Woolfest

Well, had the busiest 3 days of my year.

Thursday, I went on a lace knitting course by Galina Khmeleva at Higham Hall, which was good for techniques such as grafting to pieces of live knitting together, must try it out before I forget it!

Then Friday & Saturday was Woolfest, we think we had about 4,000 people come & visit, which was amazing & there were people from all over the UK & abroad as well, quite a few Americans, Estonians, Scandinavians & they're just the ones I met. So we're all exhausted but exhilarated, will post some pics when have them.

Going for a lie down........

Oh bought some yarn too, so maybe I'll have a play with that first!

Plarning

Back has been out of action for 2 weeks now & am so bored have had to do something & not having access to wool, this is what I came up with.

Plarning, I hear you say, what on earth is that?

Well, it's a cross between plastic & yarn, yep making something out of nothing! Using plastic carrier bags or bin bags, have a look at what I've made....







Amazing what you can do with some bin bags & Sainsburys bags!

The Wool Clip Newsletter & mention in The Guardian!

Greetings from The Wool Clip.It's all go for members of The Wool Clip
at the moment with only a weekto go until Woolfest 2010 at Cockermouth
- it's on Friday 25 and Saturday 26 June at Mitchell's Lakeland Livestock
Centre (for the uninitiated) and we're expecting over 120 stalls and 4000+ visitors.

However, we seem to have found time to demonstrate what we're about around
Cumbria this month. Some of us were at Spring Watch in
WhinlatterForest, Fell Gather at Cockermouth and also Orton
Farmers Market (12 June). It was really good to meet new
people and pass on our enthusiasm for wool, spinning
and all sorts of wool crafts, even if Marion and Rebecca
did get very wet at Whinlatter!

There are also rumours of a special visit to the shop on 20 June and associated
media coverage to mark the beginning of Co-operative Fortnight but we're not
absolutely sure what the organisers have planned so it is probably a case of wait
and see. We'll let you know if we find out more. For those of you planning a bit
further ahead, there are still places on our crochet and spinning workshops in
July and August - see the website for details. Sorry to be so short and sweet this
time but keep in touch and please come along and say Hello if you visit Woolfest
- and don't forget to bring along any bunting.

Best wishes, The Wool Clip

PS Woolfest made it into the UK Guardian's fashion and style e-news on Thursday
17 June - have a look for details.

Springwatch

Spent the day at The Whinlatter Visitor Centre near Keswick today, taking part in the BBC's Springwatch Weekend.

Myself and Marion from the Woolclip were there to help promote rural crafts.

We were a bit disappointed by the number of stands there, only 5, a willow weaver, cookery demonstration, a felter, an artist doing charcoal drawings & ourselves; but people were interested in what we were doing, Marion spinning & me knitting,
so hopefully people will have a look at the shop, The Woolclip & come along to Woolfest & see more of what we do.

New Beaded Shawl

I love my new shawl!!

It's got about 2,000 beads knitted into it.

And I've made it to go with a blouse I bought in Spain.
Just need somewhere to wear it........

Rannerdale Bluebells

Went to see the bluebells at Rannerdale yesterday, but they're not quite ready. Rannerdale is a valley beside Crummock Water, on the way to Buttermere. It's quite hidden away, but comes to life in Spring. The hillsides become a vibrant blue & there's a heady scent in the air with the bluebells. They don't grow as tall as those in woods or gardens, I guess because it's quite windy.But it was a gorgeous day, but still so cold. You can see how the water in the beck has gouged out some of the river bank & deposited lots of gravel, still lots of clearing up to do.

Put my back out..........

How can I put the hoover down & put my back out????

Haven't done this for years, spent all day limping around. I so wanted to be in the garden today, planting up a new herbaceous border. Husband got some manure & dug it into the bed for me, but today can barely put 1 foot in front of other. Met with a friend for a craft afternoon, but she had to come to me as I couldn't walk to her house, only 100 yards around the village, it's so maddening.

Also, want to go to Rannerdale to see the bluebells, but pointless going at the weekend as so busy, so hopefully will be back to normal next week..........