyed by Inverleigh Fibre Farm in Wedgwood.
I wanteda rather organic look to the yarn so I spun it irregularly and then plied it with some apricot coloured mohair.

I'll take some more photos once I've skeined it.

New Years Eve

Well, it's New Years Eve here in Aus and it's a sorry state.
I'm at home, alone, with the cats, spinning.
I can't be with my love - again, my sister and BIL have taken their children into Newcastle to see the fireworks, my children are with their father and I'm here with the cats.
Does that officially make me a crazy cat lady yet?

I'm spinning some lovely silk/merino blend, waiting for some pea and ham soup to cook (yes, I used the ham bone from the Christmas ham) and contemplating a glass of champagne while juggling my helper at the wheel :-\

Spinning

So I've been doing quite a bit of spinning. Heaps really, hence my lack of updates.
Below is one of my latest spinning exploits;

This is some beautifully soft and decadent handdyed mohair from Inverleigh Fibre Farm. It was beautiful to spin and the colours look fantastic together. It has blues, greens, mauve and apricot.

Giveaway

Gladys and Maude is having a giveaway.

 

To go into the draw, please head on over to Facebook, like the image HERE and leave a comment and then like our page HERE as well.

 

As soon as we reach 400 Likes, we will draw a winner.

 

You will receive

1 x Handmade Gladys and Maude Project Bag

1 x Skein of Gladys and Maude Handspun Yarn 100% Merino

1 x Pair Bamboo Knitting Needles

1 x Crochet Hook

and

Pk 2 Stitch Holders

My Head Is Spinning

Well, who said it was easy keeping an FB Page, Blogger, Instagram and Twitter up to date was easy, I laugh in their face. Sure, it's easy keeping one or two updated but put them all together and inevitably, one is forgotten about. I bet you'll never guess which has been forgotten about?
Poor Blogger :-(

So much has been happening here behind the scenes at Gladys and Maude. I'm sure by now you would have noticed the shift from handmade, hand sewn items to hand spun and hand dyed fibres. There are several reasons for this. The main one being that sewing was jus becoming too taxing on my body and I could no longer bear the constant pain. Spinning on the other hand, I seem to find quite relaxing and it still affords me the creativity and challenges that I need.

Of course I have been incredibly busy with spinning and dyeing, not to mention my duties as a mother, daughter, girlfriend and volunteer.

One of the things I currently do in my spare time (because I have so much) is repairing clothing at the Aged Care Facility near where my son does work experience. So one day a week, while he is at the aircraft mechanics, I go to the home.

 

I am always presented with some interesting challenges. These pyjama pants were almost torn completely in two. Would I be able to save them?

 

All sewn up, repaired and in excellent working order!

Ooops, almost missed the tear down the bottom near the cuff. It's fixed now. This resident should be nice and warm now :-)

Here's another, only this time the tear is at the front of the pants, just below the fly.

 

All fixed, you can see the button up fly just above the patch. My only worry is that it looks a little like a smiley face.

I can never match the fabric but no one seems to mind.

 And that my friends, is what keeps me busy on Wednesdays :-)