Time to Catch Up :18th September 23
10 Things I did this summer
Happy Monday! Hope life is treating you well.
The middle of September, already? And again I’ve fallen out of the habit of writing. I’ll keep this catch up short and sweet in a what I did in my holidays styleee, just to get back into the groove…
10 Things I Did This Summer
In no particular order:
Cleared out more than 15 years’ worth of paperwork. The tatty brown metal filing cabinet is now completely empty and ready to be rehomed - it feels like a heavy burden has been lifted.
Waited for summer to start, which it eventually did for one week in September.
Designed a tee shirt on Teemill.com, Literally Giving It 110% which is suitable for all the sarcastic grammar pedants in your life, or yourself if you think it applies.
Drank copious amounts of tea and devoured an obscene amount of tray-bake, scones, and fancy gateau on weekend cafe stops. Gluttony has become my vice of choice in middle-age. I’ve enjoyed every mouthful but my clothes are all too tight, so I probably should embrace healthier eating habits now. Shame.
Visited the Tartan exhibition at the V&A Museum in Dundee. A really comprehensive exploration of the history, manufacture, and uses of tartan fabric, with a stunning selection of tartan objects including both historic garments and current fashion, plus the use of tartan in art and design. Highly recommended! This video gives you an idea of what to expect. It runs until January so there’s plenty of time to plan a visit.
Flunked out of my 100 Day Project on day 36. I just didn’t have the headspace for it once I started preparing for the makers market in July. Still, it was worth doing and I learned several new painting techniques which I want to explore more.
Had a great day out in The East Neuk of Fife, visiting The Pittenweem Arts Festival. Seeing inside the harbour village cottages where the open studios take place is just as much fun as viewing the art. Favourites from this year included Siobhan McLaughlin, the winner of the Henderson Bursary Award and KJA Studio - gorgeous ceramics by Kirsty Anderson.
Started designing and making a new collection of textile accessories using a thread-wrapping technique. They will be available at my next fair on 1st October and added to the online shop shortly after that.
Booked up for several more craft markets in the run-up to Christmas and created an EVENTS page for my website.
Had the pleasure of meeting my other half’s American cousin and his wife for the first time. They were over from Texas for a week in Scotland before embarking on an Atlantic cruise from Southampton. We enjoyed some sightseeing in Edinburgh with them, including a fantastic chauffeur-driver Daimler limousine tour up Calton Hill, which Robb had arranged with his friend/colleague John, of Edinburgh Classic Wedding Cars. As a fun gesture and in honour of his passengers, John had placed two flags on the bonnet of the car; Stars and Stripes on one side and the Saltire on the other. What fun to have a taste of VIP lifestyle! I won't forget that day in a while.
Not sure how much progress I'll make with the brooches and pendants this week as I'm spending a couple of days away but travelling by bus will give me time to think and scribble notes.
Until next time, Enjoy your week!
Julia x
I like the look of the textile brooches very much. Have a good week.