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?

Eight excited ladies and eggs

Oh what a night!  That's almost the title of a song.  

Eight ladies got together tonight including Helena who came along for the first time.  Eggs, chicks, bunnies, food and glorious Easter colours - what more could one ask for?

Miniature chicks and mini eggs

Beautiful hyacinths and tulips

Our very own bunny girls?

Our bunny girls are reported to have gone out today in search of wool and returned with Easter decorations and the ears!  Not much wonder they had idle crochet hands tonight.  Unlike Niqi who has been crocheting at a fantastic rate since Friday and is half way through not only one but two of her own Nanny McPhee blankets.  Well done Niqi!  Niqi also brought enough yarn with her tonight to yarn bomb the whole of the church hall complex.

Fairytale blanket

Bunnies, chicks and Princess Slippers

To prove that we did have some crochet to show case here are Ann's Princess Slippers which match her fairytale blanket .

And Heather Boss's shawl (which does look a whole lot better when worn) with the Glen Gallery wooden buttons purchased at Christmas

There was lots of talk about wool suppliers, wool types and yarn comparisons.  We have discovered that some of the pound-type shops are starting to stock some very unusual wools ....

Another field trip was mooted.  Unfortunately we weren't able to come up with a suitable day over the holidays so later in the season is a more probable time for the diary.
 And a piece of good news - Sheila was crocheting a blue blanket for an expectant mum (see blog 28 Feb 2013) whose new baby boy was born this evening and has been called Robin.  Mum and baby doing well.

No Hookery for the next two weeks as next week will be Holy Week and the week after that is the Easter week itself and folks might be otherwise engaged.  See you all again on 10th April.

Complete

This piece began on a lovely day in December at the Glen Gallery.  Merino, silk and alpaca mix wool - cosy.

And progressed through this    

To this

This project also grew from this

To this, made especially for baby Conor

Report on Away Day

Oh my....Wow....Oh, look....Gorgeous....I love this!

Just a few of the utterances to be heard this morning as the smallest band there could possibly be completed the Glen Gallery quest.

You drive down an insignificant and narrow country lane and enter a tiny pink cottage which transforms TARDIS like into the most amazing craft barn. They sell jewellery and finished goods as well as the tools and materials for knitting, crochet, embroidery, cross-stitch, quilting, felting, beadwork and a lot of other handi-crafts too.  And loads of pattern books and how-to manuals as well.  Throughout the year they organise full-day courses (inc refreshments on arrival and lunch) around various crafts from knitting to beadcraft.  They stock the entire range of Debbie Bliss and Rowan yarns and have a very extensive range of other beautiful designer yarns.

Some pennies did change hands throughout the day and here are a few snaps of our purchases.   You'll have to keep an eye on the blog to find out what we intend to do with them :-)

And, of course, the gallant adventurers partook of some delicious food at the Millside Restaurant which is in the recently restored Old School in Gracehill, a quaint Moravian village full of beautiful buildings, fantastic front doors and a quiet village green.

Refreshed after lunch we visited yet another craft outlet, Gemini Crafts also in the Old School.

For those of you unable to join our foray into uncharted territories, all I can say is that you missed a fantastic day.  A return trip to all three locations is already on the cards .....