When we went Dorset a few weeks ago, I enjoyed a wonderful afternoon drinking tea and eating cake with an old friend, one of my oldest friends actually. We were at school together and then shared a room together when we first left home to go to art school. Amazing to still be in touch twenty five years on, with six children and two husbands between us.
Anyhow, she told me about an exhibition she'd recently been to at Bridport Arts Centre and recommended that I go see it if I could. The exhibition was called Blooming Marvellous and was described as "an intergenerational community knitting/crochet project culminating in a knitted/crocheted 3D garden".
Intriguing don't you think? A knitted GARden?? How could I possibly not go and see for myself?!
I really didn't know what to expect, it's quite a long time since I went to an art exhibition of any sorts. I was excited! And as I had Little Lady with me it felt like quite an adventure to be heading off to experience this together.
It was a bit baffling at first. As everything was visible all at once, just entering the room was quite overwhelming. There was so much to see, big things and small things, a mind boggling amount to take in.
We began to work our way slowly around the room. We had to crouch down as most of the exhibits were on the floor. But it was an absolute necessity to get reeeeeeeeally up-close as the detail in everything was un-be-liev-able.
Ohh the work! The hours and hours and hours of creative work evident in this exhibition was astounding.
This exuberant floral border blew me away.
I loved the sheer fun of it, the absolute over-the-top, crazy joy of it!
We crouched and gazed into this cool, blue yarny pool....
....and we circled round and round this buzzy, yarny bee hive.
We oooohhed and aaahhhhhed and mmmmmmmed over this knitty picnic.....
......and paused to appreciate this lush bowl of bright yarny fruit.
Like I say, the teeny tiny details in this exhibition were wonderful. Everywhere you looked there was something to surprise and delight. Tiny little knitted ladybirds crawled along windowsills and up walls. A knitted spider sat in a big knitted web at the window. A knitted owl roosted above a doorway. We couldn't stop smiling at every new discovery.
I think the veggie plot was my absolute favourite bit of all. I thought this little knitted tray of seedlings and seed packets was the cutest thing EVER.
There was an abundant harvest of vegetables.....
....tumbling out of crates and bags.
And can you see in the background there, a knitted shed! How ever many hours must it've taken to knit the side of a shed???!!
Throughout the duration of the exhibition there were regular knitting workshops held at the arts centre, with free patterns and help available to encourage people to contribute a little knitted something. The idea was to inspire people to become involved, to encourage the social aspects of knitting and crocheting together.
Since coming home and reading the blog about the exhibition, it's become apparent just how many people were involved with it's creation. It was a huge community undertaking. This exhibition is sooooo much more than a collection of quirky handmade objects. The community spirit, the skill and the humour is truly awe inspiring.
Blooming Marvellous indeed.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Edited to add :: a message from Pauline Stanley, the talented artist who organised this whole project...........
"HI, Just been sent the link to your Blog -it is wonderful and thank you all for writing such lovely things about it. I am the artist who organised this project with 1600 fantistic knitters - the youngest was 2 and the oldest was 99! Many of the knitters had disabilties including visual impairment, physical disability, learning disability and 42 groups took part. The garden is on tour around the UK. It is at Poole at Lighthouse art centre until 15th October and then will go into hibernation for the winter and will be at Durlston Country Park, Swanage in Dorset next Easter, then a casle in Wales for a few months then a museum in Yorkshire. It is avaialbe to hire and i would love some bokkings for it for over this winter rather than have it in storage.
Pauline Stanley 01202 392055"
this is fantastic, thank you for sharing, do you have a pattern for the beehive and bumble bees. Don't want the hive that big and only want a few bees, but would love to make one for my great niece.
Posted by: Sandra Jones | June 11, 2017 at 05:37 PM
Wow I have never seen anything like this my entire life. Very creative, I wish I could see this in person.
Posted by: Electine Auma | May 07, 2015 at 09:48 AM
I remember knitting a poppy for a knitted garden, which was just starting off, at a Brighton Knit & Stitch exhibition a few years back. Maybe it turned into this garden?
Posted by: Bronchitikat | August 11, 2013 at 02:41 PM
That's amazing....thank you for sharing
Posted by: Marthese | July 30, 2013 at 12:00 PM
AWESOME!!!
I saw a crocheted geranium at a friend's house and have been wanting to make my own ever since, but THIS is immense!
Posted by: Lianne | January 22, 2013 at 02:23 AM
very nice beautiful from Israel
Posted by: lea | September 06, 2012 at 05:59 PM
All this from a piece of humble yarn and very large dose of inspiration, time and talent.
Posted by: The Wool Shop.ie | June 26, 2012 at 03:02 PM
I have been admiring the pictures of this Marvelous Knitted Garden since last year! I stumbled on the pictures I believe on Flickr. Oh WOW what an honor it must have been to see this absolutely stunning garden in person!
Posted by: Trina Puckett | May 03, 2012 at 09:38 PM
I'm speechless! You create in knitting what I do in paper--what a lovely garden you've cultivated!
Posted by: Susan | May 02, 2012 at 02:51 PM
I'd actually love to review these boxes on my shopping/lifestyle blog. i wonder if they'd send me a sample box to talk about?
Posted by: Pandora Bracelets sale | February 14, 2012 at 12:27 PM
Wow! How fantastic!
Posted by: Tracy | September 30, 2011 at 04:01 PM
Absolutely GORGEOUS! I've popped back a couple times, but tonite I had more time for a leisurely stroll thru the garden. The aroma of the flowers nearly knocked me off my seat! Thanks so much for taking the time to post and share. xoxo
Posted by: Mimzy | September 19, 2011 at 05:32 AM
HI, Just been sent the link to your Blog -it is wonderful and thank you all for writing such lovely things about it.
I am the artist who organised this project with 1600 fantistic knitters - the youngest was 2 and the oldest was 99! Many of the knitters had disabilties including visual impairment, physical disability, learning disability and 42 groups took part.
The garden is on tour around the UK. It is at Poole at Lighthouse art centre until 15th October and then will go into hibernation for the winter and will be at Durlston Country Park, Swanage in Dorset next Easter, then a casle in Wales for a few months then a museum in Yorkshire. It is avaialbe to hire and i would love some bokkings for it for over this winter rather than have it in storage. Pauline Stanley 01202 392055
Posted by: Pauline Stanley | September 17, 2011 at 10:26 AM
WOW, this is off the hook amazing and to think about the tons of work that went into it, whew, nice work at that!
Posted by: Renee | September 16, 2011 at 07:13 PM
Thank you Lucy for your fantastic blog and in showing the lovely photos of the Blooming Marvellous garden. I was fortunate to be one of the many who produced items for the garden (I made the tray of seedlings). We were all inspired by Pauline Stanley and her brilliant idea and enthusiasm. This is a travelling exhibition and if anyone would like it to come to their local area please ask your library/art venue to contact Pauline via the blog: http://bloomingmarvellous1.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Angela | September 16, 2011 at 07:12 PM
wooow .. its awsome
Posted by: ningrum | September 15, 2011 at 10:48 AM
Its Awesome how did u do it? It must have toke forever!!!
Posted by: Becky Alberts | September 14, 2011 at 04:28 PM
thank you what a delightful garden works this is. i belong to the malvern spinners and weavers group. im going to share this with them. wonderful. barbara darfied sth island new zealand
Posted by: barbara | September 12, 2011 at 04:07 AM
Wow! That is amazing! Thank you for sharing it, I wish that I had been able to see it first-hand, but appreciate your view. I love the frogs floating on the pond.
Posted by: Frances | September 11, 2011 at 06:09 PM
So lovely ... My late mother in law would have loved this as she also used to knit dolls of all sorts ... Thanks again P Gubb xx
Posted by: Patricia Gubb | September 11, 2011 at 10:18 AM
Fabulous. I too want the beehive. Thank you so much for sharing.
Posted by: Fiona | September 11, 2011 at 01:05 AM
AMAZING!!! i was just like :O all the detail thats been put into it!! I LOVE IT!!
i love all of your posts aswell!! exactly what i want to be like when im older xx
Posted by: rachel knight | September 10, 2011 at 07:12 PM
Totally wonderful! Thank you so much for posting these photos.
Posted by: Thrifty Household | September 10, 2011 at 04:24 PM
So much love and beauty- it made me cry!
Posted by: Deby | September 09, 2011 at 10:12 PM
You may enjoy the knitted shed left over from a previous 'I Love West Leeds' festival and now resident in Armley Mills Industrial Museum.
Posted by: Catherine | September 09, 2011 at 06:08 PM