Scottish Gifts, Felt Art Pictures, Shawl Pins and Crochet.

What a fantastic summer is has been since my last blog update and here we are in September already!

I thoroughly enjoyed all the great weather we had during June and July and managed to spend four weeks at the beach! Two weeks on a family holiday in Cornwall and two with my daughter visiting my son in the west of Ireland. The break did me the world of good and I have settled back into work with renewed zeal.

Sand Art at Perrnaporth

I had a stand at Perth Festival of Yarn earlier this month and took the opportunity to stock up on amazing hand dyed fibres from various other vendors. I have been experimenting with my purchases this week and I'm so excited with the results.
These two framed pictures are hot off the work table this week and now available on Etsy. Click the images for full details.

Rainbow Over the Glen 

£145

Wild Atlantic Horizon

£225

I have been making lots of things in little batches since May and did a massive shop update last week. Textile Trinket Boxes, Sheep Brooches, Shawl Pins and Sheep Earrings are among just some of the 200 items I have available right now.

Trinket Boxes range from £36 to £48.50

Sheep Jewellery from £18

Ivy Leaf Brooches £14 

My Ivy Leaf Brooches have been very popular and I have a few still available. 

I also have new coaster designs in.

This set below feature my new stag picture as well as the seascape and sunset I made back in May. I like the highland lochs and glens feel to them.

I revamped my original set of four with the addition of 'Little Lamb' which I think goes quite well with the cottages and coo.

Set of Four Luxury Coasters £14.95

They also go well with my Tea Towel

Tea Towel £9.95

My 2019 Calendar is also here!

I have gone for the square format again with a different image for each month and a whole calendar page to write on.

Calendar £12 inc UK p+p

As well as working on my felt art I have been working on some crochet for myself. I like The Crochet Project patterns as they are easy to follow and the finished pieces look like they were quite complicated but were actually really simple to make.

This is 'Parallel Lines' from The Shawl Project, Book 4 

I used a Scheepjes Whirl in Blackberry Mint Chip and it was enjoyable to crochet with. The colour changes kept my interest going as 1000 m of yarn and a repeat pattern can become a bit boring after a while!

My next crochet make involves this beautiful gradient yarn in blues from WooSheeps and the purples and pinks from Quirky Paintbrush. I think it's true to say that since taking up crochet I have developed yarn addiction on top of fibre addiction!

My next event will be at Pitcairngreen Village Hall on Saturday 27th October. This is a great little fair that I have been doing for about 15 years! There is a small entrance fee that includes tea, coffee , sandwiches and home baked cakes.

After that I will be at The Handmade Show on Sunday 18th November. This is an excellent event held in Perth Concert Hall. Free entry.

New for November

Here we are, first of November already! It has been a busy few weeks for me with school holidays, events and new makes.

Earlier last month I was asked if I could make my Sheep Brooches as actual Shawl Pins so I sourced some suitable pins and got to work on these right away.

The pins measure 8cm long with the sheepie bit measuring 2.5cm in diameter. They are great for keeping thick layers of knitwear together be it shawls, scarves, cardigans, cloaks or cowls and as a few have pointed out, they can be used as stitch markers as well.

Sheepie Shawl Pins

£18

I tried my hand at my first big felt picture a few weeks ago. It's quite big for me anyway as I am used to working small scale but I wanted to have a go at a larger piece.

I got a fabulous carded batt from Clive at Gongcrafts when we were at Perth Festival of Yarn. The fibre was perfect for making an aurora picture, with strands of angelina and bright lime greens. I added shiny silver dots to the sky for stars and iridescent accents to the sea which reflect the light quite magnificently. The picture measures 80 x 50 cm and was quite tough on the arms to roll! I have it in my Etsy shop now here

Aurora Borealis Over Islands

£345

I've also been working on some smaller framed pieces at 15 x 15 cm in 30 x 30 cm frames.

Sunflower Cottage

£95

Flower Lea Cottage 

£95

and Little Tree Cottage 

£95

These can all be found in my Etsy shop or from me at upcoming events.

My multipurpose pouches are back in stock in all three designs. Useful for so many things! I keep crochet hooks in one and my sunglasses in another.

Pouches £7.95

So you can find me this Saturday at Falkland Craft Market. Free entry. This market supports local artists and makers with stall fees going toward the upkeep of the community hall.

Falkland is such a lovely place to visit with beautiful gift shops, tea rooms, cafes and walks as well of course as the palace and gardens.

The Handmade Show is a real highlight of my year as not only do I get to take my work to my home town of Perth and sell at this fabulous event but I get to meet up with other fantastic artists and makers whose work I admire greatly.

Check out the exhibitors list here 

My boxes have been selling like hot cakes over the last few weeks so I am doing my best to make more for my Etsy shop and for my events.

These two are hot off the work table this week.

Harris Tweed and Felt Box

7 x 7 x 7 cm 

£35

10 x 10 x 6 cm £40

So hopefully I'll see some of you at one of the events in the next few weeks. My last event of the year is at The Loft, Ardross Farm Shop, Elie. This is a lovely two day event of Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th November 9 - 5pm

The Makers Market this Saturday 21st November. St Andrews Town Hall

Following on from a hugely successful Handmade Show last week, I will be at The Makers Market in St Andrews this Saturday the 21st November.

The Town Hall is on Queen's Gardens just off the A918, the main street running through St Andrews. It's a lovely venue and it's shaping up to be a great event!

I will have lots and lots of everything with me!

Harris Tweed and Felt Trinket Boxes from £28

Printed Cushions

Earrings £18

Pendants £24

Sheep Jewellery from £15

Lots of boxes!

Brooches £12

And printed gifts from just £4.95

All these are available in my Etsy shop now.

I will also be at 

The Loft

Ardross Farm Shop

Elie

Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th November

9-5                                       9-4

July Update

I have had to get up at the crack of dawn today in order to update my blog here as time seems to be running away from me these days.

The school holidays have started here in Scotland and it has rained every day so far. Boooooo!

So keeping children entertained while trying to build up stock for my next event is a bit of a juggle.

My next event is The Big Tent Festival in Falkland, Fife.

The emphasis at this festival is on environmental awareness while offering great live music and lots of activities for all ages.

I will have a stall in the Craft Unplugged tent and plan to have the full range of

Aileen Clarke Crafts goodies with me.

First thing to do when making any new stock is to make the felt.

Below is some nuno felt I made a couple of weeks ago and I am just now getting around to making it into wearable items.

Nuno Felt Wrist Cuff

The beauty of these cuffs, like all felt really is that you never get the same effect or colour combination twice.

The texture in this cuff adds a unique feel to it too and I have used a big felt bead instead of a button.

Cuff £12

Also hot off the work table are these new leaf pendants.

I have teamed this one up with a length of hand dyed felt cord which can be tied at the back of the neck as a nice alternative to a chain.



£20

Chains are still available though.

Wrist Cuff to match.

£12

I have lots of new sheep pendants and earrings on the work table just now as well.

Here are some that are finished.

Sheep Pendant

£20

Earrings

£18

I love making these textile pendants as well and have lots on the go just now.

I also make earrings in this style so watch this space or my Etsy shop for them.

£20

Moontide Pendant

£20

Also in stock are these printed cards.

There are lots of designs to choose from all featuring Bothy's and Sheep, Harbour Houses and Boats or a simple Seascape.

Great for all sorts of occasions or just to say Hello and Thinking of You.

Everything you see here is available in my Etsy Shop 

(unless it has already sold by the time you are reading this)

Remember that it is free to join Etsy and you can shop for all sorts of amazing handmade things from all over the world as well as vintage items and crafting supplies.

Last Saturday we took a wee jaunt up to Ceres for the Highland Games.

Watching the Highland dancers really brought back memories for me. I used to go to Highland dancing as a child and got as far as owning a turquoise kilt and velvet waistcoat and won my pre bronze medal for the Highland fling. I didn't stick at it but I do remember learning the sword dance.

Loving the concentration here.