Hello! 🌸
Sending lots of love and springtime greetings to you all… and a very Happy Easter to all of you who celebrate! 🥰 Here’s a little blog post catch up for you to enjoy along with a cup of tea or coffee and maybe a chocolate Easter egg later!
For this Easter I’m finally releasing the pattern for my Sweet Mandala…
Ravelry: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sweet-mandala
Etsy: Sweet Mandala Crochet pattern
I designed this back in 2022 and have hosted this as a workshop a few times since which is always a delight. The mandala is actually a perfect project for a workshop because it can be completed in the short time of a workshop session… and it’s always nice to get something finished!
Talking of workshops, on Friday I treated myself to a Toft workshop at the Natural History Museum in London. Kerry Lord is the creative director behind the fabulous Toft brand which is famous for ‘Ed’s Animals’ and all those gorgeous crocheted creatures.
Toft has such a huge following and I know lots of people learn to crochet simply because they want to create one of her gorgeous animals. I’ve never made a Toft animal before so this was a brilliant opportunity. I know these workshops sell out really quickly so I was lucky to get a space for myself and my fabulous crochet friend Amanda from Nanny Bears Crochet
And what an amazing experience it was to enter the Natural History Museum after hours…
It felt so very special… and we noticed things as we walked through to the workshop area that perhaps we wouldn’t have during the usual busy opening hours of the museum. Just look at the nature carved into the columns…
And the workshop was brilliant! Expertly hosted by Kerry and she made sure she got round the room to talk to everyone and showed the various techniques on a bigger screen for all to see.
We were sitting in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year room and Kerry had designed a Nubian ibex goat exclusively for the workshop which was based on one of the photographs on display…
Isn’t he adorable?! And I absolutely adore that the inspiration came from a photograph which was part of the exhibition.
I managed to get the body and one horn done during the evening…
And since being home I’m determined to get it finished! It’s been a really fun project on my hooks…
And I have just taken this photo on this Easter Sunday… my Nubian ibex has a body and four legs… he’s so nearly finished! 😃
In other crochet news, I’m on the cusp of being able to share with you all the projects that have been on my hooks over the winter… I’m so excited about that. Two blanket crochet-alongs will start in May/June time and more details will be shared soon.
But in the meantime here are some projects I can show you…
Firstly, my tulips which I designed for Little Box of Crochet…
These were so much fun to design and make… 🌷😊
And then next week issue 167 of Inside Crochet magazine comes out… it’s such a beautiful magazine with gorgeous patterns, photos and inspiration. Here’s a sneak peek photo of a project I have designed for the new issue…
I’m going to be at the Carry on Crafting Festival in July and will be hosting a workshop on mosaic crochet: https://carryoncraftingfestival.co.uk/summer-festival-classes/
It’s been fun making samples for this.
And then I have a project using Emu Classic Tweed Chunky just off my hooks… this has been amazing because it’s a chunky yarn and the project grew super quickly!
Kits as well as the pattern for this will be available in April. Keep an eye out- I’ll let you all know as soon as I can! 😊
It’s been a slow emergence into spring here on the South East Coast. We’ve had lots of rain and it does still feel cool. But the occasional sunny spring day feeling the warmth of the sun on our faces has felt good. 😊
I wish you all a restful and relaxing weekend…
Happy Crocheting Everyone… 😊❤️❤️
Wow! You have the creativity flowing! What a privilege to go to the Natural History Museum after hours and have a chance to see things that often times get unnoticed! The monkeys climbing up the wall in stone! Gorgeous! The class you took was remarkable as well! I adore goats and your Nubian goat is a stunner! Looking forward to your next CAL!!! Thank you for sharing with us!
Awww… thank you so much for reading Barbara!! 🥰 Yes, it really was a privilege to be at the museum after hours and felt very special…. I’m loving the goat for sure! I look forward to you crocheting along again soon … 😘❤️❤️
Oh I want to make an Ibex SO MUCH ! I made an Arabian Oryx from her book last week and I’m planning an Okapi. I wonder if she’s going to release the Ibex after the workshops are finished. It looks like you had a wonderful evening at the Natural History Museum.
Awww… how wonderful! 😃 Yes, I believe the workshop animals do get released after a few months… it’s a really fun project! Xxx
Me encantaron los tulipanes ,demasiado hermosos y q lindo hacer un proyecto en el Museo ,disfruto mucho sus publicaciones y todo lo que tejes ,saludos desde Costa Rica 🇨🇷 un abrazo
¡Muchas gracias! ¡¡Tengo un proyecto inspirado en Costa Rica próximamente!! 🥰🥰
Eleonora, I love your photos they are really inspirational to me. I want to use them for my art projects. I do not sell my art but I still would like your ok 👍 to use them.
You are an amazing artist and thank you for sharing your talent with us.
Thank you Misty… I’m very happy to provide a little inspiration so I’m happy for you to use the photos… ❤️
This Spring update is fabulous. So inspiring. The National History Museum workshop looked fantastic. I love Toft animals and have done a few. Looking forward to your next CAL. I have joined you on two blankets and both turned out gorgeous. Keep the cheerful inspiration coming Eleonora 👍🧶❤️
Thank you so much for your kind words Gill! Yes, the Natural History Museum workshop really was lovely…🥰