I’ve been busy designing new knitting and crochet patterns for hats, scarves, gloves, jumpers and cushions and having a fine time doing so - I’ll have patterns and kits for them when we take to the road again.  I’ve also been creating some felted vessels using my fibre blends and am really pleased with the results - photos of some of the above, in the gallery below. ​ Hovver on the photos to see more details - and prices where relevant.  If you are interested in buying anything, please get in touch using the link here.

So, now it’s time to come out of hibernation and put Skybluepink  back on the road again, so here’s a short list of events we’ll be attending during March and early April.

See more details on the websites by clicking on the coloured texts below
.
First of all, Wednesday the 9th March we are at the Borders Tourism Fair at Springwood Hall, Kelso to promote the St Abbs Wool Festival.  Do come along to see what’s happening at the festival - we have samples of all the different things on offer at the festival on the 2nd April - and more generally in the Scottish and Northumberland Borders - lots of ideas for days or weekends out for the rest of the year.

Dornoch Fibre Fest - yes all that way!  When we go on the road we like to go to far flung places, so it’s off to Dornoch on Saturday  12th and Sunday 13th March.  The event is held in two venues in the town so plenty of opportunity to do a bit of sightseeing whilst going between the two halls!  

Then we have a bit of rest (no point in rushing into things!) before the St Abbs Market kicks off again - every Friday in the Ebba Centre at St Abbs.  
I’ll be there for the opening event on Good Friday the 25th March, then after that the first Friday of each month until December.  So if you are planning a trip to the coast and want to stock up on woolly supplies, make sure to come on the first Friday of the month!

Our next event will be our very own St Abbs Wool Festival on Saturday 2nd April between 10am and 4pm in the Ebba Centre and the Visitor Centre.  We’ve got lots of regulars and some new faces, all full of enthusiasm to promote everything woolly, so come and see what’s on offer and try your hand at some new crafts - the Haddington Spinners will be coming along with all manner of wheels, looms and what not for you to have a go at. 

Just a few days to go now before our very own St Abbs Wool Festival on the 7th November and I've been busy dyeing some yarns to put into my Christmas Ball making knitting kits!  I've got gorgeous shades in Teeswater or Whitefaced Woodland yarns.
After that on the 14th November we are traveling to Hexham for their annual wool fair - more details if you click on the coloured text as usual in all my posts!
I will also be appearing each Friday between now and the 18th December at the regular Friday market at the Ebba Centre in St Abbs - our winter opening hours are 10am to 3pm, with the cafe open serving hot food all day.
On the 29th November we will be at The Lady Waterford Hall in Ford Village for the annual Christmas Fair - a lovely occasion with loads of locally produced foods, arts and crafts.
In December - the 5th and 6th - we are at the Christmas Cracker event at Paxton House.  We will be in the Picture Gallery - very grand surroundings and a chance to get to see inside one of the lovely big Borders Houses.
Then we get to put our feet up for a few weeks - whilst hatching plans for 2016!

So, this is the third time I’ve typed this blog - some issues between browser and webhost stopped me in my tracks, but after a hair pulling time, I’m back to the keyboard and updating my (I say my reservedly…) blog post.  It’s not as well crafted as the first or even second  attempts, but time is now much shorter than it was and I want to get back to my spinning…

We had a fine time travelling through Cumbria and Yorkshire via Northumberland, Durham and Lancashire (don’t ask..) last month, to show at the Sedbergh Sheep Festival and at Yarndale.  Both events were great fun and we were re-acquainted with some old friends and made some new ones too.  As usual, I didn’t think about taking photographs until we were packing up to go home - and you don’t need to see those… if you want to see images of these events in full swing, there are loads out there on the internet to look at.  

We are staying at home for the first couple of weeks in October, then travelling further afield - to Kendal and to Alnmouth, so here is a list of where you can find Skybluepink Designs this month:

Friday 9th and 16th October between 10am and 4pm we are at the St Abbs Market in the Ebba Centre at St Abbs.  If you haven’t been before you will find lots of lovely locally produced food, art, crafts and gifts, plus two cafes in the village serving home-made food including locally caught fishes and shell fish, have a stroll around St Abbs Head or round the cliff path to Coldingham Bay to work up an appetite.

Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th October we are at Kendal in the K Village for the Kendal Wool Gathering.  A celebration of all things woolly in the lovely Lake District.

Friday 30th October we are back at St Abbs for our Friday market.

Saturday 31st October the woolly group which is Sheep Tales and Spinning Yarns are having their fourth annual Wool Fair at the Hindmarsh Hall in Alnmouth.  The WI will once more be providing soup,  beverages and their famous cakes in the café area downstairs…

…. and finally, a little reminder as if you need one, that the St Abbs Wool Festival is taking place in St Abbs on Saturday 7th November.  More information on the web & face book pages, as well as the local press and visitor guides…. See you there if not before.

We had a lovely walk last Saturday up to the Standing Stones at Duddo on the Ford & Etal Estate - only about 1 km from the road and the most wonderful views from the top of the hill.  The stone are at least 4500 years old.  Click on the coloured text to link to more information.

We are out on the road this month, mostly in Cumbria & Yorkshire!  As usual, for more info on any event listed, just click on the coloured text to go through to fb and web pages.
Saturday 12th September and Saturday 19th September, between 10am and 4pm at the Peoples Hall in Sedbergh for the wool market as part of the Sedbergh Sheep Festival   
Saturday 26th September between 10am & 5.30pm & Sunday 27th September  between 10am & 4.30pm it's Yarndale at the Skipton Auction Mart.  It's bigger than ever, with over 180 stalls, so something for everyone, so come along and say hello.  We are in stall 165, the floor plan is available on the website, so please drop by to say hello and see what's new at Skybluepink Designs.
So we won't be at St Abbs Market this month, but plan to be there on the 2nd October - I'll put the dates up later this month, but just a reminder that there is the Kendal Wool Gathering on the 24th & 25th October and our very own St Abbs Wool Festival on the 7th November - more news of which very soon on the web page. 
Hopefully I'll see some of you out and about but if you can't see us in person, please get in touch using the contact form.

For information about all events listed, just click on the coloured text to go to external websites.

A change to our schedule for the Border Union Show this weekend (24th & 25th July).  We were supposed to be there Friday and Saturday in the wool tent, but after a little hiccup, he wool crafters will only be at the show on Saturday between around 9.30am until 4pm (ish).  We have been relocated to a marquee near the sheep pens, so you'll be able to see the sheep and then touch the wool in all its glory after crafty transformation.  More information about the show can be found by clicking this Border Union Show link. 

A reminder that we will be at the Strawberry Barn near Dunbar on Sunday 26th July for  the St Abbs pop-up market, with lots going on.
 
Friday 31st July sees us back at St Abbs between 10am and 4pm in the Ebba Centre for our regular Friday market.  Lots of lovely local produce, food, arts, crafts and gifts.

In August we are heading south to Yorkshire.  Friday 7th and Saturday 8th August we are the British Wool Show at the auction mart Murton, near York.  There will be lots of great wool crafters showing off their wares, plus sheep and all manner of things woolly to look at.  More information on the website here.

Friday 21st and 28th we are at St Abbs again, hopefully enjoying more sunny days by the sea - watching the wildlife go by...

And finally, a new venue for us this year, we are off to Floors Castle in Kelso for the Massed Pipe Bands Day on the 30th August between 11am and 4pm.  There will be a Scottish & local food producers Food Court and Crafters Fair, Pipe Bands from across the Scottish Borders, Highland Dancers, Ceilidh Band, Birds of Prey, Garden Tours, Dog Agility and more to do and see.

If you can't get to see us out and about, use the contact form to get in touch and see if we can't arrange to meet up anyway!

I thought I'd share the inspiration for another of my colour blends with you.  The first photo is a view in my garden, the second a close-up shot of my lovely Iris plant and the third my merino and silk blend spinning/felting fibres.  All colour blends are available to purchase - see them all on this page here.  If you want to buy any, please use the form here.

We had a great time at Woolfest in Cockermouth last weekend, saying hello to friends old and new.   Although I didn't get much opportunity to have a look around I was able to get some essential supplies, feast my eyes on some sensational exhibitions and displays and met some lovely North Ronaldsay sheep and some cashmere goats.  Spinning and felting fluffs flew off the shelves in my stand, as did the hand spun yarns, buttons, needles and other notions.  Thank you to everyone who came to say hello - we will almost certainly meet up later in the year at one or other woolly event.

We start off with a couple of nice, quiet local weeks, before we go on the road again.
As usual, to find out more about an event click on the coloured text below to be linked to external websites.
Friday 3rd, 11th & 17th July between 10am and 4pm is the regular ST Abbs Market at the Ebba Centre in lovely sunny ST Abbs.  We are a group of local makers and producers selling hand made food, crafts & gifts. 
Sunday 19th July  between 10am and 4pm, we are off to the Glendale Festival we will be in the Glendale Hall in Wooler, Northumberland with some of the Sheep Tales Crafters.  There are lots of events taking place in venues throughout  the whole village and on the High Street.  Always a lot of fun and plenty to do!
Friday 24th & Saturday 25th July between 9am and 5pm in the Wool Tent at the Border Union Agricultural Show, Springwood Park, Kelso.  The Sheep Show man will be there too!
Sunday 27th July between 11am and 4pm at the Strawberry Barn, Dunbar for a pop-up market with the St Abbs Market crew, plus a few extras(!), barbeque and general all round family fun day.
Friday 31st July between 10am and 4pm, we are back at ST Abbs for the regular Friday market.