Merry Go Round: Make and Swap!

This month we agreed we should make something for each other... I think we would have all liked to do this for Christmas, but we found ourselves busy and decided to hold off until the Spring and so... here we are!

The very talented Mitsy of MindArt - http://artmind-etcetera.blogspot.com/ made me my present.

So imagine... I'm waiting for the post lady to come and pick up my bags of post for the day and when I heard a knock at the door, I was quiet surprised to be receiving something when I got to the door... 'I hadn't ordered anything', I thought! I closed the door and went to sit down, already tugging at the corners of the padded envelope... and I discover the most beautiful lime green package... and I remember, 'ah Mitsy's gift!'

I'm careful to peel back the paper... and as I already knew Mitsy is a ceramisist, I became more and more intrigued to find out what was inside... 'wait a minute'... 'what are all of these tiny packages?' I unwrap more and more packaging, feeling like a child at a birthday party... you know where they sit you down and play music while you pass this oversized gift around... occasionally it stops near you, just close enough for you to feel the excitement of the kid next to you who was luck enough to tear open a layer of wrapping... but still no clue... Then, I spy the fine fingers of clay have been embossed with lettering.

I'm in a frenzy now... I recognise herb names and one by one I reveal herb tag for my garden!

They are beautiful... Thank you Mitsy, I am so touched that you made these for me... my garden shall wear them with pride!

If you would like some of Mitsy's tags, do visit her blog at http://artmind-etcetera.blogspot.com/ for the shop links.

Sara x
http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/
----------------
This post was part of a blog Merry go Around, where I have got together with some friends to talk about a similar subject on the same day... a nice way to meet people!
Alison at Tweed Delights - http://idreamoftweed.blogspot.com/
Mitsy at MindArt - http://artmind-etcetera.blogspot.com/
Kim at Vilt a la Kim - http://viltalakim.blogspot.com/
Sara at Crafts of Texture - http://sarastexturecrafts.blogspot.com/
Fabienne at Easterya Jewellery Creations - http://easterya.blogspot.com/
Mariana at Florcita - http://www./florcita.eu/
Agathe at Le Bar du Vent - http://lebarduvent.blogspot.com/
Lily at Lily Pang Art and Design - http://lilypangart.blogspot.com/
Wendren at Wren Design - http://thewrendesign.com/
Ruth at Birdland Creations - http://insidetheartisan.blogspot.com/

Customer Photos: Puddytatpurr's first batts

My first batts
Originally uploaded by Puddytat purr

Sam created these wonderful batts using my black, white and grey Merino shade packs from the shop http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/  and added a bit of sparkle... they look like perfect thunder clouds!

Thank you for sharing Sam! Check out the link to find Sam on Flickr and see what else she has been making.

Lleyn rolags on my spindle

I had never tried Lleyn fibre before, so I treated myself to some hand dyed rolags at Wonderwool.


I couldn't resist the colour! It span wonderfully... Even made me feel like my spinning had improved, so much so that I think I'm aware if what my original problem was... I prefer to spin with a carded fibre not a roving. I personally like the stickiness you get from fibres that aren't fully processed into a roving. I think I see a new kit coming to the shop soon!

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See you soon, Sara x
www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Tax returns and final accounts

Ok so not the most fun thing to be doing, but unfortunately a must... I want to get this all done and sent off before I start prep for Woolfest next month.

What boring job have you got to do today?

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See you soon, Sara x
www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Picking up my spindle again...

So it's late last night and I pick up my new spindle (which I'll show you in another post) and I think ok what shall I start spinning on this? When I remember I also bought some new fibre at Wonderwool too... A few hours later and I had sucessfully spun a single from just one of the rolags I made (although it was on my first spindle in the end... I'll tell you later why I didn't use the new one.) Too dark to photograph I picked up some if my fibre and spinning books and started to read up instead... Then it hit me... I have all of this fibre I sell, it would be great to have samples of each spun and felted... (I've used a fair few but not kept a record before). Maybe something I could get together for showing customers as well as satisfying my own curiosities? It might take me a while, as I really don't get much time these days, but worth a go I thinkabd something I can add to my Learning Centre.

I'll let you know how I get on...

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See you soon, Sara x
www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Gotland Lambs...

I had to pick up the last of the Yearling clip ready for Wonderwool and the shop last week.


And I got chance to see the lambs born last month, with their mothers.


I couldn't believe how much they have grown... And their fleece looks so wonderfully healthy... I can't wait until August when they get their first shearing! At the moment they are still very dark with their 'new born' fleece. It will be interesting to see how their adult fleece grows through.

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See you soon, Sara x
www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Wonderwool Sunday

Nice day today... Although it was a little slower generally, it did mean that I got to do a few things for me, like seeing the Sheepwalk.


Getting myself a new handcarved spindle (new blog posts I think for that beauty!), some new types of fibre to play with, saying 'Hi' to some other vendors I've met over the last year and cracking on with my demo piece...



No... Not a duck.



Not a masked Moomin...



Although I agree he looks a bit wide eyed at the moment... Can you guess what he is yet?

I've had a lively and lovely show, thank you to everyone for coming and especially to D who's been a real trooper.

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See you soon, Sara x
www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Wonderwool Saturday

Last night was a bit chilly so I got to wear my wrap...


Cor it gets nice and toasty!

Today, well today went by in a flash... Ann popped by the stand and sat felting with me for a bit, which was really nice actually. Although I didn't feel like I sat for very long with her... But on the plus side that did mean I was busy. Ann does a lot of shows herself so I know she understood. Thank you Ann, you were a really big help today!

I also got to see/meet some of my customers and Working with Felt members... A big hello and thank you for coming! It's always nice to put a face to an email or avatar... Nice to chat fibre too! Some of my customers came prepared with their coupons too, so it was good to hand a Thank you back... Nice to see club members.

I also met some of my blog friends too... Thank you Wipso and Twiglet.

Ok... So what am I making?












Answers on a postcard please!

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See you soon, Sara x
www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Just about set up...

Here's how it started.








Now for the tent!




I'd better get the tea together or he won't be best pleased! See you tomorrow!

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See you soon, Sara x
www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Wonderwool here we go!

View from the van...


And all is good!

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See you soon, Sara x
www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Open knit shawl is finished!

And just in time for those cool evenings in Wales!


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See you soon, Sara x
www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Wonderwool Planning - Part 13

Ok nearly there, just finishing touches... Like pricing these wonderful new felt kits!



Again these are exclusive to the show, starting on Saturday but I'm so excited about these. They are designed and created by the felt artist Gillian Harris and I also have a few signed copies of her book too... Perfect for the beginner!

If there are some left when I get back I will blog all about them and where in my shop you can buy these. Otherwise I shall get my reorder in sharpish!

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See you soon, Sara x
www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Wonderwool Planning - Part 12

Adding sparkle to some of the limited edition batts today...


And starting to prepare them with tags...


They look lovely in the bags don't they!


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See you soon, Sara x
www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Wonderwool Planning - Part 11

Aha... The new yarns are ready to go!



This is a new range and exclusive to the show at the moment...



I have choosen good felting Merino yarn, as well as some self patterning sock yarn.



These are by Schoppel Wolle and will be in the shop after the show... That's if there are any left!

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See you soon, Sara x
www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Spring is cheering me up!

It's so nice to see some brightness in the sky and beautiful spring flowers... Blooming lovely!


Look at these Daffodils given to me by D's dad... Wonderful! Thanks dad, that cheered me up and spuring me on to get cracking with the bits left for the show next week.

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See you soon, Sara x
www.sarastexturecrafts.com

One of my favourite places in Exeter

The catherdral



They are doing a bit if work to it at the moment, but it still holds something new to marvel at when you see all if that hand carving.

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See you soon, Sara x
www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Wonderwool Planning - Part 10

Dear diary,

I'm tired, achy (very possible whingy).

Ok, so not long to go and if I'm honest I'm in that funny sort of 'half way there' state of mind today. I can see a light at the end of the tunnel and am becoming excited about doing the show... these are some of my favourite parts of the job (and important too... a chance to meet customers and fibre friends). However, I've started to worry that I won't get everything done on time... no matter how long I sepnd at it each day, with minor interuptions here and there I don't feel like I get a lot done. Hence the occasional 'pull yourself together' talk with myself and writing a new 'must do list' for the next day. Sometimes I swear being overorganised about things (to the point of being anal) can be just as much of a hinderance as complete disorganisation... I do it to myself every time!

Now yes there definately will be a Sara's Texture Crafts stand at Wonderwool this year... I'm just having a moment! So please don't go reading too much into my blog post... I know those of you who show your work will understand where I am right now... does it ever change? Probably not... but reaching out to you on my little blog has helped... It's amazing what a little diary post can do for a girl every now and then... Thank you!

Sara x
http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/

Wonderwool Planning - Part 9

Ok, so where am I at...


Well I'm starting to pack all of the little bits n pieces of equipment together today. This will mean spraying some more colour coded needles too.

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See you soon, Sara x
www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Customer Photos: Deborah's Needle Felted Camel, part 2

Do you remember Crafts of Texture: Customer Photos: Deborah's Needle Felted Camel? Well Deborah has been hard at work with the next stage of her project and here are the results;

You can see the features are much more defined now and Deborah has been adding the hair, which she will trim down later.

He's going to look fabulous when he is finished!
Sara x
http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/

First go at circular knitting

Got to the end of the rows no problem...



Then sat there for about 5 minutes, while my poor brain figured out how to cast off!



... Don't worry, she got there in the end!!

Makes me excited about the possibilities for some funky scarves for winter!

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See you soon, Sara x
http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/

Customer photos: Ginny's felted Characters

Ginny is one of my fibre customers and this is her latest project, needle felted charachters. I love thier little personalities... great work!

Sara x
http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/

I promised you a picture of me in that dress!

Well here it is, Darrin and I at the wedding of Spencer and Ally back on the 20th of March.


We had a really lovely day and would like to wish Spencer and Ally all the very best for their future.



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See you soon, Sara x
www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Wonderwool Planning - Part 8

I'm just working on the felted samples of my blends now...


I lay them out on some Merino Prefelt to make felting a bit quicker...



After rolling I stuck them in the washing machine on a spin cycle. Not all of the swatches are felted right in to the prefelt (I was a bit lazy with my rolling, got distracted by the biggest bumble bee I ever did see!) But I can needle felt those in just fine... In fact that will help you to see the difference between the techniques when you see the swatches at the show.

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See you soon, Sara x
http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/

New flowers ready for the garden

Pretty, textural and colourful... That's just what I need cheer me up in all of this rain!






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See you soon, Sara x
www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Find out more about the company at www.SarasTextureCrafts.com

A day out at Plymouth Aquarium

Darrin took me to Plymouth's National Marine Aquarium today. Here's what we saw;














Lots of wonderful colours and textures to inspire.

He wouldn't let me take home the cuddly toys though... Meanie!



Sara x
www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Do you ever get the feeling...

Like you've been killed by paperwork?



Yeah, me too! I hate doing the final accounts for the year end tax... still chin up, once this is over I get to play again!!

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See you soon, Sara x
http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/