Farewell Horatio ...

At last I found the courage to do his eyes and ears. The black patchwork buttons from the shop did the trick for his eyes, and the ears were less trouble than I expected.

Now we are wondering about making him in DMC Petra. In a minute I'll have an experiment.

Also finished: the cushion

I enjoyed making it, and was careful to buy 2 cushion pads from Dunelm, so now I'm thinking waterlilies ... pinks and pale greens.

Caroline and Doreen are setting up the Marie Curie window, with a table and afternoon tea set out. Doreen has designed and made a fantastic hedgehog tea cosy; when Caroline takes a photo I'll share! And Caroline has been experimenting with a blanket made of fabric squares with crochet round. When the tension is sorted out, it's going to be good. When I tried it, I couldn't get the stitches even round the fabric, but Caz has no problems.

At the shop we have a tea cosy which was made for the SILVER Jubilee;

people are always trying to buy it. Now we've found the vintage pattern, so people can make their own. If there's ever time, I might try it in Tunisian crochet.

On the home front, we have an addition to the family:

 

Teasel is Rhiannon's new cat. She's not very fond of me - has me sussed as a dog person. But she's very pretty, with beautiful markings and, as you can see, a winsome expression. So far she and Fig have had 2 major encounters: result Fig 0, Teasel 2. Fig is used to being bossed by cats, bless her, and she wants to get to know Teasel. Unfortunately she galumphs about the place and is enough to put any cat off!

Stitch Bournville at the shop tonight. The weather is awful, so probably it will be quiet. But I'll take the camera, so you can pretend you were there.

Firsts

I love this time of the year. Everywhere is bursting with colour, the birds are singing non-stop, and there are lovely scents from the gardens.

Plus there's the food ... This week I've had my first Jersey potatoes, and my first British strawberries. Even this early in the season, they were sweet and juicy. More for tea tonight: the season doesn't last long, so might as well be a pig.

Only two weeks to go to Marie Curie tea party. Maureen has finished her knitting and has gone back to everyday stuff. Julie continues to receive raffle prizes. Time for me to put things together and stop making 'just one more'.

This is - or will be - a cushion after the instructions of Lucy, of Attic 24 fame. Caroline has said she will help me finish my tea cosy. Hippo is once again stuffed and waiting for the cosmetic bits of eyes and ears. He'll be gone on Tuesday.

New in at the shop - the gloop you put on the soles of socks to stop them from being slippery. I've wanted some for years. What are the chances it will be strong enough to stop door holders-open sliding so the door shuts?

Visitors to the shop this week include some from Australia, who went off with some of our tea cosies. It's nice to think one of Gillian's cats might grace a tea table in Oz! Gillian herself brought in a bag of cakes, which are popular for children's tea parties. 

 Some were like this, without the chocolate topping. There was some -er- discussion about what they were, but whatever you call them, they are very attractive, with colourful tops to the biscuits. We've also been brought stuffed elephants, an owl tea cosy and a fabulous knitted, dressed doll.  

And a lady came in for yarn to make bunting for Yarndale http://yarndale.co.uk/ - the newest of the wool/knitting/spinning etc shows, at Skipton in September.  She seemed surprised that we realised why she was making it without being told - and we're a wool shop! Yes, I will be going to Yarndale.

Phil has been in form this week. On Friday he tried to force feed me with cheese. We tried to give him away to some of his lady admirers, but he's still there.

Later in the week I'll do some photos of the roses from Prima Makes, which are really lovely. I've worked out how to do them without having six ends, so I'll do some how-to photos as well. But yesterday I got my copy of Designer Knitting Crochet 2013, and it's made me very ambitious. I fished in the stash and brought this out:

Think I might have to turn it into a shawl. 

After all, there is still a fortnight to finish things for the tea party! 

Hippo thoughts

I've been working on Happypotamus - and I might as well say straight away I don't think he's worth the effort. I've put several motifs in the wrong place - including the last motif before stuffing. Of course he was stuffed before I noticed:

So I unstuffed his head, as you can see. Then I took the stuffing out of his body too because it was all uneven and was stretching some of the motifs. It's a good idea not to carry on when you want to heave it through the window!

But at least it sparked an idea for workshops. Maybe people would like to make their own motif animal? So now I need paper patterns for stuffed toys. And wouldn't you know it - the nicest ones are currently unavailable.

On Tuesday in the shop, Caroline showed me a Prima 'Makes' magazine so I could make one of the squares for a bedspread. They all begin with a rose. The effect of the rose is particularly nice, but you end up with 6 ends to darn in.

This is one of my efforts at working it without breaking off the cotton. Looks OK, until you see the other side:

So tonight it'll be another attempt, but this time using wool. Cotton is so unforgiving, it just won't bend and stretch and make the work look good when it's not.

Caroline's already made up her version of some of the bunnies out of the magazine: how cute are they!

And this is the Iggle Piggle jumper I've talked about. It represents what I like so much about Christine's: first of all the kindness in agreeing to make it, then the fact that all of us in the team had a part in doing it. 

And one final photo:

Yes, it's a baby doll sitting in an onion crate. I bought this doll months ago with the idea of designing baby clothes. Needless to say, when it got here it wasn't baby size anywhere except the length.

So she sat on the shelf gathering dust until I thought of using her at the shop to entertain the kids while their mums shop. But she needs clothes and a bed. I gave her to Phil to find the basis for a bed and he went next door and sweet-talked them into giving him this crate. At least I think he talked to them.

He was in my good books for a very short time. When I went in yesterday, he told me that if I were a boxer, I wouldn't get any fights. How mean is that!

See what I mean?

I've been working on Aoibhe ni's Venus shawl, and it's finally finished: this is it.

It's a bit crumpled, and the lacy bits hardly show.

So: bring out the blocking boards:

And 24 hours later, hey presto:

As always, the photos are rubbish, but I hope you can see the effect of opening out the stitches. The shawl has also grown by about a third.

I've just put Aparna Rolfe's Leaflines shawl in to soak; might as well take advantage of the clear table! If you're interested in learning about blocking, sewing up etc, we've just produced a new schedule of workshops; have a look here: www.cityknits.co.uk

Bournville has been invaded today by students from Coventry University, sent out to study a model village. Some very nice people wanted to know all about living in Bournville: I loved the bit when they asked where the town centre was: reply, 'It's a village, and this is the centre!' Caroline and I refused to be filmed, but Jules was a stalwart and later, when Phil arrived, he was in his element, holding court outside the shop.

Dairy-free bread pudding today. Delicious as always. Discussion in the shop: is an egg a dairy item? I said no, it comes out of chickens; dairy comes out of a cow. No-one agreed with me.

I never felt like this before!

I'm the queen of the half-finished projects, and I've been stricken by the desire to finish things! Venus is blocking at this moment, and the Happypotamus is half constructed. This is upsetting.



For the next couple of weeks all our energies will be in preparing for June 8th. Please note, this is two and a half weeks. On Saturday, Caroline panicked us all saying we had two weeks left; Maureen fined herself £5 for miscounting and making it four weeks.

Prizes for the raffle are starting to arrive, from firms as diverse as Tea pigs and Thomas Ramsden. Caroline had made 15 flags for the yellow and blue bunting before 8.30 this morning. Maureen and I are making plans to keep children happy.

On Friday Laura came in with some cute sock key rings - all perfect, with heel flaps and grafted toes. I liberated one before they got out on display. Laura also brought a cow cuddle-cushion she made for us. It will be a guess-the-name competition. Whatever the right answer, I KNOW she is Ermintrude, out of The Magic Roundabout.

Julie and I had a sweet customer on Friday: she told us she had been waiting outside, getting up courage to come in and ask us about the seamed tights in the window. She was very giggly, preparing for a holiday in Paris, and announcing for all to hear, 'I'm really into sex'. She was at least 80!

Another customer brought in some wall hangings she is making. She is machine embroidering and using scarf yarns to get her effects. One picture is of a country road, with flowers growing along the verges;



she has used the peacock scarf ribbon, selecting a section with green along the bottom and the blue 'eyes' along the top, so it looks like blue flowers growing in grass. I so admire people who look at something and immediately see its possibilities outside its original purpose.

Jules has finished Iggle Piggle, the jumper started by the lady who died. It looks good. It's so generous, to give her time and considerable thought to sorting out the lady's work.

Photos tomorrow of Venus, before, during and after blocking.

Day off

The weather here has been horribly cold - so much so I got out the socks I knitted years ago. They are looking very shabby: must make some before winter, because there's nothing warmer.

Today it's warmer, with sunny intervals; there's been a sudden burst of growth and now the lilacs are beginning to flower. I wish I could share the smell with you.

I took the camera when Fig and I went for a walk - I should know better, but hope springs ...

The photos are from Stocks' Wood, a little area in Bournville which conserves English bluebells. Sorry about the fence posts: the public are not allowed in.

Although the grass has been mowed today, there are still little clumps where the daffodils were. When we went on holiday to Norfolk thirty years ago, I remember being astonished at the hedgerows, which were full of wild flowers. Now more places seem to be willing to leave them to grow, even if they might be called 'weeds'!

And while I was thinking about the way things used to be, I remembered these:

 I know they are cow parsley, but when we were children we called them Mother Dies: if you picked them,your mother would die. What a gruesome superstition!

Today I have made the shell of a tea cosy; I keep telling people in the shop that you just make a hat and turn it into something, so I had to follow my own advice.

You'll have to wait to see what I turn it into!

So what shall I work on this evening?

I don't drink tea, but ...

We're gearing up now for the Marie Curie day. Fliers are going out; Maureen is working on black and white bags; Caroline has made a gorgeous cupcake tea-cosy; raffle prizes are starting to arrive from our suppliers.

This year I WILL make a tea cosy. How about this?

This is a vintage pattern made up in Rico Poems yarn. The colours are much more vibrant than the photo shows.

The question is, what can I turn this into? The original had leaves and flowers on the top.

The stitch could be bells, or maybe scales.

Perhaps it's a volcano? Or a firework? If I can't decide, how can I finish it? And I've even made a lining.


Sewing up is one of the things we're often asked about at the shop - or at least, people say they are disappointed in their own attempts. We are planning a workshop on finishing techniques. I promise: if you block your work properly, it will be easier to sew up, and the result will be much more professional. Please do NOT iron your work, whatever it says on the pattern. You'll just lose the texture you've lovingly created.

If anyone wants, I can write about how to block on here.

One of the tools of finishing is the sewing-up needle. I like blunt-ended ones, and I have a range of sizes for different weights of yarn. Maureen is very pleased with the plastic needles with a turned-up end, which she uses on fashion yarns. And new in stock we have:

These are new from Clover: easy-thread needles for yarns that are bobbly or thick-and-thin, or just for those of us who are short-sighted. These are mine, but I haven't tried them yet.

The last photo doesn't do justice to the subject, but it gives you an idea of how many pieces of fudge we have for Friday. We might send some to Scotland, to Sally's husband, but otherwise it's for us - and the customers, of course.

I've had one piece, to taste, and it's delicious: lemon meringue pie fudge. If you look very carefully, you might see white streaks of meringue. Pity I can't share the flavour!

Flapjack and fudge

Today we had treats in the shop. We had flapjack made with honey and almond butter, and apple fudge. The apple flavour came from reduced pure apple juice and apple brandy from Ampleforth Abbey. Those customers who weren't on a diet really enjoyed it!

An interesting customer today was finishing a dress for an assignment at the college across the road. We managed to sort out gold piping for the belt loops. We even gave ideas for the remaining embellishment, and practical tips for how to complete it before the closing date - Thursday!

Another customer had a book of knitted animals and I got all excited about the patchwork tortoise. I shouldn't really waste time on one, but I was looking for something else and found these African Flower hexagons I made ages ago:

I've joined them into a 'shell' but I think I'll consult Jules and Caroline before going any further; the colours don't seem sensible.

BUT I've had an idea for a tea cosy! I can't believe I don't have any gold yarn, but if I have I can't find any. Watch this space to see what I need it for!

Today meet Rhiannon. She's an honorary member of the team because she makes us cakes (and fudge). We're her guinea pigs and have tried cauliflower cake, sweetcorn cake and all sorts of brownies and Rocky Road. Her bread pudding is a favourite: crunchy sugar on the top, custardy 

middle with fruit marinated in some sort of juice or alcohol.

You'll hear about her creations from now on!

Customer experience

We've been talking in the shop about our experience of wool shops. Now you have to bear in mind that if there is a wool shop within, say, a thirty mile radius, I will visit it. On our recent six days in Hinderwell, I visited Bobbins in Whitby twice, and Ripping Yarns http://rippingyarnsaltburn.wordpress.com/about-2/  in Saltburn, also twice. So I have a lot of customer experience.

There's been quite a lot of comment on Ravelry www.ravelry.com recently about friendly/unfriendly wool shops, so we had a discussion about it. We agree that we don't want to crowd customers: if they went to browse, then that's what they should do. On the other hand, the thought that they might walk out for lack of welcome is upsetting.

I was absolutely appalled on Friday. A lady brought in a piece for help on why she couldn't get the tension right. The wool shop had sold her a 6mm circular instead of 10mm. When I got the 10mm out to show her, she was speechless. Not only that, the pattern specified a 40cm circular. Now not many shops sell that size, it's too specialist. So the shop sold her a 100cm one - for a hat! We hope that the problem was caused by the shop person's ignorance, rather than lack of care. But there should be someone, in a shop that sells knitting supplies, who knows what s/he is doing!

We believe we have the balance almost right, offering help and support where wanted. We'll try almost anything: yesterday we were working on yarns for a freeform monotone project that a lady and her husband were going to make together, and discussing techniques. And one of the regular jobs, helping people match up buttons and yarn.

But if I'm really honest, we're just knit -  and crochet - ophiles, and we love to share the pleasure!

Preparations for Marie Curie are going on. Sally has organised fliers which arrived from Scotland this week, so we're handing those out. The sales table is developing; in addition to her pink elephant, Lynne has made a purple one, a pig and a couple of cats. Doreen is sewing up a pig (which I've already spoken for, it's going to be so cute).

This, at last, is Caroline's jelly baby. I liberated him and he's clipped to my Yarndale bag.

The photos today are works very much in progress - yes, all mine. The top photo - still working on daffodils. Then there's the motifs for Happypotamus. Then there's Venus:

And a new design I'm working on:

I did promise to introduce Sarah and Jess this week, but it's Sarah's birthday so they were recovering from a party. Poor Sarah has a rotten chest infection. Hope she's better soon!

Play Day

It was raining this morning so I voted myself a play day - that is, one spent doing what I want to do, and not what I ought.

So I played with Tunisian crochet.

This little swatch - 4 ply Katia merino and a 5mm hook - shows experiments with background stitch and methods of making holes. On the right-hand side you can see holes made by missing a stitch; higher up, where you can't really see them, are made by working two stitches together. The background stitch in the bottom right-hand corner is Tunisian simple stitch, and above it is a little Tunisian knit stitch.

Hmmm.

I went and fetched one of my books and leafed through:

Yes, it's a  book of knitting stitches. One of the Harmony books, so old it's literally dropping to pieces. But look!

Can you see two repeats? That's Tunisian crochet! So off I went to my stash and found some alpaca/silk:

I love the sheen on it, and there are some iridescent beads just crying out to be used, but the colour is too dark for the pattern to show. Might have to visit Christine's tomorrow; there was some peach-coloured yarn that I have my eye on! (I've been known to warn the customers that if they don't buy a colour soon, it will be at home in my stash. They don't realise I'm not joking!)

Although it's been grey and gloomy for much of the day, Spring has sprung with a vengeance. The bluebells teased for ages, but they are in full bloom now; Cadbury's car park has primroses all round it; the cherry trees round the boating pond green are magnificent. And we have a robin's nest in our garden shed! When I go to get a tool little heads pop up, beaks a-gape.

Today I'd like to introduce Doreen. She's the Button Queen, and the expert on what will/won't suit someone. Her clothes are always perfectly co-ordinated. In spite of looking wonderful, she regards the kitchen sink as belonging to her and does all our washing up. She's got me in training: I've even started putting everything away at home!

So you have the main people you are likely to see in the shop: Jules and Caroline, the bosses, Doreen, Maureen and me. And, of course, Phil.

Good news at the shop this morning with Phil so much recovered from pneumonia that he punished all those who thought he had man flu.

Then he demanded tea and pointed out to Caroline that when she asks him for something, he provides it straight away. Julie began listing all the times he had NOT delivered, including one from 30 years ago. She was still going when I left.

Maureen has finished the poncho/cape for her granddaughter Lucy from a Bergere de France pattern.



Just look at those intricate cables! We always like it when customers bring things they've made to show us. Today Ann brought in the cutest little baby set for her grandson-to-be. I've tried over and over to retrieve my photos, lost my blog twice and given up!

Yesterday I was down at the boating pool. Often it's just model yachts, but yesterday there was more variety. The one I particularly admire wasn't there. I call it a bireme, though it has a more specialist name, and the two banks of oars row away together. All the people are dressed in Roman soldier's clothes. The lady who made the boat is fascinating to talk to, with a wealth of knowledge that she will share.

The boating pond is always worth a visit. It's just across the park from the shop. But beware: there are no public toilets. Yesterday a young man had a very red face when he thought he'd found somewhere out of sight!

Today was yet more gardening. I was wishing I was a ladylike gardener, with little trug of dead heads and dainty secateurs. Instead I get sweaty digging up roots and hacking off lumps of shrubs. My current project is to create a new seating area on the middle level; it means levelling out a steep slope and making a picturesque bank with the dirt removed. IF I manage it and IF the camera will work for me, I'll post photos.

I'm working away at the key ring sheep, the daffodils and the happypotamus for the Marie Curie day.

For light relief playing I'm playing with the stitch patterns from this book:

working them like Aoibhe Ni, in vertical columns. It saves having hundreds of stitches on your hook at once, but you have to see everything sort of sideways on.

Today you need to meet Sally, Phil's third daughter. She lives in Scotland with husband Brian and two cute children. She does lots of stuff behind the scenes, and has ideas. They're all good ones, but because we are busy in the shop we don't always get to act on them. You wouldn't believe how much time it takes, making room for and unpacking an order.

Sally is flying down for the Marie Curie day, so if you come, you can meet her there.

Virtue rewarded.

After two hours or more spent slaving in the garden, Gareth and I rewarded ourselves with a visit to The Plough in Harborne. Beer tastes even better when you feel you've deserved it!

All this gardening is making my hands very dry. I'm addicted to handcream so I had a dollop of The Wiltshire Beekeeper Honeysuckle cream, which smells really like honeysuckle, not some chemical replica. Then I had almond and sandalwood cream from Amphora Aromatics. Are you getting the idea that I love the scents? Then it was honey and aloe vera handcream. (Yes, all in one afternoon).

By then it was clear that I had to resort to serious measures and break out the cows' udder cream. It smells disgusting (it has urea in it) but it's the most effective I've ever used. Now the hands are better.

If anyone has any recommendations, I'll try anything!

I've managed to get the photos off my phone but the one of Caroline's jelly baby keyring is peculiar - it looks as if it's incandescent! Reminds me of Avril, one of Christine's customers. She took a hasty photo of the Chamber of Commerce Santa last Christmas, and it really does look as if he's rising into the sky.

These are what Maureen is working on: the gorgeous little bags made from scarf yarns sold like hot cakes last year. These two are child-size ones, but there are some adult ones as well.

 She is talking about getting out her book of tea cosies ready to make for the competition. Lynne is working on a pink elephant, and Gillian has already made four cats.


After last year's nightmare of pompoms Jess is standing down, and although I mean well, it will probably be a blank year for me as well.




I'm a little puzzled by the photos, now I've sorted the technology: why are cameras taken on a phone better than those taken with a proper camera? These bluebells are in the spinney next to our house, though I think they are the non-English variety.




And yesterday, the Tigers won. So now comes the play-offs, and next weekend they meet up with Quins. Their opponents are saying things like 'Well, they've got six Lions in the squad. How can we compete with that?'  Sweethearts, you can't.

Button boxes

Do you remember button boxes? My mum used to cut the buttons off outgrown clothes and save them; on wet days the button box came out to play with, sorting and threading buttons on shoe laces. I did try making one of my own but I kept forgetting.

Now, however, I get to play with the buttons at Christine's. There are two hat boxes filled with tubes of teddy bears, ducks, elephants, cars, apples etc. When we have small people in they are often fascinated by all the shapes, and parents can shop in peace while they are entertained. One young lady this morning even wanted to match the buttons with wool!

Caroline and Maureen are working hard on the Marie Curie things-to-sell. I took some photos with my camera this morning but can't get them on to the computer; you'll have to wait until tomorrow for them. I've 'borrowed'  from Caroline today.


This is one of her gingerbread men. Notice the fat tummy, smart bow tie and happy smile: he knows he won't be eaten. My favourites are the jelly babies, though Caroline has refused to leave off body parts. (Which bit do you eat first?)

Today I promised to introduce the dogs. Unfortunately I don't have a photo of Max, who lives with Phil. He's a really soft dog, wants loving all the time. Below is Caroline's dog Bailey. He's searching for frogs, but when there were a lot in the street he was terrified! He's very handsome.

And you remember I told you about Caroline dyeing wool? This is Bailey destroying her special dyeing bowl!

I love this photo!

And then there's Fig. You've heard of Venus rising from the foam, not a hair out of place, not a drop of water on her pearly skin?

This is Fig emerging from the sea at Saltburn. Sodden. She's a dog with attitude. Dress her in bandannas or pretty jumpers? You have to be joking.

Today is the last day of the main rugby season, with play-offs to come. Tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigers!

And it's Bank Holiday weekend and I'd love to spend it crocheting. Unfortunately the garden needs A LOT of attention (and money) spent on it, so when you lie in bed late you can think of me grubbing up weeds.

Today being Saturday, Sarah and Jess were there already when I arrived. It's always good - the shop is  filled with laughter.  Next Saturday I'll introduce you to them.

Not the best idea ...

... to try to walk the dog and take photos. This one, of a patch of cowslips, makes the point.

Just round the corner, to my favourite patch of celandines, and some vandal has MOWED it!

If I wanted a photo of Fig, she wouldn't stand still. As it was, she decided to investigate and kept getting in shot.

I wanted a photo of bluebells, so I took myself to what I call a spinney and a man this morning said was a coppice. I had the lead wound round me, was tugged in various directions, and got thoroughly annoyed, but I did get a photo of tender new leaves with bluebells in the background.

On to the boating pond: no ducklings.

Now the thing is, spring brings such beauty to enjoy BUT the sun shows all the dust in the house, and the garden grows into a jungle. The conscience takes over and I end up cutting the hedge, instead of working on my various projects.

I'm making good progress with the red Venus shawl, on to the fan section, which is entertaining to do (with much counting). The colours for the Happypotamus have been tried: what do you think of this?

Can't blame Fig for this: the good ones got deleted by the computer ...

And today, here is Maureen. She is the most prolific knitter I've ever met! She has 4 grandchildren and one step-grandchild, and they all have lovely knitted things. At present she's making a gorgeous cabled poncho for Lucy; with luck we'll get photos when it's finished.

And did I mention the crochet? Blankets and shawls for all, of which this is the most recent example:

Tomorrow I go for blood tests, and when I'm a pincushion, off to 'work'. But when I get back, there are still several members of the team you haven't met, but before them, you have to meet some of the team's dogs, and especially Fig.

Who cares?

How many projects do I have on the go? How many unfinished objects stuffed in a cupboard? I don't know and I don't care! The time I spend counting up could be better spent working on a project. When my hands get tired I switch to a different project for a few hours.

After all, crocheting is for pleasure: when it stops being fun, stop! So all those who try to make me feel guilty will just get a sweet, pitying smile. I recommend you do the same.

Today I bought the yarn to make a Happypotamus - pattern from.  www.ravelry.com/designers/heidi-bears. After extensive discussions in the shop 
I'm trying the Marie Curie colours, yellow and blue: thanks, Maureen!

Today's character is Phil. He's Julie and Caroline's father. (Sally's too, but you haven't 

met her yet). He's done many different things in his life, from taking a scunner to teachers 

as a child, (that's me sunk beneath reproach), through market trading, to sitting on 

committees to regulate boxing.

 In the shop we pretend he's free entertainment. He has his harem, who all get kisses. 

The rest of us he winds up unmercifully. 

There has been a suggestion about quotation of the day from his ramblings: we'll see.

Later today I'll take the camera out so you can see some images of spring in Bournville:

the bluebells are coming out now the weather is a bit warmer.

Tomorrow, you'll meet Maureen.