Still Smiling!

any excuse...

Unbelievably the sun is still shining, though it's a bit misty and breezy today. I celebrated with two big fat homegrown strawberries with my breakfast but was far too busy munching to consider capturing them on camera for your delight at that hour of the morning.

On Sunday Hugh and I had a quick jaunt to Elsdon to meet Carolle and Sarah Morpeth and to be totally inspired by their workplace and their talents - there's still time to visit as 26/27 June is the last weekend of the Art Tour there. If you can't get there then do have a look at their lovely websites.
I've been doing a fibre stocktake in readiness for purchasing more glorious colourful fibre at the great annual celebration of all things woolly which is Woolfest this Friday and Saturday. It's a treat for all the senses and an opportunity to see much missed faces like Helen of Ripples Crafts

Not Helen's dyeing, just an arty arrangement of various handspun, dyed or Noro yarns

Smiley weather

A few days of sunshine and the world seems a happier place. So easily pleased here in this wee corner of the kingdom!
I've been doing chores and earning my crust but in between times I've been outside with stitchery of one sort or another. As some of it is wintery (!) I'll not spoil the moment by posting photographs of works in progress. Instead here's a selection of my handmade booklets which are in The Crafters this monthas are the felt birdies. The hearts are at home and have been joined by some felt elephants which have not made it in front of the lens yet.

I heart ART

Yeah, bit corny, but what do you expect from a Tart?
The last few weeks have not been a bundle of fun but the weekends have been great! I've had two Saturdays OUT in a row and I'm aiming for a third tomorrow!

The end of May saw a happy load of arty types driving across to Dumfries and Galloway to sample the delights of Spring Fling. We met some fantastic artists in lovely settings and thoroughly enjoyed a wet and unruly sort of day. We stumbled across a mini food festival in Castle Douglas and saw work by this artist (she looked familiar and lo, she was a contemporary at textile college, though I would say she is aging rather better than me!) and this one whose willow work is widely collected and this one whose work makes you smile a LOT! I made a modest but very pleasing pottery purchase which you can see here. I chose a jug from the range and it's been in use every day since

Last weekend Amanda and Fiona and I hit Northumberland to visit Art Tour participants - after a slight detour to RE which is a most dangerous place. We met painter Christina Mingard and her felter daughter Cat, amongst others while also taking in the delights of Katie's place at Allen Mill. Amanda, Katie and I did a quick pose in her beloved, and surprisingly comfortable bath, squinting into the sun. As it was a Woolly Day at MAKE, we were encouraged upstairs to a treasure trove of yarn bargains as well as a slightly more, ermm, unusual, collection of knitted soft toys. Gifted by the baker next door, each and every one was available to take home with you for a small donation to charity. Try as I might, I cannot fathom why anyone would want to knit an elf or a gnome or a dwarf, let alone seven and Snow White too.... ho hum, each to their own... Our homeward trip involved a brief stop at The Errington Arms just north of Corbridge for a drink in the sunshine. We'd have stayed longer and maybe enjoyed a bar meal if it were not for the ill-mannered barman. It briefly marred an otherwise excellent day out in the glorious Northumberland countryside.

The Art Trail continues every weekend in June so tomorrow I hope to meet Sarah Morpeth who makes delicious paperworks - you can see more here or wait for the next instalment of Tart's Tales!

Green Fingers?

SpringissprungthegrassisrizIwonderwherethebirdiesis?

Don't know where the days go but I just looked up and it's nearly June....
Spinning demo at The Wee Gallery went well as I had the lovely company of Lizzi for much of the session - she was a very keen student and the time flew by! Then I retreated to a coffee shop for some of the afternoon with more lovely friends (I am blessed!)
Since then, more spinning and book making and general creativity in preparation for my month at The Crafters in Melrose.
I'm planning a major baking session soon as I'll have a stall at ... We're hoping for a good turnout as there will be lots to buy or trade and plenty of scones and jam and cream to keep our strength up. I'm seeking sweet pea seedlings and tomato plants and planning on selling home-baked breads (olive and sundried tomato, anyone?) and cakes by the slice as well as those luscious coconut flapjacks which I am now slightly addicted to.

Then, there's the Art Tour in Northumberland to look forward to - every weekend in June. The wonderful Katie has invited me to run workshops on Saturday 12th at her great new space at Allen Mill- with on site bakery and micro brewery - could be worse, you know!

MAKE recycled craft workshop

Allen Mill

Allendale

Hexham, Northumberland NE47 9EQ

Wee Spin

Just a quick note to say my lovely Lendrum spinning wheel and I will be at the Wee Gallery in Kelso (by the big car park at the back of the Abbey) from 12 noon till 2pm on Saturday (15th May). I'll be merrily carding and spinning lots of lovely fibres, in the midst of the Contemporary Threads exhibition. No heckling, please!

Picture Post

For Boud , Yorkshire folk everywhere and other appreciative types, more Dales delights!

There and back again

Hello, here I am full of the joys of Spring as we've just returned from a Wensleydale week! The Yorkshire Dales are a grand place to visit at any time but we really needed the break and chose a cottage in the quietest little corner to recharge the batteries. In the picture above you can see the little hamlet of Marsett in the middle distance on the right. Ash and Midge came too, and enjoyed running up and down the Roman road which was a sheep-and-lamb-free zone. As this stylish picture amply illustrates, it was not overly warm and I am not at my most elegant with a fleecy bunnet on my head! Having said that, my fashion sense does extend to having tiny little skulls and crossbones on my red bootlaces, but you'll have to take my word for it.
Hugh was trying to persuade the dogs to sit nicely and pose for pictures but this next one just makes me laugh. I took lots of arty shots of stone walls and peeling paintwork on the same walk but I'll save that treat for you for another time.

Happiness is...a new bag!

OK then! Not quite in the Hermes/Kelly Bag/latest Gucci thousand pound monstrosity league, but here's the wee bag I made. Just a titch to go over my shoulder and carry the essentials in my life - cash, paper handkerchief and lipsalve! The even titchier bag is for cards - mine and the bank's... The big bag is straight at the bottom, despite appearances to to the contrary, and embellished with red beads from a bracelet and dangly 'brass coins' acquired on Etsy and used in various projects since. Recycled zip and handle from cotton tape which I saved somewhere along the line. But the main attraction is the fabric which I have had stashed away for a couple of years now. Both are from Magie Relph's delectable African Fabric Shop where you fall in love every thirty seconds as you view another range of cloths. The indigo shibori ones above and these happy prints below are a few from my two mini adventure packs

Treats

This weekend Hugh is doing an intensive Outdoor First Aid course so that he's equipped for anything that may happen on his Adventure Days and when teaching off-road driving skills. I thought I would achieve a few things in his absence - I didn't really mean to get sidetracked into baking but, alas, I didn't fight the urge very hard at all. So here we have coconut flapjacks looking pretty fine. Annoyingly they were not cooked through despite my adherance to the recipe so they ended up back in the oven upside down and are now nice and crispy, if a little less than pristine.
Various domestic tasks were accomplished, plus packaging up my latest hand spun hanks, then I made myself a little bag as a reward for good housekeeping (well, for any housekeeping, really).
I think we are all enjoying this spell of chilly but bright and sunny weather and spirits are lifting at last. This house is blessed with big windows so when the sun shines the whole place is bathed in light (that includes the dust).
As I am sharing this blog with Ash now, I thought she and Midge had best have a biscuit treat or two too...

All things bright and beautiful

In theory, the garden will be full of warm shades this year, and gloriously perfumed to boot. I've got round to planting seeds and IF ALL GOES WELL, this not-very-upmarket selection will fill my little world with bright blooms and happiness. Just remember the theory bit....

Just so you know,,,,

The Artful Dodger, the unique and priceless Ash (chocolate labrador with substantial ego), is giving up her own blog after more posts than me, and doing guest appearances here, when and if I let her. Basically there is one computer, one Hugh, one Lindsay and one Ash. And our legs and arms are longer than hers so she gets beaten in the race to the keyboard, or sidetracked by biscuits (hmmm, could be Hugh or me too). Midge (black lab cross) is dyslexic and prefers licking anything within reach (elbows are a favourite) and chewing sticks to anything as boring as writing words.

Tart's Century

I'm not the most frequent of bloggers but today I reach Post No 100.

As I really don't have a huge following I have no plans to do what seems to be de rigeur in blogging circles and have some sort of giveaway and pull a number at random out of all the comments I might receive. Since I probably average about one and half comments per post it would be easier if I just sent y'all a prize for perseverance anyway! It's a celebratory post nonetheless as I have just clocked up another year. I had a very fine birthday featuring handmade goodies as well as those simple pleasures which are coffee, chocolate, books and bubble bath. I hope you can see the amazing black and silver and glittery necklace there which Frances made me - I need an occasion now to put on such finery! And Louise deserves special mention because she spoilt me with a subscription to that magazine which urban dwellers cherish, rural souls snigger at and people like me love the linger over and dissect, devouring every image and advert with equal enthusiasm! The fancy Marmite was from Hugh - I may have hinted about it a few times. As he loathes the stuff I will get every last drop to myself, though he also got me this wee gem which has given me lots of ideas on how to slither the yummy stuff into various dishes. His comments were unrepeatable when I read the suggestion for mashed banana and marmite sandwiches, though, so I'd best play safe.Have you been following Katie's equine creations? Wait till you see what Amanda made for me!My very own Tunnocks Teahorse!

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.

Work in Progress

Doesn't this just make you want to smile? A stunning papier mache confection from Dianne Fox who has a studio at Kirkharle in Northumberland that you can visit. She produces a fantastic range of bright coloured jewellery and wall art that is all highly covetable - go see her!

From the sublime to the rather tamer.... these images are from my latest project which is collaged display boxes and shelves. They really are just work in progress at the moment as there is so much else to be done this month.
Hugh is launching his new business right now and we are off to Kelso on Tuesday to the Borders Tourism Partnership's conference and leaflet exchange to spread the word about Far x 4. If you follow the link you'll find that it cunningly takes you straight to the relevant pages in our newly re-launched Workhouse website. The site now shouts about the cottage and our arty stuff as well. Let me know what you think!

In between website work and estate office work and a million other little chores, I am trying to get some spinning done. I'm hoping to have a few outlets to sell it at this summer but I need more stock...

Knitting (very, very simple knitting)

First, here are the crocheted wristwarmers I made using Twilley's yarn from my small but select stash... I used Attic24's own wee bobble trim pattern too and finished them off with tassels at the wrists, for no particular reason except I was enjoying myself. They are fine and thick but non-clingy.
and here are my just-finished ribbed ones made from stripes of five different leftover lengths of my handspun yarns. Much closer fit, obviously, and a little bit longer. The stripes even match. Genius, eh?
Now, just in case you are interested, I am selling my hardback copy of Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitting Workshop. There are some 'new' copies on ebay for £29, if you like. Or you could have mine, with a name label stuck on the inside cover but otherwise in very good condition, for a mere £18, including postage.
Her book has lots of clever stuff in it - shapings, colour pattern knitting, shawls, rorshach sweater, surprise jacket, tomten jacket, i-cord...ach, there's masses in it. Shout if you'd like it.We're having a Valentine's Day Woolgathering - all pink hearts and chocolate - no, well, maybe not, but lots of yarn and pattern talk, idea swapping and a little selling maybe, good chatter and always lots of laughs. Everyone's welcome - the more there are, the warmer we'll be!

Winter chills

Not coughs and colds, just freezing night time temperatures and a house that's less than toasty at times. Still, I've made this...