Heaths Country Store - Ollerton

I love this shop.
Of all the craft shops in the world this is the one I would choose.

It is packed to the gunnels with the most glorious quilting materials together with lots and lots of other goodies.  A lot of the fabrics are American and there is definately a feel of old America.  Heath is an Artist in his own right and there are great big pictures on the walls which he has painted himself.

I get so engrossed in the place that I often miss the obvious like the new counter which I walked straight past.

These are a selection of brand new fabrics.  I visited about a month ago and bought a selection for the make-up bag I am embroidering.  It is the project I decided to do at quilting group but I haven't got on very quickly.  I hope to finish it shortly though.

The shop is divided in to little sections show casing particular fabrics inter mingled with pictures, wall hangings and patchwork quilts.  The place never fails to inspire me and I stand and gaze at the sheer beauty of the place.
Heath the owner is a real character with very long hair.  Yesterday he was painting the picture behind the counter and was dressed in a loose flowing artists coverall. He looked very eccentric.

Finally for the wool lovers amongst us.  Moving the counter has opened up the place quite a lot.  It has lost a bit of it's character but I'm sure it will grow in to itself again.  Heath manages to fill every new nook and cranny with exciting worthwhile objects so I can't wait to see what appears the next time I visit.
I didn't manage to photograph the room at the end because there was a knit and natter group being held.  In there is where the darker more oldie worldie fabrics are together with the fat quarters.  I might get a shot next time I go.
You can visit Heaths at 1 Rufford Avenue, New Ollerton, Nottingham, NG22 9PN -
Telephone 01623 836666 or visit their website here
As ever thank you for visiting and I'll speak to you again soon.

Harlow Carr, Harrogate

I thought it was about time I caught up with you all and for once I can report on a day out.  Now I don't get out much, well not for proper excursions that is so brace yourselves.

As it was the most beautiful bright sunny day yesterday we decided to set off for Harlow Carr.  This is a RHS garden and well worth a visit with lots of things to see and look at. 
We arrived mid-afternoon after visiting our local garden centre to stock up on Sweet Pea plants and Strawberry plants which we put in the garden before setting off. Oh and I had to cut Steve's hair too so it was a busy start to the day.

Betty's Tearoom - Harlow Carr

First things first. A quick lunch break at Betty's Tearoom. Oh yes this is an absolutely lovely place with everything tasty and expensive on offer. I had soup with a pumpkin seed bread roll, Steve had a chicken sandwich which consisted of two slices of brown bread (crusts removed). Yes that was it, no salad for colour, not a thing to dress it up (very disappointing) and two coffees. This cost us £15.60. Now I am not mean but if I had paid a fiver for this I would have felt ripped off.  I'm glad I've been to Betty's because it was very nice to sit in such a nice restaurant but really, I'm sorry to say I won't be rushing back.
Moving on -

We wandered down pretty paths taking in the garden ornaments as we went along.

The Summer House

There were animals to pet, including goats, rabbits and guinea pigs.  There were even Alpacas who had given up their wool just so that I could buy a bag of roving to spin using my spindle.

Alpacas

Now wasn't that kind of them?

The Alpine House is well worth a visit too.  All the tiny plants are in their own terracotta pots which are then set into gravel on stone built shelves.  Steve was so impressed I bought him a book on the subject so he can have a go at home.

Alpines at Harlow Carr

Well that's all I have time for right now.  I'll show you more very soon.
Have a great day x

Mothers Day & EBay

I'm a poet and I didn't know it.
Sunday was a lovely day spent with the people I love the most.
Firstly I visited my own Mum and spent a nice couple of hours giving her a pampering shampoo and set.
Once back home Joe arrived and after indulging in coffee and a special Miss Cakeaholic cupcake (Thank You Heather x) we proceeded to create my new EBay Shop.

I decided that it was about time I expanded by audience and see if there were any customers in the Internet world that were interested in buying my lovely wool.  The shop is small at the moment but I have just been granted permission to add further items so now I just have to work out exactly how to do that and then the sky's the limit.

I have Joe to thank for getting the EBay site up and running.  I asked him to do this as my Mothers Day present rather than buy me something that wouldn't last.  In years to come when my site is successful I will be able to look back and remember exactly what I was given on Mothers Day 2012.

 I don't think a bunch of flowers would have left such a lasting impression.

Keep Calm and Carry On

At last I'm back.  I've had one of my headaches this week starting Tuesday night and finishing Friday afternoon.  Unfortunately that then gave way to one almighty head cold so I am not feeling all that great today.  Never mind though the show must go on even if I am feeling very sorry for myself.
There was no work for me Thursday or Friday as I was too poorly and the stall proved harder than usual.  We had a narrow boat booked for yesterday as a present to our Mums and Nanna for Mothers Day and this also got cancelled as the possibility of giving them what I have at their advancing years would have been irresponsible to say the least.  So yesterday passed slowly with hubby mooching around looking like an accident waiting to happen.
I'm back at work today feeling worse than I did last week but due to the level of work at this our busiest time I will return like the good little soldier ready to face the criticism that no doubt I will receive when everyone in the office is sneezing and blaming me for passing on my germs.  As you will notice I am not my cheerful self today.

Anyway before I have you crying in to your cornflakes here are a few Spring flowers to cheer us all up.  I took these in my garden.  As you know I love Spring flowers best of all and these are wonderful.  The colours just ring out don't they?
This week will be a busy one with Knitting Club tonight, Violin lessons tomorrow night, Mothers Union Wednesday and Quilting Thursday.
Keep Calm and Carry On - I have every sympathy with the person who came up with that well used saying.
Thanks for dropping by.  I promise to be in better humour next time.

Crochet and Spring Flowers

I hope you had a good weekend.  Mine consisted of the wool stall, housework, crochet and violin practice.
The wool stall is doing well and another order will have to be sent this week to keep up with demand.  I am thinking seriously about selling wool on-line but this is a long way off.  It is but a twinkle in my eye at present.
Housework is an evil that cannot be escaped for long.  Goodness knows I try.  I set the timer and do half hour stints peppered in between with half hours of things I like doing more.  This way the work gets done but I don't feel that my whole day has been spoilt. The crochet is a spur of the moment new project.

I was inspired to use the peach, mint and apple green after seeing a website at work which used these colours for their text and borders.  I replaced their orange for peach as I didn't have a subtle orange only one that shouted in your face.  The scheme works quite well and will look very pretty.  I started it on Saturday and already it is quite big.  That's the beauty of crochet.  It grows at a great pace.

Whilst tidying round I cleared by window sill which was looking like a dumping ground for everything imaginable.  The wonderful tub of Hyacinths I purchased last week are looking beautiful and are a new colour.  I thought they would be the generic blueish colour you seem to see a lot of but these are a lovely mauve.  Of course once they come out fully the stems start to bend which is surely a design fault on their part but after the inventive use of knitting needles I was able the sort out the problem.

Spring flowers are my favourites.  They tell us that Spring is just around the corner and I can't wait.
Have a great day.

Finishing Off

At long last I have finished everything on my long list from before Christmas.  I have a tiny bit of sewing on a cream cardigan and the buttons to sew on and that is it.  Thank Goodness.  I can now concentrate on making myself a lovely pale lime green cotton jumper from the latest Knitter magazine and I can't wait.
This little set is a mixture from 3 different magazine patterns all knitted in Cygnet Kaleidoscope.  The colour is Dolly Mixture and it one of my best sellers.
I started my violin lessons last week and though I say it myself I am quite good.  I am learning a folk jig at the moment and am actually getting a tune out of my instrument which at this stage is amazing.  There are a few funny squeaks but the neighbours are still talking to me so it can't be that bad.
My Knit and Natter group is thriving.  There were 11 counting me with holidays and sickness accounting for missing members so that's really great.  Every one is enjoying it and we're having a lot of fun.

Well it's time to get ready for work.  As always thank you for visiting and bye for now.