Exchanges

Suddenly it is nearly the end of the year, and here is a little about a couple of exchanges I have taken part in.

I can now reveal my downstream pal in SP11. Despite releasing the parcel into the Christmas post, the final reveal has happened. Gisela lives in northern Germany, near the border with the Netherlands. Rather like Jenn did for me, I managed to find exactly the yarn that Gisela had looked at. We even went to the same shop about a month apart, and picked out the same items. I didn't know that she had been there.

The Online Guild has had a stash exchange in December. I received this fantastic parcel from Doreen in Wales. The box has been tied with paper string in two shades.Inside the box is a selection of fibres, yarns and fabric, mostly indigo dyed.

Accompanying it is a list of the items with information about how they have been dyed.

Some items were dyed with fresh leaves (home-grown) of Japanese indigo (Polygonum Tinctoria).

This surely is much more satisfying than the selection boxes containing chocolates that we were given as children. It will certainly last much longer.

And then there is the other exchange that has taken up so much of my time lately. Here in Long Eaton, the Art Room has been moving into much larger premises. We have the opportunity to expand, and to provide more opportunities for local artists whatever their experience. For the first time we will be able to make all our equipment available, without having to constantly shift things around. Of course it will mean more work, but mostly it will be FUN!!
I want a couple of days at home, then to get back in there to organize all the items that have just been moved into the new premises. All of this must happen before a private party on 6th January, and we open to the public again on 7th January 2008.

I've been at home during daylight hours!!

And now you can see the tremendous bounty I received from my upstream Secret Pal, Jenn.

The parcel came towards the end of November, but I was never home for long enough to take photos.

So, here we have an overview of the contents, which were all wrapped beautifully in tissue paper.

And now for a few close-ups: Firstly some pretty notelets and "The Friday Night Knitting Club". All I need is a bit of time to read!Secondly, the sweetest Santa I have seen in ages. I forgot to take a close-up of the seasonal teatowels.And lastly, some yarn. I really think that Jenn is a mind reader. I had just been at Harrogate, and at the last minute bought two skeins of this lovely laceweight alpaca. I wasn't sure whether to get two or three. Along with it is a skein of Araucania Ranco Multi ina fantastic blue mix. Just a few days earlier I had been disappointed not to win one of these on eBay.Now I must get on with making up a second bed in our guest room, as tonight we have two friends staying with us.