The Great Knitting Project

It's been far too long since my last post, but things have been a bit hectic here. However, I did manage to finally get my knitting group up and running (only 2 years late!).

After getting a bit fed up of my needle challenged friends asking me to knit things for them, I decided they needed to learn to do it for themselves and so The Great Knitting Project was born!

Tuesday evenings and Thursday mornings and so far it's going well.

"Tracy wondered how long it would take to knit herself a belly dancing outfit."

"Juliette looked up hopefully when Jo opened the fridge door. "Is she giving us wine, or another flippin' cup of tea?"

Becky looking far too excited about knitting. This is what it's come to ladies!

 Juliette pretending she was knitting a blanket, but still unable to tell the difference between knitting and crochet, bless her!

The lovely Tracy, being a good girl and getting on with it.

Since this first night, we've been getting together every week and so far it's been a great success. Sometimes there is more gossip than knitting, but it's very bonding and often therapeutic. Most of the women are quite surprised at how relaxing it is.

I'm very proud of my new knitters and one or two are even beginning a pattern for the first time. (I sometimes have to deal with a small woolly crisis in the playground at pick up time, which is quite funny. Yes, you Rebecca! )

Anyway, I thought I'd leave you with a few sites that are great for free knitting patterns, so you can go off and begin your own Knitting Project, if you haven't already.

The Vintage Knitting Lady

Skiff-Vintage Knitting Patterns

Knitting Pattern Central

The Daily Knitter

 This is  a link to the webshop of a friend of mine who knits fab and funky things. 

It's All A Bit Woolly

......and last of all, let's not forget the fabulous

Guerilla Knitters!

I think that's enough  to keep you going. So, Knitting Nellies, get out that project that's been sitting in your work bag for the last 3 years and get those needles clickety clacking!

I expect an update of all your projects! 

Gin and Cat Food

Yes, dear readers, alas poor Maud & Mabel are running low on gin and cat food. So let's see what little delights they have in their shop, because if Maud doesn't get a snifter before bed she'll be unbearable!

Gorgeous vintage baby nightgown

Vintage French, handmade child's dress.

Vintage French photograph album.

(Sold)

I had to raid Mabel's bedroom for this next lot. Trying to tear her away from her book of Hollywood gossip was no easy task, I can tell you!

(Sold)

Mmmm... no wonder, however, dear Mabel still dreams of Cary Grant sweeping her off her feet. (It wouldn't take much, she's none too steady these days!)

A very ornate vintage compact. (Far too ostentatious for Maud)

Vintage French Letter (stop sniggering in the back!)

Beautiful French cabinet card.

As you can see, the poor cat is looking a little peaky.

Chin Chin!

A Village Affair.

Saturday was the first of the Craft Markets in a tiny village near to me called Warkton. It has been organised by Deanne and Michelle who, like me, are keen to start a handcraft revolution. (or revive an old one!)

View from the village hall

I didn't do as well at this market as I normally do at some of my regular markets, but I think that was because this was because the visitors were more of a traditional craft fayre bunch. Not sure creepy doll badges were high on their shopping lists! Sometimes that just the way it rolls! I'm sure as word spreads about this monthly market, there'll be even more visitors.

Anyway, it did make me realise that I may have to adapt the things I sell to appeal to different markets.

Take a browse through the photos to see some wonderfully talented artists and crafters.

Gifts of Nature Workshop. Fabulous wood turning from Sue Cattell.

My new recycled fabric-covered notebooks

The Crow Road stall (me) and yes, yes, I know I need to work on a proper display. I'm doing it ok?

Bizzie Lizzie (aka Lesley)

Lovely painted furniture, mirrors etc. but she is also a beautiful fine art painter and below are some of her lovely cards of her village scenes.

Yankee do-Little Delights. A fabulous idea from our resident american, Meghan. She beautifully packages ingredients for traditional american cookies and brownies. (She also kept us going with samples she had made earlier. They were delicious)

Angel Jays

This lady does the most gorgeous knitted scarves in fine merino wool, decorated with tiny beads and at such a reasonable price. Check out her website.

 Cute little angels.

Lovely jams and chutneys from Hedgerow Preserves.

Beautiful crafts from Button-It

Quirky Boots handcrafted goodies.

It was a lovely day; my mum came to keep me company and we thoroughly enjoyed chatting with the other stall-holders and having cups of tea made for us by Deanne and Michelle. I look forward to the next one.

Photos courtesy of Deanne and Michelle. 

French Revels!

Well I'm back from from my fantastic holiday in France with Rainey J.  She is really lovely and such great fun that I felt like I'd known her for years.

My trip didn't start too well as I got lost on the way from the airport. A slight pronunciation difference led the taxi driver to drop me at Dinard, not Dinan! After finding a very kind woman, who phoned the taxi co. for me and explained things, I finally arrived in the right place, where Rainey was waiting for me.

Rainey in her beautiful little apartment. Click here for a lovely story about this and a beautiful painting.

Dinan is a beautiful, medieval, walled town and every part of it is picturesque. The buildings are so crooked that they look like they shouldn't be standing at all.

We visited, art exhibitions, fleamarkets, cathedrals, roamed the streets and hit the bars at night. Our favourite bar is run by a lovely man and friend of Rainey's called Alain. (More on that later!)

Ok, enough chit chat, here's the photos.

View from the castle walls that surround the town.

The street where our favourite pub was.

Me guarding the gates against Irish invaders... such as this one....

"Let me in! Let me in! I need more sewing supplies and a martini!"

Ok, now we're going to go somewhere really special. This cobbled street winds down and down to the edge of the town walls. Just down here, on the left is a magical place. Come with me gentle readers, whilst I take you on a journey of french haberdashery delight..........   

Choosing one's treasures is a very serious business!

I would have loved one of these antique sewing boxes, but they were not for sale.

Here is the link to the website of this little shop of wonders. Yes, she sells online!

As you can imagine, after that we needed to sit down and recover.....