Gotland Sheep

The Black Sheep Of The Family





Photo stolen from Pinterest

Gotland Sheep are a rare breed named for the Swedish island of Gotland. While in NZ in December I first encountered them on the South Island during a drive from Nelson to Golden Bay along Highway 60. The drive is long and arduous, (about 70 miles), over the Takaka Hills also known as Marble Mountain. The whole family in convoy were about to spend a precious week together in a bach in this deserted beach side spot.

We stopped a while in the hills at a small café/farm and outside were these wonderful dark grey/black sheep. They are a breed with a dual purpose being very sought after for their fleece but also for the delicious taste of their flesh. They are an unusual appearance having no wool on their heads of legs. There was one tiny lamb in a pen, which had been abandoned by its mother, and my grandson was delighted to be able to bottle feed it, (and also try to get it to eat toast).






Two little sweeties

Before we laid eyes on Golden Bay, we enjoyed an amazingly scenic road journey. There are signposted lookouts along the way and the subterranean marvels of Harwoods Hole, and the Ngarua Caves should not be missed. These stops made the journey take a whole day.

Te Waikoropupu Springs, (also known as Pupu Springs), is on the other side of the hill, near the town of Takaka a true hippy paradise like something out of a wild west movie. The springs are a 'wahi tapu' - sacred place - to the local Maori tribe. We took a stroll around the walkways and read the interpretive panels along the way -  it was truly amazing - a beautiful spot.

As the road led west, fabulous views of Golden Bay kept us entertained. The huge, sandy bay is famous for its scallops. Collingwood is the final settlement of any size before Farewell Spit, a lengthy sandspit that wraps itself around the upper reaches of the bay. The sandspit is a bird sanctuary - too long to walk, so you might want to catch a guided safari to see the lighthouse and birds there.

On the Tasman Sea side of Cape Farewell is Warariki Beach - a wild, beautiful place where wind and waves have created massive rock and sand dune formations. The ultimate Wharariki experience is a horse trek, again another thing that the whole family did on a stunning sunny morning.

Lots of our time was spent at The Mussel Inn, Onekaka, which is the only place to eat for miles around. It was a charming rustic pub/café/brewery with live music and lots of hippie visitors to admire.


I was reminded of this wonderful trip and of the unusual breed of sheep when visiting the charming kilt maker yesterday when he produced a skein of the rare wool of a Gotland Sheep. It was soft and fluffy and a delightful shade of deep grey/black with a hint of silver.

The wool can be grey to silver to charcoal 

NZ Beauty

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xxzt2e_shaun-the-sheep-shaun-goes-potty_fun

Learning To Weave

Tiny enchanting studio in Founders Park

Beginning Weaving

 

 

On a recent holiday in December I visited a wonderful weaving studio, (Twill Hand Weaving Studio), and over a period of two days learned a very little about weaving. The studio was in Founders Park, Nelson, NZ South Island and was an enchanting old fashioned studio full of looms and materials and an excellent weaving teacher.

 

 

 

Full of wonderful materials and samples

 

Looms of all shapes and sizes

 

Beautiful hand made samples

 

 

Even more looms

 

Space for a cup of tea

 

 

And more looms

 

Looms as far as the eye can see

 

 

 

And a really large loom with a room all to itself

 

 

I found the whole experience really exciting and came away feeling that I needed to learn more about this wonderful craft. My first attempts were to weave a simple sample on a loom already warped and ready for use. This sample can be seen below. I concentrated on colours I love - mainly pinks and blues and each of the squares were in different styles and stitches - a real example of what can be done in a very short time.

 

 

 

 

Beginning weaving

 

Feeling the blues

 

Messy back

 

In the pink

 

My first zig zag

 

 

As you can see I am a true beginner but so wanting to learn. I found three weaving classes in my neighbourhood and was keen to join one but all three have since been dropped due to lack of interest. Very disappointing. Consequently I have spent many happy hours on You Tube learning the basics and now intend to buy a small loom of my own to continue alone with this wonderful craft. Any help or advice would be gratefully received.
 

 

Is there anyone out there, (near London/Surrey borders), who would be willing to teach me?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Post Holiday Pics

A Few Pics Not Worthy Of A Separate Blog
But Still Worthwhile

These are the views that would have welcomed the early settlers to this part of New Zealand in the early 1800s and this lovely life sized memorial to them stands on the quay.

Some early settlers small wooden houses still standing in South Street, Nelson, all still occupied.

The native flora and fauna, which can be seen throughout this beautiful sunny region.

An early grand settlers house now used for lunches and gracious afternoon teas.

A selection of things sold in the Saturday Market - many people earn their living by arts and crafts and farming and the weekly markets are thriving and full of beautiful hand-made goods.

And last, but not least, the area is well known for its profusion of vineyards and the marvellous wines of New Zealand. These photos are from the very famous and wonderful  Neudorf Vineyard,  where The Finn's pioneered winemaking in the region during the 1970s, where they are now producing world class wines.

I do hope that you have enjoyed my trip to this region just as much as I have. I promise not to bore you again with a mention of it (or any more of my photos)! Now to get back to crafting!

Sidney The Seagull

A Kororo

(Maori For Seagull)

 

Sidney's sibling in Nelson

Today I visited the potters  Ralph and Sally Hetzel  to thank them for the wonderful seagull, Sidney, shipped to me in London last year as a Christmas present for Mr Whizz kid. These wonderful potters specialise in gulls with unique expressions, which can be seen adorning many of the beach side properties in the area. Ours lives in a conservatory in London.








Sidney Seagull at home in London
He was a Christmas present for Mr Whizz Kid from me.
He has a stripey fish in his mouth.



I love his pop-eyes.
Isn't he cute?

These rather large pottery birds, (gulls ARE rather large), are made in a mould and then the beaks, eyes and fish are individually put on by hand, their expressions all unique, and then they are dipped and glazed. Metal legs are then attached and the bird is then ready to fly all over the world.

The Hetzels own a boutique hotel overlooking the sea in a stunning part of the coastline of The South Island,  Nelson, NZ . I assume that from their vantage point they see many real gulls every day. Lucky them! These are a few pics of my visit ...









Spot the gull?

Spot the gull?

The view out to sea from their studio

Spot the gull?

Spot the gull?











All ready to fly

 

Talented Ralph Hetzel in his studio

 

 

 

What a fun life! 

NZ - The 'Lord Of The Ring' Country



Did You Know ...

 

 

 

 

I arrived in the beautiful Nelson, South Island, New Zealand after three long flight (two were twelve hours each) and the sun was shining and the countryside as amazing as ever. This area is well known throughout the world because of the filming here for The Lord Of The Rings series.

The flight from Auckland to Nelson takes place in a tiny twin engined sixteen seater (with propellers) plane, which flies very close to the sea (The Cook Straits - aka Captain Cook) and I sprinkled some fairy dust over Wellington as we flew over as requested by Hadley for her sister. The flight in such a tiny plane always makes me a little nervous but I survived without too much discomfort.

Did you know that much of  the filming for 'The Lord Of The Rings',  J.R.R Tolkien's masterpiece was filmed in and around the three National Parks of Nelson, in The South Island of New Zealand?








Middle Earth

The War In The North

Mount Owen (Dimril Dale) and Mount Olympus (Eirigion Hills) provided many of the fantastic settings in and around Rivendell and Chetwood Forest. The rough country of Kaharangi National Park, where some of the most spectacular filming took place, was so inaccessible that all the film crews and equipment were transported by helicopter to these remote sites. (Nelson Helicopters now provide a special 'The Lord Of The Rings Tour').

The One True Ring

Nelson is known as a creative destination and the local artisans provided many of the props for the film. 'The One True Ring' was made by local jeweller  Jens Hansen  as were the rings for Hugo Weaving (Elrond's 'Ring Of Power'), the ring for Viggo, the ring for Cale and an adorable band with an Elvish inscription. All these beautiful rings are now produced as replicas and can be bought at Hansen's The Jewellers.







Bag End




Pottery used throughout came from local potters and carvings, steelwork, glasswork and costumes were all provided by the accomplished artisans in the region. Even the beer served at 'The Prancing Pony' in Bree, was brewed at the local Nelson Brewery, Harringtons, something of which they are particularly proud.

The Animaajes



Edoras

The Misty Mountains

Guess Where I Am Going?

Another Trip

Sadly I cannot resist another jaunt before Christmas - guess where I am going?  I am setting off alone fom London, England, tomorrow  to visit my family in New Zealand, and after a short stop over in Tokyo, Japan, and then Auckland in the North Island, NZ,  I will stay in Nelson in the South Island, NZ, for six weeks and then travel back alone to London, England, via Auckland, NZ,  and Hong Kong, China, arriving home in London well in time for the Christmas chaos. Anyone want to come with me?

London, England

Tokyo, Japan

Auckland, New Zealand

Nelson, New Zealand

Auckland, New Zealand

Hong Kong, China

London, England

I have often done this journey alone and do not feel too concerned about it this time and am hopeful that I will stay well and have some fun. Poor Mr Whizz Kid, The Devil Child, and all the other children/grown ups will just have to miss me (or not)!

If you have any suggestions of a craft for me to do while there, do let me know (quickly) - usually it is knitting socks but I would love to try something else simple that travels easily. My immediate thought is to practice some embroidery - a small hoop, some fabric and silks and a needlecase take very little space in my luggage - and I have recently been inspired by a sampler tree over at  Bearpaw. I think that a variation on this theme could be such fun and I have plenty of time to make several. What do you think?

As for Kaffe Fassett and his inspirational works - they will just have to wait until I get back home!

I shall post lots of pics along the way and am excited by the fact that Nelson, New Zealand is the centre of many arts and craft communities and is also  in the middle of the flourishing wine area of Marlborough. Do travel along with me.