Festival fun . . .

Well, it's been a while . . .  That was a much longer than anticipated, and actually quite unintentional break.  It's not that I've not been making or doing, there's really been quite a bit of that going on, but just that my bloggy mojo seemed to disappear for a while.  It seems today however, that it's back - so if you're still out there, let's catch up shall we?

Picking up where I left off . . .  way back in March, the highlight was very definitely a short but oh-so-sweet daytrip up north to bonnie Scotland and the delightful Edinburgh Yarn Festival.  "That's a long way to go for a day trip",  I hear you say. Well, yes I suppose it might be.  But with the wonders of modern aviation, it's really just a one hour flight each way.  So here's how the story goes:

Our lovely friends, Saul & Paulette were coming over from Boston, USA to visit for a few days.  Saul, like the Hubby is a metagrobologist and ardent collector of mechanical puzzles so together they had already organised a puzzle party to coincide with Saul's visit.  Paulette & I, let's be honest here, would prefer to knit ; - )

 So when Paulette emailed to suggest that perhaps whilst the puzzlers were puzzling, we fibre addicts should consider an outing to the yarn festival, I didn't hesitate.  Not even for a moment. 

 A few emails back & forth across the pond ensued and within mere minutes we had booked our flights and our tickets for the Edinburgh Yarn Festival.  Woohooooo . . .

 Kindred souls we are  : - )

And a few days later, with shopping lists made, comfy footwear donned and travel knitting projects packed for the flight, we got up early in the morning and excitedly flew north to beautiful sunny Edinburgh.

 Lovely Marina (she of RedSetter fame) joined us and oh what a fabulous time we had, ooh-ing and aah-ing over all the gorgeous yarns and pretty patterns and colourful stalls.   I was so busy trying to take it all in, and make sure we didn't miss anything out, that I hardly took any pics.

All too soon it was time to head for the airport and catch our flight back to Brum, but we returned with a few new additions to each of our yarn stashes and heads brimming with new ideas and future yarny projects. 

 And most especially, memories of a truly fun day shared. 

Oh, and we're already planning our next fibre festival outing . . . across the pond next year . . . probably be more than a day trip though ; - )

'til next time,

xoxo

Another first: Weaving . . .

I'd been wanting to learn to weave for ages, then last year when we were across the pond in the beautiful city of Ottawa, Canada and visiting a delightful little shop called Wabi Sabi, their range of knitters and rigid heddle looms intruiged me.
   I was further inspired by all their fabulous creations on display, to the degree that I seriously considered the possibilty of buying a loom right there and then (the exchange rate of the Canadian dollar to the UK pound was very favourable).  But the logistics of schlepping it back on the plane stopped me, so as soon as we returned to our hotel, I was online googling Ashford Looms for a stockist closer to home, and as simply as that, I discovered FibreHut - a little shoppe teeming with weaving & spinning goodness, a mere 20 minutes from my front door to theirs.

The timing of our return to the UK coincided perfectly with my upcoming birthday, so lo & behold it came to pass that a mere couple of weeks later, I became the proud owner of my very own loom.

Another month or so later and I was pootling around Scotland's finest Craft Town, the pretty seaside village of West Kilbride, and came across the oh-so-delightful Weft Blown studio.  Ange makes the most lovely things, and was more than happy to have a wee chat and show me around - I really want need to do one of their workshops one day too - and I left feeling completely inspired to get stuck in and get weaving.

Weft Blown, West Kilbride - see what I mean it's inspiring?

Anyways, what with one thing and another it's taken me a little while but finally yesterday I finished my first ever weaving project, and I have to admit, I am tres chuffed indeed.

Okay so it's not the neatest scarf you ever did see,  but I think it's jolly good for a first attempt - and probably once I've sewn in all the ends {note to self: need to learn how to do that as I'm going along} and blocked it, it'll be better.  But either way, it's unique . . . and handmade isn't meant to be perfect anyway ; - )

It's such a fun way to use up my stash too.  Mostly I used leftover Debbie Bliss Mia DK yarn, with a few bits & pieces of others (DK and Aran) added in for good measure and to give it some variety in texture too.

It's just me & the pups at home today, and I'm rubbish at selfies so Ben very kindly agreed to model the scarf for me . . . in exchange for a few smelly treats, of course.

Wishing you a happy week . . .

'til next time,

xoxo

A little pootle . . .

I've been going to visit my family in the pretty little town of West Kilbride, in Ayrshire on the beautiful west coast of Scotland for years, but it's been ages since I'd had the chance for a wee wander around.

So a couple of weeks ago, my lovely cuzzies & I took ourselves off for a little pootle and I got a peek into some of the fab shops that contribute towards the Craft Town of Scotland accolade that West Kilbride holds.

Our first stop was Old Maiden Aunt Yarns - what a great wee shop, filled to the brim with oh-so-lovely hand-dyed yarns in all sorts of yummy colours.

I spied the dye pots simmering away in the back, and was lucky enough to have my curiosity satified by an explanation of the whole process that they use to achieve all the pretty colours.  

It was at this stage that I mentally cursed having a restricted baggage allowance for my return flight, so whilst I did make a little purchase, I had to be suitably restrained.  But I'll be back.... with more available space in my suitcase next time!  

A little further down the main street, we popped our heads around the door of McHattie - a yarn boutique that at that moment was full of a big group of nattering, knitting ladies, and no space for us & my littlest cuzzie's stroller. So we carried on along the road, and will hopefully stop in next time I'm in town.

Just a few doors along, we discovered another exciting little shop - Weft Blown.  Now I don't think I've had a chance to tell you this yet, but the Hubby gave me an Ashford Knitters Loom for my birthday - so stepping into Weft Blown was a delight. Friendly, helpful and happy to chat, with soooo many pretty things on display that have really inspired me to get weaving :-)

So lovely peeps, if you ever find yourself pootling around the west of Scotland, don't skip a visit to this crafty town - it's well worth a wander.

Oh and of course if you're in need of a holiday, I can highly recommend THE Best Travel Agent in the World . . . LAH Travel, right there in the main street too - tell them I sent you ;-)

'til next time,

xoxo

ps. West Kilbride has also been nominated in the Great British High Street Awards 2015.  I think they deserved to win!

pps. Also linking up today with Small Things weekly Yarn Along - so do pop over and see what everyone else has been up to.