Busy bee

Yesterday I spent all day re-potting and tidying in the garden.  My small garden is in the shade for most of the day and is very uneven, nasty gravel but having lived in a flat for almost 5 years I'm enjoying the little space by cramming it full of pots and planters!  I've already seen some bees enjoying the tulips and lots of ladybirds on the ivy on the fence.  I also have birds visiting my feeders and I now wake up to their singing rather than the traffic on a main road.  I'm not great at identifying birds but I know I have definitely seen robins, blue tits, sparrows, starlings and pigeons.  And bizarrely for somewhere so far inland I heard seagulls overhead! 

Having spent the whole of Saturday on my knees I decided that I would spend today lounging on the sofa finishing my last crochet project.  This was a pattern from a Stitch and Bitch book which I amended slightly.  I felt it wasn't long enough so extended the trebles section and then added more shells.  I also didn't like the ties on it, which were long chains with pompoms on the end.  I decided to fasten the neck with a sparkly brooch instead.

First plea for help!

Well I did warn you!  I'd really appreciate it if any knitters or crocheters (or any wannabes) would fill in my very quick survey to help me with some market research!

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/KNWQQ2P

Thank you muchly!  :)

Going it alone

Never one to listen to idioms such as ‘don’t try to run before you can walk’ I have decided to launch my own craft-based business this autumn! 

My plans are very much in their infancy at the moment and I am sure that I will be asking for advice, help and generally panicking on this blog in future.  In the meantime I just wanted to point anyone else who was considering similar lunacy during a difficult economic climate to this website:  www.startacraftbusiness.co.uk

They have loads of really helpful information which is specifically targeted towards craft businesses.  Another really helpful website is Business Link, but the craft website is much more relevant to me.

I will be trying to juggle my online business with a full-time job in a Non-Departmental Government Body so can see my whole life will soon be dominated by yarn, needles and patterns!  I have discovered a real passion for crafts despite my own lack of ability and want to share this with everyone.

As the noted philosophers S Club 7 wisely said: ‘reach for the stars, climb every mountain higher, reach for the stars, follow your heart’s desire, reach for the stars, and when that rainbow's shining over you, that's when your dreams will all come true!

Phone a friend!

I've decided I want to learn how to spin my own yarn so on a day trip to Bath I called in at The Makery to see if they do workshops.  

Unfortunately they don't but the girl behind the counter gave me the contact details for a lady called Ricia who I called to see if she could help.  She was fab!  She gave me loads of information and tips and pointed me in the right direction.  She was so generous with her time it got me really enthused and now I want to really immerse myself in textiles work!

I can't make this year's Wonderwool Wales because I left it too late to plan and there are no available rooms in Builth Wells but I'll definitely be heading there next year.

I'm not sure how much yarn related crafts are included in Art in Action in Oxford but might pop along to this in July.


And I am now looking for somewhere to buy a drop spindle and some fleece/wool (not sure what the correct terminology is yet) and see if I can learn off t'internet.  Wish me luck!