Singing Weavers' Visit

This week we have been delighted to welcome two parties guided by the Singing Weaver Nadine and her colleague Doreen.  On Wednesday the sun shone hotly and the croft looked neat and dry (all that tidying up earlier on had obviously been worthwhile!).  In the evening we all enjoyed a meal at the Isle of Harris Inn and the next day the party were headed for the Orkney section of their visit.

On Saturday the weather was not quite to good - but cleared up later and had stopped raining by the time the coach arrived.  Saturday was also the day that the Village to Outend sheep were moved from the crofts to the summer grazings.  The first sheep had already gone past by the time our visitors arrived, but they walked up behind the second batch for the last couple of hundred yards - it's been many years since so many people turned out to help with the gather!  Pippin went out for his first gather and did very well.  He has a lot of potential and worked well alongside Bramble, though he does need a bit more work on the driving.

Somebody couldn't even be bothered to get out of bed.....

There was a lot of interest in the loomshed, the croft and the cloth, and I learned a lot too - which is half the fun of these visits.  At last I found someone who had spun Qiviut - in fact she had a Qiviut knitted hat with her.  Gorgeous!

Today I'm sorting out a linen order to send off to Jos Vanneste SA in Belgium.  They sent me samples last week which are just amazing and have sparked off all sorts of ideas and plans.  Had meant to post a photo of the samples, but my camera has become mislaid under all the confusion and chaos that has been my life during the past week!  Looking forward to less stressful times ahead......