French Knots

Whirlwind!

So when you decide to set up a business on a tight time scale with three children of course it's going to be a whirlwind as the weeks whizz by!

The studio is painted, the curtains need sorting out, radiator cover needs painting and then the fun bit of styling and adding the pretty touches. So that's what I'll be doing on Saturday because my first workshop is on Tuesday! And I've got some ladies booked in for Learning to Knit - hurrah! I've been making, printing and giving out leaflets left ,right and centre which I've found surprisingly hard, typical English 'don't want to seem pushy' embarrassment I think.

Thank you so much for your ideas and suggestions, I'm not a tea or coffee drinker but will buy something good and am planning to rustle up some tasty cake too, the atmosphere is very important to me, I want people to feel relaxed yet inspired and I'm putting together some handouts for taking home. I'm becoming a Publisher fan, have learnt to change the ink on the printer and  found a supplier for an A frame board to stand outside the Studio so potential customers know that I'm there. Plus making up samples for each of the workshops and of course lists galore!I can hardly believe it's happening, I'm full of plans and ideas.

All good and very exciting!   So the giveaway - I promised a length of crocheted bunting to one of the kind commenters

 
Either bright bunting

 
or pastel

So I asked The Big Sister to be my random number generator and to choose a winner for me, she said '4' which is Linaloo! Let me know which colour you'd prefer and I'll send it off to you!

So on the list now is buy tea pot, take my spare sewing machine over to the studio to fix the curtains, put up posters in the library and wool shop if they'll let me, list myself on Net Mums What's On, find someone to run a jewellery making class, finish the banner for the Studio door, make a page for the blog with all the courses listed on..........and sit down with a glass of wine! 

World Book Night

I really enjoyed 'A Life like other People's' despite it centering on mental illness, it's not one I would have picked up myself but the observations of life and the small things that matter to us all are wonderfully observed.

Thank you to those that asked for it to be passed on to them, the random number generator ( well actually I asked Mr FK to pick a number!) selected number 2 which is Vintage Squirrel! I will send the book on to you, it can be tracked so we can see where it goes on it's journey. Which is quite exciting really. Or perhaps I don't get out enough!

 

 

Mr FK

My blog burbles on about my children, crafting, crochet, gardening and cooking but doesn't often mention Mr FK unless he is undertaking some physical job that I can't do like climbing on the roof to pick apples!

Today he did something brave and amazing that makes me so, so proud of him. He stood up,quite literally, in front of a lot of people, for something we both think is right in the face of daunting and intimidating opposition.  He was shouted down by some parties but stood his ground with dignity.

To act with integrity is not always the easy path but after knowing him for over 25 years his actions today have made me quite weepy and emotional with pride and respect for him.

Remember I love you Mr FK.x  

Spring memories

Thank you to everyone who gave their thoughts on my workshop post, I'm going to follow up on them later this week. And do the draw for the World Book Night book. Just a quick post today..... 

 

A lovely bright morning today so The Baby Brother and I headed to the allotment, it was tranquil and pretty much deserted. I felt so lucky to be there on a Tuesday morning rather than sitting at a desk in a dull office watching the sunshine longingly through the window.

We passed the only other person there as we wandered down to our plot,an older lady hoeing, she smiled and we stopped to chat, no need to rush when the day is your own to spend as you wish. She commented on The Baby Brother wonderful blonde hair and how like her own little boy he looked and a look of such longing appeared on her face. Thinking of time long ago that she spent with her son, seeing the wonders of nature through his eyes, his pleasure in a stone and a bit of soil.

We did a bit of digging on our plot then sat in the sun on the path to eat a biscuit and chat about the birds we could see.No need to rush anywhere, time to sit and just be with him. I stored up the moment in my heart for the years ahead when I gaze longingly at sweet little blonde haired toddlers and remember......

Of course after a morning hard at work with the spade it's no surprise he's a bit tired

 
Even if I don't grow a single pea or potato on my allotment this year it has already given me the best of gifts.  

Exciting Plans

The workshops I have been teaching have been very enjoyable, it's really satisfying to show someone a new skill and watch them grasp it and make something themselves. The dynamic around the table as they chat and encourage each other. Planning the time, what I need to cover and making examples and samples to show each step. It's all been brilliant.

So when I was offered a lovely bright, airy room to use as a craft studio to run workshops I almost passed out with excitement. Bearing in mind my goal for this year of daring to do new things, it is perfect timing. Apart from the fact I never have a minute, but what Mum does! So I'm buzzing with plans and ideas - courses I'd like to write, workshops ideas, how to decorate the studio....and.....and....and...!My main concern is marketing and advertising - how to get bookings once I've designed the course program.

 
So what has been your best workshop experience? Do you have any tips or advice for me? I want to create a warm, friendly atmosphere where creativity can flourish, I think it's important that even on a short workshop that there is a tangible item at the end or at least a good start made on something to complete at home. A skill learnt in isolation isn't very inspiring. 

 
This jolly granny bunting is my new favourite thing to make, and I'm giving away this pastel version, or a bright one, to a randomly selected helpful commenter! So fire away with your thoughts please. 

World Book Night

I hadn't heard of World Book Night  until Colette posted about it and offered a couple of copies of 'A Life Like Other People's' to her readers. I was lucky enough to be drawn from the hat

 
I planned a peaceful time with the book and the lovely chocolate that Colette kindly sent too........ah yes you are right, it seems to be missing from the picture!

There was also a pretty book mark included in the parcel

 
which perfectly describes all the things I like to do best.

Thank you so much for the parcel Colette, the book isn't one I would have picked myself but I'm really enjoying it as it is so thought provoking and I'm also looking forward to sending it on another journey to the next person to read.

Imagine all the thousands of World Book Night books winging their way across the world encouraging people to read and relish books.Brilliant!

So would you like to read this one next? Just leave me a comment and I'll pick a name at random.

Chatty Boy

 
The Baby Brother helped me tidy up a bit in the garden, sadly nothing we could do to improve the boggy mud patch that used to be a lawn.

 
He's going to be two in a few months (!) and is full of energy and interest, if something is there well obviously it's to climb on and jump off. He's full of beans all day and has decided he doesn't want a nap - sadly as I'm not full of beans ( perhaps he has mine) I'd love it if he still had a nap! And those chairs are past their best aren't they!

 
But an afternoon out in the sunshine is to be relished, looking for signs of spring to come - soon please! He is especially keen on words beginning with B boo ( book), bore ( ball), bur ( bird), quite a few burs flew over the garden so there was a lot of excited squealing and unsurprisingly the burs chose not to land in our noisy garden. He also loves to walk down our road pointing out all the cars, 'car!' two steps later 'car!' another couple of steps ' car!', his enthusiasm for the every day is infectious.

Then it was back inside for some boo reading

 

and lots of snuggles. Perfect!