Bruce Festival 2013

24/09/2013 Backdated Post

Today was the annual Bruce Festival in Dunfermline Glen. If you haven't been to this you really should! Dunfermline has a particular air about it - especially this part of the town, the "old town" -  that only comes from a deep history. Dunfermline was the ancient capital of Scotland, before the castle at Edinburgh was even built. The old palace is now a ruin, beautiful and ancient.

The Bruce Festival celebrates some of that history with a medieval fayre. Jousting, falconry, and weapons displays blend with a living village and the more modern craft stalls and specialist food stalls. It's the kind of event you can take the whole family to, relaxing the full day, or go by yourself and cram everything into an afternoon.

Elle in the stocks - my sister was only too happy to take a photo...

The wonderful Peggy of Ravenstonz in the Crafts Marquee

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Some of my favourite Ravenstonz treasures

Moniak! I love that they dress as monks when they come to these fayres

Trebuchet models

And a real life one!!!

 

A medieval "witch" with a chest full of medicines

Tablet weaving. I have a set of tablet cards myself, but never gotten around to using them

Peregrine - fastest bird of prey. So fast the only time I could photo it was when it was on the ground!

Buzzard - this particular one had a habit of perching on the falconer!

A luceteer. Had been using an outmoded stick method.

But I taught her fast-grab. She was much happier!

This lovely lady is responsible for giving me my five minute intro to drop spindling two years ago.

An embroiderer. She had some fantastic examples of her work.

A shirt fit for a viking prince!

Close up on one of the details.

I took so many photos - these are just some of my favourites. It really was a great day out.

Moment of sheer stupidity #3547

Yesterday I was finally able to spin and ply the soay-cross fleece I’d been working for a local sheep-farmer. Sat in front of the telly spinning on my Joy quite happily. When it came time to ply I smugly set up the two spun bobbins in the built-in lazy kate, an empty third bobbin all prepped, and started plying - my first time plying on my pretty new Joy.

There was zero uptake.

I adjusted the tension. No difference. I oiled the flyer shaft. No difference. The bobbin just would not turn to pull on the yarn.

Finally, I gave up and carted my Country Spinner 2 down to the living room to do the ply, my Joy sitting to one side silently mocking me. Afterwards I went to bed feeling rather down. When I woke up this morning, I knew instantly what had gone wrong.

I’d forgotten to reverse the brake band!

Like a lot of spinners, I have a single spring on my brake band. This stops the bobbins uptake if you accidentally start spinning the wrong way. You have to reverse the direction it takes over the bobbin if you want to ply.

Oops.

Beach Forage at Tammys

11th August 2013 - Backdated Post

Went to Carnoustie at Tammys invite to go beachcombing with some of the Dundee Mooters. It was a really great day - gorgeous weather, beautiful beach (with tons of shells and even hagstones!) and after a lovely long walk we headed back to Tammys house where she'd prepared delicious lentil and bacon soup for us all. I'd contributed a lovely crusty loaf (courtesy of Tescos) and a couple of cakes mysteriously appeared too. It was a reminder of times in Glasgow with potluck lunches and pagan happiness, a fresh page with a new place and new friends. It was very good.

Tammy - Our Hostess With The Mostess

Amazing Rock-Wave on Beach

Beautiful view over the rock-pools to the North Sea

The Happy Band of Beachcombers