Hi there everyone… how are you all? 🥰 It feels like too long since I popped in with a blog post. I’m currently in full designing mode behind the scenes with copious amounts of yarn, hooks of all sizes and crochet samples everywhere! 😃
It’s always such an exciting time and I can’t wait to share some new designs with you soon but whilst I’m in full swing designing, it does inevitably mean I get a little distant from sharing on social media. So it’s lovely to bring you a new blog post now with a few updates and a book review too…
Spring is definitely in the air here on the south east coast. We’ve had some sunny days and it’s feeling slightly warmer. I’ve spotted daffodils nearly in bloom…
That’s always a hopeful sign of spring and I love the time of year when the daffodils start to appear.
And there have been some wonderful sunsets…
And yesterday I enjoyed a little row up the local River Ouse with one of my adventurous sons. It was such a lovely thing to do…
It’s somehow felt like an extra long winter this year so springtime round the corner feels good!
I love that the online creative community allows me to easily connect with fellow Crocheter’s and I love being able to support fellow crochet designers. So when Chris Norrington from @chris.made.this asked if I’d like to receive an advance copy of her brand new book ‘Crochet Collage Garden’ to review I didn’t hesitate!
I’ve been sent a copy by the publisher ’David and Charles’ Books ahead of the official publication date which is on 14th March. It’s available for pre-order now.
Well you’re in for a treat. There are 100 patterns for crochet flowers, plants, petals and leaves to create fabulous collages.
Chris is a crochet designer as well as a passionate gardener, and she’s combined the two by creating these 100 crochet motifs arranged in 10 collages based on the beautiful flowers and plants found in her wonderful cottage garden on the edge of the beautiful North York Moors National Park.
I’ve dipped into the book already and I’m so enjoying crocheting the little projects to start my own collage. They’re such sweet little makes which are perfect for me to do amongst some much larger sized commissions I have on the go behind the scenes.
The motifs are flat and small, perfect for arranging all kinds of collages and I can see these making stunning cards to send to loved ones or to create a picture to be framed and hung on the wall – a wonderful personal gift.
There are 10 collages suggested in the book which you can of course follow but you can also mix and match and there are endless possibilities! There are patterns for flat pots and vases to add to your collage creations too.
There are themed collages arranged loosely on the changing seasons. There’s a ‘Spring Awakening’, ‘Midsummer Daydream’ and a ‘Woodland Glade’. But the book gives you all that you need to create your own themed collages. You really can pick and choose motifs from across the book.
As well as the clearly written patterns there are of course clear photos and a symbol chart for each pattern too. I love a crochet chart. They can be really helpful, especially for small little projects like these.
It really is a joyful crochet book that I can highly recommend.
In other news, two new blankets have come off my hooks in the last couple of months. Two new designs which I’m so happy with and I can’t wait to share them with you.
Today I’m off to the CHSI Stitches trade show at the NEC in Birmingham. It’s a large trade show for the creative craft industry and I was invited to attend. I’m looking forward to seeing what new things are on the horizon.
I have something to deliver in person to the lovely team at the King Cole stand and I’m also going to meet Amy from The Knitting Network who will be at the Emu Yarns stand. Amy and I have had online meetings and numerous email exchanges over the last few years as the Knitting Network supports my work, but we’ve never actually met in person so that will be really lovely. 😃
From 31st March – 2nd April it’s the ‘Woolinale’ Yarn Bombing Festival in Cologne, Germany!
Germany gets its own international yarnbombing festival in parallel with ‘H+H Cologne’ the world’s leading trade fair for the textile handicraft industry.
I’m contributing a piece for the festival and am having so much fun creating it! It’s a lot further on from what you see in the photo above and it’s nearly ready to post off to Germany. I’m planning on attending the show in Cologne too which is very exciting!
These crocheted jellyfish which I photographed during yesterdays sunset will be added to my yarnbomb. It will of course have a coastal theme!
Hope you’ve enjoyed this little catch up…
Happy Crocheting Everyone… 😄💙
I’m just finishing my third Seaside Stash Buster and; having loved the Postcards pattern, to which I gave a Weymouth theme, I intend to make another one with a “Four Seasons”‘ theme. The book you have reviewed will be really useful for inspiration in embellishing the Postcards with appropriate flowers and plants. Thank you so much for all the inspiration and encouragement you give us.
You’re very welcome! 🥰🙏
I’m an avid Coastal Crochet fan, helped with my sanity during lockdown and since. I’ve just finished another version of the wonderful Postcards and plan a pastels version for a much awaited granddaughter, the older 4 all have a stashed buster or other from your creative collection. Currently got a pale pinks and greens stash buster on the go. The book looks great, will enjoy buying myself that present, I can see it will make the forthcoming Postcards a garden delight. Can you recommend any similar publications for animals, sea creatures, life style bits and bobs ? Keep on doing your great work. You certainly make one nana very happy, Thankyou
Hi Sheridan… so lovely to hear you’ve enjoyed crocheting the blankets for special people in your life! 🥰🥰 I’m not sure on books with sea creatures… I’ll have to have a look! 🥰🥰