A wet & windy afternoon

What else do you do on a wet and windy afternoon in October but snuggle up on the sofa with your knitting and one of your favourite films. 

The Calendar girls is based on the true story of a group of WI ladies from Yorkshire who take it upon themselves to create a calendar in order to raise funds to buy a new sofa for the relatives room of their local hospital.  This was not just any old WI calendar this was a very tastefully created calendar where the participants, all members of the local WI, stripped off against cancer. Annie had recently lost her husband to Leukaemia and wanted to do something to help the relatives of those supporting their loved one.  Little did they know that this small gesture would go viral, as the kids would say these days. The story of the Calendar girls is now known far and wide and is now a successful musical with music by Gary Barlow based on the book by Tim Firth and I had the great pleasure to go and see with my daughter in London two years ago. It is currently on tour and if it comes to a theatre near you  I would highly recommend you see it.   

Of course one of the famous scenes of the film is when Chris, played by Helen Mirren enters a Marks & Spencers Victoria Sponge in a local show because she says that Annie, played by Julie Walters won't have had time to bake one in between taking Yul Brynner, as she affectionately refers to Annie's husband, to his hospital appointments. 

Not only does she go on and win the May Wilkinson award but also the WI discretionary award. 

When asked her secret she say's that she follows her mothers method of baking by lining the bowl with butter, use a warm spoon and if for a special event then you go and buy one from Marks & Spencers. 

I have not bought this one from Marks & Spencers this is all my own work. And if you would like to have ago then you will need. 

200g butter

200g caster sugar

200g self raising flour

1 tsp of baking powder

a pinch of salt

and four eggs that collectively weigh approx 200g

and a raspberry jam for the filing

• pre heat the oven to 180C/Gas mark 4
• grease two 20cm sandwich tins and put to one side
• cream the butter and sugar together in a bowl until creamy. 
• add the eggs one at a time. I usually break them into a separate bowl and add rather than putting straight into the mixture just in case you get a bad egg. 
• add the pinch of salt and tea spoon of baking powder
• fold in the self raising flour with a metal spoon in order to keep the sponge light and airy
• divide the mixture equally between the two tins 
• bake for 20 minutes until golden brown.
• Turn out onto a wire rack until cooled.
• Once cold decide which you are going to use for the top and which for the bottom. 
• Settle on a plate or cake board and add the filling of raspberry jam, usually about half a jar from a make of your choice.
• Finish off with a sprinkling of icing sugar if you so wish. 

Then there is only one other thing to do and that is to pop the kettle on for a cup of tea and cut yourself a generous slice, sit back and enjoy.

Mx

"The flowers of Yorkshire are like the women of Yorkshire. Every stage of their growth has its own beauty, but the last phase is always the most glorious. Then very quickly they all go to seed."

"Which makes it ironic my favourite flower isn't even indigenous to the British Isles, let alone Yorkshire. I don't think there's anything on this planet that more trumpets life that the sunflower. For me that's because of the reason behind its name. Not because it looks like the sun but because it follows the sun. During the course of the day, the head tracks the journey of the sun across the sky. A satellite dish for sunshine. Wherever light is, no matter how weak, these flowers will find it. And that's such an admirable thing. And such a lesson in life."

Here come the girls

At the point when I decided to take a sabbatical from blogging I had been working on these three lovely ladies.  Those of you who follow my instagram or facebook accounts may have seen them before but I thought it was about time I share them with you once more. Stitched on antique white 28 count evenweave, they were two years in the making but now hang in pride of place in my home.

Like the Greek deity, Gaia, this bountiful goddess in her arboreal setting scatters a palette of seasonal colours, plus a sprinkling of metallic threads. Planet Earth in all its glory is the domain of the Earth Goddess, scattering her bounty over field, wood and flower. The idea that the Earth is female, nurturing, mankind and all life on the planet can be linked to many cultures and rituals throughout history. Mother Earth is also closely associated with the Tree of Life, a symbolic connection between earth and heaven. Worked in shades of verdant green and warm earth tones, this Earth Goddess emerges from the lush tree canopy that surrounds her, wearing a spring-green dress garlanded with flowers. 

Morgana The Dark Sorceress is dominant and dangerous. All dark magic and flame, this powerful sorceress is caught in mid-spell as she conjures her dark magic. In a striking pose, she is draped in a magnificent cloak decorated with celestial motifs, her red hair streaming over her shoulders. She is surrounded by a border of flames that reflects the shadowy forces she is controlling. Magical powers, witchcraft  is her spell a curse or an enchantment.?

This impressive design creates a huge impact by contrasting smoldering indigoes and purples with fiery yellows and golds. Glittering metallic threads highlights the celestial imagery, the cosmic forces the sorceress is calling upon. 

Just as the earthly world has its rulers, so does the magical realm. The Fairy Queen is a powerful figure throughout mythology and has many names: in the Celtic tradition she was Queen Mab or Maeve, a warrior queen. Maeve means mead, a rich red wine that she offered to kings and rulers to signal her approval of them. She has appeared in fiction throughout the centuries, often as a less dark and dangerous character.

Represented as a sensual fairy set against a night sky filled with the light of a full moon and twinkling stars, perhaps to bring dreams to us sleeping mortals. 

Silver metallic threads and beads add texture and glitter to this stunning image of the beautiful fairy queen, 

Designed by Claire Crompton, all the charts are available individually through Claire Crompton's Etsy shop here but the charts also form part of a collaborative work in the book known as Magical Cross stitch, containing 10 charts designed by six artists details of which you can find here. 

The girls as they are affectionately known at home now hang as a triptych and I like to think that they use their magical powers to keep us safe.

Mx

PS I Love You & Posrcript - Cecelia Ahern

PS I Love You 

Some people wait their whole lives to find their soul mates. But not Holly and Gerry. Childhood sweethearts, they could finish each other's sentences. No one could ever imagine them without each other. 

When Gerry dies, Holly is devastated. But Gerry has left her a bundle of notes, one for each month of her year, each signed 'PS, I love you'.

As the notes are opened, the man who knows Holly better than anyone teachers her that life goes on. With some help from her friends and family, Holly laughs, cries and finds that life is for living - but it helps if there's someone watching over you. 

I first read Cecelia Ahern's  debut novel 'PS I Love You' in 2004 .  The story begins just as her beloved Gerry has passed away. Before he died Gerry had written 10 letters, one to be opened on the first of the month for the next 10 months.  Within his letters he encourages his wife to try new things and to build a new life for herself without him by her side.  Over the next 10 months you share in Holly's grief and follow her on her journey of discovery. Cecelia Ahern's novel is full of  humour and you find yourself immersed in the pages and feel you are part of the chaos that makes up Holly's family and friends. It shows you her courage when faced with adversity and shows you what true friendship is all about. PS, I Love You was also made into a film. Sadly for me the film did not do justice to the book as it was turned into Hollywood rather than keeping it true to the original script.  

When I realised there was to be a sequel to PS, I Love You, aptly named Postcript I knew I needed to dig out my copy of PS I Love You to re aquatint myself  with the characters and where we had left them.  PS I Love You is still one of my all time favourite novels by this author.  There are not many novels that I will read more than once but this is one of them.

Postscript 

It's been seven years since Holly Kennedy's husband died - six since she read his final letter, urging Holly to find the courage to forge a new life. 

She's proud of all the ways in which she has grown and evolved. But when a group inspired by Gerry's letters, calling themselves the PS, I Love You Club, approached Holly asking for help, she finds herself drawn back into a world that she worked so hard to leave behind. 

Reluctantly, Holly begins a relationship with the club, even as their friendship threatens to destroy the peace she believes she has achieved. As each of these people calls upon Holly to help them embark on a remarkable journey - one that will challenge her to ask whether embracing the future means betraying the past, and what it means to love someone forever. 

I am always a little apprehensive about reading a sequel to a book that I have loved. I needn't of worried as it is as if Cecelia Ahern had stopped for a coffee break and then sat back down at her computer and continued with her writing from where she left off.  Obviously in the intervening years things have changed for Holly, her family and her friends.  Marriages have taken place, children have been born. Holly's sister Ciara convinces her to take part in a podcast in which she talks about the letters Gerry left for her and how this helped her to grieve but at the same time encouraged her to move on with her life with the help of her best friends Sharon and Denise and her family.  Little did she know the impact the podcast would have especially on one group of people who have called themselves the 'PS, I Love You Club'.  All the members have a life limiting illness and wish to leave a legacy for their families and wish to enlist the help of Holly to make this a reality.  At first Holly is a little apprehensive about getting involved but eventually decides she cannot refuse.  Little did she know the impact this group of people would have on her.  As with PS, I Love You, Postscript is full of humour but at the same time has tinges of sadness that will have you reaching for the tissues.

Now the nights are drawing in there is nothing better than snuggling up in the warm with a cuppa, a chocolate biscuit or two and a thoroughly good read. If you have never read any of  Cecelia Ahern's novels before I would certainly recommend these two as an introduction to her novels. I don't think you will be disappointed.

Stay safe & warm

Mx

Traditional hooded jacket by Naturkinder

Oh its that time of year again when the leaves are turning on the trees and the conkers are teetering ready to fall and the wet and windy weather is beating against our doors. Autumn is definitely here with Strictly returning to our screens and the all the new drama's that seem to come and go at this time of year. There always seems to be something that can keep you entertained on these the  most blustery of days. 

There is nothing better than when it is blowing a hooley outside than being snug and warm in side with the heating on and your latest crafting project to hand. 


This is a pattern that I ordered at Yarndale 2018.  Its a very easy going pattern to make  made up in garter stitch and worked in one piece on size 4mm needles.  It comes in sizes 0-3/6+/12+  & 18 months+.  

It didn't state whether to make in DK or Aran so I have made one in both and they have equally turned out well. 

You can find more details on how to order a copy here. 

I made this little marled grey one in Stylecraft Life DK which is 25% wool and 75% acrylic in colour Pebble Nepp.  I made the 6+ size which used just under 200g of wool.  The buttons I had in my stash. This size will fit my little grandson leading up to the colder months of winter and will be great for both in the house and to pop on when getting in and out of the car. 

This lovely green/black jacket is made up of wool that I had left over in my stash. The colour is Black Watch which was released by Stylecraft a number of years ago now but sadly no longer available and from  memory I had made myself a lovely warm aran cardigan with it and this was what was left over. Not enough to make a big project with but just enough for making a Freddie sized jacket.   In fact I've got quite a few Freddie sized balls of wool left over in my aran stash so he may well be getting a few of these. 

The buttons I purchased at this years Yarndale and they are hand made/painted ceramic buttons made by ladies in Africa and sold by Injubalo  best known for their Bolga baskets and Zulu bowls.  They have such an extensive range of buttons that I don't think there has been a time that I have not found what I needed.  These little dinosaur buttons were sold as 5 for £5.50 and when you consider the work that has gone into them I really don't think that's too higher price and quite honestly they really complete  this little jacket.  This one is made in the 12+ month size and has come up lovely and snugly and feels warming to the touch so I know it will keep my little grandson  as snug as a bug in a rug and will certainly keep him warm going into the winter months. I am really looking forward to seeing him wearing them. Its so nice to have a very sensible DIL who loves all the  things I have made for him so far and isn't afraid to put in a request if there is something she would like for him, which is really lovely. 

I have now cast on another aran jacket but this time I am using a pattern that is 30 years old which both his daddy and his uncles and aunt have all had versions of growing up and I am looking forward to sharing that one with you when I have completed it. I may even see if I can find a photograph of one of them wearing it.  

Till then stay safe and warm.

Mx

Yarndale 2019

For all those who are devotees of Yarndale it was the annual pilgrimage to Skipton at the end of September.

As in previous years we set off on our travels on the Friday morning having had a hearty breakfast. This year we decided we would pay the Piece Hall  in Halifax a visit en route to our hotel.  It was a place I knew nothing about until I saw it featured on the Antiques Roadshow during the summer.

The Piece Hall itself is nestled in the town of Halifax and was lovely even with the rain.  The architecture was magnificent.

The history of the Piece Hall dates back to 1779, when it was built for the trading of pieces of cloth, (woven woolen cloth produced on a handloom). By 1867 the Piece Hall was handed over to the Corporation and from 1871 it was used as a wholesale market and this proved very successful but by the 1920's it was felt that the Piece Hall could be put to better use  other than a wholesale market.  In 1954 the building was given Grade 1 listed status. Over the forthcoming years the wholesale market buildings were removed and restoration work began to improve the infrastructure and services. The Piece Hall officially re-opened in July 1976 and for a time was a bustling centre of activity with many small shops and art galleries but again fell to disrepair until following a conservation and transformation the Piece Hall re-opened in August 2017.  It is now filled with many small shops and eateries all of which are worth paying a visit.  I think there is still work to be done to bring it up to the thriving retail area it once was but this will come in time I am sure. 

we found a lovely place to eat called The Trading Rooms  recommended by one of the shop vendors. As we had a table booked at the hotel for food in the evening we had the soup of the day and bread roll for lunch.  The soup of the day was goats cheese and potato. I have to say this was a soup I had never had before and I was a little apprehensive as to whether I would like it, but decided I would give it ago.    As it turned out the soup was delicious and the bread was freshly baked in the adjoining bakery what more could you ask for. 

This year we were booked into the  Craven Heifer Inn at Kelbrook.

I have to say the rooms, the staff and the food were excellent. so much so that we have already re-booked for next year.

We met some lovely people both exhibitors and visitors to Yarndale and spent both evenings there talking all things yarn related. 

We got to meet a group of ladies from Sussex who had never been to Yarndale before and having had the journey from hell on the Friday they were relieved to here that they were most certainly in for a treat.  Having seen them return with many bags I wasn't sure who was going to be left to either walk home or get the train but it was so nice to see that they had, had such a wonderful time and had found time to meet the lovely Lucy of Attic24.


The weather it has to be said was atrocious and the rain just kept on coming.  The fields around Skipton were absolutely water logged and I believe there were many areas that were flooded.  Thankfully this was not the case in Skipton.  I believe that the cycling championships were dogged by the rain and from what I saw on the news later in the evening I don't know how they even managed to carry on. 

The sun did briefly make an appearance Saturday morning as we all waited in line to enter the festival.   They were kind to us when the heavens opened once more and let us queue inside as far as they could before the clock struck 10am and the doors opened once more for what would be yet another great Yarndale festival.

The bunting was there in all its glory just as it has been in previous years.  This Yarndale marked it's seventh appearance and it still looks as fantastic as ever as you make your way in to the main hall.









The bears for this years Creative Community Project that have been sent from all over the UK/World were on display in all their glory and for a donation you could name a bear that would go on to find their forever homes with the children rescued by the Mercy Ships.




As always there was an eclectic mix of stall holders who were more than happy to talk about there wares and advise where necessary.  I may just have bought some more yarn home but a Yarndaler never admits just how much they bought do they?

Mx