Squeeze every inch out of every minute of everyday!!

Well hello my lovely ones! How are we all? Feels like it has been ages since I have posted! I do apologise! My bad!!! I’m not sure where the time has gone or even, where it goes!! My days are filled with the usual homey business of children, toys, cuppas, cleaning, crocheting, yarn loving, eating, cooking, swimming, school runs, activities, baking and playing… It’s all go. I think my motto of squeezing every inch out of every minute of everyday, is quite strong at the moment!!! Maybe that’s why my days seem to be zooming past!!

I was able to spend some time with my sister this weekend in York. It was so nice to see her and enjoy some quality time together. There was a lot of chatting and catching up going. And not to mention some yummy food…

This was Dyl’s in York. An amazing cafe bar by the river, with some seriously yummy delights.

Well, it would be rude not to have a dinner out too!! And The Press Kitchen didn’t disappoint.

And of course a few little beverages…

I managed some daytime crocheting on the train on the way up there, which was lovely!!! It was very strange being able to do this in the day, but definitely rather lovely!! I had my trusty purple flask and iPod to keep me company too. Heaven…

It’s amazing how people choose to spend their time on a train. Obviously for me, it will always be a crocheting opportunity!! I mean, I would love to sit and read a book, but my heart and head just want to crochet!! It’s become a natural thing for me to do now. My crocheting can always be found in my pocket or bag, or even in the bottom of the pram, as someone spotted the other day!! Whoops!! Showing my true colours there. Haha! Waiting rooms, kid’s parties, car journeys, holidays, bath time, watching TV… you name it, there’s always a crocheting opportunity!!

Crocheting in the car with travel sickness bands on, because of the Welsh roads being so bendy!!! Yup!! Done that!!!!

I mean, I have even been known to crochet in the car at night!!! Can’t beat a good Lite Up Crochet Hook!!

I think my husband despairs with me with my crocheting opportunities, but for me there is one huge, hang on, no, major benefit of crocheting – you can talk, chat, watch, converse and join in with anything and everything that is going on around you, whilst crocheting!! It’s just the best benefit of crocheting and one of the main things that I love about crocheting. Just the best!!!

I find it fascinating, when you can look around a waiting room or around a train and the overriding site is of people on their phones!! Now I know it’s naughty, but I do sit there and feel rather smug of the fact that I am not one of them!! And 9 times out of 10, someone asks me what I am doing or making. Last week in a doctor’s surgery, an older lady couldn’t get over how fine and delicate my latest project was. It was a cashmere lace weight yarn, so it was rather delicate, but the lady then spent the next 10 or 15 minutes telling me about what she used to crochet and how she missed it. It was so lovely.

Another crochet opportunity that brought about a special moment, was when I was in the park with my son. And he was happy as larry playing and zooming around the park, so I saw just a little opportunity to have a quick crochet of some socks. Luckily I can now crochet quite quickly standing up and know my sock pattern off by heart, so I can pick it up and drop it down if needs be. So once the ball of wool is snuggled in my little over the shoulder bag, I can crochet away to my hearts content and help and play with my son as and when he needs me.

But as it happens, there was another little boy in the park and he was rather taken with my sock crocheting. He couldn’t understand the difference between knitting and crocheting at first. But once his enquiring little mind was happy with the use of only one hook, he decided that my sock could be a bag for a daisy collector!!! Bless him. My son then joined in on the fun!!! So cute!! They spent ages picking daisies and putting them in my sock!! So sweet.

I remember talking to one lady in a car dealership for about half an hour about crocheting!! She had been crocheting and knitting for years, but was adamant she couldn’t crochet as quick as me. I don’t think I am that quick, but I can definitely whip up projects quicker than I used to. Think it’s just practice and confidence in what you’re doing.

So I think for all you lovely ones who crochet and knit and take all these lovely yarny projects around with you like I do, I salute you. Let our crafty little ways, make opportunities with others to chat and converse! May our moments of crafty craziness, fill others with wonder and joy and maybe even inspire others or plant that tiny seed for even, just one other person, to join us!! Now isn’t that a lovely thought!!!

Here’s to crocheting and knitting and all those yarny activities in the world that brings us all together.

Happy days!!

Happy hooking!!

🌈Xx

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Wool on the Exe

Well hello my lovely ones. How are we all? Hope you have all had good Easters and bank holidays! What weather we have had!! Just incredible!! We managed a few trips to the beach together and my Seaside Shawl has had its first outing of the year!!

It’s still a way off being finished, but it’s getting there. The rule with this shawl, is that I can only crochet it when I’m by the sea!!

So as you can imagine, it’s taking me a while!!

So yesterday, I was one happy little crocheter, as I had a lovely little trip to the wonderful Wool on the Exe Shop which is located on Oxehampton Street in Exeter!!! And oh my was it worth the journey!!

It’s located at the top of the street, near a roundabout, but there are lots of car parking spaces outside to be found. Once you are inside, there is an overwhelming sense of yarny calmness and colour. Your eyes are drawn all over the place, with splashes of colour and yarny magicalness. It’s a yarn lovers dream. And then, you are greeted by one of the bubbliest, kindest yarny shop people I have ever met. Yesterday, my daughter and I met Debbie. She was sooooo nice and so happy to help to us. That’s one thing that has always astonished me in the yarny world – how lovely and welcoming people are. They make you feel at home instantly and part of a happy, creative group. There’s definitely a sense of belonging. And this belonging was definitely found in Wool on the Exe yesterday!!!

We only went in for a sneaky peak as it was my birthday and came out with a bulging bag of yummy yarn.

They have all sorts of yarny magicalness in there!!! And I am happy to report, there were some incredible yarns from companies that I had never heard of!! Small little business, making a living from their livestock or their ability to hand dye. Just the best!!

They also had some of the big boys like West Yorkshire Spinners. Now they must be proud of the range that they stock in this shop too, as there was all sorts of colourful treats to be had! I was so nearly tempted by the new 4 ply sock yarn that they have just launched, but my arm got twisted by a certain bouncing little girl who found this ball of fluff.

It was tucked away under the window display, but were hawked eyes by my girl and brought to my attention!!! Now I have heard of this kind of yarn from a friend at home, but I have never come across it before and have always been intrigued! It works up with normal crocheting or knitting, but looks and feels like a real teddy bear! And oh my it is sooooooo soft!! I can’t really describe how soft it is!! My daughter was literally doing somersaults she was that excited about it!!! Well, it’s another little pile of yarn to add to the project list!!! My daughter would like a teddy bear, so thought it would be a nice challenge to design one. It says it needs a 10mm hook, but thinking I would reduce that to a 9mm maybe, seen as it’s an Amigurumi project. Definitely don’t want any stuffing popping out!!! Oooo, my designing hat seems to be on and in go go mode!! Hmm, I had better get my other projects finished first!!

So some of you may have seen that my daughter has started Finger Knitting. Well, I think some kind of addiction has kicked in, as she is loving it!!! This is the girl that has tried with bits of crocheting, but has been shown how to Finger Knit once and is a complete natural. I mean she literally walked around a supermarket yesterday, finger knitting!!! So I promised her some yarn from the fabulous Wool on the Exe shop. Once she’d whizzed around the shop, her little eyes landed on some lovely soft West Yorkshire Spinner yarn from their Bo Peep range.

This is great for all sorts of projects. So I wonder what she will make with this!! Finger knitting is all about little strands, so it’s how you assemble them together, which gives you the end product. I reckon some little teddy blankets first and see how she goes.

She also picked up the Baby Zpagetti Print Cotton yarn. Debbie had said this was great for finger knitting, so off those two went, making a necklace, giving me a chance to squeal at the delights in the shop. Bless Debbie, she was so nice with her and even showed her how the cotton was worked up and made her this beautiful necklace!! So sweet of her!! Sure my daughter will cherish it forever!!

But for my own little birthday treat, I just couldn’t resist this skein of wonder! It’s a mix of Superwash merino wool and silk and was hand dyed by the one and only Debbie!! So it was obviously meant to be!! It’s sporting some incredible colours, so will have to have a think as to what project will do it justice!! Love that it’s called Easter Eggs! Maybe it can be my Easter Sunday scarf!!

Here’s a link to their wonderful website. You will find all their workshops and events on there! Hmm, I wonder if I could arrange a holiday down here, around one of their workshops! Now there’s a thought!!

https://wool-on-the-exe.myshopify.com/

So if you are ever in the vicinity and are able to take a magical step into this little gem, then please do!! It is well worth it and you will come out feeling very happy!!! Can’t wait for our next trip, hoping to meet Ella, Debbie and the whole team next time.

Wool on the Exe. Adventures in Yarn – think that says it all…

Happy hooking.

🌈Xx

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