Autumn lV

Before the rains came...

 Some experimental dyeing of cotton perle threads

 Putting the final touches to our Indian inspired banner 

at Borders Textile Towerhouse a few nights ago. 

Looks a little odd hung in front of a picture

 here but it will get a proper home soon.

 And a last reminder from me 

before Saturday's woolly celebrations

Autumn lll

colour contemplation

Autumn Colours ll

While out with the dogs this morning I found some little windblown acorns, and back home on the grass were rich red shades which I artistically rearranged for the camera.

Pauline whipped up this little maritime themed jacket to show off my indigo dyed double knitting. It was a lovely surprise and demonstrates perfectly how different skeins can complement each other.

Friday 2.45pm

Friday 3.00pm

I was just admiring my stock of handspun when along came Camilla and bought up the blues as a gift to a talented quilt maker in the American mid-west!

Autumn Colours

the rosehip syrup is bottled up

home grown tomatoes and apples keeping company 

with some more travelled fruit and veg

but that picture inspired me to gather together 

all my blue and white crockery,

 including two great charity acquisitions

 felted handspun stripes

 and lovely leaves outside Tart HQ

Above is some of the sock weight yarn I indigo dyed this summer. Jakki picked a dotty skein to knit her jeans socks with.
I'll be dyeing further skeins of sock and double knitting next week but I thought I would make a cowl in one of the less contrast dyeings of merino dk to show how it looks. It sits really snugly up the back of my neck (ideal for short haired types) but is rather smart when folded down too. At the rate that autumn in marching in, I will be wearing it very soon.

 

 I had ten pairs of sharp Japanese thread snips left in stock so they all got embroidered pouches recently.

 Did I show you this little Indian block print bird before? He's got a line of sequins along his back and is the subject of a workshop I am running later in the year. Can't promise real sunshine then, but the fabrics are so bright they always lift the spirits

 This rich red aran weight yarn is one hand dyed by Helen (Ripples Crafts) and destined to become part of my Winter 2013 sweater (which means it gets started this winter, not necessarily finished...)

Tea and Sea

Tempted to post up more images from the Summer Isles but first, yet another reminder about a forthcoming event. 

SUNDAY 22 SEPT from 2pm till 5pm

SOUTHDEAN HALL, Chesters, TD9 8TH

AFTERNOON TEA

Entry by donation to 

Macmillan Cancer Support 

and then...

lots of delicious baking 

- sweet and savoury -

 served by a long suffering man in a kilt

and a winsome French maid 

Go on, you know you want to!

The week on the island was hosted by Helen Lockhart of Ripples Crafts. She's an indie dyer living off grid in Assynt, who has a great reputation for delicious colour combinations in her yarns, inspired by the landscape around her.

 The Summer Isles issue their own stamps

 And do a fine range of sunrises

 The view from the top of Meall Mor, the not-very-big highest point on the island

 Looking across the bay to the Schoolhouse where I stayed

Pleasure Island

I spent most of last week on Tanera Mor, the biggest of the Summer Isles, in the glorious north west of Scotland. I was there with a great group of talented and creative women and we had a busy/relaxed/sunny/wet time. 
Here are some of my images, starting with the MV Patricia which transported us there.

 

 

 

 

Hello... I must dash!

Rushed about all last week to make sure Tart HQ was full of work, and otherwise clean and tidy. 
Spent a great three days talking with familiar faces and new ones too, chattering about my Indian trips and wrapping up purchases. 
Rushed about so far this week doing admin and packing too, because I am off on another adventure tomorrow--just a little one but it promises to be great fun and very beautiful.

 Midge, quietly hoping she will get to stay in HQ when visitors arrive...

 One busy Mirjam, pondering which papers to use...

 Another creative type...Tony with scissors

And all to make their mark on my Tart's Tree of Life!

Art Trail Approaching

Accessible Artists in All Corners of the Borders and Beyond!

In workshops, homes and village halls throughout the West (Friday 31 to Sunday 2 Sept) and the East (Friday 6 to Sunday 8 Sept). You can meet Crossing Borders artists and makers, see their work and learn about their practices, have a blether, try your hand in some workshops and indulge in a little quality retail activity if you choose.
Many makers work in comparative isolation and it's REALLY NICE to get to talk with interested people, so do venture out and see what's going on across the region. 
You can download your guide here or pick up a printed copy in lots of locations.

At the Roberts' venues - W11 and W12 - you can enjoy coffee and cake while blethering, and in Tart HQ I will invite you to add some paper leaves to my Tree of Life. It's looking a little wintery at the moment with bare branches and I would love it to be smothered with leaves by Sunday night!

I received a lovely present last weekend - a vintage Huntley and Palmers box full of salvaged buttons and buckles. There are some very dated shapes and styles which makes them all the more fascinating, of course!

 The box lid is a work of art in itself.

 Do drop in next weekend; we'd be delighted to see you. (And it would save us eating all the cake ourselves...)

Rural Life!

Yesterday was our annual Southdean Show - it rained, and the wind threw alarming gusts at the marquee in the morning, necessitating further novel methods of anchoring it to the car park - but it was still a great wee show with many happy visitors. 
The bagpipes, the ferrets, the cockerels and the Pimms were all pretty popular.
The Industrial entries in the Hall were much admired, not least the impressive number of chocolate cakes, and there were ten separate entries in the 'six best eggs' category!
Caroline has put fine images up on Southdean Hall's Facebook page for all to admire.

No prizes for noticing this is another blue post. Below are most of my fabrics from a pack of kekfesto indigo blue printed Hungarian cotton that Mirjam and I bought at the Festival of Quilts. We split the 50 differently patterned squares between us (amicably!). No specific projects in mind yet, but too good to pass up. (The pale bit in the second row is just a patch of sun.)

And these? I have wanted to try sashiko stitching for a while and took the opportunity to buy the genuine article at the Festival. Soft thread, long sturdy needles and loose weave cottons. Now I just need to apply a little self discipline and make nice even stitches.

The top picture? Well, it's nearly annual ART TRAIL time and my signboard sheep has had a repaint. She is now sporting a painted blue rug over her back, and will be pointing the way to Tart HQ on 31st/1st/2nd. 
Not got yourself an Art Trail guide yet? 
Follow the link and download one, then treat yourself to a day or two or three out and about in the Borders, visiting us all!