One Day Workshops

Let me tell you what I have planned
for February and March!
A series of one-day workshops in
the comfort of my cottage.

Read on and sign up!

PARTY PREP ON A SHOESTRING
Pick a theme and try your hand at creating bright paper banners
and bunting, goodie bags, invitations and more

DELIVERED IN STYLE
Learn how to design and make your own cards and envelopes from scratch, as well as bags and boxes and other ways of packaging. You'll never be stuck for presentation ideas again!

JOTTERS TO JOURNALS
Try several different methods of making simple books and albums, for gifts or for yourself. Clever folds, attractive covers, smart designs and lots of recycling ideas to inspire you.

REHASH YOUR STASH
Embellish with relish! Explore ways to tart up your clothes, cushions, accessories, make trimmings and twiddly bits and generally imbue your 'stuff' with your own unique style

ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS
Never knitted or crocheted? Dying to learn what all the fuss is about?
Learn the very basics and get started on your first handmade creation.

DATES

Friday 19th February Party Prep
Saturday 20th February Delivered in Style
Sunday 21st February Jotters to Journals
Friday 26th February Rehash your Stash
Saturday 27th February Party Prep
Sunday 28th February Absolute Beginners
Tuesday 9th February Rehash your Stash
Wednesday 10th March Delivered in Style
Thursday 11th March Jotters to Journals
Friday 12th March Absolute Beginners

Workshops are for over 16s
They cost £48 and run from 10 am to 4 pm
A light lunch and all refreshments
(that means home baking and lots of
tea and coffee and all the rest of the essentials
for creativity...) are included.
Only 4 participants at each workshop so that
you can have space to spread out and enjoy the day,
in the comfortable setting of the cottage.
If you would like to book a personalised or bespoke workshop
for 4 people for another date I will be happy
to accommodate you and your friends.

To book or ask any questions just call me on 01450 860275

Full of good intentions...

..... just failing to deliver
I had plans to post photos of my new goodies, to make a new blog banner, and so on but I've just not managed it. Hugh is off south for a few days and has the camera with him so that's one of my excuses. I have been making luscious edibles to sell at the Christmas Fayre at the village hall this Saturday, and spinning more yarns too. But it has all been a bit of a battle as I am fighting off a bug/virus/general decrepitude and feeling pretty feeble.
Off to wrap myself round another hot drink and thank my lucky stars it's not swine flu..

xx L

Coming soon, to a venue near you..

Well, OK, only near a few of you really...

First off, I'll be participating in another lovely St Abbs Wool Festival, on Saturday 7th November. Organised by Louise of Woolfish (groovy yarn shop in St Abbs), it will be better than ever with the Alpaca Buyer (as he is known on Ravelry) and Jeni of Fyberspates both bringing their wares as well as Natalie from The Yarnyard, Janis of Flight Weaving and Laura Brittain with her stylish felt and there will be lots of 'stash sellers'.

On Saturday 21st November it's time for the small but perfectly formed Christmas Fayre at Southdean Village Hall from 12 noon till 4pm. All sorts of Scottish sweeties and home bakes at Ma Broon's Larder, lovely items by a very local wood turner, quality craft books, felted accessories and cards by Fiona, and very stylish stitchery by Ali and Janet, mulled wine and me (in that order...)

Meanwhile, I thought I'd share these picture with you - proof of a grand visit by Fiona and Amanda and me to see Katie, whose blog we all rather enjoy. Poppy is taking centre stage and smooching up to me even though she is not strictly allowed on Katie's shed sofa.

And look at the tea table! - Katie had gone into overdrive catering for overnight guests and we scored really rather well from her culinary talents (so did Hugh - I brought a few sample home!)Finally, just a mention for anyone who may be interested that Janice is selling a drum carder and a lovely little Ashford Kiwi wheel - you can find her here.

A Wee Treasure

Life in Chesters is one merry round of events and social gatherings....even if most of them involve hard work by the village hall committee. On Friday night we gathered to watch 'A Streetcar Named Desire' in all its black and white glory. I had forgotten how scary Blanche DuBois was and at least some of the audience found this oldie not worth reviving. Most of us were glad when it was over.Attending the film meant I was on hand when a 'new' pile of books was dropped off at the hall. There's a couple of bookshelves there for folk to recycle their old tomes for the good of the hall's coffers. Rosie is moving house and had had a clear out. Thus I found 'The Getabout Bird' by Madeleine Collier, published in 1944 and with these delicious illustrations by Jennetta Vise. You can read more about her illustrating career on this fascinating blog
Meanwhile, there's much spinning, stitching, paper-cutting and chutney making in evidence as there are a few events coming up for the Border Tart... more soon..

A New Leaf

Well the Open Studios weekend was grand! The weather was bright and sunny which cheered everyone, artists and visitors alike. People came and viewed and chatted and bought and stayed for coffee and cake or home made soup and chatted some more, and dallied in the sunshine and said what a lovely spot Chesters is. Using the village hall to display our wares worked well because there was lots of room to move about or linger without feeling under any pressure.

I had a fine time with my mini workshops, encouraging friends and strangers to make little books with pockets, like the one above, and envelopes and bags and decorative bits and pieces from scrap and salvaged papers. Several discerning women bought my handspun yarns. And I may have acquired a new pair of earrings and commissioned a stylish 'paper clay' bowl (getting delivered on Sunday) and more from my fellow artists.I showed off some of my recent albums - this first one is a record of those lovely hand knitted socks I have been amassing (and wearing). It is a stab bound book with a page devoted to each delightful style.I also took delight in showing off this concertina album made to display the fantastic drawings done by Denholm Primary School children after I demonstrated spinning for them earlier in the year. The pages are bright colours and I've recorded each child's first name with their drawing and attached my favourite quotes from their 'stories' on the back.The very long booklet folds up into a neat cover and is secured with a handspun string

It'll be alright on the night...

ART TRAIL
Friday 11th to Sunday 13th September
Across the Borders and North Northumberland
and even in Southdean Village Hall

I am cool, I am in control, everything is planned
I am cool, I am in control, everything is planned
I am cool, I am in c...............................................
Yeah, well, that's the theory....

I am really looking forward to the three days of sharing a space with other artists, meeting new people and hopefully showing them how to have fun with the simplest of skills and tools.

It would be lovely to see you all if you can come along. And remember there are nearly seventy of us spread around the Border area, all happy to welcome you in for a blether and look around. Check out the new look CROSSING BORDERS website to find us and open an interactive copy of the Art Trail booklet

Clock's ticking...

OPEN STUDIOS ART TRAIL
Friday 11th to Sunday 13th September
across the Scottish Borders and North Northumberland

Rather alarmingly, there are only nine days till the Art Trail. I am lucky that the artists who are sharing the space with me at the Village Hall are all proactive folks, happy to get on and do stuff like make posters, sort the layout of the hall, decorate it and so on. We intend having a ball for three days so get along if you possibly can and join in the fun!

I am really looking forward to running three mini workshops where you can drop in for half an hour, pay a tiny fee, and try whichever takes your fancy.... They are all strongly based on recycling - whether it's magazines and newspapers, rescued envelopes, used wrapping paper or out-of-date road atlases, they've got a future here!