Knit and Stitch show

It's that time of year again, when the Knitting and Stitch show arrives in London. I had a free day and I was looking forward to going, especially with  the hope of seeing people I follow on social media.

I took in the smaller rooms first, as the the large market place with lots of goodies can be quite exhausting and I wanted to be fresh to be able to enjoy people's inspirational work. The first person I came across was Louise, and her fabulous knitted taxidermy animal heads, great fun and bigger in real life.

I was absolutely delighted to see some works of Sophie Digard a French ladies work I have admired from afar for awhile and something that I never expected to see in person.

The pieces were as outstanding as I expected, as the intricacy and colour palette are unique. Such tiny exquisite stiches in a beautiful blend of colours and array of patterns.

I also spotted Wool and the Gang, Katie's Plaice and Janie Crow

I stopped for a refreshment before starting to tackle the boggling mix of stalls. One that really stood out was Spin City, selling her spindles and roving, but it was her personality and passion that shone through in her demonstrations. She must be repeating herself 100s of times but this doesn't dampen her energy. She made it look so easy and so much fun, a spindle is definitely going on my Christmas list!

Picture courtesy of spincityuk.blogspot.co.uk

Of course I had to pay a visit to the Stylecraft stand. Unsurprisingly it was bustling with eager customers, and the bubbly ladies were eager to help. The stand was a mass of colour not only full of their yarns but the blanket displays of Sue Pinner and Janie Crow. Sue was also there in person, another good reason to stop by.

Of course I couldn't leave empty handed, but at least had come with a vague idea that I needed more of a range of pinks. I chose from colour shades rather than sticking to one style of yarn.

I didn't find it too overwhelmingly busy this year and I was able to walk around and browse with ease, the hardest thing of course is resisting temptation! As you can see from the above picture, I may have picked up a few other balls from other stalls!! 

Whilst I was away on holiday Stylecraft hosted a Blog tour. For 10 days a different blogger would write a post about a piece they'd designed using the new Stylecraft limited edition colours, and each day there was a pack of the yarn to win. Typical, it was to happen whilst I was out of the country. Of course all the posts were there to still be read,(and most of the blogs I follow anyway) and the patterns available to enjoy, but I only had 3 days left to enter the competition.
I couldn't believe my luck, I won!! A whole 10 balls of squishy yarn, in a beautiful range of colours, via Hand Knitted Things. I know it sounds cheesy to say that I never win anything, but I really don't, so this was really exciting news for me, plus of course the prize was yarn, and things don't get much more exciting than that! I can't wait to have a play with the beautiful colours!

Double Chrysanthemum blooms...

Spring has arrived, and we have not one but two blooms that have opened out and blossomed

I've completed both the singular and double colour, retro, Chrysanthemum cushions

The monochromatic cushion was completed first, enabling me to have a play around with the pattern

The back I decided to keep simple with a giant granny square, as the focus point is the bloom on the front

Once a basic pattern had been formed, I wanted to see what it looked like by adding a second  accentuating colour. These really aren't my taste in colours, but surprisingly I absolutely love how they work together, giving an authentic retro feel to the design

I continued to mix the two colours across the back too

I found some great packs of buttons at my local charity shop, and this set were perfect (they look more yellow in real live!)

It felt great to get these both finished, as the end process always drags for me, partly as I can't wait to see how all the components come together, but also i've got another 50 ideas and projects that i'm eager to try out!

These cushions have great texture. This image is actually the back of the flower, I like how that looks too!!

I just need to capture some more images in good light, and get them listed in my Folksy shop!

As you saw last week, I have already made a start on the next product. The flowers are finished, and now I'm making another c2c square, but it's still not a cushion, I'm trying something new, any ideas??

Behind the scenes. ...

Ive not got much to show you on the crafting front this week, but it doesn't mean ive been idle!
Mainly, I or should I say we, (as I'm a complete technophobe hubby has been helping out with pc bits so I dont completely lose my mind, and temper!!) have been working behind the scenes as I'm determined to get my Folksy shop back up and running again!

         

So, we've been working away adding backgrounds, titles, widgets and goodness knows what else and trying to link Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter and every other medium we can think of!

• Contact
• Buying from me
• Favourite

• Blog
• Twitter
• Facebook

I also think I have found a solution to the background when I take photographs of my products. After reading someone's blog they stated they used artists canvasses, so after a trip to the works I purchased some white artists boards, so I need some bright daylight which is a bit infrequent now the nights are drawing in!

At the start of the week we had a beautiful sunny day, so I took my latest cushion for a walk round the grounds for its moment of glory in the bright light.

This Saturday I did manage to get another weekend day off of work so i took the opportunity to go to the local craft meet up. This is pure bliss to sit in a relaxed atmosphere, talking with like-minded people, and can focus on any craft that we chose to take in...

I started with making a couple of squares for my mood blanket to try to catch up. 

The rest of the time I finished my next cushion background, so now I can focus on the decoration.

In the evenings I have continued with joining my mood squares, and I've completed another two rows.

This week hubby has started back at work, only starting with two hours a day, but its start and now hopefully we can now progress, he just needs to work on daily exercises to get the strength back in his leg muscles.
Last night we went for our annual trip to the local firework display, and it was spectacular as ever, and the perfect, mild, dry weather for it too...

We've flown through another month. This is a look back at October

Guilt free crafting...

I've not got much to show on the craft front this week...

I did sew the flowers on to my second 'summer flowers' cushion, now they are awaiting some foliage to be added. I better get cracking else it'll be winter before I finish it!

Working in retail means I work weekends, and this does clash with crafting as the majority of fairs and meet ups are on a Saturday, so I tend to miss out. However, this week I had found out about a new local crafty meet up, and I made a big effort to be able to go. I have followed the homemakery on instagram for awhile, but as its a visual aid its not always possible to know where people are situated in the world. So it was a very happy surprise for me to find that when Kate announced the dates that it was just down the road from me. It felt like total luxury, to go out and just craft! When crafting at home, guilt tends to creep in, as you can see all the jobs you feel you should be doing!
It was a nice small group, to feel comfortable in,

Kate the host was lovely and bubbly, and after the tea and cookies came out we all settled back to natter and focus on our projects. There was 3 of us crocheting, a lady knitting some handwarmers, whilst two sewers working on quilts. I do hope I get the chance to make a return visit.

What I took with me to work on, has been my 'portable' project for some months.

It goes to work, to be done at lunchtimes, its been on holiday to do in the evenings and also its great to whip out on the train. Nothing taxing, just basic little squares, in drops yarn. At first I didnt know what I would make with these squares, but since I found a plain Calico bag at Hobbycraft, i've decided this is what I will attempt to turn these in to. As I have sewing phobia I wouldn't be able to line a bag neatly, so i'm hoping this will be a solution...

For this weeks mood square i did a slight variation on a basic square, for some of the stitches i stretched them down to the row below. I stuck with summery colours as i'm not ready to face Autumn yet, also hubby has been improving and healing well, and I took an extra day off to take time out to relax....

I can't believe that we've slipped into yet another month

Here is a look back at August

Christmas build up...

The Christmas momentum has already started at work, with Saturday being really busy, and we've not even hit December yet!
I have to admit Christmas is my least favourite time of year, which I know makes me sound very baa humbug, but its only because of having worked in retail for so long. I miss out on so many of the fun things, i'd love to bake goodies, and decorate the flat festively and take the time to make personal gifts. But unfortunately the season to me means major stress, very long hours and being so tired... And now stores are forced to open on boxing day too, i'm not in a fit state to enjoy the day...
This week I got the opportunity for a trip to London for a merchandising meeting.

This included a trip around the top stores to look at their windows and in-store displays, how they had tackled Christmas and to see if there were any trends.
This was a very enjoyable trip and a great insight. We started in Harrods,

and their luxurious rooms and ostentatious goods, which included a quarter of a million pound table.

Their windows were spectacular, with a locomotive steam engine in the first window, and all following ones were set up like the carriages for travelling away for the season.

Their Xmas store was a little disappointing, as in it didn't have the same luxurious feel. It was bright  and festive though.

After a stop off at the V&A museum store we just had to check out Selfridges especially the infamous window displays.

They had big over-sized objects, surrounded by miniatures, which was very effective.

Inside, their displays were very bright and fresh and clean looking.

Then it was off round Bond Street to the top end stores.

A common thread used by large departments and small individual stores was the use of technology  and using projected images, which were very effective.

Lastly we went to Fortnum & Masons. I don't think i've been there before and I was impressed and enthralled.

It felt very homely all through, and festive in a sophisticated way.

And when I entered the Christmas store it made, even me, feel the magic of the season. I oohed and aaahed my way round. It made you feel quite emotional.

The details, the colour co-ordination, the soft music, the beautiful wrapping.

All areas of the store looked inviting, they even managed to make vegetable displays look beautiful.

All in all, a very enjoyable work day....

Back at home, in between the working hours, I've continued with the mini stockings. Just a couple more I think, before then adding the little hooks and transferring them into a garland.

Also, I have started another project. This, for a change, is just for me...

I had purchased this yarn back at the Knitting and Stitch show, I couldn't resist the beautiful multi-colours.

Now that the days are getting chilly, and I certainly feel the icy winds when standing around at bus stops, I felt a cowl was definitely required.

Nothing fancy was needed, as I didn't want to detract from the colour.

So I just used double crochet and chain stitches.

I'm loving how this is looking already, so I can't wait to finish...