Yarningham

On Saturday I visited my first fabulous fibre festival - Yarningham, brilliantly organised by stitches and hos

It was not far away, in the new community hub of Stirchley Baths, recently refurbished, with oodles of charm - I loved the tiled walls and the bright spaces!

There were plenty of exhibitors: producers, dyers and makers, from near and far!

A feast for the senses - lots to see, squidge, smell, plenty of chatting and cakes (not just of the yarn variety!) So much colour and texture I was really spoilt for choice!

There were workshops and demonstrations by the Birmingham WSD guild.

Great squeals of excitement  accompanied the arrival of two alpacas - seeing them strolling past the door in urban Brum was a surreal sight!

I did a quick browse all the way round, chatting to some of the very talented and helpful exhibitors, then made my way back to purchase some items!

 These inventive stitch markers are from Yarnistry - so bright, cheerful and very useful!

Couldn't resist some Whovian and other dainty stitch markers from Owl about Yarn

There were so many fantabulously colourful yarns and fibres, it was difficult to choose, 

but Yarn Angels are a new duo of dyers from just round the corner! 

Not only did I love their colour combos, but the names were imaginative too - I am now the proud squidger of a Bird of Paradise, 

 and neon 8os movie inspired yarn!

I was intrigued by other names in their range: Unicorn Fart, Dragons Breath, Toxic Waste, Toad of Toad Hall and Bruce Banner vs Hulk....such inventive creations and colours!

You can see more pictures of the excitement on the stitches and hos blog....

Hope there'll be another one next year....

Random Wooliness!

A long time ago.... Linda's stashbusting project really captured my imagination.

I had bags and boxes of  random wool stashed all over, just waiting for those perfect projects!

As a result of Linda's inspiration, I've busted some of my stash and kept notes of the gs that have been put to good use.

Not only did the stashbusting have an effect on the volume of hoarded wool, it opened my eyes to new ideas, and I have found inspirational fellow busting bloggers.

However,  the whole project has really encouraged me to think about my purchases! 

Ever since joining the group I have only bought reduced or odd balls of wool that I have a use for, ideally British where possible.

I accept donations from other woolly minded folk and

I really enjoy searching for charity shop oddments. 

Its exciting to rise to the challenge of transforming other people's woolly donations.

As most of my makes are small I have the flexibility to do this, and my increasing love of freefrom also lends itself to the use of an eclectic range of exotic spare threads!

Recently I have unearthed some real gems:

Falcon by Post.... 75% Courtelle

 1976!!

 and some fab Jaeger.... I always enjoy a reference to the North East too!

Having spent a substantial amount of time tidying up our spare room and squishing my stash (in more ways than one!!)  I've decided that there's plenty for projects until the end of the year!
I warmly recommend Linda's colourful inspirational blog,  for stashbusting or browsing, 

I for one have been transformed!

O Christmas Tree....

... it has become a family tradition for our tree to be covered in just lights on the first and last night it stands in the house. 

It helps to gradually ease the senses into the shimmer of shiny bright festivities, and

towards twelfth night enables some quiet reflection as the season closes.

  As I type there is a strong pine scent and there are twinkles of coloured lights like warm house windows, winding up an earthy velvet dark green hillscape.

Christmas trees have featured more prominently this year as crocheted trees were given as gifts to local friends and family.

With an idea in my head, there were plenty of prototypes, ranging from three dimensional, top heavy, saggy bottomed, uneven, to unrecognisable!

Having wrestled with the tree idea for several weeks, and ready to drop it in needled frustration,  a calm suggestion from Mr RW made everything fall into place and the simple design was created.

An even strip of crochet, simply sewn up the middle!

Some with embellishments!

some with fancy stitching, many with two or more strands

and a fuzzy one!

Front and back!

These elegant evergreens are hooked from the most wonderful hand dyed British wool from  Wheeldale Woolcrafts, given to me by my fellow woolly wonder, Tracey!
It has an amazingly rustic rough texture and smells deliciously of.....wool!

In contrast, the base for the other green conifers is a softer nubbly British blend bought on summer holiday, specifically for this purpose, from Woolmouse in Barnard Castle.

The one on the far right with the red strip is the first, very experimental, sapling. It has an abundance of short rows (the others have two long rows)  and a variety of stitch combinations!
We pruned it a little, displayed it and have grown to love its earthiness, even if it didn't make the group forest shot!

Wishing you a treemendous start to 2015 with lots of hapPINEss!

Tiddly om pom pom!

Christmas creating is very much in full swing! 

Theres a variety of projects on the go...

looking a bit brown but some colour will be injected soon!

However I have found a little distraction...

...making pompoms for The Great Sense Pompom Challenge!

The details are all on the website - how fabulous to tune into your sense of touch -

 to be part of a huge tapestry travelling the country raising awareness of sight and hearing loss.

Great for stash busting all those short ends too!

I have seen somewhere that the challenge runs from November 18th until December 2nd so

I'm off to unwind, winding some colourful woolly pompoms!

 

Recharging....

The school holidays are coming to an end here....

we have enjoyed lots of beautiful warm sunshine,
 lazy mornings, fresh air
and family time.

we were spectating, not participating!

 A few books have been devoured,
new technology installed (yet to be mastered!),
music has filled the air....

its been a chance to recharge batteries,

although I usually need a few days to get back into the weekly routine.

Its also been an opportunity to recharge the stash!!

I love looking at fellow bloggers thrifty finds
(and have been in awe of  Wendy's keen eye as seen on September Violets).

A while ago I found these gems in charity shops:

Some of the threads and the cream cotton have already been put to good use!

My stash has also been boosted by these beautiful skeins that were part of a very generous lady's down sizing.

The shop they were purchased from closed down more than 20 years ago!

Some bright acrylic from the same source will be used for some winter scarves for charity.

Whilst recharging there has been some
crochet hooking,
designing,
a bit of a spin,
oodles of ideas

 and lots of photos for inspiration....

so with some of  the creations....

I'll be back...

(we watched the Terminator Quadrilogy too!)

Stitches in the sun

Over the last ten days I've really enjoyed sitting in a shady corner of our very sunny garden in the late afternoon and early evenings hooking away at a secret project!

It involved a downloaded pattern, 3.5mm hook and just over a ball of natural coloured wool/acrylic mix (with flecks of colour)

 Sirdar Click in cream.

The individual shapes are art forms in themselves, such beautiful structures.....

I love the knobblyness of the stitches, and although I'm not sure they were designed that way- my attention may have drifted - they really do fit the subject!

Many of the al fresco sessions were accompanied by Wimbledon commentary on the radio..consequently some of my tension may have gone awry - particularly in the semis and finals!

This is really the first project I have attempted where consistent tension matters...

The pattern starts with a rather prominent part, so I moved on down the page to a less complicated one and was pleased with my first (pre-Wimbledon) sections.

However.....they turned out proportionally much larger than all the other parts - so I repeated them at the end, with the new tension and found some extra shape when I did so!

Just shows how important it is to get into the swing or try initial swatching!

I have learned so much from this project...and am looking forward to revealing the finished item soon!
Any guesses ?!

Anti-stashbusting!

I had some wonderfully colourful birthday presents a couple of months ago

These two cakes came from an exciting new crafty shop recently opened nearby.

 It caters for all stitchers!

It was difficult to choose from all the exciting colours and textures; a fabulous feast for the eyes and fingers!

Very helpfully a winding service is offered for a donation to charity..well worth it to save the air at home going blue!

The wool below is 55% BFL and 45% silk 4ply  in Lemon Rind, it is sooo soft, has lots of yellow tones and is one of the shops own hand dyed yarns.

I'm sure I'll be back for more of their wonderful unique colourways.

These vibrant colours are a Superbiffle - Carousel from Easyknits.

As the choice was so tricky RW Jnr had the final say on this one!

I had taken a photo of some Easter blooms earlier in the week we went shopping, as I had been captured by their colour combinations and thought it might be useful for future projects.

 When we returned home I wondered if we had all been influenced by the vibrant tulips?

Another present I received, from my sister-in-law just shows how much she gets my love of colour, and bags!

My fabulous friend Tracey from school and blogland picked up a thread I had mentioned and sent me a new toy!

I have had a couple of spins! 

The first was really a non-starter, but after a bit more reading and video watching I did get moving and a bit of fluff was spun!

As I usually hook or felt small pieces I am aiming for some arty yarn with plenty of colour, variable texture and weight (just as well!!) so hope to use some of the future spun yarn in my projects!

Whilst adding to my yarn stash I am busting my fibre!

I am really pleased I have been using some of my collected wool in the stashbuster challenge as it has made me appreciate the new additions even more!
I wonder what this will be.....?