perthshire open studios 2010

Back again after some computer troubles (thank you wonderful brother Andy for getting the machine back from the brink (once more!)) and while there's still time.... a first mention of this year's Perthshire Open Studios event which takes place from the 11th - 19th September. You can pick up one of the brochures from boo vake or browse it online at www.perthshireopenstudios.com. This year you can also follow it all on the POS blog, Twitter & Facebook.

day off

We will be closed on Tuesday 3rd August (to accomodate some extremely early big birthday shenanigans). Back to normal on Wednesday though.

dandy star mugs

Some more mugs we have in boo vake - these ones are by Cornish design team Dandy Star.
bone china mugs £8

donna's cushions

Owl and Robin lambswool cushions by Donna Wilson are now back in stock in a variety of colours!

fancy goods

Overheard today from some ladies of a certain age outside the shop -"Oh look, it's a fancy goods shop". Love it. Have always been quite taken with the idea of the fancy goods shop.
And fancy goods we have indeed. What could be fancier for a fancy goods shop than a fancy lady with a fabulous fancy beehive.

Use my beehive to dry your dishes teatowel by Donna Wilson in the shop now. Use my beard teatowel back in too. £11

laurie's matchboxes

We have some great illustrated matchboxes in the shop at the moment from Edinburgh illustrator & printmaker Laurie Hastings. The backs of these matchboxes once went to make up one of Laurie's larger prints All I Want (below). Now you can buy one (complete with matches) for a bargainous £2.

Also from Laurie -As We Make Our Way Home postcard sets featuring her illustrations to poems by David Troupes.

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Sukie Dances purses also back in stock.

matchboxes £2, postcard sets £4, purses £10

cycling in Barra & the Uists

Our recent cycling/camping holiday in the Western Isles. We took the ferry from Oban to Barra, cycled over to Vatersay, back up through Barra, ferry to Eriskay, over the causeway and up through South Uist, around Benbecula and Grimsay, and finally around the west and north of North Uist before getting the ferry from Lochmaddy to Skye. Unlike most cyclists we met (who were getting from A to B the quickest route possible) we took in as many diversions as we could and had a fantastic time.

waiting for the ferry in Oban

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camping on Vatersay


over the machair to the beach on Vatersay

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Castlebay - with Kisimul Castle in background

in the north of Barra

Tràigh Mhòr, Barra. Just to the left - the famous beach airstrip.

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camping spot, Eoligarry in the north of Barra (on the longest day)

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Crossing one of the many causeways linking these islands together. This one links Eriskay to South Uist.

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Our Lady of the Isles, South Uist

wine & smoked salmon on the shore at Balivanich, Benbecula

Grimsay, lovely Grimsay

Eaval (highest point in North Uist). Didn't climb it this time but it has the most amazing views at the top

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Trinity Temple (Teampull na Trionad), Carinish

looking over to Baleshare (where my mother is from) - connected by a causeway to North Uist in the 60s

fat juicy Kallin scallops

the beach at Hosta, North Uist - camping spot for the night

tràigh Ear (from Grenitote)

heading out along the peninsula

Udal Peninsula

camping in Lochmaddy

Top tips for Hebridean cycle happiness....

1- Go with the wind if you can. We were very lucky to have the wind behind us up through South Uist. The week before it was coming from the north.

2- Let cars get past. Lots of single track roads so stop at the side when you see a car coming (or hear one behind you). You're on holiday, others have places to go.

3- Salar flaky smoked salmon, Kallin scallops, Hebridean Smokehouse, MacLeans oatcakes, Am Politician - Eriskay (don't be put off by the exterior), Polochar Inn, tea stops at Kildonan Cafe & Museum, Claddach Kirkibost Centre/Cafe, Taigh Chearsabhagh/Cafe,.......

And one for camping...

4- Whisky

ps. Big thanks to Fergus for giving us a lift to Crianlarich to meet the train for Oban (all for the price of a Lorne sausage roll), Ally & Suzie for allowing us to gatecrash their own holiday not once but twice in the space of a week, my Aunty Kate-Effie for the pit-stop of shower and cup of tea, and Mike from the Isle of Skye brewery for meeting us at the ferry and delivering our bikes back to Perth. What stars!

pi. pouffe

Been having a few computer problems here of late (hence the lack of posts) - but whilst it's possible - here are some images of the fabulous Fun Makes Good Pi.Pouffe similiar to the one we have in the shop at the moment. Our one is the extra tall version so it a bit taller than the one shown. At 50cm x 50cm x 40cm it's the perfect height for sitting on or for putting your feet up on (trust me I've tried it out). Made from leather, cotton and hand dyed cotton satin patchwork (and it contains a removable bean bag liner that can be topped up in future with polystyrene beans if desired).

Fun Makes Good Pi. Pouffe (50cm x 50cm x 40cm; leather, cotton, hand dyed cotton satin) £120

boo vake will be taking a wee break next week and so we will be closed on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday.
BUT we're back open on Saturday 26th as normal.

fun makes good

Really lovely leather petal brooches, bow brooches and keyrings from the very talented Glasgow based designer Eleanor Young (Fun Makes Good) now in the shop! Eleanor does some amazing upholstery and reworked furniture, which is well worth checking out if you haven't seen it before, and we'll soon be getting one of her fabulous Pi.Pouffes which I'm really rather excited about.
prices from £10-£14

weekends

Weekends can be very short when you work in a shop. A few recent ones....

Jazz night at Blair Drummond Safari Park. Music, picnic, penguins, dancing, dodgems, & the big blue wavy slide thing. Very exciting! Finishing off with high-kicking to New York, New York.

Atholl Highlanders Ball and Atholl Gathering (the following day) in Blair Atholl. All the usual events (dancing, tossing the caber, tug-of-war etc) with a bit of wrestling and vintage Skoda pulling thrown in. Ken (my man) can just be seen behind the guy with the big drum (and up top 3rd from right in the 'Highlanders' race) -whilst I retreat up the hill to feed my hangover chips and curry sauce.

zixiao chang

Some of the lovely screenprinted brooches we have in the shop from printmaker Zixiao Chang, a graduate of Edinburgh College of Art.

Each mounted on their own polka dot card, and a bargain at just £6 each.

hello lovely

A few more of the mugs we have at boo vake at the moment. These birdie ones are designed by textile designer Theresa Cole (aka Theresa Green Design) in two wraparound designs.
bone china mugs £8