Freelance Fibres -     

2009 Year of the Natural Fibres!

Preparing Specialty Fibres for Creative Spinners, Weavers and Felters

Gerda Smith - Creator of Lustrous Fibres.

The workshop of Gerda Smith in the tiny village of Burrell Creek, near the township of Wingham on the N.S.W. North Coast.

Gerda's workshop is equipped with a Patrick Green 4 way exotic Carder and Picker plus a Mini Mills Drawframe, Spinner & Skein winder.

With these machines she has created some sophisticated blends... Mohair, Cashmere, Alpaca and Merino Fleece have all been combined in a range of blends to create a sumptuous texture. Gerda is also investigating the properties of throwster silk waste, Ingeo that is a processed fibres made from corn kernels and Tencel a product of wood pulp. She also is producing dolls hair both straight and curls.

In addition to the carding and blending Gerda has also developed a range of different colour combinations. Using a blend of Gaywool and Landscape Dyes she has created fleece ready for spinning an a stunning array of colours.

Gerda's range includes batts of fleece ready for felting, slivers and rovings for spinners and is now, with the aid of a 4 bobbin spinner, establishing a new range of luxury yarns.
 

Margaret holds a Master Of Arts, majoring in History, in addition to an advanced Certificate in Spinning and Weaving from Strathfield TAFE and a Diploma of Arts in Tapestry Weaving from Warnamboul TAFE.