I love to work with natural fibres and particularly alpaca and wool. Dyeing, weaving, spinning and crafting.

I'm a Brit living in the South Island of New Zealand. I've raised two children here.
I learnt to knit and crochet as a child and began spinning in my twenties. Living in New Zealand has been challenging as our small nuclear family has had to go it alone without the support of extended family and Grandparents.We are all very independent and self-sufficient. Compared to other countries of its size New Zealand is very empty population wise. Our towns and cities are well spread apart with lots of countryside between. I'm always amazed at the blackness of our night sky with very little light pollution. It makes star gazing very satisfying.
I weave on two floor looms, many of my fabrics incorporate my handspun yarns.
I co-founded The Oamaru Textile Emporium nine years ago. We're a physical shop in a big Victorian stone building that sells textiles, yarns, spinning and weaving equipment. Our textiles are created by a talented co-operative of local people who help man the shop.

I enjoy selecting raw fleece and fibre locally where possible to spin many of my yarns, which I may dye with either natural plant dyes or acid wool dyes. I do love the natural sheep colours too. I dye a selection of commercially milled yarns too. I try to select from New Zealand made yarn but it is a limited choice as most of the spinning mills here have closed so I also buy UK and Peruvian milled yarns too.

I would love to own my own small mill so I could spin bigger quantities of the yarns I want to sell and use from the beautiful wool that is grown here. Most New Zealand wool is shipped overseas in its raw state.
I consider myself a micro spinning mill as I own and use several spinning wheels, electric spinner and carder which I use daily. Spinning is like breathing to me. I like to spin every day . The filling bobbins satisfy my desire to achieve daily small goals and relax my mind and body.