Yarndale After and Before

I spent most of the day alone in my studio today, something that hasn't happened in a long while. I bought fresh stems of sunflowers for my table, ordered up a latté and sat down with my lengthy email catch-up list and my laptop all set to Get Things Done. I figured that today was day four post Yarndale and I should be attempting to regain some normality, but the reality is that I am still in recovery and energy levels are pretty low. So I sat and admired my flowers and gazed at my tidy shelves, sipped my coffee and read through so many lovely messages written in my visitors book over the weekend, and allowed the gratitude to gently wash over me. It was a good, good day.

I've slept a lot these past few days, sometimes crawling into bed at odd times with all my clothes on just desperate for some immediate shuteye. It's been an intense and emotional week but oh my goodness, totally worth it. Yarndale was amazing! I was going to try and write up a big Yarndale post for you today, but I'm not quite there with my thoughts yet, so for now I'm going to share a few snippets of things from the days last week. 

I tidied up my studio at the start of last week in preparation for it being open to the public. 

My shelves are still a bit chaotic but I sorted out a massive pile of yarn to give away (felt so good!), cleared out a load of rubbish, cleaned my floors and dusty surfaces and generally regained a sense of cosy order which pleased me enormously. 

I adore my little studio room, it means the world to me and I enjoy sharing it when visitors come to town. It's a working room and not a showroom and as a result it's often a little bit on the messy side, but it has a really good vibe and I always feel inspired and uplifted after spending time there.

As you know, I put up all my lamp post wraps in the rain last week, a fairly big job which took around three and a half hours to complete.

I do quite enjoy it actually, it's quite physical work but not that hard. I climb up my step ladders and secure the wraps top and bottom with cable ties, then a long seam is stitched down the back to hold the wraps securely in place.

They look so good when they are done, and I know how much visitors and local residents enjoy them. I took them all down on Monday afternoon, they were very soggy so I gave them a wash in the machine and a low heat tumble dry and they are now all packed away until next year.

The bears.....oh my heart ♥️ such an amazing, heart-warming project and a humongous success at the weekend. I took lots of photos so will share much more of those when I write up my Yarndale post proper next week. I'm awaiting the final total for the fundraising, but I know it went well and the lovely volunteers at Mercy Ships were blown away by the fabulousness of our crochet and knitting community. 

I realised today when I was looking through photos from September that I didn't show you my floral headband, how very slack of me?! I shared on Instagram, but not here on my blog, so thought you might like to see this quick little pre-Yarndale make.

I fancied making myself something fun and yarny to wear and after a bit of pondering I settled on a hair decoration. I've seen a few beautiful crocheted "Frida Crowns" in the interwebs (this one in particular caught my eye) but I didn't want mine to be quite so sticky-uppy if you get what I mean. Less of a crown and more of a headband I think. I happen to have a very small head, so bought a very inexpensive narrow child's alice band from a local shop (this kind of thing) and crocheted some little cotton flowers and leaves to decorate.

I used oddments of Ricorumi Cotton DK, and crocheted some May Roses, Teeny Tiny Flowers and leaves. I then took my chances in the Cupboard of Doom and managed to unearth the magic hot glue gun.....

...and a very quick and satisfying little make came together in an evening.

Ta-dah!! Not a very good photo I'm afraid (and gosh, I do look tired!) but you get the idea. Not sure if I'd be brave enough to wear it out and about in general public, but I did enjoy being appropriately yarny at Yarndale. 

I'll be sharing more Yarndale Tales with you next week - I need to sort out my hotch-potch collection of photos and attempt to describe the hugeness of being in a building with over 200 madly talented exhibitors and over 7000 madly excited visitors. It was pretty amazing I have to say. More soon!

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Comments

[Marijke Timmer]

You are very lucky to have such a cosy studio to work in.
I notice your wreaths are still not complete, summer is not there yet. 🌺
I am waiting for you to complete them, I have also only three wreaths on my wall.when wil you work on your summerwreath? 🙏🏻

[Marly]

I think your head band suits you really well. Wear it next time you walk to the bakers or the newsagents, or wherever. If people stare it's because they're ADMIRING it, so just greet them and smile - pretend you're the Queen!

[Teresa Kasner]

I think you look absolutely adorable in that bright and pretty headband! I'm glad YD was such a huge success. You are a yarn-y rock star my friend.
((hugs)), Teresa :-)

[faye holt]

Love your headband...you look beautiful as always...

[Leah Lynch, Garland, Texas]

I love your head band! I like that it is not so sticky uppy like The Frida ones!
Hope you get some good rest. Take a nice hot bath! We will be here to hear all your tales afterwards!

[Liz]

Yarndale was fabulous. My favourite weekend of the year. I don’t know how you do it but thank you so much! You deserve a big round of applause, feet up and pampering after all that hard work x

[Susan]

Get as much shut eye as you need it’s well deserved.Thanks for making my day sparing time to chat with me and my daughter.Sundays rain made it all even more cosy.Definitely returning next year so I can see that studio😎❤️

[Mary Sparrowhawk]

Visited Yarndale for the first time this year and what a lovely day. Walked through the park admiring the lamp posts and buntings over the canal. Took me a bit of time to find you in the building as you wasn't listed in the Yarndale catalogue, but was lovely to see all your blankets a few of which l have done. Love reading your blog and photos. Really enjoyed Skipton even in the rain! Take a well earned rest now.

[Winwick Mum]

Yarndale was such a good fun weekend, but it's such a lot of work and I think it's easy to underestimate how much that can take it out of you. I'm all for the afternoon "power nap"; those countries that have siesta time have got it right, I think, so don't feel guilty about putting your feet up when you need to! xx

[CJ]

I love, love, love the headband, what a brilliant idea. Glad Yarndale went well, and lovely to know the lamp post covers are all washed and put away ready for next time. I love how all the decoration is so well-cared for and re-used. All shows should be like this! Your studio is absolutely beautiful, I'm not at all surprised it feels inspiring and uplifting to spend time there. I shall look forward to hearing about Yarndale and seeing the pictures. Hope you're back to full strength very soon. CJ xx

[Sarah Hardy]

You looked so cute in your hair band! I loved it! Thank you for taking to time to speak to the gibbering wreck that’s was me on Sunday when Christine bought me down. Perhaps next year I might get a sentence out that makes sense! Hope you catch up with yourself soon. You all did a fab job with the show again xxx

[Lynn Walsh]

I so love your headband and may have to make one for myself! I love reading your blog and your love of colour inspires me. Warmest wishes x

[Helen Clifford]

Oh what a lovely room. Guess what I am going to make for my granddaughter Lucy, a head band, she has such wild curly hair and hates it being brushed, you have solved all her hair problems in one blog. Thanks so much.

[Tineke]

Please take that rest. That tiredness is so known. We love to see and hear all but only if you're up to it. Big hug for all that organization and bears to give. And you did it. Yarndale is over.