By Helen

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…

hello (yarn) stash…

I have finally managed to tidy the house, following the building work, and found my way into my stash…

I can’t tell you how happy I am to be reunited with all my yarn after nearly two months without been able to get into the draws. Two months might not seem like a long time; but you would be surprised.  It has been the classic tale of wanting the yarn all the more, because you know that you can’t get to it.  Having it back is like seeing old friends and having a good catch-up.   It is also a good opportunity for me to take stock, before my splurge next Friday!  The draws are in such a mess!  The mess is because during the pre-building tidy I found that; with the help of a torch I could just slide my wrist into the draw and, with a little bit of luck, find the yarn I was waiting to crochet.  But the result for the rest of the yarn was a definite tangle.  So, I look forward to a big tidy, especially if I want to make room for all of my new purchases.   I aim to tidy before Christmas: to clarify that IS Christmas this year!

The house is coming a long, yesterday we got new flooring laid in the bathrooms, but there is still some way to go…

…just look at all those naked cushions! 

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….

crochet for Christmas, part one…

I know it is only November, and it is early to be blogging about crochet for Christmas.  But, I am excited.  Very very excited.  Do you remember me telling you about Grace and Jacob?  Well I am going to be running a course there!  That’s right: I will be passing on my love of crochet and teaching people how to crochet Christmas decorations.  The course is on the 25^th November, and if any of you would like to come-along, you can book HERE.  For the last few weeks I have been busy crocheting samples and writing patterns for the hand-out.  I thought I’d share with you, some of the things that people will be crocheting on the day.  We will be crocheting, Christmas puddings, Starflakes (these can either be starts or snowflakes, hence they are Starflakes), mistletoe and Christmas robins….

I really, really, really, hope that people book on the course and that I can blog about crochet for Christmas, part two and share with you all the wonderful things we crochet on the day….

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…

Happy (crochet) Halloween…

Happy Halloween to you all!  I thought I’d crochet you something appropriate, hope you like them…

They make the perfect Halloween decorations, and sit rather well with last year’s Witchy Kitty…

NB – these crochet pumpkins are October’s crochet flower of the month; following on the thought form last month – that without the flower you wouldn’t get the fruit or veg!  Hope you don’t mind?

quick (building work) update....

The builders downed-tools and finished work last Thursday!  I have my home back!  I thought that you might like to see some of the changes we have made.  These photographs were taken mid-way through the project; so don’t think that this is how we were left.  I’ll show you the finished rooms in a (optimistic) few weeks; when Si and I have had chance to decorate.  We have the deadline of making the house good (that is finished to a state so people can stay and not feel like they are still in a building site; sorry R – that won’t happen by next Thursday when you are staying) by Christmas.  Just to clarify that is Christmas THIS year.

Come on in…

This is our new bathroom…

…it used to be our study….

This is our new gust bathroom: It does now have a wc and basin plumbed in and a door…

…it used to be a space between the chimney and wall…

This is our new dining room / study / craft room…

…it used to be our bathroom...

I'll share some more pictures when we are a bit further on…

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.

crochet flowers…

You’ve probably realised that I love to crochet flowers.  I haven’t been able to crochet flowers for the last few weeks.  My yarn stash was packed away ahead of the building work.  I miss popping up stairs to grab a ball of yarn on a crochet wimp.  While we were packing the house away, I was able to slide my hand into the draw: and with the help of a torch pull something out.  I can’t imagine what state those draws will be in!  For the last few weeks, nothing, no access.  To get my crochet flower fix, I have spent some happy time browsing my crochet book collection: and I thought that I would share one of my favourite with you.  This book is as good as Lesley Stanfield's; but in a very different way.  The book that I want to tell you about is Crochet Flowers by the incredibly talented Nicky Epstein….

The book is just beautiful!  Full of gorgeous photographs of crochet flowers; in some of the most amazing yarn you have ever seen.  Each flower has the crochet pattern, so you can easily crochet the flowers for yourself.  And most (if not all) of the flowers have crochet charts; brilliant for those of us who prefer to look at pictures rather than read words!  One note of caution; if you do read and follow the crochet patterns, they are written in American; while translation is no big issue – it is worth remembering before you start!

The book is a true source of inspiration, even if you don’t follow the patterns and prefer to crochet things up as you go along (as I do) I would recommend that this book is placed on your bookshelf.  Go on treat yourself…

 Ps – building work should finish today or tomorrow.  Very excited to start decorating, can’t wait to share it all with you…

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!