Tuesday 27 April 2010

ancient crafting

Smitonius:

It is that time of the year again, when sunny (or not so sunny) week-ends mean camping in our mini camper:
We were joined for breakfast by some feathered friends (but we didn't tell them what was on the menu):

And we stumbled across an Anglo-Saxon village: a recreation in West Stow Country Park.

It was like stepping back in time, though I have no doubt that the past was much dirtier and smellier that this! It was possible to step into the reconstructed houses, and one was a weaving room, with plant dyed skeins of yarn hanging on beams and lots of weaving looms:

I decided that I would stick to the present, despite the tempting idea of all that crafting... there would be a lot of back breaking work as an anglo-saxon maiden! And, heck, all the plant dyes in the world do not produce as lovely yarn as this:

On our way back to London, we stopped at a pub, and opposite that pub was an old forge with a sign on the door that said open... and inside that forge there was lots of yarn lovelies for sale hand-dyed by Paula at The Yarn Gallery (do check her stuff out!). Aha, time to get that spindle out again, and reconsider sock knitting.

9 comments:

Tattieweasle said...

I just love that picture of the hens - quite right you dare not say anything about breakfast! ReWest Stow Anglo Saxon Village the verification word is Roman!!!

Anonymous said...

What a fun post! The photo of the hens and frying egg is a classic! So funny!

Tim Atkinson said...

I love your camper...

molly said...

When our Bean was little he so wanted to go on a trip in what he called "a sleeping van!"
I would love to explore that Anglo-Saxon village. We went to a park like that when we lived in Belgium which showed all the old crafts and ways of doing things, weaving, spinning, bee-keeping. It was a lovely day and is a fond memory!

Jane Lock said...

I love the yarns from the Yarn Gallery! Found them via eBay a while back & have been knitting mittens with their 4ply whenever I'm not beading :)

Friko said...

don't blame you for not wanting to be an Anglo-Saxon maiden. who'd want to be dragged into a tent (or camper) by the hair and made to weave cloth before being ravished.

rachel said...

Your camper van is definitely an object of desire...... and such a jolly colour! Made to have fun in.

Marcheline said...

It looks like you have an enormous white book sitting on top of your van. Ha!

But seriously... what IS that?

Tania said...

As far as I, Queen of the One Hit (Craft) Wonder, is concerned, socks are the best excuse ever for purchasing gloriously hand dyed yarn. Which is why we embrace the notion of odd socks in this here household.