Warped Up

My Edinburgh jaunt today had a few bonuses. Once I'd handed over my visa application to the powers-that-be (with new improved pictures of self), I did a little light mountaineering round the endless tram works in search of sensible footwear before meeting an old friend. 

We were ladies-who-lunched in a nice wee cafe gallery that neither of us tried before. Possibly ate a little more than was good for us (didn't want to pass up on beetroot and ginger cake...).  

Then I carefully headed to the wrong museum to see the Stitching Times exhibition. Set off again in the right direction but spotted the banners promoting Weaving the Century at the Dovecot Studios in Infirmary Street and dived in there instead. Glorious! Such a wonderful selection of work on display and very accessible. You can get up close and really study the gradations in colour and texture that these talented weavers incorporate in their work - sometimes renditions of existing paintings, sometimes work designed specifically to be woven. And then you can hang over the gallery and look down on the working studio. (Also, if like me you are old enough, you can reminisce about when you used to swim here when it was the Infirmary St baths)

On until the 7th October, free, and a wee cafe there to keep your strength up too.

Social Media

..isn't a pleasing expression but there's no getting round that it's here to stay. Blogging and Facebook I enjoy but I have not tiptoed into Twitter yet. (note the yet)

Yesterday I attended a fascinating afternoon at Tower Mill in Hawick, entitled 'How to Spread the Word'. Accomplished authors Sara Sheridan and Nicola Morgan spoke about marketing, social media and e-publishing for writers. From their considerable combined experience they were able to give us lots of advice and examples of what (and what not) to do, and how to create and manage a professional but approachable online presence to promote yourself. Lots of lessons there for all creative people. The afternoon was facilitated by the excellent CABN which provides support to the creative arts sector in the Scottish Borders.

Spinning in the Rain

 Incessant downpours do at least stop me from getting sidetracked too often and the hand spun stocks are building nicely. There have been more additions to the Sweet Trolley of fibre blends too - so there are now Key Lime Pie and Rhubarb Crumble, Black Forest Gateau and Tropical Fruitcake to choose from. Buy the fibre blend to spin or felt and get the recipe too!

 After watching Linda and Ali at our recent-ish book artists get-together, I have been experimenting with making 'paper cloth' using muslin, salvaged papers and PVA. Amongst other things I've made book covers for my all-important India Journals! 

Talking of which, if you check the pages tabs at the top of the blog you'll find one that takes you to my new home for all my Indian experiences. It's there you'll find more detail about the residency/exchange, who the other participants are and what we aim to get out of it all.

experiments in stitch and paper

Woolfest..

Shetlands

.... was a grand day out. Thanks to Ali who drove us across country, we arrived in between showers and were soon amongst the whole fleecy felty yarny bazaar that is Woolfest. Bigger again this year, with more stalls to pore over, it has a very happy atmosphere. Well, it's obvious really - offer a mass of textile-obsessed folk an opportunity to see and feel and buy everything they love and there are bound to be good vibes flying about!

Namolio

 I was pretty sensible; bought some fibre to spin (surprise) and some bamboo d p needles and a skein of hand dyed sock yarn. Caught up with several old faces in the crowd as well as Helen and Lizzi at Helen's gloriously rich and colourful Ripples stand. 

As ever there was more to see that I first thought, and I missed a few favourites while spotting new suppliers. 

Namolio is the trading name of the stand pictured above which I thought one of the most restrained and elegant on the day. As well as selling covetable linen yarns, the stall holder had beautifully made items from lavender bags to needle holders in her trademark grey linen with coloured crochet embellishment.

Inspired by India? Not deliberately, but I do really like this skein that I spun last week and is now washed and dried, weighed, measured, labelled and in the basket! It has friends, of course, as I've been spinning to the beat of falling June rain outside the caravan windows this week. 

It's fitting that the Tart should have an old-fashioned sweet trolley, I think, full of temptations. So here we have the first two in a new range of pure merino tops, blended to my specifications. For sale in 100gm balls of fibre for you to spin or felt with, and complete with recipes for the real thing!

Key Lime Pie

 Black Forest Gateau

And just to prove I finished them, the socks. Despite the red toe on one, they are the same size, honest!
Now I wouldn't say I am hooked yet, on the sock thing, but I will be searching out a ball or two of interesting sock yarn next Saturday at Woolfest, for my next ones.

And after all things woolly, a little reminder that there are still a couple of spaces left on my PAPER EXTRAVAGANZA on 30th June at Roberton. Do come along and join in the fun if you can.

 

Saturday 30th June at The Forman Hall, Roberton - (e-mail borthwickwaterartsproject@yahoo.com)

PAPER EXTRAVAGANZA
Explore the use and re-use of all sorts of paper. Themed decorations, gift boxes and envelopes and other packaging, notebooks and albums using simple binding techniques.

India Calling

As my nearest and dearest has already posted about this, maybe I'd better too! I have been besotted by the colours and patterns of India for ever and a day and hoped I'd find my way there eventually. Years pass, though, and dreams don't come true all that often.

And then...

An opportunity came up to apply for the most amazing residency/exchange. Two Scottish textile designer makers to travel to the National Institute of Design in Ahmedabad in Gujarat, NW India, and two from Gujarat to Heriot-Watt University textile faculty in Galashiels.

I spent a very, very long time researching lots of fascinating stuff that's going on over there. I sought some expert help (thankfully) and submitted my application.

I was shortlisted (eek!)

I spent more hours fretting over my forthcoming meeting with the panel.

I turned up, nervously, and all my well-honed and pithy prose evaporated on the spot.
I waffled. I suspect my enthusiasm was fairly obvious, though, and enough of my thoughts and ideas must have made it to the surface, because I have made it. I'll be on my way to India in late September!

I'll be talking of nothing else now for the next year. You have been warned.......

Sunday Sunny Sunday

Been busy spinning and stitching in HQ this weekend, though it got a bit too hot in the afternoons, and eventually I just had to take to the shade with a book - sad, eh? 

New hand spun in the sun

I am re-reading The Lothian Run by Mollie Hunter, for age 10+. I loved the good Scots adventure story of Smugglers v Customs when I was a wean and it's still fine 40 years on. I picked up a copy at the wee Spring Fair at Southdean for 50p.

Sock Number One was duly finished. Sock Number Two has been started. I will probably feel the need to post another pic of the (hopefully) matching pair but then I promise  - no more for a while.

One large step for Tartkind

Thanks, Jakki, for getting me this far - without a wee push from you it would probably never have happened!

Woolgathering

   ...on a sunny Sunday - whatever next!

Enjoyed a fine wee gathering today - just seven of us, three knitting, three stitching and one felting, all sharing stories and ideas, as well as an exceptionally fine cake featuring apples and maple syrup (thanks Fiona!). 

 Yesterday I was given a lovely present which included pages salvaged from old Vogue pattern magazines of the 30s and 40s - masses of drawings of glamorous attenuated women in elegant costumes which the capable seamstress could whizz up on her machine in the blink of an eye. There are a good few adverts too, mostly in black and white but the one above is in glorious technicolour - J&P Coats Boilfast Threads

Sock construction continues at a steady pace - have since advanced to the heel flap. Wow...

Already it is time for arty types to commit to participating in this year's Crossing Borders Art Trail. I took a few pics of my 'stuff' for the image to be included in the trail booklet but this one didn't make the cut.

Carding, Collaging, Cnitting?

The peaceful early morning scene at Elsecar where we stayed for our wee Textile Tour

HQ has been full of fibre lately as I've been using the lovely drum carder to make more blended batts for spinners and felters and other creative types. It's fun making rainbows. 

 

Tidied all the fibre accoutrements away and got out the ever-increasing heaps of essential bits of paper to start work on some collages.

Back in front of the PC I'm working on the Spring newsletter which I may just have finished before this weekend's Woolgathering (you're all welcome)

I think there will be plenty to talk about what with edited highlights of the Textile Tour, the inspirational Artists Book Fair some of us went to a few weeks ago and, last but not least, my progress with sock knitting.

That's if there is any.

I'm off to Jakki's tomorrow evening to give it my best shot or at least produce something for my talented friends to laugh at!

Textile Tour

Open Studio in Saltaire

Just had a fantastic weekend with a great mix of friends on our textile tour. We've been in Durham to see Stitchbusiness, and Wingham Wool in Wentworth for a major fibre overload. We've travelled to Salt's Mill at Saltaire and Farfield Mill in Sedbergh. Everywhere we've  met friendly, enthusiastic staff and owners, had good food and drinks, seen impressive textile work and lots more besides. 

Top floor in Farfield Mill - looms to try!

Books and fibre have been acquired, a couple of hand spindles, lots of cards and a little fabric. Even the weather was pretty kind, allowing passengers to appreciate glorious countryside as we drove around. No wonder we want to do it all again!

Just a sample of Wingham's stock

Meanwhile Jakki at Ecozee has told me about her new sock knitting classes starting next Tues 15th May for 3 Tuesdays 7 - 9.30 in Earlston.  It's £40 including sock wool, needles and pattern book/instructions and a great teacher. I am seriously considering it  - want to keep me company? I think there are two spaces left at the moment.
She's running several other lovely evenings too  (I think they all include tea and cake - wise girl) I'll list them all in my forthcoming newsletter but meanwhile you can nip over here to read more

Miscellany

We've been back ten days and slipped all too quickly into the familiar territory of lists and tasks and places to be and things to do. So here, as much for me as for you, are some snaps. 

The stylishly painted cruise ship we motored past on the 'river' bit of the a canal cruise

Embroidered felt hats in the window of a fascinating shop in Prinsengracht. Perhaps as well it was closed at the time.

Flamingoes at the Artis Zoo, visible from the road. From the canal on the other side of the zoo you can see giraffes and zebra as you glide along...

Fantastic felt walls in de Oranjerie at the Botanical Gardens. It doubles up as the cafe so was our first port of call when the heavens opened one day. The chocolate mousse cake was almost as impressive as the flowery felty walls (scoffed before the camera came out the bag).

 

Since we've been back Tart HQ has been well used. I've been stitching and packaging up new goodies, and worrying over the size of the fibre order I need to place very soon. 

On Friday Linda, Janet, Ali and I spent a fine day selling our wares to the textile/creative types who visited us in Jedburgh. In between visitors we mulled over names for our new Artists Book Group and planned our foray to the Glasgow International Artists Book Fair next Sunday. Excitement is high! 

It's early days but do put a date in your diary for 19th October when we will be launching our first handmade books, selling supplies and promoting related workshops.

Sooner than that, though, I am running two different workshops. Fancy a day's play?

Saturday 9th June at Paxton House - (contact Paxton House here)

STITCH UP A STORM
Taking inspiration from the Paxton estate and costume exhibition, try out some simple handstitching techniques and easy embroidery to personalise your own clothes and home decor, or to stitch up a unique softie to take home.

Saturday 30th June at The Forman Hall, Roberton - (e-mail borthwickwaterartsproject@yahoo.com)

PAPER EXTRAVAGANZA
Explore the use and re-use of all sorts of paper. Themed decorations, gift boxes and envelopes and other packaging, notebooks and albums using simple binding techniques.

And finally, do you know anyone in search of a floor loom? A generous lady in the Borders is parting with hers free to a good home so if you fancy a Douglas Andrew loom let me know and I'll pass on her e-mail address.

The Wanderer Retuns

Well admittedly it wasn't a long absence but it was a busy one. Amsterdam was excellent fun though my legs are inches shorter from all the walking we did. We managed some culture, lots of window shopping and gawping at the street theatre (cyclists, scooters, trams, tourists, the occasional juggler, the inevitable exhibitionist in a Spiderman costume...) We're already scheming how soon we can get back for more Dam-time as there's still so much to see and do there.

I didn't take nearly enough photographs but I couldn't resist snapping this - it's a mobile of tiny toy yachts hanging from the light in the shop of the newly renovated Het Scheepvartmusuem. 

The museum itself we found really confusing though the replica of the Dutch East India Company trader 'Amsterdam', the cafe and the shop were all winners!

We managed not one but two canal cruises - the one by night with accompanying wine and cheese was particularly fine.

 I'll spare you every last detail of the trip this time because I need to remind you all to come along to Ali's on Friday for a textile extravaganza. See you there, I hope!

Jumping the Gun

I was going to hang the flags out to launch Tart HQ's April opening but there's a bit too much in the way yet. For a start there have been further earth-moving developments (steady, we're talking diggers and gravel here). 

Then there's the tractor mower which is parked up right in front of HQ's windows, not to mention the fact that I haven't quite found a home for all the stuff that I have returned to the caravan from its winter quarters in the house. 

another of Steve Kenward's images

And of course the sun shone all week so I had to grab the opportunity and paint several miles of fence palings, two sheds and a hen house. 

So no more excuses?

Hmmm, well actually we have some good friends arriving on Saturday and they are going to house/dog/hen-sit while we run away to Amsterdam. 

Major excitement! We've never been, we're going by ferry and staying right bang in the middle of the city. All those galleries, museums, markets, canals, coffees, pancakes and so on right on the doorstep. Picture two country bumpkins wandering round with eyes like saucers!

Culture

Last weekend Hugh and I were down near Stafford. 

He went to a 4x4 show and admired winches and roll cages and tyres and the like.

I went to Shugborough Estate and admired gardens, bothies, rag rugs, three different old kitchens, a mill, a brewery, an old quilt, hens and ducks, Lord Lichfield's portrait photography and his private rooms in the mansion house (and I ran out of time to see LOTS of other things on the estate). There are costumed 'servants' working in the farm and house and they chat with you in character. I learned about the butler and the cook disappearing after meals for a snifter of port in her rooms, amongst other gossip.. The brewer advised me that the 'eight pints per person' daily allowance of beer for all servants wasn't quite as generous as it sounded as the hops had already been used once by the time their rather weaker drink was brewed. It was still nourishing and better than the water which was undrinkable...

 part of a tailors' shop display

 the gardeners' bothies were tiny and dark

 settle by the farmhouse range

 quilt on a servant's bed

 kitchen and servants' quarters (!)

Framed

I'm a member of the Heritage Crafts Association which supports and promotes heritage crafts as a fundamental part of our living heritage. Late last year photographer Steve Kenward got in touch and a couple of weeks ago he spent the morning here taking some lovely images of my hand spinning. 

 He's working on an exhibition entitled Made not Manufactured and has been travelling around the country meeting artisans practising traditional crafts and photographing them at work (27 of them so far). 

Hopefully one day there will be a book of his images and he's currently building a website for them as well as searching for a venue for an exhibition

A Little Colour

Spring has not quite sprung yet. Lots of hopeful signs, of course, with bulbs pushing up and buds swelling, bright days and a little warmth...followed by great big hailstones and freezing winds. So let's have a little injection of colour to brighten up the day...

 project-sized button bags

 handmade packets to save treasured garden seeds

handspun yarns drying by the stove

and early warning of a great exhibition next month 

which will include some of Hugh's work