Hooking

My weekend was good, very good. On Saturday we took the Little People to spend some time with my wonderful in-laws so that J and I could escape for a hike in the hills. We have found that this valuable together-time which we manage to organise about once a month is hugely enjoyable and energising. It was extremely cold and windy here at the weekend and if i am honest I was not too keen on dragging my body on an eight mile hill walk. In fact the thought of it was making me feel quite overcome with weakness so I did my best arm twisting and tried to persuade J to take me to the pub for lunch instead. But he was quite forceful and told me in no uncertain terms that a walk and some fresh air would "do me good". Damn that man, he was right too, it did do me good. The puffing and the panting cleared my head and chest a great deal and it was hugely enjoyable to be  high in the hills drinking in the views and gulping lungfuls of fresh  air, even if it did literally take my breath away at times. We ate a packed lunch on top of a high windy hill :: pork and apple pies from the local butcher with sweet cherry tomatoes, fruit and dark chocolate with a flask of steaming hot coffee. It was wonderful. Didn't take my camera so there are no panoramic photos to show you, but it really was green and lovely and very Yorkshire Dales.

On Sunday I went on my first ever workshop day. It was run by Lovely C who runs the cafe where I go to fortnightly Knit and Natter. As well as doing delicious things in her cafe she has a small business called Hooked by Design which  sells kits to make beautiful hooked pictures and cushions by hooking carpet wool through a hessian backing.  She has several of her beautiful picture hanging in the cafe which I had admired, and I was sooooo looking forward to the day. Have to confess that yes I was looking forward to learning how to hook, but more than that I was looking forward to visiting Lovely C's farmhouse high in the Dales and having lunch there. Judging by what goes on in her cafe (ie the decor and the scrumptious homecooked vegetarian food and cakes) I just knew I was in for a treat.
Ohhhhh, it was heaven on earth, just like whooshing into the pages of Country living magazine. I was nearly hyperventilating with suppressed excitement, trying not to squeal and run around looking at everything. There was an enormous kitchen with a big farmhouse table and leading off from here was the cosiest snug room with comfy sofas and chairs arranged around a wood burning stove. And this was where we all sat to do our hooking, five of us in total.

I chose the heart design to work on, others chose little hens or flowers. It's one of those crafts that is deceptive, it looks so easy in principle, but takes a while to find a rhythm and to get all the loops coming up roughly the same size and where you want them to be. But its very theraputic when you finally achieve that rhythm. I find the the same thing with crochet, I think I must have a thing about hooks.
It was a wonderful day, the lunch was scrumptious, the homemade chocolate brownies even more so. And I've got a new project to work on in the evenings. Like I said, my weekend was good, very good, it doesn't take much to keep me happy.

Comments

[MarmaladeRose]

I totally get the hook thing. I've got the hooks, I've got the book, I've even got the dvd. All I need now is the time! Fi x

[Clairey]

Oh I love that heart. I am so envious of your crafting ability Luce - I'm so artistically challenged!

[Maddy]

That walk sounded wonderful, and so uplifting.

I'd love to have come along with you to the workshop, how fantastic. I did a hook rug many many moons ago and sadly never finished it :( Wish I had now. Your heart is just lovely, I can't wait to see it all framed.

[Alison]

What a lovely weekend.
I have always wanted to try hooking...thanks for the link.
I have visited before but thought it was time to say 'Hi'
Take care,
Alison

[alison]

what is the tool on the picture called. it puts neat hole through things(the last picture)

[pelusa]

hello greetings from México, definitely i love your blog and the things you do, so colorful and gorgeous, congratulations you are an artist.