What Katie Did

Woolfest 2009

Its that time of year again! Time to visit the wool and fibre phenomenon in the UK calender.
WOOLFEST!
This was the best year ever... of course we started with breakfast at the Village Bakery
followed by a drive through some of the most magnificent scenery in the UK to ... WOOLFEST!
I keep saying that don't I?

hmmmm - start with the furry things that provide the fibre
and many more of these this year
looking so soft and sweet with their long necks and big eyes...just sheared hence the attractive ribbing.
And now I find that I didn't take enough pictures of the wool! though there were plenty of lovely things to see and inspire

like this stall of lovely rug hooked pictures ...
 
and this green wool that I resisted - I have so much wool already!

but I did bring this home to play with
this is Feza and the nice people at Pavi Yarns sell it and I have in mind another pair of these
I know someone who is going to a wedding fairly soon - how about a pair of these Gloria?
Another day of Woolfest tomorrow if you are anywhere near the north Lakes. Poor you if you aren't.

Art Tour 2009 the first weekend!

It's that time of year again, the open studio event in Northumberland. I have been making and tidying for quite a while now and getting myself geared up for visitors. Because my shed is so little, I really do need to have decent weather, and it really couldn't have been more perfect. The new garden seat was a big hit with everyone - it is so comfortable!

The inside of the shed is the tidiest it has ever been with some of my recycled goodness on show and for sale

Here you see some glittery shooting stars, Mexican inspired display boxes, letter writing kits and envelopes and some patchy baggy things.

jars full of tiddly bits and pieces for the magpie minded
 
and here is the cover of one of my notebooks - a few of which are still in the Folksy shop (up there on the right) This one is the anatomy of the hand from an amazing book from the 1800's!

I sold this one and got a hasty picture before it left, hanging on my shed wall!
These were fun to make. I stuck them on a thin plastic knitting needle. (I can't remember where I first saw these? if you recognise yourself let me know and I'll acknowledge you)
Geoff was open at his workshop too and after a full weekend of talking, came home and did this

ahhh......

we are both open for the next three Sundays. if you are anywhere near and you fancy a sit in my bath or a chat about my work you would be very welcome. The lovely Gloria is holding the whole show together and keeping me from falling off my perch - and as a mark of my great affection and respect for her I will not post the picture of her wearing a fairy skirt (even though it is magnificent) but I will leave you with this picture of a satisfied customer with his new apron

and put the picture of Gloria on Flickr for friends only for the next 24 hours)

ha!

Here is my new garden seat

When I got Ruth to make the willow bower I had a wild idea about what I wanted to put in it. It has taken me a while to get the right person to tackle it, but John from Fairley Forge in Northumberland was the man for the job!
Here is the old bath that used to belong to Robert and Caroline, sitting in my garden back in March

I had no idea whether my plan would work
neither did John - here he is tentatively trying his angle grinder on the grubby bath
so far so good, next I needed some feet and I thought that cobblers lasts might do the job

welding next and the legs are made of scrap metal, so everything about this seat is 100% recycled

after a good clean, here it is - though there is talk of a few further refinements - we'll put some taps on maybe and Geoff thinks we should stand it on a bit of lino, with a bath mat perhaps? I will make some seat cushions for it - its a bit cold on the old bum.
This visitor is a bit fed up though - I have moved his dinner to a new location - I draw the line at washing the bird poo off my lovely new seat!
John is taking orders if you're interested!!