Da Muckle Gravit

SUCCESS! I managed to download the photo of me and Joanna Hunter makkin on da Muckle Gravit at the Mael Sands in Burra.

The Gravit (Shetland speak for scarf) was the brainchild of Jane Moncrieff and it all began at last years Craft Fair, an ingenius way to get folk knitting and keep the Arts & Crafts Association to the fore throughout the year. It has had many interested parties having a go and knitting a few rows, from the very young to the more experienced knitter. And who knows we may even break the record. Apparently the longest scarf ever knitted was made in pieces and sewn together, whereas ours is in one continuous piece.

Thanks to Hazel Hughson, our Indigenous Crafts Officer, it is growing very quickly and has its own diary which includes photos and notes from where it's been. Hazel looks after the Gravit's appointments diary, which is quite full for the next few months. Thanks Hazel, it's much appreciated.

Craft Fair

AUNTY WINNIE & FIONA MAKKIN ON DA MUCKLE GRAVIT

An update of the past few weeks.
Maggie is growing fast and terrorising Spark as I type.
The annual Christmas Craft Fair has come and gone (organised and held every year by the Shetland Arts & Crafts Association, of which I am, for my sins, Secretary). See www.shetlandartsandcrafts.co.uk.
That's about it, however, there has been huge quantities of work done in this time. Not only have been organising my own work (Burra Bears) to make some money at the Craft Fair, but I have also been sorting out my Mam's wares (Mams makkin, Fair Isle Poncho's, we shared a stand at the Fair). And finally I have been doing what Committee Secretaries do best, all the bloody paperwork for the organisation of the Craft Fair. Well, I might be slightly exaggertaing this as we have a fantastic committee and everyone did their bit to make the whole event run fantastically well, even if John did turn up late on Saturday morning with the money!
We even got together on Saturday night at the Great Wall Chinese restaurant to marvel at all the work we had done, over quite a few bottles of red wine and a fantastic meal. Isn't it funny how a few glasses (or should that be bottles) of wine, make it much easier to speak to folk and you end up asking questions you would normally never mention. Having said that, everyone was still talking to me on Sunday morning so I am assuming I didn't offend anyone, I am just terribly interested in folk (although some would say nosey!).
As the attached photo shows, we had fun doing the whole thing, using ourselves to advertise the event. It was originally mentioned that we do the knitting on the beach naked, but decided no, it would be rather too cold, and there would probably be a little unwanted attention. Can't seem to attach the photo, but you can view it at www.craftscotland.org.

So that's what's been going on, although I did have last week off, I couldn't bear (pardon the pun) to go out to the shed to sort out the remains of the craft fair, bears, ponchos etc etc, so I kind of did all those things you would normally never do in a million years, I ironed lots, I cleaned the house and sat and stared into space a lot, god, I even watched telly in the afternoon (and anyone who knows me, knows I don't do that), but I have gotten over it, and I guess I'd better do some work next week, as I have a load of bears to make, including a dozen for Bamford's in London made from arran jumpers and cord fabric, hey that's life.