Friday 29 July 2011

Spinning At Quarr, A Busy Open Studio 2011



It was a lovely week at Quarr Abbey for Open Studios. We were very busy with just over 1000 visitors attending. I took my spinning wheel along to demonstrate spinning. It was great to share my craft with so many interested people, the children were particularly fascinated by the process.


Most of my handspun yarns was snapped up and sold, I think it certainly helps to explain and show people how the yarn is produced as they then have a better understanding of the skill and time needed to produce a handspun yarn and because it is spun with local fleece from Island sheep, it is lovely to hear people are so pleased to get their hands on some special stash for a project they have in mind.


My handwoven work was also very popular and I gained a commission which I look forward to working on in the next few months.

All in all it was a brilliant week to show, sell and share my love of knitting, weaving and spinning and I look forward to returning to Quarr Abbey in November (I'll blog further details about that soon).



Wednesday 13 July 2011

Sailing Around The Greek Isles


Just back from sailing around the Greek Isles again. This is our third visit to this beautiful part of the world.
On this trip we joined a flotilla sailing out from Fiskardo.
Our yacht was the lovely Marian a Gib'Sea 302. She was a dream; nice and roomy inside and very easy to handle. The first couple of days we had a good breeze for sailing and Skipper and I had her creaming along making 8.5 knots with a couple of reefs in her sails.




Later in the week the wind was less only F4-5 in the afternoons, so with full sails and happy hearts we sailed our Marian down the East side of Kefalonia calling in at Ay. Euphemia and Sami. Then our route took us around the southern tip of Ithaca calling at Kioni and Frikes. Continuing up to Lefkas island and stopping over at Sivota before returning to Fiskardo.



Maybe because we live on an island or maybe just because it's there...

Skipper and I decided to sail around the little island of Atoko.


We saw Dolphins lazily swimming off Arkudi Island (an island we circumnavigated in 2008).

All the way around Meganisi was achieved in 2010

and with our journey's route taking us completely around Ithaca for 2011, it feels really good to explore such beautiful and magical places.


A motto of such wonderful sailing is

"Another Day, Another Bay"




Now I'm back I must Cast on and get knitting, spinning and weaving once more to put some more pennies in the sailing fund-

so as I can once again Cast Off

My Open Studio event (please click on link opposite for more details) starts Thurs 21st.

If you are on the Island, love to see you there.