Podcast Episode 2 – Great . . . Expectations

A podcast for people who love knitting, Dorset Buttons, creativity & Scotland, especially the Highlands & Islands.

 

Welcome to the 2nd episode of my podcast – Great . . . Expectations!

Thank you for coming back to listen again or welcome if you are a first time listener.

I start off this episode with:

Response to 1st Episode 

Wow, what an amazingly positive & engaging response you all gave me to the first episode of my podcast.  Beyond any expectations I had, the response was overwhelming.  I could not believe the amount of you who listened, from all over the world, & then how many of you took the time out to comment, like, share, & send me messages & come & say hello to me at Edinburgh Yarn Festival (EYF).  Thank you so much it really does mean a lot.

The Weather 

We’ve had winter, spring & summer since the 1st episode & have been fortunate enough to see some wildlife too.  Snow, blue skies, beautiful sunsets, warmth & the Northern Lights.

Early March, walking on Sleat, Isle of Skye, looking towards Knoydart & Loch Nevis.

 

Late March, walking on Sleat, Isle of Skye, looking towards Mallaig & Ardnamurchan.

Making

I dived into the WIP pile & I reveal all – 8 in total so just in the single figures!  Although I realised after I’d recorded the podcast that the Boo Knits Shawl I mention that I cast on post EYF is really a WIP too!

My 8 WIPs are:

1. Taliesen Jumper by Louisa Harding
2. Gullfoss by Stephen West
3. Shawl – TJFrog design
4. Eigg Slippers from Rowan Magazine
5. Blanche by Susan Crawford
6. Lilium from The Knitter Issue
7. Moray Star by Di Gilpin
8. Fishermens Knit Bag – Shetland Wool Week

Post EYF I knitted the Brake Cowl by Donna Smith, it’s now waiting to be blocked!

Now I have the Mustard Seed Shawl by Boo Knits on my needles using one of the skeins from The Golden Skein EYF2015 Collaboration.

 

My only personal yarn purchase at EYF was Kate Davies Buchaille to make a pattern from her latest book Inspired by Islay.

Stash – how I’m going to reacquaint with my stash & give it some love & attention.  I talk about a couple of podcasters who have come up with ways of attacking the stash!

Firstly Jo Milmine of Shiny Bees who promotes the Active Stash Exploration method where you make an active conscious decision to delve into your stash and reconnect with your yarn and the memories associated with it, whilst not starving yourself of buying new yarn.

Secondly Fay Daspher-Hughes of The Crochet Circle who is Stash Busting this year using the Stash Bingo method.  I talk about this method & what happened to Fay the second time she played Stash Bingo & how I benefitted from it!

I’m going to apply both of these methods to my stash & I discuss how I will do that.

Dorset Buttons

Edinburgh Yarn Festival is the main thing to have happened on the Dorset Button front.

To hear a sound bite from me head over to Louise of Caithness Craft Collective Episode 167

I had a lot of fun delivering 2 Dorset Button workshops at EYF in aid of The Teapot Trust.

I made purchases for myself from Tilly Flop Designs & Beyond Measure

I made purchases for my Dorset Buttons products from:

Uist Wool, Ardalanish, Iona Wool, Ripples Crafts, Garthenor & Weft Blown.

I talk a bit more about my TJFrogWool, Shorelines & Strata, and the thinking behind the name.  The Poll Dorset is from Rampisham Hill Farm in Dorset.  And at Edinburgh Yarn Festival I got to meet Stephen & Rachel the owners of Croft 29, whose Hebridean sheep contributed their fleeces to  my wool.

You can listen to a review of TJFrogWool by Louise Hunt of Caithness Craft Collective here.

I give thanks to Lucy, Jo & Geraint for their help with knitting up samples, packing up kits, painting boxes & manning my stand!

Local Lowdown

I tried the Misty Isle Gin and found the orange peel really does work with it!

The latest snippet is about a musical concert experience due to take place in the Cullin next month.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-concert-in-a-coire-tickets-32102064138

Skye Showcase

For this episode I travelled North West on Skye to Carbost to visit Louise of Lou Lou Designs On Skye at her home.  Louise makes the most amazing bags & accessories from Harris Tweed.  Her descriptions, of what she does, the adventures she has doing it and what Skye means to her, are incredible.  The interview lasts for just under 33 minutes.

Lou Lou Designs on Skye can be found at:

Facebook:   @louloudesignsonskye

Louise currently has a Spring Giveaway on her Facebook page if you fancy being in with a chance of winning one of her Harris Tweed Bags – due to be drawn on 16 April 2017

Etsy:   www.etsy.com/uk/shop/LouLouDesignsonSkye

Instagram:   lou_lou_designs_on_skye_

Louise’s Pop-Up Shop at home, bag examples & inside detail

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

View from Louise’s back garden!

 

Music – the music is One Frog For a Prince, by Ron Patton & licensed from Melody Loops.

I loved to hear your feedback on my 2nd episode!  Please leave a comment below or contact me via social media (details at the bottom) or via the form on the contact page.

Bye for now.

 

 

 

 

Facebook:   @TJFrogSkye

Instagram:   TJFrogSkye

Twitter:    TJFrogMakes

Ravelry:  LittleFrog