Friday 24th May
Congratulations Natalie from Inverness! You have won our 10,000 page giveaway prize. I have emailed you so we can chat about your special person and products he/she might like 'with love from Arran'.
Well done to all of you for submitting. Quite a few got all the questions right but in case one or two tripped you up here are the answers -
1. What is the name of the plant that Fiona grows to feed the bees in her garden?
Borage
2. What exhibition did Fiona rave about in January which featured a new book?
Beatrix Potter or Peter Rabbit
3. What is the name of Fiona's new studio?
Hen Hut
4. What material do we use to make the wings of the butterflies that we sell for our charity this year?
Tulle
5. What did Fiona' Grandma teach her to do?
Sew
6. Who is Fiona's favourite artist based on Arran?
7. How much money did we make on the Butterfly Tree raffle?
£98.00
8. What is the name of my guest blogger who is also an old school friend?
Kevin
9. How does Fiona suggest you condition cornflowers so they have a better vase life?
Sear the stems in boiling water
10. What is Fiona's favourite colour purple or turquoise?
Turquoise, but it used to be purple!
11. Does Fiona prefer writing or teaching?
Writing
I rather miscalculated as we actually reached 10,000 page views a few days ago but no matter. Thank you to all who took the trouble to email me the answers. For thee record it was the last one that caught most of you out. I love teaching and always will do but, just at this time, writing is my passion.
It has been the most glorious day on the island and I do feel rather blessed. The morning was spent with the boys working on a pastel study for their spring journals. Really therapeutic and always so enjoyable. We do a lot of art and craft in home school because we can!
The afternoon was spent working with Harry to finish his latest assignment before taking off to the studio for some much needed sewing. Half term is almost upon us and one of my shops has virtually no stock! This year continues to gallop on with me holding on as best I can. How lovely does my studio look now all the trees have come into leaf? I get quite distracted with the bees and the butterflies but that is what life should be about me thinks.
As I set up the table to sew I think of my Grandma every time; it has become a ritual that I love. I was on a bit of a schedule today so did my best to focus and look what I managed.....
All filled with our own lavender these little gifts 'with love from Arran' make good thank you presents for the dog/cat sitter! I know my customers. My favourite product is our soother which is designed to make life a little easier when things become a little challenging. I developed it for me in the first instance and it has been such a comfort I rolled it out to the company quite a few years ago. I have just sent one to someone who is rather stuck in hospital facing a complex and long operation. I went to school with her partner and I do hope it brings her some comfort.
I am having to stop typing far too often in search of ticks because I have just hacked back some ferns and they do love to shift from a fern to our skin. The dogs get them all the time and I am paranoid. I am driving myself mad here!
I managed an hour outside continuing to plant out from the stock in the tunnel. It is grow bag day tomorrow so I need to make space. This year we will have courgettes, strawberries, tomatoes and sweet peas in grow bags in the tunnel. They are all raised off the ground but I quite expect to see slugs jumping this year in their desperate attempts to chomp through my plants. I have already had to do the 'slug walk' with quite a few to the bug hotel on a different part of the smallholding. It will be a well trodden walk by the end of slug season.
I think I might even grow beans in pots this year as the open ground is a complete disaster. Molly will be home next week and surely all that university education in animal conservation must help her mother deal with slugs?
I have just agreed to do an event at Brodick Castle on 4th August and I want to take the butterfly tree and crafts along as well. So this is a bit of a shout out to all you lovely people who are helping me make butterfly crafts. Could I please have whatever you have before then so I can make the most of that day. We can then make the big push for the butterfly supper in September. I can not thank you enough for all your help. I just don't have enough time in the day to make all that I know we can sell. The total is creeping up and I still have more to add in over the next few days. I will shout loudly when we reach £300. I may be tempted to jig again. We need to remember that this is not a regular campaign. People are putting enormous efforts into making pretty things and the children in the school will see this for themselves. I do think this is so important but I never take your efforts for granted. We are all busy but somehow we are finding time to make the pretty butterfly crafts. Spellbinding, I think.
On this bank holiday can I remind all my lovely readers that I take orders for the little tulle butterflies. They cost £1.00 each but we like it when people order at least 5 at a time as that buys one mosquito net which saves at least two lives. We cover the postage costs. All you need to do is make your pledge online via my big blue button and drop me an email with your address and I will do the rest. Every butterfly comes with a thank you label from the Butterfly Tree. It really does make a huge difference as where nets have been distributed there are no new cases of malaria. It could not be simpler. Thanking you all in advance.......
Enjoy your bank holiday and we shall, no doubt, speak tomorrow. xx
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