Shiny, happy people

 What a really gloriously warmly lovely night we had at Niqi's tonight. We thronged around her kitchen table and talked and talked and talked- and did some yarn stuff too. We were sadly missing Heather Boss, but we hope she'll be back from the Wilds of the Coast soon!

 Regan was with us tonight, and Leigh. Fantastic to see you x And we ate and ate and ate. I promised myself that I wouldn't, but I did! Just as well I've ripped that tank-top panel out to be made wider!

 We came from overseas to do some hooking tonight! Judith, you are becoming a regular! Debbie too! And Helena who is no longer of BB- oh it all bodes most well!

A break for a week next week will see us back in St Pat's to celebrate Gillian. All final replies to party invites by the weekend, please, which will just leave time to organise frocks, tiaras and carriages! I may need a fairy godmother... It's a very exciting summer!

Happy Hookday

 School's out for summer, and Hookery is off on its holidays! Check the side bar for holiday hooking spots over the summer. I'm not always about still at this time of the year, but clearly if you host a Hookery the night before your birthday you shouldn't be as surprised as I was at great generosity and sheer culinary prowess.

 Thank you, Niqi, for the rose cake. Thank you, Debbie, for coming to join us, and my goodness we are looking forward to your night in September. I will confess that the idea of spending a night on decopatch terrifies the life out of my comparatively limited creative abilities, but your beautiul work is very inspirational!

 Always back to work eventually. Blanket components for Hombolo being laid out on the floor and considered. Fabulous crochet tops. A piece of magical whimsy in pink gossamer.

And oh the food. The food, the foodies, the fed! Thank you for my Happy Hookday x

Knitting in Public for two whole years

So last Saturday was International Knit in Public Day. Despite our best intentions of being at Belfast's Central Station flying the flag, or at least crocheting one, it was all down to Queen Niqi in the end. We were all busy or abroad! So the good Niq and her hooks braved the rigours of airport security and proudly yarned in broad and beautifully sunny sunlight on the Algarve. Her scissors only caused a slight scare in the on-going war against terrorism at Faro Airport on the way home. The flight wasn't delayed very long, she says...

This year the Publically Knitting Powers That Be decided that Knit in Public Day had to be on Knit in Public Day. We found it so much more convenient last year when Knit in Public Day lasted a week and we could decamp Hookery to the sophisticated venue of La Table Tearoom and Patisserie School in Merville Garden Village.

The weather was nearly as idyllic as Niqi's Portugese adventure, hence all the lovely summery frocks. I took possibly more photos of food than I did of wool, but it was La Table! You can spot the talented Abel at the counter, surrounded by his delicious concoctions. The three Irish visitors were from Cork. Aside from all this, I will confess to remembering no details whatsoever, bar the ibiding sense of a warm, relaxed, productive evening spent with many of the frankly amazing women who come along on Wednesday nights to Hookery. Better commentary in the comments, please! Better photos (Niqi's!) in the post preceding this one.

It is a thing of wonder to me that we have this group after so long. As the University of Ulster at Jordanstown prepares to  move to the city centre campus, the trio of crocheters who hung blankets from Library shelves to get a nice picture has grown into the lively band who thrill my soul. Maybe they'll forgive me for taking a whole year to post this post!

Knit in Public 2014

Camellias

I've written about camellia here. Camellia real and woollen...

Owed to Spring

Didn't we have a Bliss-ful day the day we went to...

 Heather and Niqi and I entered the Aladdin's cave that is a converted outhouse on a working farm surrounded by lamb-filled fields and bordered by bursting daffodils. I have to emphasise the signs of Spring because they were the only ones I saw and it was COLD.

 Lots and lots and lots..

 And lots..

 And lots more very soft fairy puffs of yarn.

 And lots and lots and lots..

And lots of other delights too. All within a quick drive of Toast, where it is warm. And delicious and very wheel-chair, child, hooker-friendly. End of year jolly anyone?