a winter of spinning, a welcome to spring

As always it feels as if it has been a long winter but I love the idea that in winter everything is still alive underground waiting for the signs of spring warmth to surface.  This is exactly what happens each winter with my creativity.  During the grey murky months of winter here in Wales, it seems like we barely see the sun some winter months but inside my little 'ty' (house) I am often spinning in the evenings to try and resist the constant urge to hibernate.  This winter there was a clear theme to my selection of fleece.  I source my dyed fleeces from indie dyers across the UK and abroad.  A couple of my favourites are Hilltop Cloud (mid-Wales) and Wildcraft (Dorset). While collecting last autumn it seems that there were lots of violet, green and pink selections with a bit of yellow here and there.  This was not intentional but I would just collect a few at events and online based on what attracted me.  Much of this fleece was collected with the original intention of spinning to knit; however, throughout the winter I have been gradually working up my confidence with my digital drawing and tapestry weaving and the selection of greens above have been highlighted for a new tapestry weaving based on some digital inspiration collected from my weekly beach walks at Dinas Dinlle.  Much of my confidence and digital development was the result of a strategy of creating with my fibre advent calendar from Wonderful Wool (Wales).  This will be the topic one of my upcoming blog post ... so keep an eye on my instagram account @blethu.wales for updates or drop by again soon!

#spinning #weaving #wool #hilltopcloud #wildcraft #wonderfulwool #northwales

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