Two Angels - angels & petals AND crafty angel

Beautiful Morning

It is a seriously beautiful morning out there today. I know I am always trying to encourage you to venture out, but I most definitely recommend it today! Take your journals, sketch books, cameras and a bag for collecting the bounty. Sloe's, elder berries, the last few black berries and rose hips are all in plentiful supply and some all the better for being pretty heavily frosted today.

 
The moor first thing, frosty & misty with a huge sun looming.

 
The cattle began their day of grazing.

Everything had a touch of frost.

 
Rosie can't get enough of these 'rabbit scented mornings'.

180 acres of open space

And interesting hedgerows.

 
Plenty of berries for the birds.

Red berries and lichen. Almost (!) made me feel Christmassy!
  
 
   

How smart are we now???

Tah dah! Our new paint job is complete - and I love it. 

The colour is a warm buttery yellow, set off against black wood work and newly exposed stone work.

Great job Alan - thank you 

Why not pop up and see what's inside too? We've lots of new stock arriving all the time ready for your Christmas shopping!

And don't forget Knit & Natter is still every Tuesday & every Thursday at 7.30pm.

 All abilities are welcome, including complete beginners.

Autumn workshop list is available for collection.

Including newly added Candle Making session.

Hope to see you soon

New friends

 Our Knit & Natter group in attended by a very talented, and extremely modest lady who knits for breast cancer care charities. She brings along to our meetings the most exquisite little animals and pixies you've ever seen.

So recently, I had the pleasure of visiting her and choosing a selection of furry friends I thought might make nice gifts, to sell in the shop.

Here are a couple of photo's of some of our new friends...

This little mouse has the most beautiful sparkly hoody.

Here come the girls!

  That's William in the middle, obviously can't get a word in edge-ways!

 

..............and relax

What better way to end a stressful week than with some needle felting. Oh, the rhythm of stabbing small particles of fibre cannot be beaten. Add to that a handful or two of lavender and you have the perfect afternoon. So that is just what we did on Saturday afternoon.

The sun streamed in through the window as work began on choosing colours & designs.

 

Perfect lavender for a lavender bag

The start of beautiful poppies,

And stunning delphiniums,

 
  A pretty & delicate start from Freya,

 

MMMM, that barbed needle does hurt doesn't ?

 

And the first lavender heart of the day was finished.We all loved the little bee.

 

The finished delphs were beautiful

 

Pretty lavender

The finished sunflower and no trace of the blood!

 

Loving the little felted flower on this one

And we even had a ladybird,

Last but by no means least we had a chicken.

Two ladies had to leave early, but we are looking forward to seeing your photos when they're finished, please!
 

There will be another chance to have a go at needle felting at our Flower Power workshop

 Saturday 16th Ocotober.
  

 
   

 
  

 

Lavender Hearts

Just to remind you all we're making Lavender Hearts tomorrow at 2pm in the shop.

Still space for a couple more if you'd like to join us. All materials provided, choose from calico or linen, needle felt a design, hand sew together & fill with french lavender buds. Add a hanging ribbon and you've got a lovely keepsake, or a great gift.

£8 if you fancy joining us - email me or just come along.

Internet

Oh my goodness, how I've come to rely on the internet! Ours 'went down' last Tuesday and I've only just got it back. Nearly a whole week in which I felt like I had no access to the outside world, or to you!

I haven't been able to share with you my usual moments of mild excitement, so I'm delighted to be able to do that today.

As you know I love to find gorgeous gifts for the shop, and with that in mind I proudly present.........

these lavender scented, knitted wheat bag cushions, with a gorgeous ribbon bow to allow you to remove the wheat sack. I can't think of a nicer Christmas present to give than warmth & comfort, done so stylishly.

Gifted

Apologies for the quality of these photographs. It has been so dark and miserable today (Monday) I've struggled to take them, but I did so want to show you this new book.

Such a pretty cover.

 
I love granny squares and so the idea of felting some to make an attractive yet strong bag seems perfect.

If anyone wanted to knit me this for Christmas I'd be thrilled. 

This little hat is pretty straight forward, yet done in different yarns & colours would make great presents for all your friends.

 
Not so straight forward, by stunningly beautiful are these mangas which would not look out of place in the Andes or the UK!

 
These felted hearts strung together make a lovely gift.

Felted needle cases - another gift idea for yarn lovers.

This is a well put together book that will appeal to anyone who likes to give their gift giving the personal touch.
   
 
   

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

At last I can confirm the dates for the Felt making and the Bathroom Bliss Christmas Workshops.

FELT MAKING Held in The Vine Church WEDNESDAY 27th OCTOBER 2pm. £15 Booking essential.

This is a fun afternoon making a felt 'picture', or it could be used as a mat, wall hanging, to cover a book or sewn into a little bag.  Below is an example of the kind of thing you might produce.

 

Suitable for adults and children over 7yrs.

BATHROOM BLISS CHRISTMAS Held in the Vine chutch - Sunday December 5th 2pm. £18 Booking essential.

This will be similar to the bathroom bliss we held last month only with a festive slant. Ideal for making special gifts. Included will be soap making, bath bombs & salt scrub.
 

Don't forget a full programme of Autumn workshops is available from the shop

Knit your own pet

Brand new out and such fun is this book, Knit & Purl Pets

Designed to be knitted for children who constantly ask for a pet, these little chaps will be loved by children and adults alike.

Bamber the labrador pup - less messy than the real thing.

Cute kitty, knitted in the round & very easy.

'can I have a rabbit mum'

'yes of course darling, I'll have it ready by morning!'

 You might need until the weekend to knock up this one.

How lovely is Zoom? I want one of these.

Also included are patterns for a snake, tortoise, guinea pig, mouse, rats, pony, hens, birds and even a stegosaurus - covering all possible requests!

BOOK CLUB
I forgot to mention yesterday that the new book the Club have chosen to read is The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows. And the debate meeting will be at K&N on Tuesday 12th October.
All who had read A Thousand Splendid Suns loved it and so far it is our highest scoring book getting a resounding 9/10.