Early on Saturday morning, I prepared the studio for my second workshop. I arranged nine chairs around our table, laid out a rainbow stripe of yarn balls, printed out nine sets of patterns and gathered together nine bags of stuffing, eyes and hoops.
I laid our little blue table with a palette of gorgeous merino yarn, ready to inspire my visiting ladies.
I went to the market and bought a bunch of daffodils for my stripy jug, and I borrowed Tracy's white step ladders to make a little Bower Bird display. All was set, and I felt ready for the day. I had some flutters of nerves in my tummy, but once the Lovely Ladies began to arrive I suddenly felt at ease and surprisingly in my element. No need to be nervous! I know this pattern exceptionally well now, I am confident teaching it, I love teaching it. I love to inspire, to share, to encourage. It's fun!
The hours fly by, honestly, the clock seems to run at warp speed. The Lovely Ladies take to the project so well, they concentrate and they work hard, they count and they scribble. But also they chat and laugh, share snippets about their lives, their families, their work. It is relaxed and friendly, and I enjoy the whole experience so much.
The ladies in the café downstairs look after us very well, and we are kept supplied with drinks and platters of pastries and sweet nibbles. The crumbs mingle with the yarn ends, and slowly one by one, my Lovely Ladies sing out their Ta-dah's as their Birds hatch and stretch their wings. It is magical to witness, and with each proud Ta-dah, my heart melts.
By the end of the day, there are nine beautiful new Bower Birds in the world, and ten very happy ladies.
I feel so blessed to have this gift that I am able to share. To see my own design come to life in the hands of others is such an amazing experience, and one that gives me great pleasure.
At four o'clock we reluctantly begin to say our goodbyes. Many of the Lovely Ladies have travelled some distance to be with me, and I wish them safe journey's home again. The studio hushes, and I potter around tidying crumbs and yarn ends, smiling all over. Such a great day, so rewarding. Teaching workshops is a big learning experience for me, I am really enjoying it but I am still finding my confidence and learning to relax with it. I've got five more workshop dates running one a month through to July, all fully booked up. That's good I think?! I have become someone who teaches workshops, that still takes me by surprise!
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Hi Lucy! I love your birds and I wonder if you could be kind enough to give me the instuction so I could knit my own bird :) Could you send it by my private mail please. Greetings from Finland!
Posted by: Merja Laine | March 14, 2014 at 05:52 AM
Love that little line-up of Bower Birds, each with their own personality : -)
Posted by: Trudy | March 14, 2014 at 04:59 AM
AWWWWWWWW so beautiful.....our congratulations on your workshop success! one day i wish one day i actually travel to UK and be a part of your workshop!
shree from india
Posted by: vijayashree deepak | March 14, 2014 at 04:21 AM
I absolutely love your birdies. Do you have a pattern available? I did see your other Birdie Decoration pattern, but thsee little guys look a bit different. I just love them! C
Can you please email me and let me know if there is a pattern for them?
blessings, denise
Posted by: denise daniel | March 14, 2014 at 03:48 AM
What a fun day! Love your work space, everything was set up beautifully! The birds all looked great, the different color schemes were fantastic! You've taught so many of us via your blog, I can only imagine how much more rewarding it must be to teach in person. Well done Lucy!
Posted by: Becca | March 14, 2014 at 03:05 AM
I wish I lived across the big pond and close to you as I would come to your workshops! So happy that they are going well for you...some very pretty bower birds in this post.
Posted by: Wendy | March 14, 2014 at 01:51 AM
When do we all get to share the bower bird tutorial, m'dear? Looking forward to it! Hugs, MO
Posted by: mo | March 14, 2014 at 01:12 AM
Lucy, you rock! I know how odd it feels to suddenly find yourself being A Teacher. One day I was walking Downstairs and met an administrator walking Upstairs grumbling that the History Professor had just quit. As we passed each other, I said, "I'll do it," and she said, "Good!" And so I did! LOL!
Posted by: Maureen | March 14, 2014 at 01:11 AM
Oh, what a fun day you all have had! I love your birds, and surely wish I could join you for a workshop. Enjoy!
Posted by: Leslie | March 14, 2014 at 01:07 AM
You are a natural Lucy! Congratulations once again. Just by looking at your lovely photos I can tell this little studio is bursting with warmth, love, imagination and energy. It makes me get goose bumps just looking at the photos. It must be wonderful really being there. Your Ladies are so lucky, lucky, lucky!!! I bet J is really proud too!
Posted by: Jenny | March 14, 2014 at 12:29 AM
How fun!! I would love to take a workshop that you taught if I weren't many miles away in Seattle Washington!
Posted by: Melissa | March 14, 2014 at 12:25 AM
It sounds like a great day! Those birds look fantasic! I should try to find some workshops in my area.
Posted by: Darrah | March 14, 2014 at 12:20 AM
It's a lovely thing to be able share your skills and knowledge with people who want to learn.
Posted by: One Earlybird | March 13, 2014 at 11:43 PM
O AMIGA,QUE PENA QUE VOCÊ NÃO GOSTAR DE TRADUTOR DE TEXTO.IMAGEM LINDAS.BOA SEXTA VALÉRIA.(BRASIL).
Posted by: VALÉRIA GOMES | March 13, 2014 at 11:42 PM
beautifull birds.
Posted by: Ann Snell | March 13, 2014 at 11:32 PM
Wish I could join you, love all the colours you use.
You probably know this already but have you offered the scraps to birds for their nest building? I saw a post once from a crafter who ties bundles of her trimmings to trees for birds to use.
I'd love to do that. Sure any baby birds will love having a nest of your gorgeous colours.
Posted by: Alix Campbell | March 13, 2014 at 11:22 PM
Hello, Lucy ~ don't the Bower Birds look great all together? How very satisfying.
I think it would be very tempting to keep 'em all!!
(Don't think the Ladies would let you, somehow)
I can just see them jauntily sitting on a branch in your living room :)
Oh, I MUST learn to crochet...
Your classes sound great.
Posted by: Alex | March 13, 2014 at 11:19 PM
Beautiful work!
Whenever you have plans to visit Melbourne, my place is available for your workshops.
Posted by: Siew | March 13, 2014 at 10:50 PM
I can share in that experience because I teach crochet too and everything you have described is what I feel too. It is the best bit of work I do all week - but I do teach adults maths too!! Great birdies. Jo x
Posted by: Jo | March 13, 2014 at 10:39 PM
Awww you were a complete natural! Loved every minute. Thanks again. xx
Posted by: Hazel | March 13, 2014 at 10:35 PM
Sounds like you're a natural at this.
Posted by: Michele Boucher-Hines | March 13, 2014 at 10:32 PM
Like Anna, I'd like to know where I can find out about your workshops. Well done on your second one and also on having all future workshops fully booked. P l e a s e....... can you do a tutorial for circles scarf? Thank you for the inspiration you pass on to your many, many "followers". Annette
Posted by: Annette | March 13, 2014 at 10:15 PM
Ohhh kina enveja em fan, quin luxe poder fer un work shop amb tu. Abraçades Lucy
Posted by: Anna Andreu Ayena | March 13, 2014 at 10:12 PM
What a good use your studio is being put to.
Posted by: Anne Marie | March 13, 2014 at 10:08 PM
put the yarn ends out for the birds to make nests. what comes around goes around!
Posted by: jeannette | March 13, 2014 at 09:54 PM