about
I have always enjoyed knitting and hand crafts and taking early retirement from teaching has enabled me to devote much more time to them. After acquiring a few alpaca fleeces a couple of years ago I learnt how to spin and now I work with a variety of fleeces and wool types.
I have a studio in the Hearth in Horsley Village where I spin and dye a variety of yarns. I make small, unique items from hand spun yarns, each to my own design. It is always the nature of the yarn that decides what is to be made, silky soft alpaca is used for items worn next to the skin such as mittens and scarves, whereas Shetland wool is marvellous for warm hats, slippers and tea cosies.
Many of the fleeces are obtained locally from small breeders of sheep and alpacas. Other wool tops are obtained from Yorkshire, but all the spinning and making occurs in the Tyne valley. I take commissions which are normally ready in a week. You are welcome to visit the studios at the Hearth when artists are present and see work in progress.