There weather had turned cold again on the weekend here. There was a 35 knot wind blowing and a number of boats had broken their moorings and were up on the beach. Then it fined up for a couple of days and now it is cold again.
But having said that, in the lee of the wind on the other side of the island it is a perfect day. The kids are even swimming.
So I have had to pulled out a sweater again, but my fingers are still cold and I needed something a bit warmer so I got out my warm shawl.
I have been trying to remember just when I bought it. It must have been in the late 1990's I remember a member of my quilting group was telling us about this weaver she had met and she asked if she could have her bring some of her work for us to see.
I had to have this shawl. It is made of hand dyed silk and mohair and was very expensive, a whole weeks wages. It is light but incredibly warm. The colours shimmer because of the pattern in the weave.
It will roll up quite small and go into my handbag. It has been used as a blanket when I am traveling, an evening wrap and now I find it so easy to put over my shoulders with this broken arm. I even used it as a sling for my arm when I first broke it.
It was made by Master Weaver, Kay Faulkner. Kay has been weaving for over 30 years and her work is collected by museums and sold through Saville Rd. London, which I didn't know when I bought this. I just thought it was beautiful and still do. (I went back and bought another scarf for my daughter later.) How Kay can keep all those counting patterns in her memory just amazes me.
I treasure this shawl which is both useful and beautiful. I suppose that is the essence of good design. So, praise be to my beautiful shawl,