Autumn Schedule

After what was not an inconsiderable amount of pain, I am happy to be able to let you know our Autumn Schedule!

Having spent the best part of the last 2 weeks writing, and re-writing it (teachers are soooo hard to pin down), I can't bear to write it out in full again......but I will give you the bare bones!

Wednesday 26th September - Lynne Johnson day

Wednesday 3rd October - Rag Rug Day:  I am really enjoying making mine, especially now it has started to grow and look more like a rug than a table mat - but I am astounded by how much fabric it takes!

Wednesday 10th October - Crochet Mandalas.  These are so easy to crochet, in fact, Helen, who is taking the class, didn't have time (grandchild duties) to provide me with a photo so I quickly made one using just three different stitches.  This really is such an easy way to learn how to crochet.

Wednesday 17th October - Lynne Johnson Day.  I had to change the date because Lynne's quilt group is exhibiting at Malvern Quilt Show, so she couldn't be with us for the usual second Wednesday in the month

Wednesday 24th October - Sock Making with Ros - I have a feeling a lot of people will be getting socks for Christmas this year!

Wednesday 31st October - Lynne Johnson Day

Wednesday 7th November - Knitted Scarf with Ros - a beautiful lace edge pattern scarf.  Ros has assured us it is easy, and once we've learnt how to make up the pattern following a chart, the body of the scarf is just picked up from the edge and garter stitched.

Saturday 10th November - Foundation Pieced Sampler with Helene - foundation piecing is a great way to produce really accurate work

Wednesday 14th November - Quit Making with Lynne

Wednesday 21st November - Christmas Workshop with Lynne  (She's still playing around with ideas!)

Wednesday 28th November  - Quilt Making with Lynne

Wednesday 5th November - Place Mats with Lynne and Sandra - either seasonal or every day

Wednesday 12th December - Christmas Tree Skirt - I get mine out every year when all the presents have been opened; it's probably about 15 years old now and I made it at a workshop when Sandra had her shop!

And then last, but by no means least, the lovely wreath making mornings and afternoons with Linda on Saturday 15th December and Wednesday 19th December!

So there you are, quite a nice selection, I think.

Everyone Should Enjoy Making Stuff

We have had a cracking couple of weeks in the workshop, but first I have a little story to tell. 

My sister has been taking art classes for the last year, and she has been quite productive, so most of the family have been receiving paintings for birthday presents.  She gave me a still life of Peppers, which I love.

Last weekend was the East Garston Allotments flower and Produce  Show (I was runner up for my jam and pumpkin, which gave me immense pleasure) and I saw that they had a painting class.  Anyone could enter so I put Carolyn's picture in.  I then had a very tense morning, deciding that if she didn't come anywhere, I just wouldn't tell her I'd entered it.  The show opened at 1.00pm when the judging was finished, and I went down with great trepidation.

Well......

 

How exciting was that?  I sent her this photo and she asked if hers was the only entrant - it certainly wasn't!

Anyway, back to the workshop.

First of all we had a record 12 people turn up for Pitch and Stitch - everyone doing lots of different crafts, and lots to talk about.  Jane, who pointed out that the last time she came there were only 4 people, said,

"What a big group on Tuesday! & what a lovely mix of people doing different projects & crafts! I love it as it keeps me inspired to keeping crafting in whatever form that takes for me & it is also nice to know that we all share certain characteristics that are common amongst “crafty” people."

The next week we were down to four again, but I know lots of people were away on holiday.

Then Ros brought in the tunic she has knitted and we were all blown away

A stunning piece of work.

Ros is taking two knitting workshops for us this term - one for socks, and one for a beautiful scarf, so we are looking forward to that.

Then today Jenny brought in the quilt she started on a Lynne Johnson day in June - English Paper Pieced and hand stitched

Again, we were stunned - she only started it in June!

Lynne brought in her strippy quilt she has made, which is just one of the beautiful quilts which can be made on the Lynne Johnson days

So, all in all, very exciting.

I am in the throws of bringing out the new schedule, just waiting for a couple of photos from teachers.

I also always try and get in some new teachers, to try and get a bit of variety in the workshops.  I usually have to pay them a bit more than I pay our regular teachers,  but am prepared to make a loss because it is something new.  This time I have been really shocked by the amounts I've been quoted, and have been unable to book them.  I know our workshops are priced very low, but have always felt  that I would prefer people to feel they can come regularly, and not just as one offs.  I think  lovely crafty days out should be affordable to everyone, and most of the time we are only doing things our mothers, aunties or other members of our family have taught us, so it should be accessible to everyone too.

I will probably have to put our prices up a bit in the next year, but am determined that our workshops will not become pretentious and trendy - just fun, engaging and informative days where people will hopefully start on a new hobby.

Crafting started at home, and I'm determined to do my bit to ensure there is room in everyone's lives for a bit of homespun 'making stuff'!

Last Days of Summer

So, the last days of summer are here and what a summer it's been!

As usual I've struggled with the garden, but it has looked pretty and I'm sorry to see things are starting to fade now.  Next year I must remember not to put Cosmos in pots because now I have the stand for the pots they're far too high!

I have also discovered how planting perennials makes things so much easier

although I don't think I can give up my snapdragons and marigolds. 

The apples this year have been amazing

and all the plums I've been given have resulted in 35 jars of jam!

In the greenhouse I've been growing enormous Beef Tomatoes which have been excellent for pasta sauces

but some of them really were truly enormous

The other success were the courgettes - I've cooked them every way possible and they are still appearing, although not for long judging by the look of the leaves

and I have no idea what those enormous squashes are!

And then, of course, there's the story of the apron.......First you make a very pretty apron

but don't know where to hang it so you get a  Shepherd's Hut,

and that's fine but what are you going to use a shepherd's hut for?  Of course!  A changing room for the Hot Tub!

So Jonathan's been building the base but I wasn't too impressed when I saw where he was storing his cement mixer

 

and since we're in the workshop, here's Ros's Penny rug which she started at one of our workshops

 

and, yes, tomorrow Sandra and I are getting together to finalise our Autumn Schedule......