We're back and didn't we have a wonderful time. I had been a bit ambivalent about going on this camp for some reason. Maybe because it was so close to home, maybe the list of crafts hadn't grabbed me - I don't know but I do know that I had a fantastic time. Can you imagine a week without any cooking, a week where you just absorb yourself in your chosen workshop, a week where the children are totally happy doing their stuff and in the evenings they are playing with other children, a week where all you have to do is relax and sit and talk to like minded people. I WANT TO GO BACK. It was utter bliss.
On the first night the tutors did a blurb about their workshops and I couldn't decide between leatherwork and weaving so I went for both. I went to the leather workshop for 2 days and made a bracelet and this wallet:
and then I legged it over to weaving and made this picture:
In both groups the tutors really instilled a respect and knowledge of their raw materials. All the wool in the weaving was hand dyed (with plant dyes) and woven by the tutor (a man incidentally) and I did manage to use some of my own green and blue for the sky. I loved the weaving and I'm amazed at how well it turned out. I loved all the greens that were on offer and started out just weaving with them and then the picture took shape with the lake and the mountains. Now I know what to do with all that wool I dyed last week. I'm also thinking of doing this with my class at school sometime. I'd like to go through the whole process of getting the fleece, washing it, plant dyeing it, spinning it and then the children weaving pictures.
My children also had a wonderful time. Amber signed up for stained glass and made this:
It's to going to be a panel in the front door. She really enjoyed doing it. Rohan did a medieval-ages workshop and made a beautiful bow and arrow, a spear and some coins. Raj was in a young children's group where they did a bit of everything - they made little clay pots, a dream catcher, a simple bow and arrow, they had lots of games and walks too.
It all ended yesterday after lunch and eight tired but very happy people dragged themselves home. Imagine my surprise when I opened a parcel from prairiemouse containing these:
I felt like it was my birthday. There were three of her gorgeous hearts and they are really exquisitely embroidered, some lovely fabric, a really old reel of sewing cotton, some cucumber and manuka honey soap and a lovely glass bead. Thank you Louise it was all so lovingly put together and it finished off my week perfectly. We're off to a village show this afternoon where we are exhibiting various jams, vegetables, handcrafts etc hoping to win a few prizes. Fingers crossed.