Kiss Me Quick

Meet "Kiss Me Quick". The CAL will start in March 2018 and full details will be available in January on www.cal.enfys.me.uk

Mini Flowers

Block 5.

This is actually the first block I designed for the Secret Garden but after discussion with the testers, we decided to go with a different order.

It is made with 9 mini blocks which are joined as you go. As always, please read the instructions carefully and refer back to the notes where necessary.

For more information go to the Secret Garden web page.

Just a few balls of yarn........

Having chosen the colours for the new CAL and finding out that Stylecraft prices are going up, I decided to get some in ready. I know I haven't started it yet (still working on this *&^%$£* commission) but it just seemed like the best thing to do in current circumstances.

Last Thursday, the delivery arrived. You know some things you imagine are always bigger when you see them in real life? This delivery was HUGE. Luckily, Kathryn was here. I gave her the easy job of standing there with the clipboard and checking off the packs as I unpacked and sorted them. Then I had the easy job of making lunch while Kathryn took the yarn upstairs. When she had finished, she said "You didn't need to get into your spare room did you? I thought she was joking.

The afternoon was spent working on the computer. That evening I decided to go and organise the spare room. Kathryn had not been joking. It took me well over an hour to sort and stack the yarn. It is now all stacked neatly against the wall. You can get into the room and use the spare bed. However, if I have more than one visitor, they are going to have a yarn mattress. The best bit of all of this was my son. He is away in London all week for college.

He came home Friday evening and took something upstairs and put it on the spare bed. On Saturday I asked if he had noticed anything.

"Why, what have you done?"

I didn't tell him. It turns out that he hadn't turned the light on when he had gone into the room. He went into the room Saturday evening, turned on the light, had a look around then said

"Did you buy a new lampshade?"

You know how much I like to tease?

Partly because I have enjoyed the Secret Garden so much and partly because I am a sucker for punishment, I am planning another CAL - Space Odyssey.

Here are the colours I have chosen.
Saffron, Spice, Copper.
Teal, Aspen, Sage.
Cloud Blue, Aster, Royal.
Silver, Graphite, Black.
White, Lipstick.

More Butterflies

Block 4.

An important thing to be aware of is that it changes from rounds to rows and back to rounds.

You need to use a lot of numbered stitch markers on the butterfly. I suggest you use different coloured yarn and make a list giving each colour a number. The wing tips are attached through the bottom layer only. All other marked stitches are attached through both layers.

For more information go to the Secret Garden web page.

Birthdays, Butterflies and Frogs.

Yesturday was my birthday. It was also the first Yarn Yard open day of 2017.

Benjamin made me some gorgeous Butterfly earrings. He is studying at the Goldsmiths Centre in London and used some of his work experience time to make them.

Heather made me a cake. Those of you who crochet will understand the theme perfectly! The open day went well. I had a few visitors who had come for my birthday rather than the yarn.

It was not as busy as I had hoped but I had some customers I hadn't seen before and gained two new students. That made it quite a successful day as far as I am concerned.

The next one is on April 8th so make sure that you put it in your Diary.

Following on........

Block 3.

The large flower is made in a sinilar way to the dranfly which is why I chose this one next.

For more information go to the Secret Garden web page.

Lupus and the Secret Garden.

I am donating the DK version of the Secret Garden to Lupus. I have decided that the best way to raise money from is is with a prize draw via Just Giving. This way people from all over the world can take part and we can get lots of money. You can join in by visiting my Just Giving page. There is no minimum donation. For every £5 you donate, you will receive one entry into the prize draw. Please make sure you leave your full name and email address to enter.

The draw will be held on April 28th when the Crochet Along is over. The winner will be published on Facebook and notified by email.

Block 2 is here.

I decided to release it a day early, mainly because I am at home all day to answer and questions.

This one is a Dragondfly. Again, it is made in all four colour ways

For more information go to the Secret Garden web page.

The Yarn Yard.

The Yarn Yard is finally up and running in its own right.

It is not a public shop, it is the yarn and supplies side of of Rainbow Valley which I run from home. Just click on the banner above to visit the online version and see what I stock.

I have a series of open days planned thoughout the year but, if you live locally and would like to visit, you are welcome to telephone me to arrange an appointment. I stock a wide range of hooks and notions as well as some gorgeous yarn. You may even get a cuppa. If you would like to know more about the open days, click on the poster to go to the website. I look forward to seeing you.

And we are off!

The long awaited first block of the Secret Garden was released today.

This one is a daisy with four small butterflies dancing around it. Each block is made in four different colour ways.

For more information go to the Secret Garden web page.