Saturday, June 20

Woolfest beckons...

A week today I shall be surrounded by happy smiling people and lots and lots of wool; on the hoof, in the fleece, dirty, scoured, bagged, combed, carded, dyed, felted, spun, knitted, on the cone, in skeins, balls, oh and on and on - textile heaven - and all this in a Cumbrian auction mart.

Woolfest Rocks! For those of us who cannot justify a major trip south, the fact that the Woolclip took the plunge a few years ago and launched into the relative unknown by holding a wool festival in the north west of England is a decision we are heartily thankful for. And it has grown and grown in popularity. We love it! You get to see old friends and make new ones, to learn fascinating skills from Europe, the US and beyond, to take classes, and see and feel and smell and discuss the merits of every item on show or sale with enthusiastic and knowledgeable folk who are happy to share their experience.

Last year I bought delicious fibres to spin with and this time I am going back for more. I'll probably also succumb to beautiful buttons, some interesting yarns to dye up, useful tools and bits and pieces, a few presents and maybe some luscious sheeps' milk ice cream. Hugh may join me- he's not averse to a bit of colour (or ice cream) or he may explore the delights of the area before gathering me and my haul of goodies up and heading back to our wee caravan. Yup, we're making a mini-holiday of it and soaking up some Lake District sights for a few days.

Ash and Midge will be well catered for - their very own high class dog-sitter is coming to stay!

Once I am back I already have another list of things to do. First up - what can I sell at the Curly Kale and Cream Cakes day? The first Sunday of July, August and September, we're holding produce days at the village hall - if you make it, bake it, sew it or grow it you can come along and sell it at the hall (no charge for stalls) and enjoy a cream tea too - or just buy the products of others' hard work! First date is from 2.00pm on Sunday 5th July.

I'll also be turning my mind to the Crossing Borders Art Trail - I'll be running mini-workshops but I'll tell you more about them another day.

4 comments:

katie said...

I got your lovely card - for which - many many thanks - battenburg in a teacup - very tasty!
and now I hear you will be at Woolfest! Our Knitters are all going on Friday - will you be there then? And your open studios - rain will not deter me this year - remember the stoms last time - how could you forget - I will insisit that Gloria comes - she has weddign fever as her daughters wedding gets nearer - so she needs distracting!
Woolfest!! Yay!

Dropone said...

Look forward to seeing you again soon :-)

Tart said...

Hi both - Woolfest will be a Saturday visit from me as I've arranged to meet Georgina from Orkney there that day - so make sure the Hexham knitters leavs some stock for me to buy!

Art Trail not till Sept but I will be doing lots of shouting about it!

Anonymous said...

Sure to bump into you next Saturday!