By Helen

fabric fat quarters, yarn and lots more goodies…

When I went to the Knitting and Stitching Show, at Harrogate, not only was there lots to be inspired by, there were also lots and lots and lots of lovely things to buy.  And buy is what I did.  I thought that I would share some of my purchases with you; you never know they might inspire you for Christmas presents, or for treating yourself…

Of course I bought yarn, but I also bought lots of fat-quarters, to make into fabric flower…

I love these Japanese prints, from Japan Crafts…

I loved how you use yarn and hooks to make amazing fabric pictures by Hooked by Design…

…I just hope I can remember the technique, when I start this project!  My guilty purchase was an embroidery kit from Rowandean…

 …guilty because I haven’t finished (or even started) the kit that I bought from them last year!  Ssshhhhhh!  Don’t tell Si!

A little something to make for Christmas (this Christmas)...

I finally found some flower yarn, which I had been looking for, for ages.  I can’t wait to crochet it, I think it will be turned into a scarf…

The rest of the yarn I bought will be crocheted into jumpers…

…I think that I will have enough yarn!  I think that I will have enough projects to keep me going until next year...

inspiration from the knitting and stitching show, Harrogate…

 

Yesterday me and two friends took ourselves to the Knitting and Stitching Show at Harrogate: we had the most fabulous day, I just had to share some of it with you.  Not only were there lots and lots of stalls full of goodies to buy (and we did buy) there were also amazing displays, of all types of textiles, to inspire. 

The first thing that I was drawn to was, of course, crochet art works by the very very talented Samantha Claire…

I loved her mug warmers, something I must try and crochet for myself…

I loved the purple and the flowers on this fabulous quilt…

The colours were fantastic, not to mention the work which must have gone into the quilt.  It was all, yes all, hand stitched…

Downstairs, we came across these wonderful displays.  All knitted.  All inspired by children’s stories…

These projects were commissioned by Customs House, and the North East Maritime Trust, a group of knitters and stitchers from the North East of England. 

One of the stars of the show, had to be the village…

…this had been knitted and stitched by very creative people all over the country, as part of a completion, I thought that they were all brilliants and was very glad I didn’t have to choose a winner!  Although I did love the allotments...

Of course, we didn’t just look at the displays, we shopped.  Shopped and shopped and shopped.  I’ll show you a few of my purchases in a few posts time…

knitting and stitching show….

I’m very excited…

…only ten more sleeps until me and my friends visit the knitting and stitching show at Harrogate. Last year’s show was a-maz-ING.  I have to confess: I made myself a promise to use everything I bought at last year's show, before I went again. I failed!  So technically I shouldn’t be going: but I am.  My shopping list keeps on growing and growing.  Then they are all those spontaneous purchases: they’ll be sooooooooo much to choose from.  All that yarn.  All that fabric.  I can’t wait….

November, November, November…

Oh gosh: it’s November!  How did that happen?  Hasn’t October only just started?  I’ve been soooo busy through October: and I think that November is going to head the same way.  Still November is here: it seems to have blown its way in; along with rain and the cold.  It is cold.  I thought that we usually had a gradual introduction to the cold, the temperature dropping over the weeks.  No, not this year: it is like someone has turned the heating down (or off) and Winter is here.  I can’t really complain I love, loVE, LOVE winter; those cold, clear, crisp days when the world looks so beautiful - it makes your heart sing.

A couple of weeks ago, in the midst of building work, having to find things to do out of home so the builders could get-on-with-it; I stumbled on an art installation.  It was just perfect for the weather that we have at the moment.  I went on a visit to Clifford's Tower, an English Heritage property just ten minutes walk from my front door.  You might remember Clifford's Tower; it is the remains of one of York’s castles, which looks absolutely stunning with Daffodils each Spring.  Inside the tower an artist had hung umbrellas!  Lots and lots of umbrellas.   All gently bopping in the wind.  I thought this was a brilliant, an inspirational use of space and something that I just had to share with you all.

Hope you enjoy…

grand day out…

Over the past few weeks I have had a lot of grand days out; while the builders get on with remodelling our home.  First there was London, then Cornwall, then back home.  Fortunately I live in a very wonderful city, York, where there are lots and lots and lots of places to visit and have even more grand days out.  Even more fortunately lots of the places are free to people who live in the city.  I spent a happy couple of hours wondering around St Mary's church.  St Mary’s church is part of York Museums Trust and is home to the Art Gallery’s contemporary art space.   The installation which is there at the moment is just amazing, truly awe-inspiring.  It is called The temple of a Thousand Bells by artist Laura Belem.  The installation is composed of, quite literally, hundreds of tiny glass bells that look like they are floating.  A narrative and music, accompanies the installation,  telling the story of an ancient legend about a temple of a thousand bells, built on an island that sank, as the story goes on you become aware of the sound of the lost bells. 

You truly have to visit to appreciate the installation; here is just a hint of what you can expect…

You’ll have to hurry; this installation is due to close on the 4^th November.  But if you do get the chance to visit it is free to all, not just us lucky York people.

taking time out, part two...

Cornwall was a welcome contrast to the hustle and bustle of London.  We had a wonderful break with Si’s parents; visiting National Trust properties and small market towns.   All around us Autumn seemed to have arrived; here are just a few of the picis I took, of all the wonderful, inspirational colours…

No trip to Cornwall would be complete without a visit to the sea-side…

Right now I am happy to be home.  Home is becoming less and less like a building site; the builders have told me that they will be finished by Wednesday.  Si is sealing in the new plaster; and I have my first Christmas cake baking in the oven and a steaming hot cup of tea waiting for me.  Happy Days! 

 

Ramshambles...

Often when I go shopping for yarn, I end up at Ramshambles.  So, I thought that it was about time that I gave you a proper introduction to the wonderful Aladdin’s cave which is Ramshambles.  For those of you who don’t know the fabulous city of York; Ramshambles, as the same suggests, is situated on one of York’s most famous street; the Shambles.  Once on the Shambles, who can’t miss the shop…

Pop inside the shop, and you are in for real treat.  The shop is quite literally stuffed to the rafters with all different types of yarn…

The stock changes regularly, giving you the perfect excuse for frequent visits!  Ramshambles has just opened a workshop, the Wool Rom, for classes and clinics.  Katey and all her staff are brilliant at offering guidance and advice for when things aren’t going quite to pattern.  Ramshambles is the perfect place to stock up on yarn.

Go on next time you are in York visit Ramshambles...

a really great yarn…

I love how the world so often provides us with things which perfectly complement each-other: strawberries and cream, coffee and cake, and stilton and port.  I also love how the world provides us with opposites; day and night, light and dark, hot and cold.  So, it stands to reason after my resent purchase of the world’s worst yarn, I would come across the world’s best yarn.  Okay, the yarn in question might not be the very best in the world; but in my world it is up-there, right and the top.  The yarn crochets the cutest little flower brooches…

What is the yarn?  I here you ask.  It is a baby alpaca, merino mix, which the very talented Debbie Bliss has combined together to bring us Paloma.  It is fantastic!  The yarn has already been worked together once, and looks almost plaited…

Do you see what I mean?  If you look closely at the green and purple, can you see how the colour isn’t solid?  It is a blend of different colours and shades; this just makes the yarn even better. The yarn isn’t new to me, I actually first came across it at Harrogate, last year.  I crocheted it into a Christmas tree.  Then in the true tradition of yarn, it was put away in my stash draw and forgotten about.  I stumbled across it a few weeks ago, and it screamed crochet me into a flower.  So that is what I did!  I crocheted with a small hook (the recommended is 10mm) and love the result which looks almost felted.  Perhaps the best thing about the yarn is the range of colour which is available….

Go on treat yourself, to some Debbie Bliss Paloma, you won’t be disappointed

making friendship bracelets...

Thank you Mollie Makes for reintroducing me to friendship bracelets….

It reminded me of spending afternoons when I was younger;  knotting embroidery thread  and making bracelets.  I had to dig out my thread and see if I still could make them. I could!  The patterns that I was making, made me think about the braid  I make when I am on re-enactments...

It got me thinking, and I decided to use the fifteenth century technique that I use on re-enactments and give the finished bracelet a modern twist, with beads and buttons…

I am really pleased with how this meeting of old and new has turned out.  The range of bracelets that I could make using the finger-braid technique is endless, all the different patterns, all the different colours, all the different buttons.  So many thinks to try out.

 NB – In the last two posts I have blogged about crafts other than crocheting: please don’t think that I have hung-up my hook.  I am still crocheting away and will have tome treats to show you very soon.  But all crochet and no play makes…. 

fabric flowers...

Do you remember that I mentioned, when I visited Grace and Jacob a few weeks ago, that I booked on a course to make fabric flowers?  Well that course was last Sunday.  It was brilliant!  No other word to describe just brilliant. Our tutor the very talented Bryony had made these to inspire us…

Then it was our turn.  The day started with a very difficult choice, of choosing three (yes just three) different fabrics to make our flowers out of.  The choice…

...was tricky, so many colours, so many patterns.  In the end I decided on my three…

All of the flowers we made started in the same way: by cutting out circles of fabric.  The circles were the folded in different ways and stitched together to make the petals of the flowers.  Then finished off with a fabric covered button. 

So, these circles…

Became this…

These circles…

Became this…

And these circles ….

Became this…

I am so, so, sooooooooo proud of what I made! Everyone on the course was so talented, are you ready for a group ta-dah moment?  Here goes…

The day was made even better when Aleksandra arrived with her Cake Pops…

They were almost too pretty to eat.  I did say almost, and they tasted just as good as they looked!

It was a wonderful way to spend a Sunday: surrounded by fabric, making flowers, meeting other talented crafters.  Now for the real challenge making more lovely fabric flowers, solo: without the safety- net of Bryony!  I’ll let you know how I get on.

 A massive thank you, thank YOU, THANK YOU to Bryony and Fiona: for starting my love affair with fabric flowers. 

 Sorry Si – that does mean fabric in the house, as well as yarn!