the patchwork dress

Harrogate

Last week mum and I took a trip down to the 'Knitting and Stitching Show' at Harrogate.

We stayed overnight at the Barcelo Majestic Hotel, which is a knitting needles throw from the venue, and formerly one of the original spa hotels of Harrogate.  Nice big rooms, swimming pool and an immense breakfast!

We split the show over 2 days, which was probably a good idea on reflection. I wasn't too sure what to expect..initially we came in through a side entrance into a low ceilinged, rather cramped hall full of retail stalls and I thought - is this it?  But after some exploring we discovered there were 4 huge halls (mainly full of stalls) and another basement hall with guilds, workshops, and the very long Prestonpans tapestry on show.

Unfortunately I forgot to take photos inside the show - much photography was banned anyway.  One of the highlight exhibits was one to mark the work of Beryl Dean who did amazing ecclesiastical embroideries and designed for the ballet.

To be honest I did get a bit overwhelmed with the number of stalls, the layout and volume of people! 

Luckily in the middle of the 4 long halls was this original theatre, which was converted into a tearoom and 'chill out' space - which was a great idea.  There were lots of textile students hogging the boxes around the atrium, having a hoot!

There were some lovely things, but can a person get spoiled for choice?  In the end I found it hard to make a decision (but that is just me at the moment) and didn't bankrupt myself as I'd expected.  In fact I was quite restrained with my purchases.  Here are some that I can show, the other wee bits are for Santa's eyes only.

On Friday morning we had a short walk around Harrogate town centre and went for coffee and a mint tisane with honey at the famous Betty's tearoom.

I'll be back, hopefully tomorrow with some new bags I have been making... and am considering the challenge of another advent daily post until Christmas... hmm...

 

the joy of ceramics

Some years ago my friend Karen introduced me to the phenomena of Potfest (which I have mentioned here before) - an eccentric ceramics fair held annually in a cattle market!  Over the years I have bought one or 2 pieces from there, and suppose in a way it was my inauguration to the idea of handmade - I was always amazed at the variety of items and styles that could be made from one medium - 'from mud!' as one of the stallholders exclaimed.

Everyday at work I use a mug I bought there a couple of years ago - it nearly always gets comments, and I love the way it feels in my hands.  Unique and individual because it was made by hand.

This year, Potfest moved south from its former haunt of Perth Cattle Market, to Stirling's newly appointed Agricultural Centre (complete with snazzy deli!).  My friend Susan and I took a whirl up on a Saturday morning.

I was surprised and delighted to see Julia Smith, who is a maker I had bookmarked on my Folksy preferences.  I didn't realise she was also based in Scotland.  I longed to buy something from her, so I bought this cereal and side plate which are to be used for breakfasts in the garden - my favourite thing to do on days off, if if is anyway near decent weatherwise.

I love the little detail of the signature, the way the glaze slips down the bowl, and the rough earthenware underneath.

I also bought this little rabbit.  He looks at home in this little collection - the little jug is by Tom Butcher.

Do you have a piece of ceramic you love to hold?

thanksgiving

I've not posted as much as I'd intended to for the November gratitude month - but I have been thinking about it.  Seeing as it is Thanksgiving (tomorrow I think) - I also want to give thanks for...

The wonderful surroundings where I live!... On a good day (not today as the rain is horizontal and lashing winds!) it looks like this! - a walk through the fields just across from my house.  I can walk all the way to Loch Lomondside across these fields.  The view of the mountains in front that surround the loch.  In winter they are breathtaking with their snowy tops.  I also love when these fields fill with wintering geese.  You can hear them fly over in the morning and back again at night.  Walking through the field, you disturb them - they all begin honking, and then take off to circle round a few times until they find an undisturbed patch of grazing..

Moments of stillness, of doing nothing.  Just being.  As the world goes on around you, you just stop... and observe, connect with where you are now.  This happens a lot when I take photographs, it's a very connective process.

I give thanks for all the crafty connectivity I have come into in the last couple of years.  This weekend visited the Country Living Christmas Fair, which included a large percentage of individual makers - some friends, some faces from last year I could chat with.  I bought myself this Polish pottery mug and spoon, just to make ceremony out of a coffee at home.  A rare treat I only get at weekends now... for a while longer anyway!   I came away with a few pottery treats - it was so nice just to have something tactile and earthy in my hands after lots of cerebral work at computer and drawing board. The spoon has such a nice feeling to it, even though I don't take sugar, I just had to have it for ceremonial stirring!

 

invercottage fair

What a lovely day out we all had on Saturday.  I don't know if I can do it much more justice than Isobel already has, so here are some of the pictures - more here.  The weather was fantastic and the location felt as if it were made for us. 

our 'shop'.  You can just see the terrace there behind the 2 trees where you can sit out and drink coffee or have lunch.

literally me turning round from the picture before -  this was the view with a little pebble beach just below the grass there.  The old castle Lachlan is out on the peninsula and there is a short coastal walk round to it.

the room... there were people there - honestly - it was that magic trick that whenever a camera appeared, everyone would disappear!

my stall - with 'clutterbuckets'

close up of the cards etc

Isobel's Bella Bheag stall 

detail of Suzanne's fieldy tweed

Lynne's My Baboo knitting kits and teacosies - you can just see the bears peeking out - very cute!

Some new friends - j'emmajo.  Emmajo and I got talking when she recognised one of my photos as the yarn stand from the Unicorn tapestries at Stirling Castle.  Turns out she wove the first one!  It's a small world.

Had to include this - my favourite picture of Lynne and Isobel demonstrating how one should carry a' clutterbucket'  Victoria Beckham stylee!