Almost Yarndale Time

It's Thursday evening and I'm having a little bit of a gentle slump after an incredibly busy week. These days leading up to Yarndale are always insanely busy for me, but I seem to get through it ok, riding on a wave of sheer excitement and way too much coffee. At the start of the week I dug out my yarn signs and yarn bomb makes and carried out a little bit of yarny housekeeping. All the yarn signs and lamp post panels had a wash and gentle tumble dry, a few repairs were made, and all was good to go for the fifth year.

I installed the woolly jumpers in the park on Tuesday - it was the misty-moisty day from my previous post, which turned out to be an absolutely perfect day for climbing up a ladder and swinging from the lamp posts.

It's just lovely to chat to the assortment of folk who walk through the park as we work - toddlers, dogs, old people, young people, students and professionals all use this footpath throughout the day, it's a busy thoroughfare. So many smiles and nods of recognition as the woolly jumpers went up - "ahhhh, it's Yarndale weekend again already!" The yarn bombing does it's job well, reminding the residents that Yarndale is coming to town, then guiding the many visitors to the festival.

I walked through the park this afternoon on my way home from the auction mart and had the chance to enjoy seeing the lamp posts as if I were a visitor. I loved the jolts of stripy colour amongst the greenery, it really does lift the spirits.

Yesterday and today I've been up at the auction mart with the rest of the team, beginning to get the rather rustic and drab place ready for our yarny visitors. We repaired our flock of mascott sheep and made a little bit of a haphazzard display of them - we often get asked about patterns for these sheep, but every year we make them quite spontaneously and nothing ever gets written down. Plus, they are quite big, heavy things in real life - a wooden shape covered with knitting and crochet, a little bit cobbled together but I do love them for their quirkiness.

We hung the crochet bunting up yesterday, it's a mammoth job which takes a good half a day, but oh the sight of it is just amazing, even after all these  years.

I'm sorry I've not yet shared many pictures of the Creative Hearts that have flooded in from all over the world, but honestly they are all absolutely stunning and so beautifully made with an awful lot of love. They are still coming in so I've not got an exact total yet, but we are almost at 500 I think.

We've created a really breathtaking display for Yarndale - I'll show you more pictures next week. Thank you SO MUCH to everyone who has joined in with this creative community project, raising money and awareness for the mental health charity Mind.

I also want to tell you that I've managed to photograph every single heart that has been sent - all the hundreds of images are sitting inside my laptop right now, but after Yarndale I'll have time to create some glorious virtual displays on Pinterest so that you can see all the beautiful details. Very inspiring indeed.

I dashed down to Coopers Cafe late this afternoon to touch base with the lovely ladies there and to clean and tidy up a little in my studio which had gotten a tad messy of late. I'm at that point now where I have more yarn than I have shelf space, so not quite sure what to do about that little problem. 

I love my cosy little studio space so much, it really is a dream come true for me to have this place to work and I feel thankful for it every day.

If you are visiting Atticland for Yarndale, my studio door will be open all weekend for you to pop in and have a peek. In fact, don't just peek, come right in and make yourself at home, enjoy the colour and the slightly crazy vibe!

Coopers Cafe will be open Friday 8-6 : Saturday 9-6 : Sunday 9-4.

If you've not been before, it's a stylish old grey painted building down the bottom end of Skipton town on Belmont Street (near to Morrisons supermarket).

This is the upstairs cafe room (which used to be my studio before I moved to the room next door). The tables have all been pushed together ready for our popular knit and natter get together tomorrow morning - we will need ALL the chairs tomorrow! If you are in town already for Yarndale, do pop in and join us from 9am onwards - I'll be there for the first hour or so before I head to the auction mart to finish setting up.

I'm looking forward to seeing some of you up at Yarndale, and I shall be back here in the Attic at some point next week once I've got my breath back and come down to earth from my Yarndale cloud.

See you soon!

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Comments

[Debbie, Essex]

I hope it all went well! I am DETERMINED to come one year!

Love
Debbie

[Tuula Maaria]

Ooh, I just love all the colourful hearts and the bunting in the ceiling!! Wish I could come over to England to see them all!

[Judyk2310]

We loved Yarndale, your studio, Cooper's, and the town of Skipton. I wish we had been able to stay a few more days and see more of your lovely town. We met so many nice people from all over the world going to Yarndale. You and the rest of your group should be very proud of organizing such an amazing event.

[sarah star]

Lucy it was SO amazing to meet you at Yarndale! The show was brilliant, me and my pals had the MOST fun weekend and we loved seeing your studio as well. Thank you so much for all your hard work and generosity of spirit, it really does mean so much to so many of us. Rock on!! <3 Sarah xx

[Elisa]

That looks so amazing and colorful! I would love to attend someday. The hearts are so lovely. Maybe I will make one (or some) to send next year. xo

[DebW]

Congratulations on your awards Lucy. ;)

[Star K]

I wanted to congratulate you on living in the happiest town in England! Just saw in the Daily Mail (online) that Skipton has been voted happiest town. One day I'll get there!

[Sue Cowell]

What an amazing event you helped to found Lucy; Yarndale exceeded my expectations and the icing on the cake was being able to visit your studio, which is just wonderful. Thank you so much for allowing us all to share your creative world. I'm not surprised to hear today that Skipton is the happiest place to live.

[Kathryn Ashe]

Lucy, you do so much good. The world is better because of you: your positive attitude, your generous sharing, and your love of color. Thank you for all you do!

[Nade Hamilton]

WoW!! I have had soooo much FOMO the past weekend seeing all the pictures of Yarndale. I'll make it one year!!

Lucy, Can you contact me via email? I'd like to send you some products to review...

THanks
Nade

[Christy]

Have you considered compiling your photos of the hearts into a book which can be sold as part of the fundraising efforts for Mind? There might be a market....

I do so enjoy looking in on your blog. Christy in Oregon.

[Carol]

Your studio is such a burst of cheerfulness, colour and warmth, it brightens my day.
I had hoped to visit Yarndale this year, but it was not to be. Next year is a definite.
On your shortage of yarny space, how about an ottoman - storage and seating cause a girl can never have too much yarn - looking forward to your Yarndale pics x

[Lynn Butler]

I'm looking forward to hearing all about Yarndale. It sounds like so much fun. I also wish I could attend. I'm just a little too far away in Southern California! Maybe one day... Have a wonderful time and enjoy yourself.

On another thought, I always feel very rich when I have more yarn than I could could possibly use and more books than I can read. I know, I'm a little silly but these things are comforting to me.

[William]

Why are firetrucks red?

[Christine]

I was booked to come again but I have a broken arm and I have to have an op. next week, so we had to cancel but I wish everyone involved with Yarndale, the very best..

[Louise Shallcross]

Oh how I wish I could be there! Living in Portland, Oregon does not make it an easy weekend trip. I love Skipton and an only imagine it better with the addition of lovely craftiness! I tried to get a bag but all merchandise is sold out:-( Look forward to seeing more photos.

[Hazel]

Good luck with YARNDALE this weekend. I so wanted to come this year but what with having a big operation and on the point of moving house it's just not possible, hopefully I will make it next year.

Hazel c uk

[Monica Grayling]

Lucy enjoy Yarndale this weekend. I know you will be very busy, but take some time out and enjoy it. Looking forward to your photos like everyone else who can't be there! Monica

[Mary Lloyd Jones]

Have a wonderful weekend, we have friends from our patchwork and Quilting ,N Wales,who will be there but hopefully next year we'll be able to arrange a weekend with you! X

[AnnieOB]

Have a fabulous weekend, sorry I will not be joining you but looking forward to lots of photos of colour, squishiness and fun. Just love the idea of you swinging from the lampposts!

[Leah Lynch]

Well done Lucy! Someday I an going to get to come to your side of the world and go to Yarndale! Till then I will enjoy vicariously on your wonderful blog!XXX

[Arlene]

What a treat it would be to visit your lovely Yarndale and Coopers Cafe. Maybe one day I will make the trip from Canada.

I would need to save up oodles of cash to spend freely and ship it all home... haha!

Love from Canada ~ Arlene

[Angela-Southern USA]

Has it been five years already?! Oh how I wish I could come! I see the start to another wreath on your wall, can't wait to see what you come up with. Best wishes with Yarndale!xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Brenda]

All the best for another successful Yarndale Lucy, I wish I could be there in beautiful Yorkshire but I love knowing that in all that beautiful bunting there are some from me, all the way from Australia . I feel it pays homage to my mum and grandparents who came to Australia from Horsforth after the war and means there is a little hit of me there in Yorkshire waving hello 👋👋👋

[Anne]

Have a wonderful, wonderful time! I hope to be able to fly over for Yarndale sometime in the next years! :) Can't wait to see all the pictures from the event!
Love, Anne