Goodbye 2014 and Thanks for all the Yarn!

As 2014 comes to an end, I thought I'd share some of my highlights (of which there are many) with you!

Woolfest

Knitting my first socks

Yarnbombing 

Making the paper

Opening my studio

Participating in Blog Week

Felt Projects in Schools

My First Spinning Lesson

Freeform Crochet

Meeting Debbie Bliss and Emma Varnam

Crocheting for me!

I can't believe Christmas is over! I hope you all had a lovely day, spending it however makes you happy. For the first time ever, I celebrated Christmas at my Auntys house. It was all very festive and lots of fun. There was plenty of food, drink and cat cuddles.  I received quite a few crafty gifts including some hedgehog fibres yarn, a couple of crochet books and a gorgeous miniature needle book necklace. I feel very spoilt.

You'll be pleased to know that I finished my cousins socks! It was a frantic Christmas Eve spent knitting and then I got up early on Christmas Day to finish the toes. Luckily, he loves them and thinks they're amazing. Phew! 

So now I have all this time to crochet for me. Yay! Yesterday I crocheted a big chunky granny square cowl that I just love and know I will wear lots. Then I started on my blanket.

I've decided that I want to crochet a blanket worked in different motifs. Amazingly, a post appeared on Facebook to say that Moogly (who I just love) are doing a crochet-a-long this year on just that theme. I then discovered that they did one for 2014 to (which I completely missed - where have I been?) So I've been working my way through the 2014 squares to combine with the 2015 ones to make an enormous blanket. 

So far I've made 4 squares and they are enormous - about 9.5inches each! 

It's good fun and I'm really looking forward to working on a long term project.

If you fancy joining in, you can find the 2015 post here - http://www.mooglyblog.com/2015-moogly-afghan-crochet-along/

And the links to the 2014 post here - http://www.mooglyblog.com/moogly-afghan-cal-block-1/#more-10674

3 sleeps to go!

Oddly enough, I count down to everything in sleeps - birthdays, holidays and of course, Christmas.

So, the big question is, are you ready?

I'd love to say I've hit all the gifts sorted, wrapped and under the tree but that would be a big fat fib. 

I bought the final 'buying' gift today (it had been a task allocated to Mr Bunny but he didn't do it) and luckily one of the gifts I ordered arrived in the post today (phew) but there's 1 gift I've not finished.

Cue frantic knitting over the next 2 days! Eeeeek! It's not as bad as the year I decided to crochet everyone's presents but there is a chance that my cousin will only be recieving 1 sock if I can't finish the second one in 2 days. It's not too bad, I suppose, as 1 of his legs is currently in plaster so he can only wear one but I'd rather give him a completed, knitted pair of socks.

Why oh why do I do this  too myself every year?! 

And breathe

Finally, I've finished all my orders and creating for Christmas. Well, as far as business work goes anyway - don't get me started on how much I've yet to do at home before Christmas Day, including crocheted and knitted presents to complete. 

This afternoon I've been able to take some time out to do some drawings that I'm hoping to felt with in the New Year. It was all a bit of an accident really - last week I was cleaning the windows (a once a year event!) and I caught my husbands gorgeous orchid and one branch broke. Eeeeek! He must have been in a good mood as I didn't get told off so I snaffled it as I thought it would be beautiful to draw.

I've worked in my favourite mediums - ink, charcoal and water soluble crayons - and have created around 10 different drawings of different parts. I started with the whole and then found I was drawn to certain parts of it. I draw in neutral tones, as this makes me focus on shape, before introducing colour!

I thought I'd share a few of my pictures with you. We will have to see what I do with it all in the New Year!

Holiday Time

I've just returned from a wonderful relaxing holiday in Scotland. It was just what I needed to recharge my batteries and work on some crochet and knitting for me! 

We had initially booked 3 nights in our favourite little cottage in Minto but then added a fourth night on followed by a very last minute addition of a first night at the Days Inn at Annandale Water. This hotel was a very pleasant surprise - budget so a pretty basic room but it had a balcony over looking the beautiful hills and lake complete with ducks and geese. I enjoyed my morning cup of tea whilst reading on the balcony (wrapped up in my slipper socks and dressing gown) but it was all very pleasant and civilised! 

The one thing I love about Granary Cottage is the hospitality of our lovely hosts Sheila and Kevan. Every time we've been, we've been greated by a vase of wild flowers and some home baked goodies. This year it was spiced fruit cake and it was delicious!

We spent a lot of time chilling out in the cottage, enjoying the beautiful view, reading and crafting. I managed to finish crocheting a shawl (it still needs beads adding so I'll post pictures when it's done) and started my Craftsy class on freeform crochet. It was great to have time for me crafting!

On Wednesday I headed over to The Border Tart (Lindsay) for a spinning lesson. She is a fabulous teacher and I loved every minute of it - so much so I've already acquired a wheel! I managed to spin and ply some yarn which has 'lots of character!!!' 

After my spinning lesson, I headed into Hawick where I enjoyed my lunch in a quirky cafe called The Damascus Drum which also doubled as a second hand book shop before popping over to The Textile Towerhouse to view the felt exhibition which was a delight to see and featured a few pieces by one of my favourite felt artists, Moy Mackay.

On the way home, we took a detour to visit Knit.Spin.Cakes new yarn shop, Harbour Yarns in Seaham, where I purchased some West Yorkshires Spinners Aire Valley DK. I have a project planned for this so you'll just gave to wait and see what it becomes. It's a gorgeous yarn shop, in a beautiful location with a great range of yarns. Definitley worth a visit! 

Yarnbombing

I just love yarnbombing! It is a great way to bring joy, colour and of course yarn to the wider World and, quite frankly, is cool.

As I've been browsing Pinterest (I spend way too much time on there) I've found lots of images of yarnbombing and have narrowed them down to my 5 favourites.

One of the most infamous Guerilla Knitting groups is Knit the City. Their yarn bombed phone box is awesome.

During the 2012 Olympic Games, a mystery knitter produced this fantastic yarnbombing in Saltburn-by-the-Sea. 

These pretty flowers attached to fencing really brighten up the area.

What can I say about these yarn bombed steps in Finland? The cathedral steps where covered in 7800 crocheted blankets which where then donated to shelters. 

And finally, I couldn't resist this Tardis post! 

WHY YARNBOMBING?

There is a reason I've become slightly obsessed with yarnbombing. I've been asked to organise some for the upcoming Christmas Artisan Market taking place in Wigan in December. Of course, I jumped at the chance when asked and have already started to get community groups involved as I'd like it to be a real 'people's art' installation. Being a practical crafter, I couldn't just yarnbomb then take it down so I've been in touch with local homeless charity, The Brick, and all large pieces will be washed and turned into blankets and scarves while garlands and decorations will be used to decorate the room where the Christmas meal is served. 

HOW YOU CAN HELP?

I'm looking for lots of help to not only make the yarnbombing eye catching and a real spectacle but also to ensure that there are plenty if pieces to donate to The Brick at the end of it all.  

I need:

Garlands off pom poms, stars and other Christmas themed items approximately 1m long

Large rectangles measuring approximately 1m x 50cm and 1m x 30cm

Any other festive items to attach to the top of bollards and hang from trees.

Donations can be sent to myself - email me at thegingerbreadbunny@hotmail.co.uk for my postal address.

The Felted Garden

Here is the reason I've been so quiet recently - I've been working on an enormous felt project at Winstanley Community Primary School in Wigan.

The project included every child in the school (approximately 300) and was all based on their school garden. I started in Nursery and worked my way through the school with each class working on an aspect - Nursery made flower pictures using nepps, Reception bees and ladybirds, Year 1 flowers, Year 2 butterflies and caterpillars, Years 3 and 4 made trees, Year 5 birds and Year 6 animals.

Year 5 and 6 children helped to put the panels together.

I had lots of fun working on the project and the children were just amazing. Here are a few photos of the process and the finished panels.

A Day Trip to Hawes!

Yesterday, I had a lovely day out with my lovely felty friends Jo and Chris to celebrate Chris' big birthday - yes, she is 21 (again)

We headed to Hawes, a lovely little village in North Yorkshire, with the main purpose being to visit Andrea Hunters studio in Hardraw.

Andrea is a felt artist who makes the most beautiful felt 'paintings'.  I particularly like her paintings which use natural wools in greys, blacks and whites depicting sheep, highland cattle and views of North Yorkshire.  Her studio is beautiful and you can purchase her original felt pictures, prints and cards as well as admiring her work.  The most striking piece for me was a triptych of trees - it was just amazing and I spent ages looking at all the detail and depth.  Sadly, I could not afford to buy it and had to make do with 2 print cards instead.  You can find out more about her on her site - www.focusonfelt.co.uk

Of course, we then had to head to the local cafe for a drink and cake (coffee and walnut). The cafe had sone beautiful crochet scarves for sale along with pottery!  There was also this fabulous crocheted bicycle outside if the church - the more we looked, the more little features we saw.

Once back in a Hawes, we looked around the shops including the wool shop, The Knitting Basket which was also sporting a crochet bicycle outside.  The shop stocked West Yorkshire Spinners - squeal!! I spent ages deciding what to buy and settled upon a ball of 4pky in butterscotch as I just don't have enough yellow yarn in my stash.  I definitely recommend a visit if you're ever in the area as it's a great shop the owner is super lovely!

The Herdy shop was the next stop as I'd been ordered to bring a gift back for Mr Bunny.  I resisted the temptation to buy yet more yarn and a cookie stamp and bought a coaster to go with the mug I bought him a while back.

We finished our day with tea in The White Hart, a lovely pub that serves delicious food.  The rhubarb  crumble was amazing and Chris was pleased that it wasn't 'arty farty' and a real crumble.

I eventually got home at 9:30pm tired but very happy after a fabulous day!

Fame at Last!

I'm famous! Well, I made it into the paper not once, but twice this week.

My first feature was in the 'What's On' section of the Wigan Evenng Post sharing information about my studio open day this Saturday!

The second was far more exciting.  A few weeks ago, I was contacted by a local journalist who had seen my poster about my studio on Twitter and wanted to do a story on me.  They sent a photographer who took some crazy and quirky photos, which I just love, and then this week the story was featured and it takes up half a page!  It is a lovely write up (yes there are a few spelling mistakes but who cares?!) and I'm very grateful to them for featuring me and giving me a boost as I start my new venture!  

I've Made a Kit!!

As my Open Studio day gets ever closer, I've been busy rearranging my studio (again), putting up posters and making beautiful creations to sell.  I have, however, been working a new product entirely - a kit!

I've been wanting to create a kit for a while and this was exactly the right time.  

My first kits are for felt beads! One is a felt bead bracelet kit and the other a felt bead necklace kit.

Each kit contains comprehensive step by step instructions, with photographs and all the matetials you need to make your beautiful and unique bracelet or necklace.  

I'm most looking forward to putting together the colours for the kits - I've just got to wait for them to arrive!

I have to say a big thank you to Fiona who came and tested my instruction book for me on Saturday.  This was a really important part of the whole process to ensure that they where clear and easy to follow.  I made a few changes and additions to them following this.

I'm going to be launching my kits at my open studio day next Saturday and they will be available to buy in the studio and from my Folksy and Etsy shops - you can even choose your own colours if you wish!

I've Got a Studio!!

As the title says, I've now got a studio! It is soooo exciting and why I've not posted for a few weeks.

I moved in about 2 weeks ago, into a small studio space in Nooch (a Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten Free grocery store) in Wigan.  I've been selling my items in there for a few months and, when Ged suggested I get a space to work in, it seemed like a great place to be.

I've got room to work, teach workshops and sell my creations, as well as storage space for my supplies.  I've spent a lot of time making it look great and I've still got things to do - like putting up my bunting.

I now feel like a real artist and have even taken the big step of changing my job title on Facebook to Textile Artist.

To go with my studio, I've now got a website with details of my workshops on.  In time, there will also be a shop on there to - www.thegingerbreadbunny.co.uk 

To celebrate, I'm having an open studio day on the 16th August where you can have a peek try your hand at felt making, enjoy some refreshments and 10% off all purchases (including workshops) on the day.  If you live near a Wigan then it would be great to see you.

Keep popping back for more photographs.