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

[Andrea]

Oh Lucy, I wish I lived nearby... so I could come to Yarndale too. Enjoy!! xxx

[Kate]

Oh, how I wish I could travel to England and come to Yarndale. I would love to see all the yarns and creations that will be there. And I'd love to meet you! I cannot wait to read your post about it next week. Have fun.

[Elizabeth]

Hi Lucy, what about string bags on hooks or from a cord or bamboo pole along the wall to hold some of the excess yarn? I use them for my wool and provided they have a close enough mesh they work well & look lovely.
Love your blog!

[DebW]

I've noticed a fall-off of comments and I'm thinking it is the slight format change. Having that "Reblog" link larger and foremost might be throwing new visitors off. Or have I gone bonkers and it's always been that way??
Have a wonderful time at Yarndale Lucy.

[carolyn mary jackson]

Hi Lucy, I am most excited to see the hearts this morning, I can see mine so I know it did get there, you have made my day. It would be lovely to be there but a long way from NZ, all the very best for the w/end, I will be there in spirit. I will be watching for all the photos, wonderful we can see them all, many thanks.
Carolyn. NZ

[Carol]

So looking forward to Yarndale- hard to believe it was last year that Debbie signed up to learn crochet- and has now completed two of your blankets!!!!

[Sandy B (Australia)]

Dear dear Lucy, I spied my Creative Heart and am a little chuffed. It made it from Australia. My sisters in law are coming to Yarndale and I told them to give you a hug from me. Have a wonderful Yarndale. xox

[Jennifer Keast]

Dear Lucy I hope Yarndale is a ripper this year!! Can't wait to see all the pics and still dreaming of getting there one year from Oz

[Susan Smith]

Enjoy Yarndale & I'll be remembering my visit last year. Huggles & take care.

[marie s]

All the best for yarndale Lucy ☺ hope you have a fantastic fabulous time. Looking forward to seeing the photos later on. Is that the beginning of a lovely summer wreath I spy on your studio wall 🐝🐞🌞

[HooksandNeedles]

All the best for Yarndale, hope you all have a lovely time even though you'll be busy. Thinking of you. Cathy x

[Rachel]

Dear Lucy, I am coming to Yarndale for the first time and as a newly to crocheting, but wanted to say how amazing your colour combinations are, I am not quite Brave enough to do a blanket yet but dream about the moorland one and have it on my wish list. Thank you so much for your passion and hard work.

[CJ]

Wonderful Yarndale, I shall make it there one year, it always looks absolutely amazing. The yarn bombing is fantastic, well done all. I love the heart with the beehive and the bee, brilliant. I hope you have a wonderful weekend Lucy, good luck with it all. CJ xx

[Teresa Kasner]

I'm so excited for you and the Yarndale team, and all the lucky people who get to attend. I sit across the world in Oregon in my farmhouse and wish I could be there, too. I look forward to seeing photos and hearing all about your weekend. Sending love your way.. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

[Tinke]

Have a fabulous time with all those yarnlovers Lucy.

[sew]

I can't do Yarndale for reasons posted on your facebook page but am devastated that our local trip was cancelled.
I remember when my crochet class made bunting and how I introduced them to Attic24.
Best of luck dear Lucy - I'll be thinking of you. xx