The Puffins are back on the Farne Islands 37,000 pairs of breeding puffin, figures from National Trust site

They are iconic birds with their black back and white fronts, amazingly marked heads and bills. To quote from the  RSPB “Its comical appearance is heightened by its red and black eye-markings and bright orange legs. Used as a symbol for books and other items, this clown among seabirds is one of the world’s favourite birds.”

We too have been ‘clowning around’ creating our prototype of this amazing visitor, pictured above on the rocks with authentic bird poo! We have fallen in love with the puffin and decided to make a pattern which is available as a sewing kit for all you puffin enthusiasts (advanced knowledge of sewing required).

Please contact us to talk ‘birds’. Price for a kit: £16 (incl p&p)

The maths behind crafts

I thought I’d let you into a secret; Grace is not as dizzy as she makes out! Patchwork design is tricky – I have total admiration for her spiral maths prowess.

1 – For her application of pi using protractors, compasses and a brain (our calculator fell apart) to create the template for the 5 m²spiral hanging which has been divided into 18 equal sections.

2 For Grace’s quilting ability – I had no idea quilting was so mathematical; it should be taught in schools as applied maths!

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Busy, busy!

I’m not sure ‘feathering our nest’ is an apt phrase for what we’re up to, but we are busy replenishing stock. Silver Moon cushions, accessories such as innovative bags and chic scarves and sumptuous quilts of silk, velvet and cotton are now available.  Soft furnishings and upholstery aplenty.

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What we’ve been up to

The organisers of Redefest, a wonderful local music festival, asked us to repair a damaged 10×8 m2 marquee.  Heavy-duty repairs are certainly within our remit.  Redefest is a volunteer run festival, with two stages and plenty of activities and workshops.  At £6 per adult, £4 per child of £15 per family, I can’t think of anywhere better to be on the 2nd of August!

Source: Redefest http://www.redefest.org.uk/

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Newcastle Spiral Pilot

We had a brill time in Newcastle too, for our second community pilot project of the Spiral. This day turned out to be one of surprises. Our expected outcome of the day was that we would produce a large hanging, depicting everyone’s views on what they felt was important in life.

However, as the day unfolded it took on a different guise.

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