Sunday morning rambles

Gurnard Seafront Beach huts

Hello,

The weather has been a little unpredictable of late, but the last Sunday was a bright sunny day, just perfect to explore a local yarnbombing project. I had not been able to get over to look at it with all the preparations for Open Studios which just take over my world for a while.

A knitting group that meets regularly in the Gurnard Press cafe and newsagent, together with the children from Gurnard Primary School had a plan to liven up the local area. They also raised funds for a couple of local charities - Mind and Ability Dogs for young people

The creativity was amazing - it totally transformed an ordinary street into a place where people smiled, talked to one another and stopped to admire the hard work. I loved the wrapped trees and the little pom poms in the verge, such a neat fun idea.

  

It also gave me the chance to spend some time with Jo before she went off to France with the Medina Community Choir. They go on tour in Europe every 2 years, this year they are returning to Saint-Didier-en-Velay, although the temperatures should be a little cooler than the 40+ degrees of the last visit.

 

It also gave me a little time to work on one of my current Wips which is the Pimlico Scarf, which is a KAL by the lovely Little Bobbins on her Ravelry Group - Little Bobbins Knits. Of course I had to have a lovely coffee while we were there... and a lovely coffee it was too, I heartily recommend the Gurnard Press if you are ever over that way.

I will keep you updated on the progress of what is on my needles, and going on here on my little island, until then, may your yarn run smoothly and knot free..

=^.^=

   

Making it up as I go along

Well, what a change in the weather, as I sit here writing this it is lashing down with rain and blowing a gale outside. Would the person who has taken the June weather kindly return it.

But onto lovelier things, this last couple of weeks I have been continuing to get organised for Open Studios, but my brain went into overdrive and refused to work that way.

So what do I do? Free-Form, that way I can play, be productive and just enjoy myself.


What is Free-Form I hear you ask? It is a form of knitting and crochet which is fairly organic, there are no rules, no patterns and any yarn goes - in fact the more outrageous the yarn the better. You make it up as you go along.

Below are some images of my progress on the waistcoat so far, I particularly love the fluffy middle of the flower shape

my work table with a palette of yarns, colours and textures

It starts small, then grows...

fluffy flower

The back as of Saturday morning 3rd June

The best person to show all the delights of Free form is a lady called Prudence Mapstone, her website can be found here. I had the pleasure of being taught by her on one her rare visits to the UK quite a few years ago.

Also on the needles at the moment:
The Genista V neck Tee for me in Debonnaire Allure Lace weight merino - it is so soft.
and Lavinia by Anniken Allis, which is a beautiful lacy poncho type garment. I am working this in some Touch Yarns 2ply which I have had in my stash for about 13 years... 
I was just waiting for it to tell me what it wanted to be

I will keep you up to date with my progress on the above projects and if you have time next month  come along to Open Studios here on the Isle of Wight and see the finished waistcoat for yourself.
I will be at Northwood WI Hall, Friday 21st - Monday 24th July, along with the other members of The Creative Collective, more on that nearer the time.

For now, whatever your craft have fun and enjoy yourselves.

Open Studios - its that time again...

Wowsers, doesn't the year go round quickly?
It seems only a little while ago that we were getting ready for the Isle of Wight's Open Studio event, and here it comes again. Only 9 weeks to go and yet again, I do not feel prepared for it.
There have been a few changes over the last year, I usually exhibit with a group of other artists all of whom work in different mediums. We have decided that the name for the group should be 'The Creative Collective', so that it could be as inclusive as possible.
The group consists of:
Su Douglas aka Periwinkle Studio
Clare-Louise Sandell aka LouLouBallou Glass
Jeni Saunders aka Pink Jen Jewellery
and last but by no means least Jan Organ aka JO Maker
We will be exhibiting and I will be teaching at Northwood WI Hall from Friday 21st July - Monday 24th July 2017.
This last week has been a fluffy of things to do with the shop, we have a #PawsomeTeaParty coming up on the 27th 1-4 pm. It is to raise funds for the Isle of Wight Branch of The Cats Protection, there will be lots of lovely cake available, so stop by if you can.

Also Bertie has been tiring himself out chasing flies at home, he was so tired he fell asleep with his head on the crystal bowl....
Below are a couple of images of things that I am making for Open Studios, just to give you a glimpse of my woodland theme for this year.
Until next time, happy crafting.
Big hugs

Tracy
=^.^=