August 2010
30/08/2010
29/08/2010
Bag Ladies Unite
Our decorated Bags session yesterday proved to be a haven for creativity. People had really thought about what it was they wanted to depict and how best to do that. Emily, our artist in residence,did an excellent job of transferring thoughts and scribbles onto the canvas for those who required it.
Just the dog to draw now.
Journals are a great way to keep your thoughts & ideas.
The fun bit begins.
Laying out the designs.
Beginning to stitch.
Embroidery begins on this 'Ladies who Lunch' design.
Some brought embellishments from home, like these lovely knitted flowers.
A famous Logo's themed bag was striking in black.
Jungle flowers. This bag will always make you smile.
Gradually some of the bags were finished and ready to take home.
Others took a little longer.
Some were going home to be embellished further.
And completed ready for 'show & tell' on Tuesday evening!!
Which incidentally is Book Club Tuesday - perhaps it's a good job it's a Bank Holiday tomorrow eh???
28/08/2010
23/08/2010
Bathroom Bliss
Hatherleigh smelt rather lovely yesterday afternoon as we embarked on a fragrant journey through our bathroom bliss workshop.
All set up & ready to go.
We began making making bath bomb hearts, either with fragrant oils, or essential oils. Some people opted for foot fizzers using tired feet soothing combinations of oils, bliss! Christina is seen blending her ingredients.
We left them to harden off up and down the stairs, with gentle breeze blowing in through the door.
And it worked! We were blessed with a warm dry afternoon, which helped.
Then we moved onto soap making. A gardeners soap was made using essential oils & poppy seeds for exfoliation. Also a more girly soap, with Rose Geranium essential oil proving a popular choice.
After a much needed cup of tea we began combining out ingredients for a salt scrub. Some people chose to add calandula petals, which looked very pretty once they were packed in jars.
and finally a massage oils most of the soaps had hardened off sufficiently to be unmoulded and the packaging began,
Ready to take it home
Bathroom Bliss was a very enjoyable & productive afternoon & I have been asked to do a Christmas one. I am aiming for 12th December, but will confirm this and let you have details soon.
22/08/2010
20/08/2010
Chagford Show
I had a lovely day out yesterday at Chagford Agricultural show. It is just the right size I think, big enough to be interesting but not so huge that you are exhausted at the end of it and your mind is boggling at the vast array of farm machinery available!
Perhaps understandably my favourite bit was the sheep. And I was overjoyed to find some gorgeous Greyface Dartmoors (we used to keep these), such beautiful docile sheep....
I could easily have taken this little lady home!
Greyface Dartmoors waiting their turn.
A row of Dartmoor bottoms!
Whiteface Dartmoors. Is it just me, or is there no comparison!!
Ok, they're quite cute really.
There was a good turn out and the rain stayed away for the most part.
We liked the cow & calf section of the cattle area.
and saw some beautifully turned out horses
This heavy horse's fancy braids were made from red yarn. He got our vote!
Then it was into the Handicrafts & Horticulture tents. And this girls, is when I began to think, we could do this next year!
The hand knitted class - we'd steal the show!
Felting - no problem!
This was a beautiful cushion. I loved the way she'd left long threads on the buttons.
This was such a fun painting.
The Mosaic class was very strong, but this was our favourite.
And then we came to miniature arrangements. I'm sure we could all do one of these.
Although there was some tough competition.
Simple but so pretty.
And then we came to the veg. Well, judging from the bounty of produce we've had at K&N I think these will be a walk-over!
Something for everyone.
Including the herb growers.
the sloe gin makers
and the egg producers.
A great day out and a bit of fun to think about for next year - are you in??
18/08/2010
Knit, Natter and so much more!
When we started Knit & Natter about 10 months ago, it was a fairly quiet fortnightly event. Oh! how things have changed! The popularity of knitting & crochet combined with the camaraderie of sharing a passion (or even just a little hobby!) with like minded women is a huge draw and we are now a twice weekly group (Tuesdays - still very busy and Thursdays - room for a few more) who really look forward to our gatherings and a chance to catch up on our projects alongside having a really good laugh.
Gallons of tea are drunk and home grown vegs is swapped.
One member is doing very well with her extreme knitting using the pair of cucumbers technique - hurry up and finish Em before they start to rot!!
And we do have our 'wow' moments, when ladies bring in their finished project, like this very pretty crochet bag that Sue had done,
Lining it with pretty spotted cotton, which complimented it beautifully.
If you fancy joining us, just pop along on Thursday evening 7.30pm - you'll be very welcome.
17/08/2010
Cotton Pickin'
Recently we all seem to have fallen in love with cotton yarn. It is so lovely to work with and makes fabulous throws which are warm and cosy, without being too heavy.
So I was very pleased when these new colours from Sirdar arrived in their Calico range.
Ice cream colours - yum yum!
15/08/2010
A Beautiful Day
It really is a lovely day out there today. The first for a long time. I haven't shared many of my phone snaps with you recently of the walks we've had, so here are a few to tempt you out today.
We headed out to Monkokehampton and walked to Broadwoodkelly.
It took me years to get used to these high Devon banks and the fact I could never see over them.
But fortunately there is plenty to see in them.
The bees were particularly busy this day.
And the occasional gateway allowed a glimpse of Broadwoodkelly.
Back on Hatherleigh Moor now
Where Rosie never tires of waiting to spring out on an unsuspecting Floss
or of creeping along hedgerows to avoid being seen by a herd of nosey bullocks
and where I am always grateful for the quick escape route!
and where the colours are beautiful
and the signs of autumn are all around!
the squirrels are getting excited
and so are the sloe gin drinkers!
Enjoy your day.
11/08/2010
Busy busy
We weren't the only ones who were busy working the fibres last night at our Knit & Natter.
On my morning walk today the Moor was a mass of cobwebs. I wish I'd had ny camera with me to capture them all - as far as the eye could see, cobwebs of all sizes. One or two weren't finished, the rounds had been done, but the strands not linked together. That made me laugh - a spider who think the same as me - give up and move onto something else if it gets a bit tedious!!
Just one work of art captured on my phone.
Also being busy have been the workmen on The George. It's protective boarding was removed yesterday and the town had it's first glimpse of the 'new george'.
I think there are a lot of mixed feeling about this new hotel, but personally I think it will be great to have it 'back'.
Looks like they're doing a pretty good job.
Two Angels
An inspirational gift & craft shop in a pretty market town.
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