In Recovery Mode

So the sixth Yarndale festival came and went in a flurry of frantic activity, high emotion and excitable energy, and I am now firmly in Recovery Mode. For those of you who have never experienced this annual festival of yarn and creativity that I help to organise in my home town, it's hard to explain what it feels like to be a part of it. Over the years it's grown into a pretty sizable event with over 200 exhibitors and around 8,000 visitors, and honestly the whole building feels like it's vibrating with happy energy. It's exciting, inspirational and rather overwhelming, with something of a party atmosphere which makes it feel friendly and down to earth. But boy, is it tiring!! The week leading up to Yarndale is incredibly busy, and the team puts in a lot of hard graft getting everything ready in time. So by the time the doors open for our visitors I am pretty much running on empty to be honest. I get through the weekend on a tide of adrenaline, caffeine and feel-good, but by the end of it all I am fit for nothing other than a bit of exhausted flopping.

I uploaded a whole load of photographs today to show you a little bit of my Yarndale experience, but the words remain jammed in my head and are refusing to tumble forth. So I've decided to wait a little longer and I'll tell you the whole yarny tale at the beginning of next week once I'm properly rested and recovered.

I had all my blankets with me at Yarndale and I LOVED seeing everyone's reaction to them, it was so much fun! I loved the dialogue and the chit chat, the recognition and the reminiscing, and of course the planning too. So many lovely ladies took the leap to start out on a new crochet journey after falling in love with one of my blankets, and that makes me so so so happy!!

I only got around to unpacking my blankets yesterday. I tipped them out in a big heap and just took a moment to appreciate the beautiful muddle of colour and pattern. They are a constant source of joy, delight and comfort, not just for me but for my family as well, and we missed them here in the Attic whilst they were away at Yarndale.

Life after Yarndale always feels quite strange for me. Its as if I've forgotten how to relax and unwind and I feel perpetually on edge. I am mentally and physically exhausted, but at the same time I find it hard to be still and rest. I've been wandering around the town, catching up with friends, popping in and out of shops, taking in the scenery and attempting to feel my way back into my normal non-rushing routine.

Autumn is here, and there is no doubt about it whatsoever. The trees have started to change colour, and the light is so unmistakably Autumnal (especially in the early morning and late afternoon) it makes me want to sigh all the time. Ahhhhhhh.......sigh........it's Autumn. Ever so slightly melancholy but so beautifully mellow and delicious all the same. J is nagging continuously for the fire to be lit, but honestly it's just not quite cold enough yet so I'm holding out. I walked out without a coat on today, although my flip flops have been packed away and I've dug out my woolly knitted socks and polished up my boots. Woolly socks make Autumn feel so good I have to say.

I was doing my rounds in town yesterday visiting the butcher and the baker after having coffee and a catch up with a friend. I was absolutely thrilled to pass by the plant stall on the market and see that they had buckets full of dahlias and asters sitting on the cobbles, oh happy day!! This has become such a seasonal treat for me in the years that I've lived here in this town, I just can't get over the joy these flowers deliver. I pondered for an age over which colour to go for (the orange pom-pom type ones nearly had me), and in the end I went for punchy scarlet........

......oh yeah!!!!!! Freshly picked local flowers, tied up with string and wrapped in paper, the best £2.50 spent all week. Right now I've got them sitting on my table in my button jug, and I tell you the colours are so vibrant the flowers look like they are glowing. Love love love them. 

I'm looking forward to telling you some more about Yarndale 2018 once my emotions are a bit more under control (I fear there would be far too much over-the-top-ness if i tried to explain it all right now). In the meantime a friend made a delightful video of the festival which you can watch if you have ten minutes to indulge in some visual yarny feel good. It gives a good idea of the diversity and talented creativity which Yarndale is so well known for, a feast for the eyes and soul.

Back soon xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Lizzie]

A beautiful video and excellent works as well. It was very nice seeing you in it too !!

[Val]

Love your blog and the video was lovely.

[CJ]

I'm glad you got through another successful Yarndale. A few days pootling will be very well deserved. The flowers are gorgeous, beautiful autumn colour. I shall look forward to hearing all about Yarndale soon. CJ xx

[Sue]

Enjoy your down time and beautiful autumn!