Yarndale Day 2

I must say I'm flagging now! I'm not sleeping as well as I should, my body alternates between hot and cold all night which doesn't lend itself to a restful sleep. It's an age thing!
Anyway back to Yarndale, it's nice to have the second day as it's a chance to mop up, visit all the stalls we didn't have chance to look at properly yesterday. It also means more money spent. I do wonder how I will smuggle my purchases in to my house! It doesn't stop me though. I've been saving my £2 coins all year for this very weekend.

Haworth the home of the Bronte family

We really did have a lovely day yesterday, which ended very nicely with a walk around Haworth. It was dark when we walked around so no good photos I'm afraid. Despite the darkness you couldn't fail to capture the beauty of the place. Maybe it wasn't beauty, maybe it was the nostalgia and romance of a bygone era. Maybe it was the very fact that this is Bronte country! Although reading some of the facts anyone living passed the age of 25.8 years was doing well. 
Our day has started well today too. A fantastic Yorkshire breakfast to set us off. It would be rude not to eat it all and my sides are fit to burst. It's a stroke of luck that Haworth is on a hill. I may have to roll home!

Attic 24

At the top of Coopers lives the creative work place of Lucy of Attic 24. It was lovely to see her crocheted creations in the flesh.

Yarndale

Well we arrived at Yarndale this morning. A beautiful drive through hill and dale. I've been counting the sleeps for a while, not because Yarndale is my most favourite place in the world but because it's a weekend away from my normal life with my equally mad friend! We leave our husbands at home and do what we want when we want, often it's stopping to squish yarn!

We've both already sorted with some of our hard earned and pleased with our purchases we have taken a wander into Skipton itself. Creatures of habit we always make for Cooper's where we are guaranteed some decent food and a warm and welcome drink. Lattés all round!

Little basset!

Not only is it Yarndale this weekend (which, by the way, is only three sleeps away!) It is also the twelve month anniversary of basset ownership. It's not been without teething problems, possibly because he is a grabber and often leads with his teeth. He came to our house with lots of baggage poor boy which is always a risk when getting a preowned dog. I would say preloved but I'm not sure that he was totally. He was frightened of men, frightened of loud noises, frightened of cars, probably frightened of his own shadow. A frightened dog can be an unpredictable one and at times he has been. I have asked myself many times 'what was I thinking?'  Also, when his stress levels are too high he also has seizures.
Slowly but surely he is realising that he is safe here. That he is in a family that love him and he without doubt loves us. He is still a little bit uncertain of situations but these are less frequent. He still steals food and trust me for a short dog his long body ensures quite a reach on any kitchen surface!
Some people would say that he has fallen on his feet. Maybe he has, although he might need to stand on them first!

No photo

After a wonderful home cooked lunch we continued felting our fleeces. The whole water/soap mix meant that my hands were way too slippery to even hold my phone, so no photos of the afternoon. I must say that my hands are very soft from all the lanolin. They don't feel like my hands at all.
I learnt such a lot in this workshop. It's a shame we are entering the cooler months as I would love to do some more. I did in fact buy a couple of fleeces so if the weather does happen to be good during October half term then I will sneak another rug making session in. I would do things differently next time. Even though our tutor Lisa has great success in the method she showed us, mine wasn't quite up to my standards. It will be once I have finished it I hope! The weather has been very wet since the workshop so what to do with two very wet fleeces!
I'm hoping to go back to Lisa"s to do her pin loom workshop. She has made some amazing things with hers and I can't wait to try it. Do I need to learn another craft? Oh not really but that won't stop me!

Thank you to Ann for being a loyal follower, despite my very sporadic postings over the last couple of years. It is lovely to hear from a familiar blogging friend. I can't believe you still hang around these parts. Thank you x

Living Felt Rug

I can't tell you what a fabulous day I'm having! After getting lost on the way initially  we arrived to a wonderful greeting and a cup of tea. After introductions we choose our fleeces and set to work. My son choose a Welsh mountain fleece. I'm not bitter but that was the one I wanted! Good mother that I am I sacrificed my choice.  We are breaking for lunch now but I'll be back in a bit with the afternoon show and tell!

A Craft Kit follow on

I think my excitement for my craft kit has waned slightly. I'm still loving the price at £3.99 and the lion is definitely cute. I would indeed like to crochet a friend. I'm just not sure that I can. I have all the ingredients; yarn, crochet hook, stuffing and needle. I also have the skills, despite me saying that I can only crochet Granny squares I really can do double crochet! I'm just not as confident with it as I am with many of my other crafts.

I've opened the kit and it's OK. Yarn quality is slightly squeaky which is to be expected at the price, but that's fine. I'm just not sure if I'm going to get on with the instructions. They seem a little basic, not enough helpful language for me.  It's maybe because I've followed Attic24 patterns before which have lots of language and photos. Even I can manage those. These instructions are not quite the same! I shall keep you updated with my progress ... or not. Opening the package was progress, wasn't it?

A craft kit

I just popped into Aldi and have discovered some crafty bits on sale. I can never resist crafty bits. Although I can crochet a little, I don't seem to have progressed from Granny squares to be honest, well maybe the odd triangle may have slipped in too! I thought that I would try to crochet out of my comfort zone and have bought a kit. I'm hoping to finish this one and not get bored mid leg! It's yarndale next weekend so there will be many more temptations.  I'm quite into needlefelting at the moment and have taught a few classes recently. I run them with my daughter which is lovely as I do enjoy spending time with my children. We are working on our final workshop of the year which will be Christmas themed. Where has the year gone?