Australia seems to have lots of ‘big’ things. Like the Big Banana, the Big Pineapple, the Big Merino, and now, it seems, the Big Spindle! Look what I found on a walk along the beaches in Port Macquarie, New South Wales. Just because I’m excited about everything textilley I really do expect some sort of merriment and fanfare around such delights. At least a leader thread to start the spinning off, fluttering in the wind. But no one was in sight. The spindle was left on its own acting like a passive sculpture or monument.

I don’t know the history of this work but it must be a handspindle in giant form. I imagine textile parties with spinners and weavers and small children running around with threads and yarn.

Do you think my imagination is running away to unreality land? Probably, well definitely, but wouldn’t it be nice to celebrate yarn and what it does for us. I’m heading up to Port every chance I get just to visit this fantasy. Oh well back to the land of hum drum.

What’s cooking – scarves of course.

What a shock to the husband who is expecting something edible.

This is why marriages to weavers require a special and particular type of partner. One that’s not surprised when they lift the lid of a steaming cooking pot to find a mass of woven woollen yarns. Not put out by the remaining toilet paper being pilfered for a waste weft.  And even tolerates enjoys holidays looking at yarns and weaving instead of the sights.

I’m pretty lucky. He’s even nonplussed at the 20 different projects around the lounge room PLUS a studio dedicated to weave ideas, textiles and what if-if ever projects.

So the scarves got cooked, and the baked beans for dinner tasted pretty good to me after a successful cook up to felt the scarves. Each scarf had a different selvedge treatment (more latter) and I am really happy with them. This is a bit of a blurry photo but you can see the edge treatment of the scarf became an unexpected ’scaffolding’ or scarf wrapper. I was able to weave the scarf in and out of the edges to create different looks.

I’m also thrilled to say I’ve received a few more blog awards. Firstly the Kreative Blogger award by Sarah and Peg. Followed by a lovely community building award by Peg. I am supposed to offer you a selection of blogs to award too, but I just don’t know where to start. So many wonderful and inspirational blogs – all with different styles and offerings. I love beginner weaver blogs with their sense of wonder and enthusiasm but then there are the very technical advanced weaving blogs that offer me a deeper look at the beauty of construction. In between these are those of us who just love to explore life through our textile passion – weave, knit, print, draw, paint etc. If my blog contributes, even in a minute way, to building any sense of textile community on the net then I’ve been amply rewarded. Back to the loom. You too!