November

Ah, so that was November. I think I'll have December next please.

 

 

 

 

 

 

London workshop with Julie Arkell

Had a lovely time at the workshop, although proved to be a bit of a dunce with the knitting side of things...

Julie was lovely; all sparkly, sweet and gentle and there to help when things went wrong.

Here is my creature so far, she needs a bit more work on that outfit. The hat took me most of the day, but I enjoyed it, learning something new.

The expression on her face reminds me of Dame Edna Everage when faced with something or someone lacking in gentility.

She was supposed to be a bit folk, but I think she is more like one of the spinsters on the TV series Cranford, which is a period drama here in the UK. There is a group of unmarried ladies of a certain age, who get a bit excitable over a new bonnet which might be totally impractical and unsuitable. I love that.

We have snow!

I am off to the big smoke to see my little sis and do a workshop here. Exciting!

www.loopknitting.com

 All Loop images copyright of Loop in Islington.

It's my birthday!

This time last year we were on holiday.

Winter sunshine. Bliss.

We went on a last-minute all-inclusive package holiday for the first time ever. Fuerteventura. We thought our house purchase had fallen through, so we just went off for a week of doing not very much other than eat, drink and read books. We were a bit nervous, but it was seriously lovely.

 

 

 

 

 

Something old, something new

Today I am sending out an order to a new customer, The Green Apple near Coventry which promises ethical and eco-friendly shopping...with a bit of style. www.the-green-apple.co.uk

I've just looked on the website, and I am going to be in very lovely company. They have Belle and Boo, Rosehip, Sukie, Darling Clementine...and oh, I just noticed my old friend Courgette cards.

Belle and Boo, Rosehip, Sukie, Darling Clementine

Courgette Cards

It's always comforting to know your cards are snuggling up on the shelves to other nice cards. That way they won't be lonely and they will have someone to play with after all the customers have gone home. I like to think there is a bit of a party atmosphere by night :)

Amongst other things, they ordered Valentines cards.

This week I also heard from a regular customer of ours, BOXdeLUX in Aarhus, Denmark. It is an arts and crafts store run by some lovely ladies. I like these bright and jolly pics from their website.

www.boxdelux.de

Julie Arkell

This weekend as a birthday treat to myself, I am going to do a workshop down in London led by Julie Arkell.

 

I have admired her work since the 1980s when she designed cards and wrap for Roger La Borde. I remember coming to Nottingham as a student and seeing her work in The Tokenhouse in Nottingham, which I now supply too.

Julie has that post-war make do and mend mentality which I most admire. She saves bits of fabric, old socks, used jam jars, throws in a bit of magic, a wonderful imagination and a lot of charm and hey presto! out come the most adorable, whimsical pieces of art work.

I already have one piece of her artwork, but after this weekend, I shall be the proud owner of one of her creatures. I'm really looking forward to the workshop and to meeting Julie and all the other participants.

Is it a banksy?

Spotted on the back of the ladies toilets at Southfield roundabout, near Horton Cross in Somerset.

www.banksy.co.uk

My cool caravan

I think I need this book.

All images copyright Chris Haddon and Jane Field-Lewis

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cool-Caravan-Field-Lewis-Chris-Haddon/dp/1862058784