Full of good intentions...

..... just failing to deliver
I had plans to post photos of my new goodies, to make a new blog banner, and so on but I've just not managed it. Hugh is off south for a few days and has the camera with him so that's one of my excuses. I have been making luscious edibles to sell at the Christmas Fayre at the village hall this Saturday, and spinning more yarns too. But it has all been a bit of a battle as I am fighting off a bug/virus/general decrepitude and feeling pretty feeble.
Off to wrap myself round another hot drink and thank my lucky stars it's not swine flu..

xx L

Coming soon, to a venue near you..

Well, OK, only near a few of you really...

First off, I'll be participating in another lovely St Abbs Wool Festival, on Saturday 7th November. Organised by Louise of Woolfish (groovy yarn shop in St Abbs), it will be better than ever with the Alpaca Buyer (as he is known on Ravelry) and Jeni of Fyberspates both bringing their wares as well as Natalie from The Yarnyard, Janis of Flight Weaving and Laura Brittain with her stylish felt and there will be lots of 'stash sellers'.

On Saturday 21st November it's time for the small but perfectly formed Christmas Fayre at Southdean Village Hall from 12 noon till 4pm. All sorts of Scottish sweeties and home bakes at Ma Broon's Larder, lovely items by a very local wood turner, quality craft books, felted accessories and cards by Fiona, and very stylish stitchery by Ali and Janet, mulled wine and me (in that order...)

Meanwhile, I thought I'd share these picture with you - proof of a grand visit by Fiona and Amanda and me to see Katie, whose blog we all rather enjoy. Poppy is taking centre stage and smooching up to me even though she is not strictly allowed on Katie's shed sofa.

And look at the tea table! - Katie had gone into overdrive catering for overnight guests and we scored really rather well from her culinary talents (so did Hugh - I brought a few sample home!)Finally, just a mention for anyone who may be interested that Janice is selling a drum carder and a lovely little Ashford Kiwi wheel - you can find her here.

A Wee Treasure

Life in Chesters is one merry round of events and social gatherings....even if most of them involve hard work by the village hall committee. On Friday night we gathered to watch 'A Streetcar Named Desire' in all its black and white glory. I had forgotten how scary Blanche DuBois was and at least some of the audience found this oldie not worth reviving. Most of us were glad when it was over.Attending the film meant I was on hand when a 'new' pile of books was dropped off at the hall. There's a couple of bookshelves there for folk to recycle their old tomes for the good of the hall's coffers. Rosie is moving house and had had a clear out. Thus I found 'The Getabout Bird' by Madeleine Collier, published in 1944 and with these delicious illustrations by Jennetta Vise. You can read more about her illustrating career on this fascinating blog
Meanwhile, there's much spinning, stitching, paper-cutting and chutney making in evidence as there are a few events coming up for the Border Tart... more soon..

A New Leaf

Well the Open Studios weekend was grand! The weather was bright and sunny which cheered everyone, artists and visitors alike. People came and viewed and chatted and bought and stayed for coffee and cake or home made soup and chatted some more, and dallied in the sunshine and said what a lovely spot Chesters is. Using the village hall to display our wares worked well because there was lots of room to move about or linger without feeling under any pressure.

I had a fine time with my mini workshops, encouraging friends and strangers to make little books with pockets, like the one above, and envelopes and bags and decorative bits and pieces from scrap and salvaged papers. Several discerning women bought my handspun yarns. And I may have acquired a new pair of earrings and commissioned a stylish 'paper clay' bowl (getting delivered on Sunday) and more from my fellow artists.I showed off some of my recent albums - this first one is a record of those lovely hand knitted socks I have been amassing (and wearing). It is a stab bound book with a page devoted to each delightful style.I also took delight in showing off this concertina album made to display the fantastic drawings done by Denholm Primary School children after I demonstrated spinning for them earlier in the year. The pages are bright colours and I've recorded each child's first name with their drawing and attached my favourite quotes from their 'stories' on the back.The very long booklet folds up into a neat cover and is secured with a handspun string

It'll be alright on the night...

ART TRAIL
Friday 11th to Sunday 13th September
Across the Borders and North Northumberland
and even in Southdean Village Hall

I am cool, I am in control, everything is planned
I am cool, I am in control, everything is planned
I am cool, I am in c...............................................
Yeah, well, that's the theory....

I am really looking forward to the three days of sharing a space with other artists, meeting new people and hopefully showing them how to have fun with the simplest of skills and tools.

It would be lovely to see you all if you can come along. And remember there are nearly seventy of us spread around the Border area, all happy to welcome you in for a blether and look around. Check out the new look CROSSING BORDERS website to find us and open an interactive copy of the Art Trail booklet

Clock's ticking...

OPEN STUDIOS ART TRAIL
Friday 11th to Sunday 13th September
across the Scottish Borders and North Northumberland

Rather alarmingly, there are only nine days till the Art Trail. I am lucky that the artists who are sharing the space with me at the Village Hall are all proactive folks, happy to get on and do stuff like make posters, sort the layout of the hall, decorate it and so on. We intend having a ball for three days so get along if you possibly can and join in the fun!

I am really looking forward to running three mini workshops where you can drop in for half an hour, pay a tiny fee, and try whichever takes your fancy.... They are all strongly based on recycling - whether it's magazines and newspapers, rescued envelopes, used wrapping paper or out-of-date road atlases, they've got a future here!

I Can't Sing a Rainbow!

But I can spin one!

I've been pedalling away whenever I get the chance, in between less creative chores, and feel happier to have some stock made in time for the forthcoming Open Studios event and November's Woolfish Festival. I've been experimenting further with needlefelting too, though nothing that will ever come close to the excellence of Gretel's menagerie!
I feel I should be reporting on lots of other creativity but the reality has been huge piles of bedlinen to iron for the cottage, form filling for more online 'presence' for said cottage and for the new website being built for Crossing Borders, and picking a steady stream of courgettes!
Fast approaching is the annual Southdean Show SATURDAY 22nd AUGUST where we will be Hurling a Haggis (no animals will be hurt, only surgical tubing filled with cooked rice!), making puppets, eating pancakes and trying to win dodgy bottles on the tombola - and I'm on duty in the tea tent this year. Ah, the rustic life....