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Stravaiging

Stravaiging graphic

Banana Bread - because it makes the world go round

I have been meaning to post this recipe here for a while as I am often asked about it. While I have only ever baked it with gluten-containing flours, I am sure GF whizzes can use their choice of flours and add more 'milk' and an egg to help bind ingredients. It is such an adaptable recipe that it might be worth an experiment or two.

May Days

I walk through my little village almost daily, generally at the other end of the dog lead from Bruce. We head for quiet lanes and field margins. Our pace is dictated by his mood or mine. Occasionally he will forego smelling every blade of grass and stone wall voluntarily; other times require persuasion by one means or another.

In the Durham Dales

We’ve been on a lovely jaunt - a midway-between-birthdays treat.
New experiences all round. First stop on Saturday morning was to deliver Bruce to kennels. He packed a toy duck and his meals for a two-night stay.

Rooted in the Isles

I spent most of my teenage years and early twenties living on the island of Lewis in the Hebrides. Mum and I made good use of the tweed outlet shop in Stornoway for sturdy yarns to knit with and remnants to make clothes and furnishings from. I remember she sewed me a hacking jacket which I loved, but neither of us were exactly skilled tailors nor of skinny model proportions, and Lewis was quite definitely not a fashion hotspot.

Welcome

In this space I aim to share behind-the-scenes happenings, the hiccups and hurrahs in my creative life, the occasional recipe, musings on the joys of small-scale walking and wandering, an interview or two, and other words as they spring up from my overactive imagination.

bordertart

🪬I love making and packaging and finding quirky fabrics to incorporate in my kits. I’ve never lost my childhood delight in playing with scraps of paper and pencils, yarn and fabric.
BUT
I have a more recent love too, planning and leading textile tours in the UK and beyond. Whole new vistas have opened up for me and I don’t want to miss a thing!
SO
The Tart shop will close late summer. In the meantime I have new makes and interesting bundles to add to the shelves. Newsletter subscribers always know about these first and often snap up my limited edition goods before I have time to tell anyone else. 
PLEASE
Sign up so you don’t miss out! There are bargains to be had from now until late summer.
THEN 
I hope to have some time to be creative in other ways for quite a while.
❤️🧶🤗
I needed a very simple project yesterday. Picked some red mix random 4ply leftovers, held them double and cast on the simplest of hats. Just love how it’s turning out!
🤗🧶❤️
🤗
Such a bright uplifting day
🌞
Picking a few blooms in the perfect shade
💜
Watching Bruce have a happy tail-wagging dream
🐾
Finding dal in the freezer - no dinner invention required
🥣
Digging out yarn to cast on a new sweater
🧶
Drinking too much coffee
☕️
Simple pleasures
🙏🏻
Taking nothing for granted
🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑

NOW SOLD!
I am planning to sell my lovely Lendrum spinning wheel.
Do you know of anyone in the UK who might like it?

#lendrumwheel 
#lendrumspinningwheel 
#spinningwheelforsale 
#spinnersofinstagram 
#handspinnersofinstagram
🌼🌞🌼
Sunny Wednesday windowsill
Love the deep sills in this old place

#wednesdaywindowsill
#oldandquirkyhouse
🌞
Coffee 
in a handmade mug
on a handmade coaster
in my quiet conservatory 
on this sunny March day

What a privilege in this fractured world
🙏🏻
🇲🇦 ❤️🇲🇦
Delighted to have this wonderful book waiting for me when I got home. 
The stories of 25 women who weave, spin, make buttons, embroider and sew, keeping alive their textile traditions with strength, generosity and dignity in a rapidly developing country.

The women of Morocco rock!

#womenartisansofmorocco 
#textileartisans
#womenraiseeachotherup
🍸
Worth the wait!
A quirky hotel tonight - Morocco meets Wild West - 
After a day of fossils, a gorge walk and fascinating landscape 🌄

#moroccotour 
#highatlasmountains 
#antiatlasmountains 
#inspirationeverywhere

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