Holiday Time

I've just returned from a wonderful relaxing holiday in Scotland. It was just what I needed to recharge my batteries and work on some crochet and knitting for me! 

We had initially booked 3 nights in our favourite little cottage in Minto but then added a fourth night on followed by a very last minute addition of a first night at the Days Inn at Annandale Water. This hotel was a very pleasant surprise - budget so a pretty basic room but it had a balcony over looking the beautiful hills and lake complete with ducks and geese. I enjoyed my morning cup of tea whilst reading on the balcony (wrapped up in my slipper socks and dressing gown) but it was all very pleasant and civilised! 

The one thing I love about Granary Cottage is the hospitality of our lovely hosts Sheila and Kevan. Every time we've been, we've been greated by a vase of wild flowers and some home baked goodies. This year it was spiced fruit cake and it was delicious!

We spent a lot of time chilling out in the cottage, enjoying the beautiful view, reading and crafting. I managed to finish crocheting a shawl (it still needs beads adding so I'll post pictures when it's done) and started my Craftsy class on freeform crochet. It was great to have time for me crafting!

On Wednesday I headed over to The Border Tart (Lindsay) for a spinning lesson. She is a fabulous teacher and I loved every minute of it - so much so I've already acquired a wheel! I managed to spin and ply some yarn which has 'lots of character!!!' 

After my spinning lesson, I headed into Hawick where I enjoyed my lunch in a quirky cafe called The Damascus Drum which also doubled as a second hand book shop before popping over to The Textile Towerhouse to view the felt exhibition which was a delight to see and featured a few pieces by one of my favourite felt artists, Moy Mackay.

On the way home, we took a detour to visit Knit.Spin.Cakes new yarn shop, Harbour Yarns in Seaham, where I purchased some West Yorkshires Spinners Aire Valley DK. I have a project planned for this so you'll just gave to wait and see what it becomes. It's a gorgeous yarn shop, in a beautiful location with a great range of yarns. Definitley worth a visit! 

Enjoying the sunshine!

What glorious weather we have had today! Me and Mr Bunny have made.good use of it to. We started the day in Peebles where we visited a few fabulously arty places.
First we we went to the museum where there is currently an exhibition of work by the Embroiderers Guild. It was a shame we couldn't take photographs because the work was truly amazing and totally inspired me. My favourite piece  was an enormous wall hanging in bright colours - there is a little snap of it below which I got out of the gallery guide!
Then we headed over to the Moy Mackay gallery to drool over her beautiful felt pictures (Google her to see them!)
We then enjoyed a picnic by the River Tweed with our cakes purchased from Cocoa Black before heading off to the Tibetan and Buddhist Centre at Eskdalemuir. This is a beautiful, tranquil place we first visited last year. You can stroll around the gardens, visit the temple, take a hike up Fairy Hill, shop and enjoy a drink in the tearooms.
Finally, we visited the Borders Textile Towerhouse in Hawick which is a museum all about the textile and cashmere industry.
Later on we plan to go for a little walk to visit the sheep!
Who knows what the rest of the week will bring!
Sarah x

p.s make sure to pop back on Thursday for a special birthday giveaway!

A Very Animally Day!

Hello from a very sunny and warm Scotland! I am enjoying a well earned week away with Mr Bunny in the Scottish Borders.

Today we have visited Main Street Bookshop in Newton, the Roman Fort in Melrose and The Scottish Donkey Sanctuary.

We always visit the donkey sanctuary when we are up here and join one of their donkey tours where you get to meet and feed the donkeys! They also have shetland ponies, llamas, goats, pigs, chickens, ducks, peacocks and even frogs in their pond! All the donkeys are rescued and they do an absolutely amazing job!

On the way back we were happily held up by the farmer herding the sheep down a lane to a new field. In true sheep fashion, many of them tried to stop for a snack on the way!!

I have a few crafty visits planned for the week and will keep you posted on these!

Sarah x

A Well Deserved Break!

Last week I had a well deserved break and headed off to the north of Scotland for my hols with Mr Bunny.  My aunty kindly called in on 'The Farm' to feed the creatures whilst we enjoyed a busy, but restful week away.

We chose to stay in Gardenstown near Banff, along the Moray Firth, an area of Scotland we haven't really explored before and we fell in love with it!  Gardenstown is a fishing village and you have to take some pretty steep roads to get down to the sea!  We were staying in an old fisherman's stores, The Wee Hoose, which has been converted into the perfect, cosy holiday cottage for 2 with spectacular sea views. 

Gardenstown

The village was full of quaint cottages, a pub and a local shop called Gamrie Larder which sold the cutest pottery houses of which we bought 3 and 1 for my aunt.  They now have pride of place on my fireplace!

This area of Scotland is a great place for walking and wildlife spotting.  We took a walk up to Troup Head, an RSPB nature reserve on the cliffs and spotted ganets, guillemots and puffins - they are super cute. 




Troup Head

We regularly called off to see the seals at Portgordon who bask on the rocks quite close to the land.  We also had a close encounter with a deer who ran straight infront of the car one night - luckily we stopped in time although a stiff drink in the pub was called for after that. 

The highlight of the entire holiday for me were the dolphins at Spey Bay.  We spent many hours there in the hope that we might spot them and eventually we did.  I got so excited when I saw them that I feel over in my rush to get closer.  We were very lucky as we watched them for around half an hour feeding and playing in the bay and it was awesome.  To see dolphins in the wild is so special and I will cherish those meories for the rest of my life!  The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society have a vistors centre at Spey Bay where you can find more out about dolphins and the local wildlife, including osprey and otters, as well as a little shop.  The volunteers in the centre are full of information and are very passionate about the dolphins - they were very keen to chat to everyone.  I adopted a dolphin, Mischief, whilst I was there to.



Sunset at Spey Bay

Amongst other activities we went on a boat trip, to the Glenfiddich and Glen Grant distilleries and to the Speyside Cooperage as well as popping along to local villages and catching up with some of our friends. 
I took my crochet with me but only managed  a few rows on my shawl as it was all a bit non-stop.  I started a scrap book whilst away and will share it with you all when it is complete later on this week.

I hope you are all enjoying this extra long weekend and eat plenty of cake!

Happy holidays and crocheting in public!

Well, what a holiday I have had and I am going to share some of the highlights right here over the next few weeks!  I have just returned from a fabulous week in Scotland (well I got back about 2 hours ago!).  Mr Bunny and I stayed in a beautiful cottage in a tiny place called Minto surrounded by hills, plenty of sheep and a couple of peacocks!  There has been plenty of rest, a fair bit of crafting and quite a lot of sight seeing and shopping. 



Me outside our gorgeous holiday cottage!

 I took along enough crochet projects to keep me busy, for a couple of years, some journaling supplies and a couple of books (one of which I absolutley loved and will be reviewing in the not to distant future).  I finally got round to crocheting the mitts to match my Rapunzel snood and made a few more granny squares for my patchwork blanket.  There was plenty more that I am saving for future blog posts)

Today is Worldwide Knit in Public day.  I would have loved to have attended an event (and there where a few not too far away from me) but as we where driving back from bonny Scotland this was not logistically possible.  So, to make up for it, as we drove back I made Mr Bunny stop at Carter Bar on the border and take my picture as I crocheted in public both in England and in Scotland! 





Crocheting in England



Crocheting in Scotland

Bank Holiday Craftiness

I hope you are all having a good Bank Holiday weekend!  For those of you not in the UK, this weekend is 3 days long as we have a lovely extra holiday on Monday!  Whoop!  As I am off on my holiday next weekend, I am spending my extra long weekend being crafty and making lists and other such holiday preparations! 

I have already organised my travel craft projects into a bag (rather difficult as I wanted to take everything).  This consists of a mini travel art journal which I have already painted the pages in, some pens, pastels, glue and pics amongst other things.  After much deliberation I managed to cut it down to 1 pencil case and 1 A4 wallet!  I also have my Scottish Adventure Journal ready to add pics and mementos from the week in as well.  There are 2 books in there (just incase I finish one), including The Yarn Harlot book by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee. As yet I haven't chosen the crochet projects I am going to take.  All of my travel craft projects must fit into 1 smallish bag - this is what I have told myself - but I'm sure I can squeeze a magzine and some crochet into my handbag to (my husband will never know!)

Last week I found yet another new craft magazine called Craftseller.  It is aimed at people who want to make to sell and it is looking like it is going to be a good one.  There are articles from established sellers, particularly Etsy and the web, as well as projects you can make to sell.  I have been using up some old felt making some of the really cute Babushka Felties in the magazine and have adapted it to make them into little bellydancers!  So cute and very easy to do! 

I have added brooch backs to mine so they can be pinned to bags or clothing but I'm also thinking they would be great as key rings too!

She now lives on my recycled jeans bag!

As I am going to be away, this will be my last blog post for a couple of weeks.  When I return I will have plenty to share with you I am sure!  I will be posting quick updates and photos on my holiday crafting and any exciting shops and products and general craftiness I encounter when away on my Facebook page (www.facebook.com/gingerbreadbunny) so hop along and like the page to keep up-to-date with my crafty exploits!

Take care and see you all soon x