Hello my woolly friends, I hope life is treating you well. It's the first day of June today and some say, the first day of Summer here in the UK. As we approach the Summer Solstice there seems to be a lot of high energy around, I hope you're feeling it and enjoying the long daylight hours.
Buddhafield
I've been totally inspired by attending the Buddhafield Green Earth Awakening recently. It was a lovely small Buddhist festival nestled in a beautiful valley in the Blackdown Hills, Somerset. There were only about 300 people on site and half of those were crew and staff, so it was a very intimate affair and we got to know a lot of people by the end of the 4 days.
The theme for the festival was Climate Change and there were plenty of interesting workshops to get involved in and inspiring talks by people like Jamie Catto and Mac Macartney, the founder of Embercombe, a really interesting project which inspires people to take courageous action for a just, peaceful and sustainable world.
There were plenty of woolly folk there too and I had a go at spinning with a drop spindle (great fun) with some wonderful teachers. I wore my plied bit of yarn proudly around my neck for the rest of the festival. It had a huge blob in the middle which I think is called a slub (great word), correct me if I'm wrong, but that adds character. Ha ha, I try to put a positive spin on everything!
Sometimes when I think about climate change, the whole issue feels far too huge and overwhelming and I wonder what difference I can make. The main message I brought away from the weekend was that change comes from within and if we each do whatever we can, it will make a difference. The most effective activists lead by example, and we will hopefully reach that 10% tipping point when things start to change and more people are awakened to saving the planet. It certainly woke me up to using more natural fibres in my work and to ditch the acrylic, amongst other things. Maybe there is a little bit of the hippy in all of us who love our planet.
Buddhafield
I've been totally inspired by attending the Buddhafield Green Earth Awakening recently. It was a lovely small Buddhist festival nestled in a beautiful valley in the Blackdown Hills, Somerset. There were only about 300 people on site and half of those were crew and staff, so it was a very intimate affair and we got to know a lot of people by the end of the 4 days.
The theme for the festival was Climate Change and there were plenty of interesting workshops to get involved in and inspiring talks by people like Jamie Catto and Mac Macartney, the founder of Embercombe, a really interesting project which inspires people to take courageous action for a just, peaceful and sustainable world.
There were plenty of woolly folk there too and I had a go at spinning with a drop spindle (great fun) with some wonderful teachers. I wore my plied bit of yarn proudly around my neck for the rest of the festival. It had a huge blob in the middle which I think is called a slub (great word), correct me if I'm wrong, but that adds character. Ha ha, I try to put a positive spin on everything!
Sometimes when I think about climate change, the whole issue feels far too huge and overwhelming and I wonder what difference I can make. The main message I brought away from the weekend was that change comes from within and if we each do whatever we can, it will make a difference. The most effective activists lead by example, and we will hopefully reach that 10% tipping point when things start to change and more people are awakened to saving the planet. It certainly woke me up to using more natural fibres in my work and to ditch the acrylic, amongst other things. Maybe there is a little bit of the hippy in all of us who love our planet.
Wool Festivals
Talking of festivals, there seems to be a lot of woolly ones going on up and down the country. Some have been and gone but there are plenty of others coming up. The Bristol Wool Fair on 11th-13th September sounds amazing and I can't wait for that. I'm sure if you Google it, there will be an event near you to totally immerse yourself in woolly wonderfulness.
Anyone going to a festival of any kind who may want to crochet themselves a lovely shawl could take a look at my latest recipe on Ravelry. Did I say recipe? I mean pattern.
World Wide Knitting in Public Day (KIP)
Don't forget it's World Wide Knitting in Public Day on June 13th. So wherever you are, grab yourself some needles and a ball of wool and have a go in a public place. It's fun and you'll be amazed at how many people will want to join you. A few of us had a little practice last Saturday at an event organised by the lovely Aly Baker (Knit Jammers on FB). We spent a very pleasant couple of hours outside St John's Church in Glastonbury knitting blankets for Nepalese earthquake victims. Several passers by stopped to join in and knit a couple of rows. It's really great working collectively on a project and it definitely felt like there were some ancestral connections going on (whoops, gone a bit 'Glastonbury' sorry).
There are lots of events running to celebrate KIP and there may be one near you, if not why not start one? There's more information about it on UK Hand Knitting Association website. I've set up a local one for Somerset folk at The Mochaberry Cafe, Glastonbury between 2-4pm on Saturday 13th June to have some woolly fun in the sun and hope to see you there.
Talking of festivals, there seems to be a lot of woolly ones going on up and down the country. Some have been and gone but there are plenty of others coming up. The Bristol Wool Fair on 11th-13th September sounds amazing and I can't wait for that. I'm sure if you Google it, there will be an event near you to totally immerse yourself in woolly wonderfulness.
Anyone going to a festival of any kind who may want to crochet themselves a lovely shawl could take a look at my latest recipe on Ravelry. Did I say recipe? I mean pattern.
World Wide Knitting in Public Day (KIP)
Don't forget it's World Wide Knitting in Public Day on June 13th. So wherever you are, grab yourself some needles and a ball of wool and have a go in a public place. It's fun and you'll be amazed at how many people will want to join you. A few of us had a little practice last Saturday at an event organised by the lovely Aly Baker (Knit Jammers on FB). We spent a very pleasant couple of hours outside St John's Church in Glastonbury knitting blankets for Nepalese earthquake victims. Several passers by stopped to join in and knit a couple of rows. It's really great working collectively on a project and it definitely felt like there were some ancestral connections going on (whoops, gone a bit 'Glastonbury' sorry).
There are lots of events running to celebrate KIP and there may be one near you, if not why not start one? There's more information about it on UK Hand Knitting Association website. I've set up a local one for Somerset folk at The Mochaberry Cafe, Glastonbury between 2-4pm on Saturday 13th June to have some woolly fun in the sun and hope to see you there.
Knitting & Crochet for a more Positive State of Mind
I am reading a lot lately about the health benefits, both mental and physical, of knitting and crochet. There are quite a few books available on the subject and I've certainly got those on my wish list. I've also found a good website Stitchlinks which talks a lot about the therapeutic qualities of knitting. It's an activity which certainly focuses your mind and brings you into the moment. The repetitive movements are a form of meditative practice and at the same time you are producing something. It has certainly brought me through a few challenges in life and I hope to inspire as many people as possible to pick up a pair of needles or a hook and have a go themselves.
Thank you
At this stage, I want to say thank you to a couple of local publications who are giving me some publicity. Somerset Life Magazine has an article about Vintage in it's July issue and has picked up on my crochet stools available at Castle Cary Vintage Market or in my Etsy Shop.
Also, Wells Life will give a mention of my Tuesday afternoon knitting and crochet classes at The Swan, Wedmore in it's issue out on 5th June.
Thank you very much.
Well that's it from me for now, I'm off to enjoy a pot of Oolong tea, ooooh.
I am reading a lot lately about the health benefits, both mental and physical, of knitting and crochet. There are quite a few books available on the subject and I've certainly got those on my wish list. I've also found a good website Stitchlinks which talks a lot about the therapeutic qualities of knitting. It's an activity which certainly focuses your mind and brings you into the moment. The repetitive movements are a form of meditative practice and at the same time you are producing something. It has certainly brought me through a few challenges in life and I hope to inspire as many people as possible to pick up a pair of needles or a hook and have a go themselves.
Thank you
At this stage, I want to say thank you to a couple of local publications who are giving me some publicity. Somerset Life Magazine has an article about Vintage in it's July issue and has picked up on my crochet stools available at Castle Cary Vintage Market or in my Etsy Shop.
Also, Wells Life will give a mention of my Tuesday afternoon knitting and crochet classes at The Swan, Wedmore in it's issue out on 5th June.
Thank you very much.
Well that's it from me for now, I'm off to enjoy a pot of Oolong tea, ooooh.