I am captivated by opalescence, and it’s close sister iridescence, and it is something I return to in my work.

In the heat of the summer this shimmering quality appears all around. In the iridescence  of bubbles and sea shells and butterflies wings. And in the little opal pendant that I’ve had since childhood. I find myself wearing it most days and am fascinated by it’s qualities of colour and light.

I attempt to make a yarn with opalescent qualities and gather materials in my mixing basket.

Lustrous Angora goat curls in palest pink and white, a little wisp of turquoise merino, Cotswold curls in shades of lavender and pale blue Wensleydale curls, dyed with Indigo. I add a sprinkle of crystal Angelina fibre too and spin it all with some naturally pale golden Ryeland and  . . .

. . .  Voila! I’m quite pleased with the result, though the photograph of my opal shows more warm, golden tones than I can’t see with my naked eye. I think this might be due to the sunshine. There is no getting away from it at the moment!