Strangers in the Night

Well, you've read me rattling on about it for months but my Stitching the Blues exhibition is now on at Borders Textile Towerhouse in Hawick until 11th May. At Friday evening's private view Ian took some great pics for me and I will get more sorted and posted soon. 

On Saturday two friends and I hit the Vintage Fair at Hexham, all succumbing to purchases of one sort or another. Not really sure yet what I will do with the fabrics I bought but they are lovely furnishing weight pieces and, well, anyway, they were too good a buy to pass up...honest.

That same evening we were off to a quiz night at Southdean's hall, Usual good cheer abounded and we did a fine job of feeding all participants a generous hot supper too. Rural life can be incredibly sociable and we must have one of the busiest village halls in the Borders! 

Strangers in the Night? name of one of my most recent handspun yarns, destined for Rheged's Knit and Stitch Show next Sunday.

Juggling

 

lots of balls (of yarn) in the air this month. 

Busily finishing off preparations for forthcoming exhibition,

 

 and spinning and dyeing in readiness for the fair at Rheged near Penrith on April 6th.

 

Also trying to decide how best to develop my website to 

fit in a BLUE MOON shop full of indigo-dyed goodies. 

And I have started to gather images of lovely things knitted/crocheted/felted 

from Border Tart yarns and fibres by my equally lovely customers

 Knitted and felted handspun bags by Geraldine (great buttons)

 Felted scarf by Felicity

Whoop-de-Soup!

 

cheddar and chive bread, sun dried tomato and black olive bread,

carrot and cardamom soup, a big red tomato and lentil one, 

a corn chowder full of peppers and spice, walnut bread, 

Scotch broth, and more besides...

The kitchen smells glorious.

All in preparation for tomorrow's 

Sunday Soup at Southdean

in aid of Maggies' Centres

EVERYONE's WELCOME!

Do What You Love*

is an upbeat website which

'has given thousands of people in more than 100+ countries across the world the tools, advice and encouragement they need to make major changes in their life, monetise their passion and do what they love, for life.'

So there! Inspired by the lovely Rachel Hazell of Paperphilia, a friend and I decided to participate in The Great Big Stitched Postcard Swap organised by DWYL in collaboration with Coats (the thread people)
And here's mine...

It's an adaptation of my 'heart in hand' logo, with hand stitching and a fold out block printed paper box hiding a ...... Well, that's for the recipient to find out, when it travels off from here to Susi in Illinois!

Spring in my step?

I'm definitely feeling brighter - sure it's the onset of spring and longer days.
I attended two lovely though contrasting fairs last weekend, St Abbs was busy and bright and full of yarn and fibre lovers. Springwood Park was busy and bright too, full of seed potatoes, plants, honey, compost, bread and all things good for you. That includes the best fudge I have tasted, from The Happy Fudge Company.
I know about these things, I am diligent in my self-appointed testing duties, with a sweet tooth inherited from my mother and no great efforts made to curtail it.

Just look at the two stalls I was sandwiched between...

 And yes, of course I brought home goodies from both.

My handspun supply was rather depleted after St Abbs, so I was spinning away to build up stocks before the next outing. I was pleased with reactions to my Blue Moon indigo range and encouraged to step up production. Kind friends are working on patterns for me too, so I'll have examples and ideas to get knitters casting on.

Then on Wednesday Hugh and I dropped off work at the Coldstream Gallery for the Crossing Borders Spring Exhibition - ir runs till 26th April so you can admire the range of artwork and stay for coffee and cake right through the Easter holidays!

And this weekend? I am mini-book making, stitching, spinning, knitting and making a postcard for this fun event!