Yarndale And Friends

I'm a little sheepish.

(Do you like what I did there?!)

You see, I'm afraid I didn't take many pictures during my jaunt up north to Yarndale.  There was quite simply far too much to look at and absorb, let alone photograph.  My mind is still buzzing!

Plus, I was a bit preoccupied.  I don't know if you remember my telling you, but I was meeting up with two of my favourite blogging friends for the very first time - Cuckoo (Tales From Cuckoo Land) and Emily (Unravelled).

So there I was, standing at the entrance of Yarndale, under crochet-adorned trees, nervously waiting for my pals.  Said nerves disappeared as soon as I clapped eyes on them of course and all I wanted to do was squeeze, squish and poke them both to make sure they were real!

We were so keen to gossip, it was quite hard to focus on all the woolly loveliness surrounding us.

Needless to say, Yarndale was everything I thought it would be and more.  Close your eyes and picture an enormous livestock auction mart.  Now imagine it absolutely crammed to the gunwales with stall after stall of yarn and yarn-related crafts and goodies.  Oh, and people.  And bunting of course.  Miles and miles of the stuff!  Add a very faint whiff of cow poo and you'd be pretty near the mark.

We met and chatted to the lovely and inimitable Lucy of Attic24 in the Knit and Natter Lounge where she was surrounded by her glorious makes and a clamour of folk wanting to speak to her.  She really is like crochet royalty (and quite teeny).

Look, her gorgeous funky lamp in the flesh ...

and her beautiful May Rose Wreath (with a Cuckoo attached) ...

We also said "hello" to the delightful Heather (Patchwork Heart) but sadly, and despite keeping my eyes firmly peeled, I didn't see Jacquie (Bunny Mummy)*, Annie (Knitsofacto) or Gillian (Tales From A Happy House).  Next year I hope?

I naturally managed a couple of purchases.  My only brief was to find some yarn for a cowl, for Blondie Daughter.

"Cream, thick and not itchy please Mummy".

The British Blue Faced Leicester dk wool in 'bluebell' and Alpaca dk in 'sweet pea' are for me.  I haven't quite decided what to make with them yet.  The chunky undyed Alpaca on the right is for the cowl and is the softest, most luxurious yarn I have ever felt and my daughter is absolutely delighted with it.  Mummy did good!

Poor chilly alpaca though!

I had to catch the train back home on Sunday morning and didn't quite have time for a look around Lucy and Tracy's studio, above Coopers Cafe, in Skipton town centre.  Cuckoo and Emily sent me photos though ...

Photos courtesy of Cuckoo.

It really was the loveliest weekend.  I bloody love this blogging business.  Never in a million years did I think it would spill over into real life.

Lucy, you're such an inspiration.  I do hope you're having a well-deserved lie down.

Yarndale, you were fab-u-lous.

Cuckoo and Emily, totally smitten and miss you. xxx

I might just pop off and catch up on Downton Abbey now.  Despite still being quite tired, I'm not worried about having a particularly early night - the children aren't at school tomorrow as their teachers are on strike.  Best to keep my opinions about that to myself I think.

*Jacquie has written a far better account of Yarndale than me, with lots of gorgeous photos; do pop and look if you haven't already.

xxx

Fruity Scarf

I was quite tempted to christen this the 'Smug Scarf'.



You see, I crocheted all the ends in as I went along.  I know!  It was nothing short of an epiphany.  I chuffing hate the sewing-in bit at the end of a project.  It hangs over me like a woolly cloud.

(I did the final 'trim' after blocking.)

The blocking took place on a towel, on the lounge carpet, after a gentle handwash.  With hindsight, I couldn't have picked somewhere with more of a footfall.  Talk about moths to a flame; I must have shrieked "MIND MY CROCHET!" over a hundred times.

Ten rows of half trebles (half doubles US) in each colour and two of the cream in between.  Back and forwards, back and forwards.  Effortless.  I enjoyed every single stitch.

Those wonderful, wonderful colours.

Are you smiling?

Colours do that don't they?  Make you smile.  Lift your spirits.

I used Rooster Almerino dk wool.  It's got the loveliest drape.

I'd say that's definitely today's 5-A-Day covered, wouldn't you?

xxx

What A Gorgeous Bird

When my dear sweet bloggy friend, Ali, offered to knit me the Little Owl Knits' Sweet Robin Wristees after I'd wistfully pinned them to my "If I Ever Learn To Knit" Pinterest board, I couldn't order the pattern or wool fast enough!

Look!

How clever is she?

How lucky am I?

I am well and truly smitten.

Thank you too to all of you for your lovely, lovely comments - my back feels a lot better.  I shall be twerking again in no time ... ;-)

xxx

Too Old To Twerk

I've done something silly.  I've hurt my back.  Right across the top of my *whispers* bottom.

I think I overdid things a little last week - weeding, carpet and sofa cleaning, frenzied paintwork scrubbing, blah blah blah.  With hindsight, I should have spent the weekend taking it easy and giving my poor muscles a break but I've never been one to shirk a challenge.  Particularly when it comes from my children and is laced with slight mockery.  That challenge?  To twerk!  Oh yes, if Miley Cyrus and Harry Styles can do it (feel free to Google for videos if you so fancy), then so can I!!!

Anyway, I did a pretty good job of twerking even if I do say so myself and there was an undeniable appalled impressed expression on the Blondies' faces as I gyrated my booty.  However ... fast forward three days and here I am, still as stiff as a board and in a lot of discomfort.  Bugger.

Monday I was almost immobile.  Yesterday and today a little better.

Hey-ho.  I've prescribed myself another reasonably gentle day, some of it in a semi-horizontal position, in my favourite place.

I love my bedroom.  It's my mismatched sanctuary.  Thank goodness D is so easy going - he's perfectly happy to sleep in a sea of feminine bits and bobs.  The only time he gets cranky is when an errant crochet hook (or worse, pair of scissors) works it's way under the bed covers and stabs him awake! 

Have I ever shown you my little portable bamboo bed table?  If you're like me and your bed is not just for sleeping, do consider getting one - they're inexpensive and readily available on Amazon.  Everybody in the house borrows mine.  It's perfect for laptops (stops them getting too hot) and crafty projects, not to mention lazy Sunday breakfasts.

I made the cover for that cushion you can see there.  It's lovely and firm and has been doing a super job of supporting my poor back.  The fabrics I used are all a linen-mix, hence the creases.  Sewing doesn't come terribly naturally to me; I'm very slow but I think I'm reasonably neat.  I fell in love with the turquoise rose print the second I saw it.

My little woolly hot water bottle has also been earning it's keep.  Nicki (Homebird) and I did a little Christmas swap last year and this was one of the gorgeous handmade things she sent.  Isn't it lush?  I'm sure she'll be delighted to learn it's been balancing prettily on my derriere for the last few days!!!

We have two pictures in the bedroom.  This one is my favourite.  I bought it last Christmas from a dear little art gallery cum coffee shop in Mevagissey, Cornwall.  I lie in bed and gaze at it and, if I concentrate hard enough, I really can hear the call of the seagulls and the clanking of the fishing boats.

The other picture hangs directly above our bed.  It's a Katie Daisy print.  Gosh, I love her designs.

In fact, I also have a Katie Daisy postcard pinned to my mirror.  Just a little affirmation if I ever need it!

We have an egg-yolk yellow bathroom, just off the bedroom.  I designed the little stained glass window above the door and a local lady made it for me, some years ago.  This is what I can see from my prone position on the bed if the bathroom door is wide open.  In fact, it's where D and I have some of our loveliest chats - one of us in the bath and the other in bed.

Then, of course, there is our wonderful bed.  D's parents bought it for us about sixteen years ago.  I think we're on our second mattress.  It's sooooo comfy.

I don't love, love our lampshades.  They're wobbly and slightly irritating.  They're fine for now though.

So a slightly random meander around my bedroom today but really an excuse to pop by, wave and say "hello" to you.

xxx

So September

I've noticed a distinct air of excited anticipation in Blogland about the onset of a new season.  Me?  I'm hanging on to what's left of summer with an iron grip.

Grim-faced weather forecasters starting their bulletins with "it's all set to change" are either switched off or met with fingers in ears, "laa laa laa, not listening".

I love the light and warmth of summer.  I love having the doors and windows flung wide open, bringing the outside in.  I love the sounds, the colours, the long days and drawn-out alfresco meals.  I'm not ready for it all to change just yet.

So, I shall continue exposing my not-as-taut-as-they-were limbs in pretty dresses and wearing flip flops for a little while longer!  So there!!!  Oh yes, I can be a stubborn sod at times.

That said, it's pretty much been a week of settling back into the old routine.

Blondie Daughter has enjoyed her first full week in Year 7.  It's her second year at high school (the children start at the age of 10 here, a year earlier than most) and she and her friends sashay up the path to school with an air of confidence far removed from the wide-eyed terror of a year ago.

Blondie Son, now in Year 10, has moved up to senior school and embarks on the two year journey to GCSEs.  I have to keep pinching myself.  Is it really ten whole years since his very first day?  He towers above me now and, when we hug, his arms have to go on top.

I've been sprucing up the house and garden this week.  Doing lots of those little jobs that have been sidetracked for the last six weeks or so.

Sassybelle Blooms, I've finally hung up your beautiful string of happy (forgive the less-than-beautiful photo) - it's above the doors in the lounge and, each time I see it, I think of you.

I do so love my brooch too.  Thank you xx

I had just the loveliest day on Wednesday.  I met up with one of my first bloggy friends, Lynda.  While still being on Instagram, Lynda is taking a break from her blog, Hookin With LaaLaa, and concentrating on her new needlework kit and chart design business.

These are two of my favourite designs of hers, aren't they stunning?

So, with knocking knees and a fluttery tummy, I caught the train to Birmingham.  Funnily enough, Annie recently posted about meeting up with online friends - it seems to render the most self confident of us, gibbering heaps.  Why is that I wonder?  All my nerves completely disappeared the minute I saw Lynda though and we spent a wonderful few hours gossiping, shopping and gossiping.  She's a minx though.  She positively forced me to buy a new Cath Kidston skirt.  (Do you hear me D?  FORCED me she did!!!)

To the lady who wrote the very disparaging feedback on the CK website about this skirt being more suitable for a 10 year old than a grown woman, I know a certain 11 year old girl who wouldn't be seen dead in it and a 41 year old woman who bloody loves it.  Different strokes for different folks eh and thank goodness for that.

Before I sign off, are you going to Yarndale?  I am!  I'm going with two gorgeous online friends (Cuckoo and Emily) who I've known for a while but never met in person (you see how I'm all au fait about this meeting up business now?!) and I'm suuuuper excited!  Do come and say "hi" if you see us.  I'll be the one with the mushroom skirt and flip flops!!!

xxx

PS.  Beautiful wildflower posy at the beginning of this post was from a charity stall at a local fayre.  Best £2.00 I've spent in a long time.