Lost in the Wood

Roll on 2015 Perhaps I'm pushing it but since we're still in January, I think it's still just about appropriate to wish you all a very Happy New Year! There's so much to say about 2014 that I'm not sure I can really face going over any of it and presenting the highlights. Lazily, and probably wisely,  I'm going to opt out of a thorough review of the year. 2014 had wonderful times, professionally (tv feature, art exhibitions, encouraging sales etc) and personally (fun stuff & holidays) but weird and distressing personal things too that upset the always delicately balanced emotional applecart, although it all proved interesting (to me) at least. Large mugfuls of mulled wine with a friend who appreciates these things The Dome, Edinburgh. Always spectacular decorations. Christmas at home in Edinburgh was an absolute delight and proved a much needed relaxing and joyful end to the year. Being loose in a city with it's late night bars & sparkl...

The Dome, Edinburgh Season's Greetings! Last week I scampered up to Scotland for the long awaited Christmas holidays, the big city bright lights and possibilities made me a touch giddy with excitement. My first day in Edinburgh (my home city, much loved and often missed) was spent in fine style with a trip to the sumptuous surroundings of The Dome , a George Street institution. Nowhere seems to outdo their lavish festive decorations. Passing the Georgian columns thickly garlanded with lights, inside you encounter the heady punch of cinnamon, a spice merchants fantasy of sticks embedded in rich traditional garlands festooning the impressive interior. An icicled doorway opens out onto the main dining room and bar with its red glowing spectacle of tall Christmas tree underneath dazzling glass dome. It all feels decadently luxurious. Mum & I headed up stairs to the tearoom (think this is a Christmas tearoom only, not all year round) where I'd been assured a wonderful aftern...

Dancer My final craft fair of the season is coming up this weekend! I'll have a stall at the Plas Newydd Christmas Food & Craft fair on 30 Nov and 1 Dec.  Plas Newydd is a National Trust property and the impressive  'home of the Marquess of Anglesey, with spectacular views of Snowdonia'.  I'm told 'there will be over 50 stalls selling a wide variety of local produce and hand made crafts'. I've enjoyed a previous visit there where I sampled the tea room (of course), perused the large amount of 2nd hand books for sale in a series of meandering bookcases and looked appropriately excited by the bloody trousers & wooden leg from the Battle of Waterloo as well as the huge Whistler mural. Dancer (crochet reindeer head) will be coming with me on this final fling, come along to say hello, eat cake & take a turn (and work up an appetite/ burn off the cake) around the beautiful grounds. Up to Christmas, I'll still have work on sale at t...

The penultimate craft fair of my festive season is rearing up on it's little tinsel covered hind legs inciting all to attend, enjoy & shop at Parc Glynllifon this weekend. I'll be participating as well as lots of lovely local artists/ makers including some of my favourites: Dyfal Donc , Peris & Corr , Miss Marple Makes , Lora Wyn Jewellery, Angela Evans Jewellery and many more!

MOSTYN Woolidermy Gang Phew! It's been a hectic and crazy-tinged three weeks and I'm feeling pretty relieved & pleased to have made it to the other side of four hefty deadlines!  Hence my (slightly misquoted) 'Half Man Half Biscuit' song lyric as the title. What woolly nonsense have you been up to I hear you ask? (just pretend you did). Well, work has been safely delivered to MOSTYN gallery shop (Llandudno), a bounty of woolidermy heads, crochet mince pies and clementines. I'm looking forwards to going to see them in-situ soon & admire their Christmas window display. Llandudno Alice Llandudno White Rabbit Also appealing is the mission to find the remaining carved wooden Alice in Wonderland figures that are dotted around nearby. I've already encountered scary Alice & dandy White Rabbit and I've been reliably informed that a loony Mad Hatter & Queen of Hearts lurk out there too. 'Winter Wonderland' Woolidermy Gang Nex...

Aargh, no time to write anything, just please note I'll be at Renegade Craft Fair in London this weekend! Much excitement & plenty of nerves eek!

No time to expand on this, it's a manic week ahead so just to let you know tomorrow I'll be at the Galeri in Caernarfon with the Crefft Cyfoes Caernarfon group at the first of my Christmas craft fairs (see 'News' on my website for the full list), more details soon! Lovely things to buy from great local makers. Now must dash off to manically crochet some reindeer heads and mince pies. Fa la la la la la...