ooohhh, dyeing and the cold

Well as usual, I’m a big fat slacker and it’s been ages since I wrote something.

Hannah’s started the creche, she has a cold, she’s given it to me, I’m back at work and feeling like poo (with having the cold, not sleeping as I am feeding her and she has the cold so she is not breathing properly and thus doesn’t sleep for very long…) do you see a pattern forming?

Besides all this moaning and lack of sleeping, I’m trying to find a Brompton folding bike to buy second hand, as I’m fed up with public transport. Don’t get me wrong – public transport in Barcelona is very good and good value for money too – but I’ve been here over 9 years and have never had to rely on it – and now the Tokyo style packed metro, or the dithering bus are starting to drive me insane…(this is “Ruth, The Not Very Patient” talking – I’ve only been commuting for 2 weeks now! Prior to moving house, I walked to work every day)…

Oh, and on the subject of weaving, I have another little commission which is keeping me busy between moans!

I am making more placemats, this time in shades of blue and tan for a lovely customer in the US. It’s actually helping me focus on something other than my cold, Hannah’s cold and the “JOY” of being back to proper paid work! The colours are selected, the cotton has been hanked, and dyed and now I need to wind it into balls and design the warp…Watch this space for updates! (I think I’m actually getting a wee bit of Friday weaving done!)

Published by Ruth

I am a native of Ireland, but have been living and weaving between Barcelona and Ireland for over 21 years now; mostly in Barcelona. I studied woven textiles (and dyeing and felting) at Winchester School of Art, UK and have lived and worked in Ireland, UK, Japan and now Spain. Weaving takes up the space in my brain that is not filled with my daughter, son, husband and family - and "grown-up paid non-weaving work"...(the "mortgage paying" kind that takes up most of my time! As well as housework and sundry other things which I usually try to ignore as long as possible). View more posts

3 thoughts on “ooohhh, dyeing and the cold”

Hi there. I just stumbled across your blog, and I was wondering how/ what you use to dye your yarn, and if you’re dyeing at home or in a studio.

Just dropping by.Btw, you website have great content!

Rachel,
I don’t have a studio, I live in a 70m2 apartment in the centre of Barcelona, and there is hardly enough space for myself, my husband, Hannah and my loom! We did make some concessions when designing our apartment though. The kitchen has a great big sink (from Ikea), which is great for dyeing hanks of yarn and the bathroom has been fitted with a towel rack over the bath (also from Ikea!) which I can put my hanks to dry on.
I have some great big enamelled pots I use for dyeing in.
For colours, I used dylon (yep – very very simple!). If you think there is anything else I can help you with, just let me know!