Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2017 - What an incredible couple of days!

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2017 has been and gone and what can I say except what an absolutely wonderful event it was yet again!

This year I had a corner booth in the main exhibition hall and I loved every minute of it. There are so many ways you can set your stall out in a 2 x 2 m space but I chose to go with my traditional way of having all my work on display with me standing behind. It worked really well and thankfully there was plenty of room on both sides for people to browse.

My friend Jayne who is also a felt maker, Jayne Gillan Designs, flew over from Ireland to help me out for the two days. I'm so glad she did! It was super busy especially on Friday and the two of us were kept busy all day selling and chatting. I was overwhelmed by the response to my work and delighted that so many had studied the vendors list before hand and made a beeline for my booth to snap up what they had seen online.

I escaped a couple of times to do some shopping.

My first purchase was this fascinating pompom yarn from Ananuca. I'm planning to crochet it and make some wearable bits and pieces with it. 

I hardly had any time over the two days to take photos but got some quick snaps of my neighbouring stands on Friday morning.

This is Amanda Perkins Crochet Blankets. We were totally oooing and aahing over them and Jayne bought the Rainbow Blankets pattern book.

Next down were Bilum, a lovely group of ladies from Hungary with the most stunning collection of hand dyed yarn. We definitely had a mutual appreciation for each others use of colour.

Across the way was The Fibre Co  from Cumbria with a beautiful collection of yarns and patterns. The samples they had made up made me seriously want to take up knitting!

I also had Tilly Flop Designs across the way from me with her witty collection of knitting and stitching cards and prints. 

Everyone's stands were stowed out all day each day with the vendors and visitors all full of enthusiasm and a mutual passion for all things fibre related.

I feel I was quite restrained with my shopping. I only bought what I plan to use immediately in the run up to Open Studios. Fibre batt and throwsters waste from Spin City, pre felt and art yarn from The Threshing Barn, sari silk from The Border Tart and a wee ball of Bulim's beautiful hand dyed yarn.

Having been to EYF as a vendor before, it was lovely to catch up with some other exhibitors especially Lindsay Roberts who's business The Border Tart keeps me inspired with her indigo dyed fibres and sari silks and who has been very encouraging, CC Almon from Java Purls  who is a riot of fun and all things pink and who's books SOLD OUT during EYF! Well done girls! Tania Ashton Jones aka TJ Frog who's company I missed this year as we were in different areas of the venue. Tania specialises in Dorset Buttons and has taken up podcasting so do check out her website for updates. There will be one about EYF no doubt! 

There were lots of podcasters there over the two days and I had the pleasure of meeting Lori from Intuitknit for breakfast on Friday morning. We arrived outside the venue at the same time, both dying for coffee and sustenance so we ate together and had a good blether. A lovely way to start the day and make a new friend :)

I was very touched to receive this beautiful handmade wooden shawl pin as a pressie.

All in all I can say that EYF 2017 was a massive success for me and I only just scratched the surface of what it was all about really. There was so much going on outwith the market place with classes, knitalongs and even a ceilidh! But from what I have seen from peoples post on Instagram etc, everyone had a blast and came away inspired and excited about their purchases and their weekend's shenanigans. A massive thanks to Mica and Jo for the work they put in to organise this unique event. They think of everything down to being able to order lunch to be delivered to your stand! Easy to eat, delicious lunch too! So much appreciated x And of course a huge thanks to everyone who stopped by my stand! I enjoyed chatting to you all so much and thank you for buying my wares!

You'd think I'd be having a rest after such a busy few weeks preparing for EYF but I can't as Open Studios North Fife is in just six weeks time! I have so much to do! Got to get stuck into my new stash for starters!

I have done a little shop update today though.

Rainbow Cottage Farm is now on Etsy

Rainbow Cottage Farm £345

I sold out of Sheepy Earrings and Shawl Pins and plan to make more as soon as I can but I have listed what I have left here.

The full list of artists and makers taking part in Open Studios North Fife can be viewed on the website now and the brochure is available to download.

We are also now on Instagram so do pop over and follow us there is you are an IG user ❤

A Day of Rainbows, Some New Makes and New Arrivals.

Saturday was indeed a day of rainbows in more ways than one!

I decided to take a run over to Strathearn Fleece and Fibre near Muthill in Perthshire to stock up on some lovely hand dyed fibre.

Linda rears blue faced Leicester and texel sheep on her farm and the fibre she has available as rovings and as spun yarn is just a treat for any fibre lover.

I got well stocked up with all my favourite colours and can't wait to get started with it this week.

I also popped in to see Tracy at Lagom Felt Studio in Crieff as she has very kindly asked me to be her featured artist later this year.

Tracy offers a wide range of felting fibres and materials as well as some spun yarns, drum carded batts, feting kits and various notions. She also offers tuition. You can check out her website here for more info.

I'm looking forward to exhibiting here late May and throughout June.

Last week I enjoyed working with my stash of hand dyed North Ronaldsay fibres from Orkney. These fibres give a lovely rustic look to landscape pieces and are very enjoyable to work with.

 

Having needle felted my first collie dog back in January, I had another go and set this one to guarding a little flock of sheep on the hill.

'Gaurding the Flock' 

£95

This matching piece I have just called 'Three Sheep' and priced it slightly lower at £75 as there was less work involved.

It has been a busy time preparing for Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2017 which is less than three weeks away on March 10th and 11th.

I have been hoarding my makes and not putting them on Etsy as I am running out of time to make things.

Here are some finished trinket boxes that will be coming with me to the event.

I have also had a delivery of new printed products including mugs, mouse mats, zipped pouches, notebooks and cards. These are all available on Etsy here

Some new Sheep Brooches and Pendants have also made their way onto Etsy. I probably won't be adding any more until mid March.

If you are planning on coming to Edinburgh Yarn Festival, you can see the venue layout here

You can find me on stand J6.

Looking forward to seeing some of you there.

As usual, if you have any enquiries about my work, please feel free to email me aileenclarkecrafts@yahoo.com

❤