Slow Off The Starting Block!

                   May I belatedly wish you a very Happy New Year!!!

 I haven't exactly leapt into 2012, in true Olympic style. It has been more of a gentle lollop!! We had a bit of a false start yesterday as my youngest missed his first day back at school because he had a migraine. It was a bit uncertain this morning, but he has gone in. I have been expecting a phone call from school all day, but so far so good.

The weather is truly awful. We were kept awake by a cacophony of tumbling dustbins clattering bottles all over the road and when I went for my dog walk this morning the streets were littered with branches, leaves, 3 different colours of bins and rubbish! Alfie is feeling a bit short-changed by having a street walk, but a soggy, wind-battered field was a step too far for me this morning!

(Gazing longingly at the outside world or is he relieved to be indoors?)

I have lots of plans to get started on; a new Ten Plus Textiles exhibition is fast approaching, socks to knit, birthday presents to make and even an idea to make some Christmas card early for next year. I'm keen to watch lots of Design Matters TV (I used my Christmas money to take out a subscription) and use the inspiration to develop new skills.

So far though, I have only managed to begin to clear the decks (and the decs), the food shopping is done and I have blocked a little time in my diary tomorrow to start sketching some ideas. None of that is very exciting, so instead I'll show you the new socks that I am knitting, which hopefully will end up with 10 toes all set at the correct angles!

I absolutely love this yarn- it has a bit of sparkle, which I find I am being gradually drawn towards as I get older.

How is your New Year panning out so far- have you hit the ground running or are you easing yourself in?

**JOY**

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas

Chrismas Wreath and a Quick Look Back

I finally managed to finish making my lovely wool felt Christmas wreath, made from a kit from The Cinnamon Patch which I bought in Harrogate.

I spent this morning hunting around garden centres and hardware shops looking for a suction hook to put it up on the door, only to find that the panels of my front door aren't smooth enough to attach it to! I had to shuffle things around and it is now hanging on the inside of the lounge door, where I think the light is better anyway.

Now for a quick look back to the TenPlus Exhibitions at the Knitting and Stitching Shows. I feel like I hit the ground running when I got back from Harrogate so I haven't had a chance to show you how the exhibition looked.

We felt very professional at our stand!

The "touch and feel" book and artist's statement book.

My work is on the right. The gorgeous purple piece is made by Val Lewis from dyed blanket and painted tissue paper. I'd love Val to make a real coat like that!

A closer view.

We ate our lunch in the stunning old cinema at Harrogate International Centre!

I'm off to bury myself in a mound of wrapping paper! I'm feeling a bit guilty as I've banished the dog to the kitchen. He is driving me crazy today as he keeps stealing the tealights from my candle holder!!! He really is not the best trained dog in the world!

Craft Blog Christmas Party

Join the party!

I have been missing in action for a while- life has been pretty busy as I know you are all finding for yourselves!
Ten Plus Textiles had a great time exhibiting at Harrogate and we delivered work to Sale Waterside Arts Centre on Tuesday for our exhibition starting on Saturday. Other than that I have been busy shopping, wrapping, making, ferrying children around to college interviews and band rehearsals, battling the elements to walk the dog and cleaning my carpets- what a social whirl:)

From Berlin To Dublin

BERLIN

Welcome to all of you that have just begun to follow my little blog and of course, those of you that have been following for a while are also very welcome. I really enjoy reading your comments and being part of this lovely blogland community!

I had a request from grrl + dog for more photos of Berlin, so here goes.....

I love the architecture and particularly the colour of this building.

This whole buliding was covered in grafitti. It looked as though it had once been a nightclub, but I think it was inhabited.

Tha Holocaust Memorial.

I may post a few more at a later date, but if you fancy a bigger "fix" of Berlin images have a look at Mr Dotty's flickr account as he has loads of them!

DUBLIN
I was away last week for a few days helping to steward the Ten Plus Textiles exhibition at the Knitting and Stitching Show in Dublin.

Val and I flew over on Wednesday, but unfortunately there was a problem with the plane engine so we were delayed by three hours and missed our sight seeing time, but we really enjoyed the exhibition. It went very well and the group have sold a lot of pieces. We met some wonderful people- the Dublin people are so warm and chatty- had some fabulous meals and of course, sampled the Guiness! We also had the very unexpected treat of complementary tickets to see John Barrowman!!!!!
 I loved spending time with the other members of the group and their husbands and getting to know them better. They are such beautiful, talented and interesting souls! Our group ranges in age from 40ish to 70ish (though one of our associate members has just turned 80) and I feel priveledged to have these ladies in my life.

"Scavengers" by Caroline Schofield as part of the Seascapes exhibition by members of the Crafts Council of Ireland.

             Winnie's Wool Wagon

I was also very excited to meet Mr X Stitch and the team (you may have seen him on Kirsty's Handmade Britain). He is a lovely man- I'm not just saying that because he gave me M&Ms!!!  Click on his name to take a look at their fabulous website full of cutting edge contemporary stitching.

We will be at the Knitting and Stitching Show in Harrogate from 24th November to 27th November (I'll be stewarding on Saturday and Sunday) so if you are nearby, pop in and say "Hi"!

More From Berlin

Life seems to conspire to keep me away at times, for various reasons. I meant to post a few more piccies from Berlin and here I am a week after I got back trying to remember what we did while we were there! Anyway, here goes.....

The bubble man, near the Brandenburg Gate

  A sight-seeing ballon- I wasn't brave enough to go on this!

                                          The Tempodrom

Dotty About Hexagons

I do love making traditional patchwork hexagons. I love the process; drawing paper templates, pinning them to the fabric, cutting around the template, folding in the seam allowance and tacking and finally stitching them together with tiny little stitches.

The shapes grow and I feel connected to the past, all those thousands of fingers that have carried out the same actions. I find it very soothing.

I love how these brooches have come out- thay have given me another good use for my gorgeous buttons!

One or two will be appearing in my EtsyShop over the next couple of days.