Knitting and Stitching Show in Harrogate

I always look forward to visiting the Knitting & Stitching show in Harrogate and this year was no exception.  I had hoped to go with my friend but unfortunately she took ill the night before and ended up in hospital.  She is fine but obviously not well enough for something as hectic as the K&S show. This year I travelled by coach instead of by car and the experience has left an impression, just not sure whether it was good or bad.  The International Centre was heaving with people when we arrived at around 10:45am and hot.  It got hotter as the morning progressed and there were two call out to the St John's brigade to people who had fainted.  By lunchtime they must have turned the heating down or off because it became much more comfortable, though I was surprised at how many people had left.  However, it did make it easier to view the stalls.

I had made out a list before I went of things I would like to see and buy but I only bought one thing off my list - Deli paper to play with on my Gelli plates.  I want to try out several techniques and put them in a journal.  Each year I say I'm going to keep a journal and by March its been sidetracked.  I think it must be my take on the New Year resolutions.  Maybe this year.......

There were very few demonstrations this year and a distinct reduction, to my mine of exhibitions. There was though a beautiful exhibition of work by Embroiderers' Guild, Young Embroiderers' and of graduate works.  I had hope there would be much more made of the 'Tour de France jumpers being made into blankets but it was stuck at the end of one of the halls and very easily bypassed. I did stay and talk to the people on the stand.  As there was a large pile of tiny jumpers waiting to be sewn together I offered to do some, but my offer wasn't taken up.  However I wish them luck with their project.

Photo's were not allowed in many of the exhibits but not by the Embroiderers Guild.  I love these sheep by the Young Embroiderers'

There were several really interesting entries for the Members Challenge of Tree Rhythyms

I don't want to give the impression that these were the only exhibits on show, there were lots of small groups, especially the knitting groups, with work on show but these seemed tucked away in corners.

I was tired but happy when I boarded the bus for home.  Now I'm going to have lunch with my family and when I get back  will think about playing with my purchases.

Time to say goodbye

To swapping that is.   I've decided not to join any more postcard swaps, at least for the foreseeable future.  My main reason is I want to play a bit more, get creative with textiles and art, see what I can produce now that time and space are less of a problem.  It's become more of a chore than a pleasure recently to do the postcard swaps and I find myself leaving it to the last minute before buckling down to getting them done.  This is not a good state of affairs its with a bit of sadness that I have decided resigned from the BQLPC group.  I wish them every good luck in their future swaps.  Having said that here are the October swaps.

First is the October calendar theme.

 From Helen, Alice and Jacquie.

Winged things from Jacquie, Jan and Pauline.  As you see I made five but have only received three, no doubt the others will turn up before too long.

Recently most of my time has been taken up with finishing the beading on the wall hanging for Marc and Alix.  I hope to get it finished this week and will post pictures of it shortly.  It's been a real labour of love but I am happy with the result so far. Marc and Alix bought the canvas it is to be attached to and I brought it home with me today and if I get it finished soon they may even get it before Xmas.

It was Marc's big 4 ohh birthday on Friday and he's been celebrating every since.   Sy drove the rest of the family (including me) down to have lunch in Leeds with Marc and Alix.  I haven't seen them for a few weeks so it was lovely to be able to spend time with them.  We took Flynn down too as he has never been to his Uncle Marc's house.  He loves his Uncle Marc who plays silly games with him.

Just so long as he doesn't teach him to change the colour of the flowers in the garden with spray paint, which is what he did with Matthew when he was Flynn's age.

I forgot to take my camera with me but took this photo of Marc with Flynn in the washing basket.  They had been playing shipwreck with it and I think Marc was beginning to sink below the horizon.  Marc is in the middle of putting in a new kitchen for Alix and at the moment their house is like a warehouse, full of cardboard boxes.  More fun for Flynn.  He was very good, even when the restaurant burned his chicken dippers three times!! All he asked was "where's my dinner?".  He got extra ice cream because of the delay.

I need to make a start on my Christmas presents but so far haven't a clue what I'm going to do, except for one - I want to make a cover for Julie's Galaxy 3 8" tablet, so far she hasn't been able to buy one so I'm keeping it as a surprise.  Thinking of adding another page or two to Flynn's Quiet Book or maybe just repair the fishing line which has taken a bit of a hammering.  He's very taken with the ones where I've attached magnets so need to think about adding another page of that sort.

Still struggling with my sister whose secondary progressive multiple sclerosis has now been confirmed by the test results.  Still no sign of occupational therapy or social service help but she does have an appointment in December to see the MS community nurse but its in James Cook so a bit of travelling involved there.  It's a worry though as she is very thin, eating poorly and walking really badly now.  Just hope we get some help for her soon.