What a day it has been today.  It started last year in December when I was approached by a journalist from The Herald Newspaper in Glasgow.   She had seen some photographs taken by Angela Catlin on behalf of Business Gateway, and she thought that what I was doing would fit well into an article she was writing for The Herald about women in rural Scotland who were running more unusual businesses.  The photographs which Angela had taken intrigued her, and so she called me.



Time went on, and I began to think that perhaps events had overtaken the article, as it does in the journalism world, and that the article had been put on the backburner for a while.  So I was thrilled when I received an e-mail earlier this week to say that the article would appear in today's edition of The Herald.

It was a little bigger than I expected!:



You will see that both Peggy and Lexie got in on the photographs, but Stevan didn't get a look in.  He does get a mention though, which is just as well, as at the moment he is chief distribution manager (i.e. he does the post office runs), and to be honest this would not be happening without him.

I am always very aware that any success of Ripples Crafts is down to the customers, each and every one.  And I should add that I still get such a thrill each time my e-mail alerts me to the fact that an order has just been placed online.  I hope that little thrill of anticipation never, ever goes away.

I have to say I was thrilled with the article, but humbled to be placed alongside 3 other very creative women.  And sometimes it is good to sit back and be proud for what you've achieved.  We did that today.

Today was also a day of extreme tides.  We took advantage of the fine weather and the low tide and set off for Stoer beach with the dogs.  Normally the sea comes up to about where the pebbles end in the photograph below, so you can see just how far out the tide was this afternoon;



The colours on the beach were stunning, and I'm afraid I went completely overboard with trying to capture some of the colours.





[caption id="attachment_5014" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="Inspiration for my Winter Sea colourway."][/caption]



Finally, on to shop news, I'm thrilled to tell you that the long awaited silk 4ply and laceweight has arrived.  I've been busy dyeing it, and I hope to have the first lot up in the shop tomorrow evening.  I couldn't resist giving you a little sneak peek though, but unfortunately I just couldn't capture the colour this evening, so I'll have another go tomorrow.  But this photograph does give an excellent idea of how luminous this yarn is.  This is the laceweight 100% silk:

 



So, quite a day here at Lockhart towers, and this evening I intend to sit quietly and knit.