French Knots

What a night with The Alarm!

Last night was French Knots Craft Studio's long awaited Christmas do! 

 Oh it was good, Mike Peters and the guys gave their all and were clearly having a brilliant time. I also had a brilliant time, transported back the the first time I saw The Alarm when I was 17. There was just as much passion and energy both from the band and the crowd, though after 2 hours of leaping up and down like a lunatic I was a bit of a sweaty betty to say the least. While belting out the anthems, jumping up and down with my arms stretched high in enjoyment I had suddenly had a clear though ' The Big Sister would be horrified if she could see me!' Ha ha!!

It was the most fun I have had in a long time, loud and raucous, the music vibrating in your body as well as your soul. This knackered middle aged Mum hasn't felt so alive in a bloody long time!

Thanks to the boys for loving what they do and taking us along for the best ride in town last night.

Mike Peters is a cancer survivor and uses his passion for rock and his platform to make a difference through his Love Hope Strength Foundation We signed up for the bone marrow donation database and lots of other fans were signing up too, they are promoting Get on the List - sign up, get swabbed and save a life. Perhaps you could too?

Perfect Christmas do, I think I'll do the same next Christmas,

 

Missing

I have been missing my blog but my motivation seems to be missing too!

Late last year I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and had to take some medication which made me feel ill. I persevered as I was told it would make me feel less exhausted, it didn't and during February I started falling asleep during the day if I sat down for more than 5 minutes. So now I am stopping the tablets and am feeling dreadful. Hurrah, that was a total waste of time. Hopefully once they are out of my system the symptoms they created will stop and I'll just be back to the fibromyalgia symptoms. Which are pants too but better than nodding off just after breakfast.

Pah.

Anyway.....

Signs of spring are cheering, the forsythia in my garden is beginning to bloom with it's bold brash flowers and there hasn't been a drop of rain in about 3 weeks - in Manchester this is unheard of! Well apart from the heatwave summer of '77 that I remember from childhood. These daffs have been brightening up mu studio with their nodding heads. The studio has been very busy and I've been teach workshops 3 or 4 times a week, which I love. Sharing something you are passionate about with other who love it too is just the best job in the world. I've been teaching children how to use sewing machines, converting lots of new people into crochet addicts and have launched Vintage Crafternoon Tea Hen Parties in conjunction with my partner in crime Baking genius Gwyn. It's dreadful - I sometimes have to eat left over cake!

I've got plans for new kits, childrens sewing parties, magazine articles and lots of new creative workshops - it's a shame one of the main symptoms of fibromyalgia is exhaustion otherwise I'd get even more done!

 My lovely Mum would have been 70 last month. Even after so many years I still miss her everyday and the older I get the more unfair it seems that she was only in her 50s when she died. How she would have loved hanging out with me in my studio, my inspiration and example of creative, loving motherhood xx

Lovely New Studio!

Would you like to come in for a cuppa and some cake? Bring your knitting.....

 This was Mr FKs man shed, full of tools and spiders, now it has been lined with t&g, freshly painted with a lovely wide board floor. That peely green door leads to the extension we built ( one snowy weekend in January!) and that now houses Mr FKs workshop. Isn't he kind! Not only vacating his workshop but also doing so much work every weekend and many evenings to get my new studio ready for the first class. Oh yes, did I mention he did it all with a broken foot!!

The swollen foot that caused so much suffering over Christmas turned out to be a broken bone - only took 3 months to diagnose! So he's now in a foot cast and we are hoping the bone is finally healing.

So I feel really lucky to have this as my workspace, sharing it with the lovely ladies who have been to one of my workshops so far and looking forward to being busy in there in the future. I've put together a range of new classes that I'm really looking forward to-  Spring Classes. Showing somebody how to do something you love is so rewarding, when they love it too it's just brilliant. No it's not life or death but I think the peace and healing that takes place when your mind is still and your hands are busy is important and so beneficial.

It looks great in these pictures but is even better when it's full of people chatting and making, with bits of fabric all over the place and the sewing machines whirring away!

So if you are passing my way call in, I'd love to see you! 

A busy few weeks

The last few weeks have been a mixed bag

* A bit of knitting

round and round on a circular needle to make a cosy cowl for me, just right for these frosty days

I used Monsoon from JC Brett, lovely colours but the dye came out onto my hands as I was knitting it. I've soaked the cowl in cold water and vinegar so am hoping I don't end up with a purple neck when I wear it.

 * Mr FK has been slowly regaining the use of his foot, after the third course of antibiotics he has been able to stop using the walking stick and the pain is much reduced too.

*Some wonderful workshops at the Studio with lovely ladies joining me for crochet, clothing alterations and repairs, patchwork and cushion making.

* A shocking conversation, someone slagging off my husband, an angry response from me,the after taste has stayed with me.

*Poorly children, a nasty sicky bug has laid low The Baby Brother and The Big Sister, hopefully My Little Helper has a strong constitution, I have my fingers crossed. Also hoping I don't get it.

* Planning nearly done for my new range of kits, very exciting!

*Oh yes, a bit more knitting

The lovely hat from More Last Minute Knitted Gifts sadly this is the only time he has agreed to wear it! Perhaps I should send it off to Craft Hope along with a few more handmade hats for their latest project.

*My second tutorial appearing in Popular Crafts and having the wonderful opportunity of writing and photographing some more. I love dreaming up the projects and of course any excuse for a list is a very good thing!

* Joining a local Wellness Programme run by the NHS, if we don't take care of ourselves we wont have the energy or health for everything we squeeze into our lives. Making new healthy habits and, of course, a list to keep me on track. 

So yes, a mixed bag but that's what life is isn't it - remember to notice the good things this weekend! 

Reflections and hopes

I think it's common to remember the negative things or to let the bad things carry more weight than the good, so I have been mulling over last year reflecting on where it took me. When I discovered how wonderful it was to share my passion for creating with other people and set up French Knots Craft Studio I had no idea how many lovely people would come to share it with me bringing their enthusiasm and willingness to learn and share.

When the room came available it was too good to miss even though I didn't really have the time to set up a business, and still don't! Marketing and advertising are still the hardest thing but as I've taught 85 people since March I hope the word will spread. Being able to let people use brand new Pfaff sewing machines, hosting a charity open day and sending off dozens of handmade bracelets, working with other talented tutors, designing new workshops to introduce people to new skills and making a website (still the most gobsmacking feat for me a technical numptie!) Learning to keep accounts is still a work in prgress but I've got my tax return filled in.Phew!

So this was an amazing end to the year -
my first published tutorial in a national magazine! So exciting I still have to keep looking at it :) And there's going to be two more in Popular Crafts too! As I took the pictures I couldn't really believe that my little jars would be in print but there they are. I love the thought that perhaps other people are making little pin cushion jars of their own.

For 2012 I've got some new workshop ideas, will be collaborating with some new tutors at the studio and have some blog and website plans too. Tutorials and tips, book reviews and an occasional interview series 'Meeting....' asking some talented crafters about their passion and inspiration. Oh and kits too, I've a design in my head just waiting to come out, and a couple of sewing patterns I'd like to get out there too. Good job The Baby Brother is at playgroup for two hours twice a week - without 4 child free hours a week I don't think I'd get everything done!!!

Woooosh!

I love Bonfire Night! The smell of the fireworks, the weesh of the rockets and the aahhs of the appreciative audience.

Of course you have to write your name with the sparklers 

Even if you are too little to know how to write yet! Not so little any more though as he's started playgroup 2 mornings a week, he loves it and I must admit I do too. I dash to the Studio and get some work done guilt free. It's got much busier than I thought it would and squeezing in workshops planning and preparation, buying materials, writing tutorials for magazines (eekk!) and taking the accompanying photos, printing leaflets, building a website etc etc all takes time I haven't really got. So I need to fit it into my two 2 hour child free slots a week. No problem!

I've learnt so many thing over the last few month building the business but one of the most satisying was creating the website, the hosting company are brilliant and made it all so easy even I could do it! Just need to stock the shop with more goodies, well actually make the first but you know what I mean. Do take a look if you have a moment and let me know what doesn't work :)  www.frenchknots.co.uk

Guess what this is? One of the 4 amazing Pfaff sewing machine I have in the Studio now for people to use, I could spend all day in there playing with them myself. I'm also selling the sewing machines so if someone fancies taking one home with them after a workshop they can. Perfect!

I have several 'back of an envelope'  lists on the go at once, plans for new workshops, new magazine tutorials, new things I want to make. Woosh! It's all good!

 

Where does it go...

time, it seems to be slipping away somewhere! I can't believe how much of this year has passed already, only a few weeks till the schools break up for the summer. I feel like I spend most of my time trying to get things done, squeezing it all in. Perhaps starting a business with a two year old wasn't my greatest idea but I'm pinning my hopes on having a few free hours when he goes to playgroup a couple of mornings later in the year. Equally I don't want to rush this precious time at home together while he changes every day and being here for the big two when they finish school.

The marketing is the hardest bit of running the studio, letting people know I'm there so they can come and have a brilliant time at one of the workshops. Twitter, Facebook, training websites, posters, leaflets ....whatever I can think of. But word of mouth seems to be the only thing that makes any impact and I'm sooo impatient! We were featured in the local paper after the Open Day, lots of lovely generous people came to make bracelets to send to St Petersburg ( hello Vera, who had a nightmare on the motorway!) and we made 150 bracelets!

 
Wonderful colourful creations sending love from the children here to the children in Russia

 
Thanks to Craft Hope for letting us know about the project.   

I went to A Thrift Mrs Sale and amongst a treasure trove of goodies I brought home (purely to help her have a clear out you understand!) were some big crocheted granny squares, I've joined them into a small blanket and have been using leftover oddments of wool to make a border
When we were away in Pembrokeshire over half term the evenings were chilly so it was great to snuggle under the tweedy wooliness while hooking away.

 
The week away was wonderful, not really restful with three children but certainly a slower pace of life mooching about and enjoying the amazing weather on the beach.

 
 
We visited Tenby for a wander round the harbour but stayed mostly near to the caravan as we only had to wander down the hill to be on the beach at Freshwater East, paddling and sandcastle building. We stayed late into the evening on the warmest day, barbecuing sausages on the beach and watching the beach empty of sun kissed holiday makers.

We are taking the caravan over to the Isle of Wight during the summer holidays, another adventure to a place we haven't visited before - it's the perfect way to holiday with children, all your own bits and bobs to hand and the world to explore.

And when you get home from a holiday what could be nicer than allotment grow strawberries for tea?

 
 

Soggy Sunday

I had hoped to make a scarecrow with My Little Helper up at the allotment today but as it's been raining all day we've had to put it off. He's really been enjoying helping this year and has a row of beetroot and lettuces that he's planted and is caring for. So instead of allotment pottering I thought I'd cheer myself up with some pictures of our caravan trip to Shropshire, the weather was amazing, lots of cowslips

 
 we stayed on a site near Much Wenlock which was very handy for visiting Blists Hill the Victorian town. Mr FK and I worked out that we had visited once before, about 20 years ago and naturally it had changed a lot. The children were excited at the prospect of changing their money in the bank for 'old money' and then planned what they would spend it on.

 

 

 
The children liked the sweet shop best, Mr FK was quite keen on the chippy but I wanted to stay and play in the haberdashers

 
so many little visual treats

 
and cosy corners

 
There is so much to see there, a brilliant family day out with a sawmill, pigs and horses to see, a mine to explore, space to picnic and ferocious schoolteacher to put the wind up the children!

 
 
Since we got back my workshops have been going well and I'm really enjoying showing people how to do things I love. We've done crochet and embroidery and next week we are brooch making. I've updated the Studio blog with all the new summer courses. We are going to be learning how to take better photos with Jane and how to decorate delicious homemade cupcakes with Heather as well as knitting, crochet and a special Learn to Love your Sewing Machine session.

If you are in the Manchester area next Saturday 21st May please call in as I have a Charity Open Day. I have heaps of ribbon, beads, buttons, elastic and fabric and would like as many people as possible to pop in and help make bracelets for the latest Craft Hope project. They are sending bracelets to Orphan Outreach a charity who are going to be working in St Petersburg this summer and would like bracelets to give to the children they meet. A small, simple thing to make and I thought it would be a brilliant use of the Studio. Hopefully we can get plenty made for them, so please pop in!

Such good fun!

Thank you for all your good wishes, the first workshop went so well and the ladies left happy with their fledgling knitting and full of lemon drizzle cake! I really enjoyed sharing the studio with them and was delighted that they noticed all the little touches which contribute to the atmosphere. Would you like a peep too?

 

Do you like the banner I made for the door? I enjoyed fiddling around with pretty fabric and managed to only get a small amount of the glue from the interfacing on the iron.

 
 

 I love the inspiration board on the chimney breast, it's ribbon strung across an old picture frame and makes the perfect spot for displaying little treasures.

 
 
I've used some of my pinny collection as decoration, such pretty fabric should be seen rather then stored away in a suitcase, so here they are enjoying an outing. And a couple of hand embroidered tablecloths have been refashioned into curtains too.

 
Even the teapot is dressed up for the occasion in it's woolly jumble sale find!

 
It's all been put together to be welcoming and inspiring, just need to spread the word and get more ladies to come and enjoy it with me! I've started a weekly Knit and Natter session as well as the workshops so it can be a social place and people can drop in, cake will be available naturally.

I'm learning how to Tweet as well - I'm @frenchknots2011 and am gradually finding some fascinating people to follow as well as some old friends from the blogging world. Please come and say hello.

The 'to do' list is getting longer by the day as I'm buzzing with ideas for new classes, where to advertise, preperation for workshops and so on, I keep telling myself it's invigorating - but could do without waking up in the middle of the night with an idea chasing round my head!  

I've set up a new place to post about the Studio and the workshops that are available French Knots Craft Studio not that I need another place on line to maintain!

 

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.