Lots of events happened - Wonderwool has come and gone, and I organised the coach again.  All well apart from two Bicton Collage Students who got the DAY wrong - one had cancelled anyway, fortunately - but the other sat by the roadside waiting for the coach for over an hour on Saturday morning - we actually went up to Wales on the Sunday.  I refunded their money and apologised lots but couldn't make up for their disappointment.
Then, shortly after Wonderwool, the Eggesford Barton Retreat took place.  All went relatively smoothly, including two fascinating Mill visits - one to Sue Blacker's in Launceston and the other to visit John Arbon's in South Molton.  The weekend deserves a post of its own so I'll stop there.

I've been gradually processing my Shetland Fleece from Shetland into soft and woolly laceweight.  That's the wool in the picture at the start of this post (pre washing).  I'm going to knit a traditional Shetland Lace Shawl from the outside in, following Sharon Miller's instructions (from her classic book 'Heirloom Knitting') so I can get my head around the format before trying to design my own.  I've completed the first of the four edging sections.  Cor, fancy that - actually walking before I run!    And, as is usual, I'm also tryng to knit the niece's cardi, join in a sock KAL AND design a cushion cover based on 'tinner's rabbits'.

I'm also painting and LOVING it.  Have ordered 50 cards of X6 different paintings to go in the Gallery at Hannah's and maybe start my Etsy shop.  The painting mojo is flowing.  I'll add some pics of the THREE paintings I completed yesterday.   I'm yearning to do a still life a la Shirley Trevena (who floats my boat).  And am trying to get a series of sheepy portraits done too.  Not busy at all then.

The Retreat is FULL!  Wasn't that quick?

Have also been up to the Phoenix to book a room for a new 101 course in Exeter.  IT's expensive - but I think it'll be worth it.  Got to speculate to accumulate I suppose.  I'm going to run the course as cheaply as I can, but inevitably it will be more expensive than running one at Hobbycraft in KIngsteignton, or even at Ruth's in the village.  STILL - this is all very exciting and I'm SO looking forward to enabling more people in knitting (and spinning too, mwah ha ha ha!).

I've been to a new Spinning Group - with Yule Somme on a Thursday - at her new Studio in Moretonhampstead - excellent company, even if I didn't learn much.  I enjoyed the opportunity to spin uninterrupted by the thought of having to do housework.

And I've started spinning pet hair.  I hope to do more of this in the future.  Anyone who knows me can't miss that I LOVE DOGS.  And to spin their fur into beautiful yarn which can be made into mementoes that will make their owners even happier is just WUNNERFUL.  I've just read that back.  How gushingly awful.  But really - spinning fur has to be the ultimate in recycling - better made into luscious yarn than all over the carpet - right?

Have started taking bookings for this second retreat at Eggesford Barton House, Mid Devon - and there are 14 people signed up for it already.  15 including me!  There were 17 of us altogether, last year, so we're nearly fully booked.  However - if last year is anything to go by, that can change.  Contact me for more details if you're interested - or go to the Tutleymutley and Wrigglefingers forum on Ravelry.   Prices vary according to accommodation, with the cheapest being those willing to share a triple room.  However, it WILL be less than £200 inclusive.  
We self cater - and were massively over catered last year.   Hopefully that should be better organised this year.  
Plans: pot luck supper Friday night.  Continental breakfasts - cereal, croissants, toast and jams, cheese and ham.
Saturday - hang loose - or maybe visit John Arbon's Mill, if he'll have us, as it's only about 20mins away.
left over lunch - cold collations.  Saturday evening - curry!  
Sunday - outing - not sure where but am going to contact Sue Blacker to see if she'll have us?  Pub lunch.  Share transport.
Sunday evening - I'll cook.
Monday - clear up and move on out.

Not long now till the Retreat at Eggesford Barton House - though friend Mon pointed out that it might be a 'freezer' rather than Spring 'fever'.  I'm hoping the house will be lovely and warm with its woodburning stoves etc.  
17 of us will arrive on Friday bringing a pot luck supper.  Then Saturday should start bright and early with a continental style breakfast and a bit of a stroll (7 mile circuit?) around the Eggesford Estate.  The day is free to spin/knit/weave/crochet/experiment with dyeing or whatever.  Saturday lunch will be smorgasbord style.  Saturday supper will be in the capable hands of Devonchef Tim Harris.  More spinning, knitting, crocheting, solving problems of the world, after supper,  Sunday involves piling into as few cars as possible (whilst leaving room for stash of course) and heading off for Lynton and the Natural Dye Studio.  Queenie Amanda promises us a dyeing demo and we get to drool over her luscious natural dyed yarns.  After this we'll head on over the the Blue Ball Inn for lunch before moving on to John and (Juliet) Arbon's shop in Lynton itself.  Lynton is a gorgeous sea side  Devon village in North Devon and worth wondering around anyway.  
After what should prove to be a full and inspiring day we head on back to Eggesford House for a last supper as we all have to depart on Monday morning by 10am.  I'm not doing any more organising now until I get back from Scotland after next weekend.  Then the days before will be a flurry of food shopping and cooking and baking.  I'm so looking forward to this holiday!

April is looking very busy for other reasons too - Wonderwool is taking place in the Royal Welsh Showground at the end of the month and I'm organising the coach for the fourth time.  You'd think I'd be able to do it in my sleep now!  The coach is full - although there's been a few drop outs there's also a little bit of a waiting list so that's great.  I only hope the weather will be better than last year - it couldn't get much worse!
I'm also hoping to make a whacky hat for the competition too - but time is running out as usual.  There's also two workshops to plan for and try and publicise - the Introductory course at Coombe House and the Fairisle day at Ipplepen.

So welcome to my new blog - which will concentrate on my efforts at making a go of being a textile artist.  My old blog is still out there in blogland (knitknackpaddywack.blogspot) and will continue to gather up the detritus sporadically I'm sure.