Belated New Year's Greetings

My best wishes to all for a happy, healthy, productive 2012.

After my experience dealing with excessive magazine purchases when I was packing to move, I vowed I wouldn't buy another magazine for a long time. However, earlier this week I found myself purchasing the British magazines, Selvedge and Debbie Bliss. Both issues had specific articles which convinced me that I should make the investment. (Saying that, perhaps Debbie Bliss's magazine is American.)

I used to have a subscription to Selvedge, and even though it's a quality issue, I found it to be expensive, especially once the extra costs for mailing to Canada were factored in. Plus for me, the content seemed to be either a feast or a famine. This particular issue, #43, I considered a 'feast' and enjoyed reading articles about Welsh knitting, Nottingham lace, butter muslin; linen--I even found a number of the ads to be informative .

http://www.newsinenglish.no/2012/01/03/royal-treasures-to-go-on-display/

2012 has been designated as the 'Year of Creative Scotland'.

More This & That

I came across an interesting item about a group of Danish seniors who get together to knit and visit. The article was entitled: "Knitted by nanas: the octogenarians behind Denmark's fashion designers." They call themselves the Kaffesblabberas and their knitting is in high demand. There is a video of them knitting and an interview of one of the knitters. Denmark is high on my list as a travel destination and I know one of the first places I'll visit in Copenhagen. http://www.guardian.co.uk/fashion/fashion-blog/2011/nov/15/denmark-knitting-fashion

I always find the Tales from the Trail newsletter from Rabbies tours to be good reading and their latest submission didn't disappoint. Have a look at a lovingly restored Model T Ford. What caught my attention was the upholstery which was covered in Harris tweed. http://www.rabbies.com/newsletters/12_11_content/model_T.html

As with many of you, I receive notice of the monthly offers from http://www.elann.com Even though I haven't yet ordered from them (although have been seriously tempted, but then remember my large 'stash'), the company enjoys an excellent reputation for value and service. I took the time to have a thorough look at their website and was amazed at how comprehensive it is, with a long list of archived yarns and many free patterns.

For anyone who is interested, the hole in my shin is noticeably smaller; from originally approximating three stacked Toonies, now to one single Loonie. (Canadians will know what this means.) It's been 17 weeks since my mishap and I've been faithfully going to the clinic several times a week--have now graduated to visits just every third day.

This & That

I receive a number of enewsletters, and one which arrived recently in my inbox was from Breanish Tweed, http://www.breanishtweed.co.uk/, the small mill in the countryside of the Hebridean island of Lewis. Their fabrics differ from the more typical Harris tweed fabrics, as they use a finer-weight wool and frequently mix it with silk and cashmere yarns. (I learned about the mill in the British magazine, Country Living, before one of our first tours to Lewis. The article was about the founder of the company, Ian Sutherland and the distinctive fabrics he created in the small weaving shed behind his home. Ian was very gracious and welcomed us for a visit.) The company was sold several years ago to a family of weavers in another part of Lewis. It's always a treat to visit them and their site, located with sweeping views of the hills and the sea.

Earlier this month, I also received the latest bulletin of the Shetland Guild of Spinners, Weavers & Dyers. This issue included a number of photos of our visit this past July. A treat to relive this memorable afternoon and the warm welcome extended by members of the guild.

Also, a mailing from Shetland tourism. Have a look at www.SHETLAND.org to learn more about in this special part of the world.

Now that I'm not as busy, I'm determined to learn to use the Ravelry site. Frequently at the Ottawa guild meetings, during the 'show and tell' portion, people will say that they found a pattern on Ravelry or had a design which was featured on Ravelry. The whole size and intricacy of the site has daunted me in the past, but will apply myself to learning how to use it. I feel more than a little stupid that it doesn't seem so bewildering to so many people.

I'm back!

I’m back!

Sorry it’s been so long since I’ve last posted to my blog. I know it’s frustrating to keep checking again (and again) to see if it has been updated.

Last month I had a good phone chat with Dr. Carol Christiansen, textile curator of the Shetland Museum and got caught up with some of the doings which have taken place on Shetland since we were there in July.

Carol told me that someone had purchased an old Fair Isle cap on Ebay, an event which has been
causing a lot of interest. Have a look at the article which appeared in the
Shetland Times: http://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/2011/10/25/bought-on-ebay-for-7-39-fair-isle-cap-now-has-pride-of-place-in-museum

The Tall Ships race took place later in the summer. One of the highlights was an
auction of traditional Fair Isle hats—of course knitted: http://fair-isle.blogspot.com/2011/10/traditional-hand-knit-fair-isle.html

Two friends, coincidentally from different areas in Canada, told me about a website of a very
talented Scottish knitter, Kate Davies from Edinburgh. (Thanks to Maureen from
Wakefield, QB and Karen from Vancouver Island.) Have a look at Kate’s blog and
website. I don’t know how she manages to design and complete so much. http://textisles.com/. (I see there is even a photo of Oliver Henry of Jamieson & Smith on her site.)

Speaking of J.& S. (known in Shetland as the Wool Brokers): held a Wool Week
this past October. I wasn't able to attend that event, but just looking at their site made me eager to return to that special area for another visit: http://www.shetlandwoolbrokers.co.uk/epages/BT2741.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/BT2741/Categories/Shetland_Wool_Week

Lots more news to follow in another post. It won’t be as long between posts next
time!

Good Kharma

I love to watch the British--and original version of the--Antique Roadshow, and this week there were broadcasts from several locations which I'd visited last month. (I think they were actually filmed in 2009, but that didn't diminish my enjoyment of the programs.)

One was at St. Fagan's, the Museum of Welsh Heritage, a collection of homes, stores, and other buildings, spanning several centuries, and furnished with appropriate antiques of the respective eras. They were moved to the site from all over Wales and are attractively set in a large rural parkland. We didn't have enough time to do more than a short wander, but at least it gave everyone in the group the desire to return at a later date.

There were also two programs from the British Museum in London. I hadn't been there for many years and this was the first time I'd seen the glass roof addition. Very attractive. I get overwhelmed by large museums--just don't know where to start--but it's still an amazing place.

Later today I leave for Scotland. I'm very excited about this--it will be the 14th Scottish Skeins & Skerries Tour. Hard to believe that what started out as an idea in 1995, would still be going in 2011. As in the past, we have an interesting group of travellers--from many places in the U.S. and Canada, plus one person from Australia. For this year, I've added one more day on Shetland so that we'll be able to visit the islands of Unst and Yell.

May 2011 Trip to Wales by Shirley Scott

Wales – Heritage, History & Handicrafts

Joyce James Tours -May 13-23, 2011

Article by Shirley Scott (Shirl the Purl)

May 13- 23, 2011. It’s finally here! Those dates have beckoned to me from the pages of my calendar all winter long, adding a little ray of hope to the cheerless days. I’ve left my home in St. John’s, Newfoundland, and my dear little cat Frankie in the able hands of my friend Katrin to start on this adventure. Now I’m in Toronto, meeting up with Joyce and some of the gang to travel to Heathrow together. What fun! After an enthusiastic rendezvous at Pearson and the usual restless night over the Atlantic dawn comes pretty darn early to our group . We stumble from the plane and shoot off immediately on the fastest moving sidewalk I’ve ever clung to. We’re in the big city now, I think. No time for ambling along, lost in obscure Celtic thoughts.

I am so looking forward to this trip. Wales is on my bucket list. I’ve loved the Celtic world for as long as I can remember...

Read More... Download the rest of this article in PDF format.

http://www.joycejamestours.com/2011/Wales/2011-WalesTour-Shirley.pdf

Joyce James is conducting a second trip to Wales:
SEP.1-12, 2011

More Information at this link.

Shetland News

The tourism site of Visit Shetland has a monthly newsletter which I always find interesting. Among items, in the latest issue, there is news of a "puffin cam" to follow the nesting of the puffins which spend a brief time in the little niches on the face of Sumburgh Head. As I understand it, this is the only time that these colourful birds come ashore--that is to lay their eggs and to raise their young.
http://visit.shetland.org/may-2011newsletter

There is also information about the Shetland Angling Association, especially for those who are interested in doing some local fishing.

A previous posting of Visit Shetland had an article about the brochs. (Thanks Jean for sending this.)

Of course, for me, knitters are never forgotten and there is an article by Carol Christiansen, the textile curator at the Shetland Museum about Shetland lace.
http://visit.shetland.org/shetland-lace