rubykittyruby

  Friday's here before you know it, and I'm starting to think about Christmassy stuff.  Compiling lists of presents to buy, that sort of thing.  I won't put the decorations up yet though, despite lots of homes and shops near me already being decked out in twinkly lights and baubles.  The artificial tree will stay in its cupboard for another week at least.  I'd love a real tree as they smell so good, but I can't be doing with hoovering up pine needles for most of January.  On the crafty front I've been playing about with my Jessie Chorley style 'doodle cloth', and really enjoying seeing where my needle and thread takes me.   I've finished a couple of these Christmas tags, which are made of calico.  I might try making more on a different coloured background as otherwise the names don't stand out enough.  I was trying for a homespun vintage-y look, but maybe I should go for shiny and sequins instead?  Speaking of shiny ... I also made ...

  The days feel so short at this time of year.  It's dark when I get out of bed, and dark by about 4 o'clock in the afternoon.  So when the weather's dry and there's a beautiful blue sky I can't help lacing up my walking boots and setting off for a wander.  This is a view across the RSPB reserve near me.  It was so peaceful.  Just the occasional dog walkers and fellow wanderers out enjoying the fresh air too.   Back home I carried on with crafty odds and ends.  I'm making embroidered name tags to attach to Christmas presents, trying to go for a folksy vintage-y kind of look to them.  I'll show you them when I've finished and you can see if I've succeeded.   I've also been adding to my Jessie Chorley style 'doodle cloth'.  Learning how to sew a wrapped chain stitch - in red and white it makes a perfect candy cane - and not taking it all too seriously.   I had to nip down to the High Street to collect a prescriptio...

Well, my Monday got off to a good start.  On the domestic front, two loads of laundry washed & pegged out on the line to waft in the breeze.  On the missing bag front, some kindly person had handed it in at the railway station and I collected it today, all contents accounted for.  (Though what someone else would've wanted crumpled tissues, till receipts and a pink plastic hairbrush for I don't know.)  I'd gone to the station after a nifty detour into a charity shop, and that went well too.  A massive bag of crewel and tapestry wool for £4.00.  I've been learning this year how to embroider with regular stranded cotton, and the next aim is to embroider using crewel wool, so this'll be perfect.  I love the simplicity of these Appleton labels wrapped around the vintage wool.  Okay, enough of my bargain buy, let's get back to the Harrogate Knitting & Stitching Show.  Today it's all about the work of Jessie Chorley.  She was there in p...

  Ready for part two of my grand day out at the Harrogate show?  Okay, let's start with the usual apology for my lack of photography skills.  Secondly, I didn't capture the maker's name of the piece shown above, but it was part of a varied exhibition by 'The 62 Group of Textile Artists'.  She looks calm and confident, doesn't she?  Her gaze directed away from the viewer.   I think quiet spaces like this can be rather overlooked when there's so much else going on.  With everyone intent on seeing as much as they can cram into their day.   I loved this, 'Rain' by Emily Jo Gibbs.  It's silk organza and linen.  She's hand stitched the material, and while the next photo is slightly blurry you can make out those stitches.   Such a simple idea, but often it's the simplicity that appeals to us, isn't it?  Also, we know there's an awful lot of skill in producing something that looks effortless.   This was an eye ...

  Well, I definitely picked the right day to go to the Harrogate Knitting & Stitching Show.  It was flipping cold weather, but at least Storm Bert wasn't showering me with snow, rain, sleet and buffeting me with high winds.  I'm glad to be cosy & snug indoors today, but yesterday I caught the train to the lovely, rather genteel town of Harrogate.  (Oh, if you're wondering about the display of tassels by the way, they just caught my eye.  You could buy everything crafty under the sun at the show.)  However, back to Friday.   My outward journey got off to a slightly ropey start when - the second the train pulled out of the departure station - I realised I'd left a bag in the waiting room.  Luckily I'd still got on a crossbody-strap bag with my house keys, phone & bank card in it.  Plus my lunch bag!  But I'd left behind a small pink rucksack with - among the tissues & crumpled receipts - my phone charger, hair brush an...