Getting Ready for the Knitted Birds & Nests Workshop - Saturday 20 October 2012

Helen's woolly bird in his nest

Today I am sorting everything out for my Knitted Birds & Nests Workshop at the Ropewalk in Barton upon Humber on Saturday 20 October.  It's going to be great fun - we'll  be knitting wire and woolly birds and their homes.  Here's a woolly one that Helen (who kindly agreed to be my making tester on this one!) made recently - isn't he cute and doesn't he look cosy! 

Oswald At Home by Hippystitch

And here's Oswald, one of my knitted wire birds, in his nest.

There's still time to book a place if you can make it ...

http://www.the-ropewalk.co.uk/workshops/

Vintage Wooden Cotton Reels

Vintage wooden reel

Isn't there just something fundamentally wonderful about wooden cotton reels!  I'm a bit of a collector.  Don't get me wrong - I use the thread too, I don't just stare at it.  But I do have a basket of wooden reels on my work bench at all times - very inspirational!

Wooden reels of thread

Anyone short of present ideas for me now knows what to look out for - no excuses!

A Big Thank You from Hippystitch & Nicola's Cards

Just to say thank you to everyone who came and supported Hippystitch and Nicola's Cards today.  We had a fab time, caught up with lots of friends, ate cake and raised £70 for the NSPCC. Great stuff, folks!

Tomorrow Hippystitch & Nicola's Cards are supporting the NSPCC

Chocolate & carrot cakes

Just finished setting up for our event tomorrow - not to mention baking cakes.  So.. don't forget to join us from 9am to 4pm where we'll be selling lots of lovely things and providing tea and cake and supporting the NSPCC.  

Sneak preview of Hippystitch stock

What could be better - cards, carefully crafted items and cake? Get over here tomorrow!

New Button Cards

Lots of button cards

 
Have just finished making a new card range.  ... yes - more buttons!  Come along and see for yourself on Friday 5 October (see Events page)

Button Card

Woolly Birds

Helen's Woolly Bird

Just testing out some of my instructions in preparation for my "Knitted Birds" workshop at the Ropewalk in Barton upon Humber on Saturday 20 October.  

Fortunately Helen & Kim agreed to be my guinea pigs for this.  They made some really cute little chaps.  Here they are ... 

Kim's Woolly Bird

 Thanks folks!


http://www.the-ropewalk.co.uk/workshops/ 

Beauty is the First Test - Contemporary Craft & Mathematics

Lucy McMullen - Maelstrom, 2005

Battersea Park is a great place to visit and so too, is the Pump House Gallery.  Their new exhibition "Beauty is the First Test" explores the link between contemporary craft, particularly textiles and maths and how knowledge of one may increase the appreciation of the other.  Here's a sample of some of the exhibits ..

Ann Sutton - Four Ways from a Square, 2009

Lesley Halliwell - Beauty is the First Test, 2012

M. Brennand-Wood - Not Born to Follow (detail), 2004

Suresh Dutt - Oscillator R, 2008-12

Definitely worth a look.  And there are associated events including making stuff.  Check out the website ...
http://pumphousegallery.org.uk/exhibitions/beauty-is-the-first-test