...spent at the Border Union Show!
The sun beat down. Farmers and horseriders, feed merchants and bankers, fisherfolk and woodworkers, tractor men and insurance brokers, prize winning butchers, awesome ice cream makers, motorcycle stuntmen and the Countess of Wessex were all there. So were my wonderfully talented artist and maker friends, in the Craft Hall and in The Story of Wool marquee.
I didn't capture much on camera as I spent most of my time treadling my trusty spinning wheel (and blethering, and snacking...) but I did snap my neighbours, Laura (fab felt bags) and Rod Grant (handbuilt spinning wheels - that's Mrs Rod early on morning one before the visitors reached us)
Lovely Ruth was running kids' woolly workshops when she was not modelling her tarty handknitted bikini. I was also delighted to see the bag she had brought which she crocheted in Herdwick wool and my handspun.
Rob and Katie visited briefly on a break from promoting Crossing Borders artists in the Craft Hall.
And I thought it was appropriate that I was spinning imperial purple when the Countess called by.
Getting all my new stock together, plus spinning wheel and fibres, ready for the Border Union Show at Kelso on Friday and Saturday. I will be in The Story of Wool marquee, along with some great textile makers. It's going to be a humdinger of a show this year, being the 200th anniversary one.
You can see more of what's scheduled right here.
There are over 500 classes for all sorts of stock and 250 trade stands, including Hugh's for Far x 4, and Crossing Borders
and the sun is going to shine!!
seen here on the walk we did across Bowden Common, along the side of Bowdenmoor Reservoir, over the saddle between the Mid and West Eildons and back round to the village. It was braw!
but forgot to post the pics after last weekend's stitch-in.
Eleven happy ladies being creative with block prints. Yet again elephants were the adornment of choice for panels and bags as we worked in the cool of the hall.
As this amazing weather continues I have been balancing Tart work with maintenence duties outisde, like painting sheds and weeding and cutting back the undergrowth that threatens to climb in the windows.
Hugh and I did manage a walk last Monday and plan to make time for another tomorrow. If it's still hot and sunny I will need to know there's an ice cream at the end of it....
for a busy workshop tomorrow. A full house at the Forman Hall at Roberton south of Hawick for a day of stitching. We'll be making Indian-inspired envelope shaped bags using lovely Gujarati block printed cottons. Also involved are various embroidery threads and a good dose of bling, of the sequin, bead and bell variety!
MUST remember to take some pictures of the day.
On Monday Hugh and I hung our joint exhibition Landscapes and Threadscapes in the Hayloft Gallery at Paxton House. near Berwick. It runs until 21st of the month and we'd be delighted if you happened to visit there and let us know what you think of the work.
After that there will be just a few days before the Border Union Show in Kelso. Hugh will have a stand for Far x 4 and I will be spinning at my stall in The Story of Wool marquee. It's the bicentennial of the Border Union Agricultural Society so this show is bigger and brighter than ever. Friday 26th and Saturday 27th July.
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