Third Time Lucky Perhaps?

Along with other members of the SpinDyeWeavers I demonstrated the art of spinning at the Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show yesterday and like last year it rained.  Yesterday's rain was more like a monsoon deluge than British summer rain - for nigh on 4 hours the heavens open and discharged enough water to re-hydrate the Sahara Desert on a small corner of Dorset countryside.

Although we were in a marque and sheltered from the rain, the water came up through the ground and turned the grass to a mud-bath.  Our tent was one of the drier ones - in others it was reminiscent of  Fibre East, although no worms drowned.....to my knowledge!

Despite the rain we had a fab time, got to talk to loads of interested and interesting people - the most common question was 'I have a wheel do you know anyone that wants to buy one and how much is it worth?'  Well we are pretty clued up on wheels but pricing an unseen wheel is not something than can be done with any acuracy!  If you ask does it spin, the response is generally I don't know it hasn't got any string (drive band) well that pretty well answers that question - a spinning wheel with no drive band doesn't spin...

The second most common question/statement is about fleece - usually alpaca (no surprises there) and often of dubious quality.  Well August is pretty late for fleece sales - most shepherds shear in June/July and sell soon after.  One man had unwashed fleeces that were 20 years old and in 'perfect' condition - rather him than me that's all I can say.

Biggest surprise was that we won Second Prize in the Action Crafts section - which was amazing and totally unexpected especially as we didn't know there was such a competition!

Also got talking to a lovely lady who spins in Verwood who was fascinated by my Calendar Wheel (may go down to meet them in the Autumn) - in fact the wheel did get a lot of attention, especially from the men and Mr S did a lot chatting which was good, because it must be a bit boring spending the day with a group of spinners when you don't spin....  

Have finally managed to throw the spun yarn on the wheel rather than stopping, doing a quarter turn back and then winding on....there is no stopping me now..............!.