October update

Wow - October already! Things have been very busy - which is good - but the blog has been sadly neglected.

I've been busy dyeing and am now on the second instalment of my mini-skeins yarn club. There aren't as many members as I'd initially hoped, but those that are in the club have been very positive and it's a good opportunity to try out some new colorways. I dye two or three large skeins at the same time as I dye the mini skeins and those that are popular, I'll bring into my standard rotation of colors -there's a couple already that I think will be a hit, plus a couple of custom colors that can be added too.

I'm off to the Knitting and Stitching show at Alexandra Palace tomorrow, where I'll be helping on the Knitting and Crochet Guild stand for the morning and then get a couple of hours to look round. I still haven't made up everything I bought last year, so I'll have to try to be restrained - not easy when there's so much good stuff there!  

On Sunday I'm at St Alban's farmers market - fingers crossed for good weather. We've got much more autumnal weather now and I just hope that it doesn't rain. A cold bright day would be lovely! I'm taking my yarn too as there was a lot of interest in it last month. People were talking about Christmas presents last month, so I'm hoping they'll start buying now!

September Markets

It was a lovely sunny day last Sunday at St Alban's Farmers' Market - warmer than it's been for the rest of the summer, which was nice to be out in, but unfortunately made for quiet sales. There's no market at Wheathampstead this coming Sunday, due to (I think) a change of management. I'm actually quite pleased as it has been very quiet and generally unprofitable during the year and it remains to be seen if it will get going again in October.

It will be nice to have a Sunday morning at home this week anyway.I've got some custom dyeing to do, plus getting my yarn club parcels ready to send off on Monday, not to mention knitting, so I've got plenty to keep me busy.

It's back to Harpenden Farmers' Market on Sept. 23rd, after my summer break, one I look forward to going to - it's always fairly busy and it's a pleasant town to visit.  

Into September

Now we're into the autumn and it's time to get ready for a new season of Farmers' Markets and even start thinking about Christmas! I'll be at St Alban's on Sunday and will be taking some yarn with me as well as my ready-made scarves, cushions etc. I'm charging up my Credit Card machine, so lets hope it's a busy start to the season.

Before that, here's a few pictures of Ireland, just to show it doesn't always rain in the summer!

Rested and Back

Back from a restful and very pleasant holiday! I managed to survive two weeks in a cottage in the west of Ireland without internet access and instead did lots of healthy outdoor stuff like fishing and walking as well as knitting and reading in the evening - we have no TV out there, so I went cold turkey on that too!
The weather was fine - only one wet day - and I even have a slight suntan. I took some good pictures and will put them up when I can download them. 

I got back to a fairly busy time, with sales from the etsy shop to despatch and the pleasure of seeing a picture of my yarn in "Knit Now" magazine. I did dye some more of the featured colorway, but sold out again before the magazine came out - so more dyeing to do. I've also worked out a pattern for the yarn and got the sample finished on holiday. I've sent a picture to the magazine - it would be great if they were interested in publishing it.

More to follow shortly, plus some pictures ......

August - Holidays and looking forward

Just a quick post to catch up before we go away for a couple of weeks on Thursday.

I've got everything sorted out and put away after Fibre East now and have updated the shop - I'm not putting everything on at once, just keeping a nice balance of colours. I've had some sales, which is pleasing for what is usually a quiet time of year, and have set up my yarn club entries. I had to throw away my shoes and I've just cleaned all the mud off my walking boots - let's hope this year was a fluke and next year's weather will be great! Entries for Wonderwool open at the end of September, which will be my next focus.

My yarn is being featured in "Knit Now" magazine shortly - out 23rd August, which is exiting. I can't wait it see it in print. The shade they're using is "rose graphite" and of course I've just sold out of it - cue some quick dyeing to make sure I've got some in stock ready!
  
We're away on holiday later this week to the west of Ireland. You never know what the weather will be like, but it's always good to pack plenty of wet weather gear, though you can be surprised and need to buy sun cream and a bathing costume!  

I'll miss the end of the Olympics, which I have been enjoying much more than I thought I would. We don't live far from the park, so will go and have a look round when it's all over. I wonder if they will open the pool for public swimming? I would love to try a length or two!

Fibre East - 2

Here's a snap of our stall all ready to go on the Saturday morning. Fortunately, we didn't suffer from the damp, although some of the paper on brochures etc. had absorbed some moisture. We were a bit concerned that the whole thing would be cancelled, but as people were queuing to get in and all the stallholders had travelled to get there, not to mention boooking accommodation etc. we were glad it went ahead.

The pathways got gradually deeper and deeper in mud as the day wote on, but there were plenty of determined customers and the farm staff and the organisers did their very best with bark and wood shavings to make the marquees habitable! Most people had come well equipped with wellies or boots and we were lucky that none of our stock was dropped or splashed. It was good to see and chat with everyone and generally people were remarkably cheerful. In quiet moments you could hear squelching though as people walked about!

We were pleased to finish in at the end of the afternoon and it had even stopped raining! We went for a quick pub supper on the way home - I must mention the warm welcome and good food at the Chequers in Keysoe here - and it was a hot shower and an early night to get ready for the Sunday.    

Sunday had much better weather and the field had drained, although the mud in the marquees was still there and I did think that this put people off browsing amongst the stalls as much as they might have done. In any case, we still had plenty of customers and I'm pleased to say that my bolero pattern proved popular. It felt more relaxed once the weather improved and Mum spent some time looking around and watching the sheep shearing. It was her first show - I hope it hasn't put her off as I'd like to do Wonderwool next year. 

At the end of the day, we got packed up fairly quickly and I even managed to drive across the muddy field without getting stuck! The drive home was through hot sunshine and the pleasant Hertfordshire countryside and when we arrived, my husband had cooked a meal for us and my father was waiting to accompany Mum home.

I've now got everything unpacked and sorted out and yes, I would do it next year - we surely can't get the same conditions two years running can we?  

Fibre East -1

This was my first ever show and I think it went pretty well, in spite of the weather, which has been well documented elsewhere.

Mum and I arrived on Friday afternoon and got the stand up in about an hour. I'm glad I already do Farmers' Markets, so I didn't have to think too hard about the display. I meant to have a practice run-through at home before I set off, but of course ran out of time. At that time the field was a little damp underfoot, but the sun was out and we had even had the air conditioning on in the car on the way up!

I'm so glad we didn't even think about camping! Our nearby B&B was delightful and we had such a warm welcome from the owners, complete with tea and cake, when we arrived. It was just us and we had a comfortable suite - ideal for relaxing after a long day on the stall.

Then overnight on Friday it rained! We weren't allowed to drive onto the field in the morning, but luckily, I had put in waterproofs and walking boots before I set off - not really expecting to need them - and we managed to get to our stall reasonably dry-shod. Inside the marquee, we could see that the pathways between the stands were going to get worn and muddy pretty quickly and felt sorry for people who had a stand in a bit of a dip, where water was collecting. Ours was on a very small rise and so had remained dry. Leaflets and labels had absorbed some moisture from the air, but apart from that we were OK. All we needed were customers!