Heck, I'm cream crackered. After finishing my last work contract last Wednesday I threw myself into one of the best (well, seemingly tailored for me!) craft weekends Scotland has with the Loch Lomond Quilt Show, Potfest and Spring Fling all happening at once.
A serendipitous opportunity to impose myself on some friends that were staying in Dumfries and Galloway, (thank you Karen, Andy, Hannah & Sam!) meant I could spend a couple of days down there in the sunny verdant lanes of the Spring Fling open artist's studios.
First stop was the Wee Byre Studio owned and ran by Helen J Houston. It was so idyllic, with an open barn filled with crafts especially for the Spring Fling, displayed on bleached timber furniture, working log burning stove, and a stack of homebaking, teas and coffees. Helen has a studio shop as part of her house, and it is filled with old timbers that she collects to make things with, and accessories which are so stylish in a 'French garden chic' sort of way.
These are some of her cards, tied in little packages with string, and she also prints beautiful photographs. The next day I was at the Tollbooth Art Centre in Kirkcudbright - and who should be about to put on the next exhibition from today... but Helen!
I also had the chance to meet Diane McBain, a bookbinder, who showed me how to stitch a page into the Spring Fling book she was making - each visitor had the opportunity to stitch and write in the book. Unfortunately neither of these artists have websites, but if you follow this link, you can phone Helen ahead and arrange to see her studio.
more over the next few days...
I'm originally from Dumfries so was very pleased to see it mentioned! South Scotland is a really beautiful part of the world. x x x
Posted by: Polly | May 27, 2009 at 11:59 AM
sounds like a great weekend, i look forward to seeing more pictures
d x
Posted by: Debs | May 27, 2009 at 12:52 PM
That sounds a really great weekend and what a fab placename :)
Posted by: Rhiannon | May 27, 2009 at 02:52 PM