From the purple dyeshed... - RipplesA blog about Highland Life and Ripples Crafts2024-03-29T04:52:03+00:00Helen Lockharturn:md5:f6d20d820f399da8aea474786ab5e60bDotclearThe "Ripples" in Ripples Craftsurn:md5:2c0a891d264e06d0aa60d23906e441e62015-03-22T19:55:53+00:002015-03-22T19:55:53+00:00helen_at_ripplescraftsRipplesCategory:ArcheologyCategory:Hjatland YarnCategory:Mrs Balls ChutneyCategory:MungoCategory:PerthshireCategory:Ripples <a href="https://www.ripplescrafts.com/dropone/public/uploads/2015/03/RC-193953-22032015.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-8110" alt="RC-193953-22032015" src="https://www.ripplescrafts.com/dropone/public/uploads/2015/03/RC-193953-22032015.jpg" width="640" height="480" /></a><br><br>Sometimes I idly wonder if I chose the right name for my business - Ripples Crafts. I mean, it doesn't really say "hand dyed yarn" does it? But then someone said something to me at the Edinburgh Yarn Festival which bought back exactly <em>why </em>I'd chosen the name, and I searched back through my blog archives to when I announced the name to the world. Here is what I had to say in 2008:<br><br><em>"Many of you know that I have been working towards setting up an online shop to sell my hand dyed yarns. <strong>Ripples</strong> will be appearing on a computer screen near you in the not too distant future. The name, Ripples, came about after thinking about my associations with the woolly world. Stevan often comments on the connections that I’ve formed through various online forums and knit and knatter groups, and he came up with the byline “Connections through kindness and craftâ€. I have been shown great kindnesses through my woolly connections and those kind acts have rippled into all corners of my life. Another ripple effect has been that over the years I have become inspired to expand my knowledge of knitting techniques and also to move into other woolly areas, such as spinning, and now hand dyeing. If I had room for a huge loom that would be my next development area!"</em><br><br>I had been experimenting with dyeing yarn for a while by the time I wrote this, but the business only started in earnest once we moved to the Highlands, and just prior to our move we'd been shown great kindness by a number of people during a family crisis which unfolded in Italy. Many of those who helped us during this time only knew me through the old Rowan knitting forum - that was our only connection - yet they were kind and thoughtful enough to call me and email me with helpful contacts in Rome, and I couldn't help but be touched by their concern and help. Some contacts were made through friends of friends of acquaintances - ripples which reached me during a time they were most needed.<br><br>As I said, I've been wondering recently if the name was still appropriate. Should I change it to something which was more descriptive of what I actually did. And then I ran into Pat at the Edinburgh Yarn Festival last weekend. Pat is a friend I met through the business when she began buying my yarns. Prior to the event a number of members of my Ripples Crafts Ravelry Group had been planning to get together for a meal on the Saturday evening of the festival. I'd made my excuses for not going as I knew I'd not be in any fit state to be sociable at the end of a long day on my feet, but it was good to know that so many of them were meeting up in Edinburgh. And the following day Pat came to see me on the stand to say how I'd been missed (which was kind!) but also that many had commented on how nice it would have been if I had been there just to see what I'd started - the friendships that had been made both through the Ravelry group, but also through the retreats which I'd arranged over the past 3 years, and the connection they all had was my yarn, and Ripples Crafts. I was so touched, and I had to work hard not to completely well up. Those of you who know me know that I well up at the drop of a hank of yarn! (As my friend Lizzi says "Aye - you’re like a Christmas card - ‘aye greetin’.") But it struck me at that moment that the name, Ripples Crafts was still very much appropriate, and that the ripple effect was still happening, despite the business evolving over the past 7 years (goodness is it really 7 years?!).<br><br>I mentioned it on my Ravelry group, and Sheena (another friend/customer) dropped in a lovely comment. She said "Your yarn is great but the friendship and support is better" and that sits very well with me.<br><br>So, don't expect the name to change any time soon. Ripples are here to stay!<br><br><a href="https://www.ripplescrafts.com/dropone/public/uploads/2015/03/RC-193959-22032015.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-8108" alt="RC-193959-22032015" src="https://www.ripplescrafts.com/dropone/public/uploads/2015/03/RC-193959-22032015.jpg" width="360" height="480" /></a><br><br>Oh, and by the way, a loom made its way home with me from Edinburgh Yarn Festival. I am still working on my first project, so the pictures are a little vague, but a loom! I have a loom.<br><br><a href="https://www.ripplescrafts.com/dropone/public/uploads/2015/03/RC-193956-22032015.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-8109" alt="RC-193956-22032015" src="https://www.ripplescrafts.com/dropone/public/uploads/2015/03/RC-193956-22032015.jpg" width="640" height="480" /></a><br><br>PS Expect many more loomy type photographs!https://www.ripplescrafts.com/dropone/index.php?post/p8103#comment-formhttps://www.ripplescrafts.com/dropone/index.php?feed/atom/comments/922Time awayurn:md5:b8c229728896acb0c153d8f6450555102012-04-18T20:39:32+00:002012-04-18T21:36:43+00:00adminRipplesCategory:...Made in AssyntCategory:ArcheologyCategory:Cookie A StrickenCategory:MusicCategory:Ripples Sorry to have been so absent from the blog for the last week or so. I have a good excuse though ... I've been on my travels. This time last Wednesday I was just settling down to a lovely evening with my friend Liz, and her husband Roger, chatting over the plans for the forthcoming shows in Darlington and Rheged. And bright and early on Thursday morning Liz and I set off in the little white van. We took the, ummmm, scenic route! But the scenic route took us through <a href="http://www.wooler.org.uk/">Wooler</a> where we found a wonderful art shop, <a href="http://www.thedesignroomartgallery.co.uk/">The Design Room Art Gallery</a>. In the shop I fell completely and utterly in love with a painting - but I forgot to make a note of the artist! <strong>(After a speedy reply to my e-mail requesting the artist's name, Jason from the Gallery has not only sent the name of the artist which is Allan Morgan, but kindly sent some pictures through too.) </strong> Liz has promised I'll have it when she wins the lottery, so it should safely find a place on our walls soon then.<br><br>From Wooler we wound our way to Alnwick where we found our way to <a href="http://barterbooks.co.uk/">Barter Books</a>. What a shop! It is housed in the old station, and from the moment you walk through the door and see the lovely model trains finding their way around the shop above your head,<br><br><a href="https://www.ripplescrafts.com/dropone/public/uploads/2012/04/RC-191300-18042012.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5213" title="RC-191300-18042012" src="https://www.ripplescrafts.com/dropone/public/uploads/2012/04/RC-191300-18042012.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="480" /></a><br><br>you are completely overwhelmed by the huge choice of second hand books available. And all the time you're drawn towards the back of the shop by the lovely smell of coffee and snacks which you can enjoy in what were the old waiting rooms. The building has so many little features to catch your eye, including the floor in the waiting room that is made out of wine boxes from around the world. And the original water tap:<br><br><a href="https://www.ripplescrafts.com/dropone/public/uploads/2012/04/RC-191253-18042012.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5214" title="RC-191253-18042012" src="https://www.ripplescrafts.com/dropone/public/uploads/2012/04/RC-191253-18042012.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="480" /></a><br><br>What I particularly loved about the shop was that it welcomed dogs - as evidenced by the two water bowls on the floor above. How civilized! And so many shops these days would have silly signs saying "please don't splash the books with water", but instead this shop treats you like an adult with common sense - very refreshing.<br><br>After Liz and I had made our modest purchases we set off on the road again. The next stop was one which I'd been wanting to make for some time, and with the help of Liz's great sign reading we found our way to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel_of_the_North">Angel of the North</a>. This magnificent piece of public art was sculptured by Antony Gormley. I have been an admirer of his work for many years, and have always loved this particular sculpture. Unfortunately by the time we reached it the weather was taking a rather rainy turn, so we probably didn't see it at its best, but it is still a stunning piece of sculpture:<br><br><a href="https://www.ripplescrafts.com/dropone/public/uploads/2012/04/RC-071900-18042012.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5216" title="RC-071900-18042012" src="https://www.ripplescrafts.com/dropone/public/uploads/2012/04/RC-071900-18042012.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="480" /></a><br><br>You can get an idea of the sheer size of the sculpture by the people standing at the base:<br><br><a href="https://www.ripplescrafts.com/dropone/public/uploads/2012/04/RC-201853-18042012.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5217" title="RC-201853-18042012" src="https://www.ripplescrafts.com/dropone/public/uploads/2012/04/RC-201853-18042012.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="480" /></a><br><br>However there was little time for dawdling, and after finding our way back to the A1M (not an easy task!) we were on our way to Darlington to A Fine Yarn, owned and run by my friend, Chris Smith. I know I'm biased, but I just love this shop. It has a wonderful feel and is stocked so well. Here is what the table full of Ripples Crafts goodies looked like after we'd finished setting it all up:<br><br><a href="https://www.ripplescrafts.com/dropone/public/uploads/2012/04/RC-202537-18042012.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5218" title="RC-202537-18042012" src="https://www.ripplescrafts.com/dropone/public/uploads/2012/04/RC-202537-18042012.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="480" /></a><br><br><a href="https://www.ripplescrafts.com/dropone/public/uploads/2012/04/RC-071849-18042012.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5219" title="RC-071849-18042012" src="https://www.ripplescrafts.com/dropone/public/uploads/2012/04/RC-071849-18042012.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="480" /></a><br><br>On the left is my trusty companion, Lizzie. She did a grand job of keeping me on the straight and narrow, but we won't discuss the little episode in the Morrison's garage when I tried to climb into the wrong car .......<br><br>Early on Sunday morning we packed up the van and set off for Penrith and the Rheged Centre. It was a glorious morning and a beautiful drive over the A66. We arrived and didn't have long to set up before the doors were open to the public and before we knew it we were busy chatting to folk and after taking this photograph of pre-setup I forgot to take any more!<br><br><a href="https://www.ripplescrafts.com/dropone/public/uploads/2012/04/RC-203148-18042012.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5220" title="RC-203148-18042012" src="https://www.ripplescrafts.com/dropone/public/uploads/2012/04/RC-203148-18042012.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="480" /></a><br><br>A lot of work goes into these events, and throw into the mix travel time and trying to find your way around places that you don't really know in a van you don't really know, and a week away leaves you feeling a little shattered. But in a good way. It was lovely to meet so many folk at the two events, and especially to renew my acquaintance with so many. I'm now chained back to the dye pots getting ready for the next adventure down to Wonderwool in Wales next week.https://www.ripplescrafts.com/dropone/index.php?post/p5212#comment-formhttps://www.ripplescrafts.com/dropone/index.php?feed/atom/comments/678Royal Mail versus Knittersurn:md5:7da263465f699fcc40a5be475a7bf2dd2012-03-27T21:30:15+00:002012-03-27T21:32:48+00:00adminRipplesCategory:ArcheologyCategory:BirthdaysCategory:MusicCategory:Ripples Running a small business is never easy, and I am always trying my best to keep costs to an absolute minimum. I have always been very transparent when it comes to postal charges, and these have always been charged at cost. I have not added an additional charge for the packaging as I have built the cost of packaging into the cost of the yarn. Yarn clubs have always been excellent value as the monthly package was post free. However, after today's Royal Mail announcement the current situation will sadly have to change.<br><br>Royal Mail have announced that the cost of posting a parcel containing one hank of yarn will rise from £1.96 to £2.70. This is a huge increase, but the up side is that this price of £2.70 covers parcels up to the weight of 750g which would mean 7 hanks of yarn. The biggest price rises have been saved for overseas packages. A parcel that up to the 30th April will cost £2.32 will rise to £3.86 or £3.90, depending on your location.<br><br>What all this means is that I have had to take the very difficult decision to increase the cost of yarn clubs with immediate effect. Up until now the clubs have included free postage to anywhere in the world, but with these new rises I can no longer sustain the costs that this entails. So it is with regret that I have increased the price of all the clubs this evening. The increase does not entirely cover the cost of postage, so you will still be making a saving.<br><br>All other postal costs will increase at the end of April when they come into force.<br><br>On a brighter note today was another beautiful day, and much of it was spent sorting yet more yarn for the shows ahead. This table contains all the bluefaced leicester/nylon light fingering yarn. Doesn't it look gorgeous? Over 100 hanks of yarny goodness:<br><br> <br><br><a href="https://www.ripplescrafts.com/dropone/public/uploads/2012/03/RC-212657-27032012.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5180" title="RC-212657-27032012" src="https://www.ripplescrafts.com/dropone/public/uploads/2012/03/RC-212657-27032012.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="331" /></a>https://www.ripplescrafts.com/dropone/index.php?post/p5178#comment-formhttps://www.ripplescrafts.com/dropone/index.php?feed/atom/comments/674Ripplesurn:md5:fb474e20bd4ea05f32787b9d08a7de842010-04-30T20:39:58+00:002010-04-30T20:39:58+00:00adminRipplesCategory:Ripples Earlier on this week I was at a show in Aviemore. Also at the show was <a href="http://www.sheila-fleet.co.uk/">Sheila Fleet</a> with her gorgeous range of jewellery. One of her ranges is called the <a href="http://www.sheila-fleet.co.uk/Ripples1.asp">Ripples Collection</a>, so you can imagine my temptation to spend some of my hard earned cash but I resisted!<br><br>After such a busy start to the week it was good to have a little break yesterday and I spent the day over on the east coast. Stevan had a meeting to go to, so the dogs and I kept him company on the drive, and while he was in his meeting we found some open space to walk, get some fresh air, and just unwind a little. <a href="http://www.visitdornoch.com/">Dornoch</a> is famous for many things - <a href="http://www.dornoch-cathedral.com/index2.html">the cathedral</a>, <a href="http://www.harrygow.com/">Harry Gow's</a> little shop, and <a href="http://www.jail-dornoch.com/">The Jail</a>, but what I hadn't realised was what a lovely beach there is on the edge of the town. We had it all to ourselves. This was looking in one direction:<br><br><a href="http://www.ripplescrafts.com/dropone/public/uploads/2010/04/RC-201826-30042010.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2856" title="RC-201826-30042010" src="http://www.ripplescrafts.com/dropone/public/uploads/2010/04/RC-201826-30042010.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="480" /></a><br><br>and this was the other direction:<br><br><a href="http://www.ripplescrafts.com/dropone/public/uploads/2010/04/RC-201503-30042010.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2857" title="RC-201503-30042010" src="http://www.ripplescrafts.com/dropone/public/uploads/2010/04/RC-201503-30042010.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="480" /></a><br><br>The undisturbed beach gave me the opportunity to photograph some great ripples of my own.<br><br><a href="http://www.ripplescrafts.com/dropone/public/uploads/2010/04/RC-202849-30042010.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2858" title="RC-202849-30042010" src="http://www.ripplescrafts.com/dropone/public/uploads/2010/04/RC-202849-30042010.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="480" /></a><br><br>There was one other companion - the inevitable low flying jet that can regularly be seen in the Highlands:<br><br><a href="http://www.ripplescrafts.com/dropone/public/uploads/2010/04/RC-203612-30042010.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2860" title="RC-203612-30042010" src="http://www.ripplescrafts.com/dropone/public/uploads/2010/04/RC-203612-30042010.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="480" /></a>https://www.ripplescrafts.com/dropone/index.php?post/p2855#comment-formhttps://www.ripplescrafts.com/dropone/index.php?feed/atom/comments/387Slightly Famousurn:md5:9c869fcfda7fb67cc0996bc6b11bbda12009-11-02T15:18:09+00:002009-11-02T15:18:09+00:00adminRipplesCategory:Ripples Anyone who lives in the Highlands who may have access to this month's edition of the Executive Magazine will see my name pop up on Page 30.<br><br>For those of you who don't live in the Highlands, you can see the article <a href="http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/Launch.aspx?referral=other&refresh=J0n73bP1a06Y&PBID=4dfa2caf-6e6c-4d7b-8cef-df4828b96159&skip=">here</a>. You'll need to scroll to page 30.https://www.ripplescrafts.com/dropone/index.php?post/p2262#comment-formhttps://www.ripplescrafts.com/dropone/index.php?feed/atom/comments/302All change on the blogurn:md5:dd8c88fe84a851177f56c8147e0031fa2009-06-29T20:06:14+00:002009-06-29T20:09:01+00:00adminRipplesCategory:Ripples You may have noticed the blog has moved! We're slowly trying to get everything in one place. The blog itself won't really change in terms of what I write about, but we thought it best to move it to the shop website so it was easier to find.<br><br>So update your favourites, and you won't miss a thing.https://www.ripplescrafts.com/dropone/index.php?post/p1898#comment-formhttps://www.ripplescrafts.com/dropone/index.php?feed/atom/comments/265Craft Fair Funurn:md5:8118ac9ee0d9578ebc6dc5990b81c2fa2008-08-23T21:36:15+00:002008-08-25T09:38:53+00:00adminRipplesCategory:MusicCategory:Ripples <a href="http://www.ripplescrafts.com/dropone/public/uploads/2008/08/achnasheen.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-793" title="achnasheen" src="http://www.ripplescrafts.com/dropone/public/uploads/2008/08/achnasheen.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="303" /></a><br><br>Today was another Craft Fair day at the <a href="http://www.ledgowanlodge.co.uk/" target="_blank">Ledgowan Lodge Hotel</a> at Achnasheen. And it was a really successful day! (By the time I remembered to take a photo the stock was slightly depleted). It is amazing how wool really just sells itself. There was a rather gratifying moment when someone bought a pair of the baby socks that I had made, saying that she had no-one to give them too, and didn't know anyone who was pregnant, but that they were just so lovely and she would just leave them somewhere where she could admire them from time to time.<br><br>Now another photo to share .... Linda (who doesn't have a blog but if she did she could just fill it with her lovely handiwork!) has just finished a <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEsummer08/PATTshetlandshorty.html" target="_blank">Shetland Shorty</a> using one skein of my hand dyed yarn. You have to agree that it's rather lovely.<br><br><a href="http://www.ripplescrafts.com/dropone/public/uploads/2008/08/greek-shorty.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-791" title="greek-shorty" src="http://www.ripplescrafts.com/dropone/public/uploads/2008/08/greek-shorty.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="443" /></a><br><br>Linda used the Greek Sea colourway and she had to modify it slightly in case she ran out of yarn. So she missed out one pattern repeat on the armhole section, and she knitted the smallest size. She assures me she had approximately 10g of yarn left once she'd finished, so it was a little close, and I would recommend getting two skeins of yarn if you hope to do any size bigger than the smallest size. It is so good to see folk being creative with my hand dyed yarn, and making things other than socks. It was something I was trying to get across to people who came to the fair today, and a number took skeins to try knitting small baby cardigans.<br><br>I'm hoping to get in some Scottish spun yarn next week, including some lace weight, so as soon as I've done a bit of testing on the yarn I'll let you know.https://www.ripplescrafts.com/dropone/index.php?post/p788#comment-formhttps://www.ripplescrafts.com/dropone/index.php?feed/atom/comments/152