A Change...

...is as good as a rest, so they say...
What tosh.
I'd like another weekend in Dublin instead please!
But I've settled for a new look to the blog, and labelling and packing up all my goodies for tomorrow's Woolly Day at St Abbs. Other important duties - deciding what type of muffins to make for Sunday's Woolgathering.... I'm favouring home grown blackcurrants and flaked almonds at the moment...


I am blessed with several very fine friends but one I have never met is Maureen who lives a simple life in Spain, knitting and drawing and raising food crops with Phil. We have corresponded for eleven years now, and her letters are ever more creative. Imagine my delight at her latest card - it unfolded into a whole procession of caravans (a caravan of caravans).
Here's a close-up of the window, complete with knitting needles and coloured pencils. The girl has such style!


On that happy note, I am off to find my ginger wine supply. The weather's much milder today but it's still officially winter till this particular tipple is finished.

Assorted Travels

Just back from my first trip to Dublin - a great weekend spent with friends doing some touristy tours and a little light cultural stuff too. The Irish hospitality and general good craic was much in evidence - so many very fine folk having a good time was uplifting to experience. Quite a bit of dodgy green leprechaun-type tat too but the good bits outweighed it!

Amongst other things, I now have a better grasp of Irish history than I did, thanks to an in-depth and eye-opening tour of Kilmainham Gaol, and a huge admiration for the abilities of Eileen Gray who was an architect and design force to be reckoned with and died, still working, at the age of 98. To see correspondence with Le Corbusier, to see her chrome designs predating Mies Van Der Rohe's, was blooming impressive. This image is from the National Museum's website.The museums and galleries of Dublin would take days, weeks to get round and I only had time for a quick dip into a couple. Lovely old buildings, housing fascinating works of art and craft. Then there were the books in the National Gallery shop to drool over...

In other news.... I am off to Woolfish in St Abbs this Saturday 26th for a grand textile day in the company of lots of lovely yarn sellers. Fancy a day out by the sea? Drop in an see us!

Or come along to Chesters on Sunday for a Woolgathering - it all happens round here, y'know!

Apologies for the spacing and fonts in this post - Blogger and I are not seeing eye to eye tonight..

Cottage effects.

We have stopped letting the cottage to the holiday market and hope to have long term tenants very soon. One of the sadder sides to this is that the cottage needs partly stripped of furniture and furnishings. It's quality gear and we can't afford to give it all away on Freecycle. I'm going to put together a list with photos and guide prices. I'll post here when I have it ready in case anything interests y'all but this comfortable patchwork covered armchair will be one of the items...

Evidence of...

... new work (collaged animals, being reproduced as prints)

...new hens (thanks to Anke, six lovely new hens moved in last night)

... the stylish birdbox Hugh built me for Christmas

... and Spring - a sunny day and cheerful snowdrops in the garden