I doubt anyone could deny that 2016 has thrown some real stinkers at the world.  It has been quite a year.  Sometimes we just need to step back, take a deep breath, and decide what we want to focus on.  Do we want to constantly seek out the negative or do we want to try and find something, albeit small, that is positive?

My year of yarn shows ended towards the end of October (except for the local Christmas market this coming weekend in Lochinver), and so I have spent November focusing on colour, the landscape, and the beauty that surrounds us in Assynt.   I have also been giving much consideration to the yarns in the range and looking at potential yarn to add to the range.  There will be more about that over the coming months.

To accompany my quest to look for the loveliness of Assynt, November has treated us to some pretty spectacular days.  We've been treated to double rainbows:

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as well as blue skies with spectacular cloud formations:

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And there have been days that were so still that there was barely a ripple on Lexie's Loch:

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Stoer beach has been seen in a range of moods:

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and I have continued to fail in my aim to achieve great photographs of Peggy! (makes note in diary to try harder in 2017)

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I have also spent part of November concentrating on improving my weaving skills.  This small throw was woven in a yarn that was very popular a couple of years back - Na Dannsairean Aran - and this is one of the yarns that will be making a welcome return to the Ripples Crafts fold:

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In the meantime, the Na Dannsairean 4ply has already returned to the fold, and can be found in the shop now.  At the moment there is a limited range of colours, but this range will grow over the coming months.   I would have to admit that my favourite of the current colour range is this outrageous shade of cerise, aptly named A Cerise which Demands Attention:

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I've been focusing on colours which have the potential to brighten our days with joyful colour rather than the muted neutral shades which so often dominate the winter months.  I think this shade meets that particular criterion.

Finally, I am absolutely thrilled to say that I have had my stand application for Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2017 accepted.  If you've attended this event in the past couple of years you'll know just what a highlight it is in the wool calendar.  The work that is put in behind the scenes by Jo and Mica, the two organisers, is phenomenal and it shows in so many ways.  So if you've never been to Edinburgh Yarn Festival before, I urge you to come.   10th / 11th March 2017 - put it in your diary now.

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2016 has been a stinker in so many ways, but I refuse to be bowed by it.  I will continue to seek out the positive side of life and will continue to add my own brand of colour to the world.  Do you want to join in the fun?