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We're home. And a bit jetlagged. The fact that here in Europe we're in the middle of a very cold winter doesn't help either.
I am slowly going through the thousands of photos we accumulated and it will be a while before I can fully realize the impact this holiday had on us.
We keep saying we want to go back. This is not acceptable. We just returned home!
Everything on this holiday seemed to have happened by magic, or it was just because we simply relaxed and got along with the flow.
One day while on our way to Christchurch I saw something happening with some sheep in a field by the road.
A very patient husband stopped the car to let me take some pics and - never underestimate the friendliness of Kiwis - on seeing me the owner invited me inside to have a better look.
It turned out they were crutching the ewes and they told me a lot of things about sheep husbandry, included stories about the famous black merino wool used by Loro Piana.
Unfortunately we didn't get to see those, but I was lucky to get the name and address of a special person who dealt with top quality fleeces.
And so we went.
It turned out this man was the first breeder who sent over to Italy ten merino rams of various colours in 1997. He and his wife were so kind to welcome us in their home and spend some time with us telling us stories about sheep and wool. And I walked away with some beautiful raw fleece to take home for spinning!
But as raw fleece can be very bulky - even if very light - he had the very good idea to vacuum pack it.
Who would have ever imagined that we would end up in the back room of the village butcher just before Christmas learning how to vacuum pack fleece while the butcher was busy preparing his orders for Xmas dinners?
I love New Zealand!
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So this is the very end of 2009...
I wish you all a special 2010, full of surprises and great emotions!
I still have to thank Meg for the special day we had together - next time we hope to see you in Italy!
We're off to the city centre to celebrate the New Year, and it's funny to think that at home they'll still be having lunch!
Today I've been to this special exhibition - and the last photo is an homage to Yellow & Grey!
I ate cherries in December
I cuddled a lamb
I was surrounded by a herd of friendly alpacas
I saw the Pacific Ocean!
a happy Christmas to everyone!
we could not have asked for a better one. This is Heaven on Earth.
This is not the temperature outside, it's the countdown to our journey...
On Wednesday we'll begin with 23 hours of flights - to New Zealand! I can't believe we're actually going...
It's cold now here - and this is normal in this time of the year - but the wind is the worst thing.
Today I didn't need to walk, the wind was pushing me forward.
And I really didn't want to go outside - it was so cosy and warm at home!
it's really simple to make your felt baubles, and here's how
you need:
a pair of old tights you are not going to use again
some carded wool in the colour of your choice -I used white and red -
old and worn out plastic baubles
red and white wool yarn for the embroidery
Wrap the baubles with the carded wool, making sure that the layer is even around the bauble.
Carefully put the bauble in the tights and secure the ball with a knot.
Repear for all the baubles - or until the tights are full!
Place in the washing machine with the next load.
Once the washing is finished you can remove the baubles from the tights: more often than not you'll need to rip the tights in order to free the baubles - that's why it's better if you use old discarded ones!
Let the baubles dry completely - make sure there's no water inside -
Use red wool or the thread you prefer and just have fun with the embroidery!
This year I finished my felt baubles with freeform embroidery - not very precise I am afraid, but I like them.
...and -10 to the big trip!!
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