Sticky Fingers

These collaged boxes went off to Paxton, along with another. The first is Bird Box, and here's a close-up of one side..

And this is Lovey Dovey, with a glass teardrop hanging from the shelf.
And then two of Wonderland, which is covered in fairy tales and toys and children's images of yesteryear.
They were fun to make and I am on a roll now, making different collaged papier mache objects so there will be more photographs soon. I am having a great time, getting covered in glue and paint and little bits of paper, not quite singing away to myself but not far off it (even I find my tortured singing difficult to cope with, and my whistling isn't any better).

Today we had a fine Woolgathering - between the ten of us there was spinning, knitting, embroidery, wet and dry felting, kantha work, needlepoint and patchwork all going on, as well as talking, drinking of copious cups of tea and coffee and a substantial amount of cake-eating. It was lovely to see what others are working on and who's seen what and who's got lovely new books to admire or work to display.

A passion....

....for yarn!
I showed you rolags and part spun bobbins of a greeny gold mix - it's Moorland now, second from the left in the pic above.
My stash of handspun is growing, ready to head out into the wide world as the end of the week. Crossing Borders artists are again exhibiting throughout the season at Paxton House. Over thirty artists' work will be on show and we'll each be there in person on a different day of the month. My trusty wheel will accompany me, and sometimes a cutting board and papers so I can make envelopes and cards. My first day there is Easter Monday - wonder if there will be any chocolate eggs left over by visiting children...

I've been making more papier mache display boxes and shelves which will be heading to Paxton House too. Must photograph them first.

I have more wee items on display/sale at a brand new space in Jedburgh.
Gallery in the Alley is run by talented illustrator Linda Lovatt and she'll be holding an open day to launch it (with her delicious cakes too!) very soon.

Chocolate Challenge

Hello!
Yesterday I wrote a post and uploaded it and sw it on the blog and now it has disappeared - completely and utterly vanished, no trace, nada. I am miffed, to put it mildly.

Anyway, what I was waffling on about was that my kind Woolgathering friends and I have rounded up enough pennies to buy a coffee farmer in Nicaragua a new start with cocoa beans. this is what Present Aid (Christian Aid) have to say -

The livelihoods of coffee farmers and their families in Nicaragua are on the brink of disaster.

The warm weather caused by climate change is ruining their crops. The solution is to switch to cocoa, which thrives in warmer environments.

A starter kit contains enough cocoa seedlings for one plot of land and three days training that will help the farmer learn how to cultivate this new crop.

With this new start, livelihoods can be protected and secure the future for farming families.

What I did was clear out some of my arty/crafty supplies, either stuff which had been my Mum's and I was never going to use (there was a lot!) or other treasures that I had gathered along the way. And over a couple of Woolgatherings they were gradually purchased and the pennies went into the Chocolate Fund. I topped it up from the egg money and hey presto!

I'm starting a new collection now, for some pigs for help Bolivian women build a steady income to support their families!

Meanwhile I have been spinning autumnal shades. First a lovely big heap of rolags... ....spun onto two bobbins, one with added bombyx silk fibre, then plied together. I have a few new hanks of hand spun drying at the moment and will take a snap when they are dry and labelled with suitably silly names.

Now to save this and see if it survives to show on Blogger today.