Gathering in

Gnomie family in their new autumn into winter shelter at All Hallows Eve

It has been a time of 'gathering in' this autumn, and preparing for winter.
Our lives seem to get ever more hectic around us, but there is a stillness and softness in the air everywhere, and the golden glow of autumn...

carding and blending wool

We are using up our remnant wools and see what magical colours they turn in when blend together.
And try to work out what it could be that blend wants to turn into... ?

snow upon autumn fields...

Old friends came again this Saturday - which was fabulous!
See more on photoalbum here.

Earlier this month Jen was enjoying herself gloriously: teaching wet felting to a class of eager primary 1s and 2s kids and their teachers. It is just so amazing what wool can do to folks of all ages: brings out the glow!
(sorry no pics from that event, being a school event.)


And here is one very happy girl who got lucky: the braid she had started weaving on the inkle loom during the festival was given to her - secretly being completed by Christina, the weaver

Weekend away

the family is growing!

Your Maker friends (Jen, Ruth, Vicen) are all away this weekend, So sorry, hope you enjoy crafting all the same where ever you are - and yes, it would be lovely to have you send us pics?

We'll keep you posted of our next session, and yes, Shirin is back!

Meanwhile, not just the gnomy family is growing:

Festival presentation online now!

would it be good to have notes published, too, or do the slides speak for themselves enough?

Festival Family Ceilidh

Ceilidh at last - but ah, the time went flying!

Please click for more videos on the Arts Association' you tube channel,
and for photos on Peni Arts Facebook page .

The Arts Association has overtaken us on FB popularity, by the way! Still, we want you to 'like' them, good info there, too!

Gnomy time - you know me!

Autumn is here, and the gnomies are about, and Santa is a afoot, too, as well as other felt fall!

Kyrgyz Felt Expo in Glasgow's Collins Gallery

Nuno scarves the Kyrgyz way

Last month it was that this fab expo closed in Glasgow. Fabulous exhibition of a fabulous people! Patterns and rhythms of the universe pulse through the shimmering silk with soft woollen tread. What wealth of colour and texture and styles, what elegance and groundedness combined. 

Shirin will give us a workshop in Kyrgyz nuno felting beginning of November. So watch this space!

Meanwhile get inspired through the photo album: click here.

panels telling the strories of crafts alive in people and land

1st October Making Space @ West Street

Caroline Maciver's leaf from last year

Making Space enters it second year, and it starts it at 4-6 West Street, Penicuik, the Arts Centre, room 2 upstairs, tomorrow, 1st October. 11.30 am - 1.30 pm for a public crafting session.

This term we will have 3 public craft sessions, always on the first Saturday of the month. At West Street.

We also meet every Saturday there, to deepen our craft skills and - so we hope - rebuild our numbers, which have dwindled a little over the summer and with life moving some of our regular volunteers on.
The core group of Making Space volunteers wishes to 'make space' for deepeninng our craft skills, and for making things for the forth coming craft fairs - as we always are asked 'do you sell this' and we don't so far!

Please come and join us every week if you would like to build resources, skill wise, products wise, but especially people wise . Get in touch via making_space@talktalk.net or via 07818 061918 if you wish to know more. Or just come along with your project if you like, or come open to see and do what needs doing.

We will miss the friendly faces of the townhall gatherings at the Saturday coffee mornings and the good cakes (hm, no, not really, we might just buy them and bring them over ;-)!
And we hope that we may grow again in strength soon enough to come back to give ourselves and our skills again.

Nature's Frame weaving last year at Penicuik House

We also will do Story Scape every first Friday in the month and are open to the public then in the library at the usual time, 1.30/2 - 3pm. In between we work away on  story scape skills building - come and join up if you like?

Meanwhile: see you tomorrow between 11.30 and 1.30pm: for freeflow autumn felting and weaving!