French Knots

Grow Your Own

The joy of being able to pop over to the allotment and gather an armful of flowers, so glad I made a little cutting patch. My Little Helper scattered some seeds earlier in the year and we have been rewarded with lovely flowers almost for free.

 
 
Many of the crops were less successful, the slugs ate the squash plants, the sparrows had the pea seedlings, the potatoes have some sort of wormy infestation.......thank goodness for simple flowery pleasures! 

ps have launched the new Autumn and Winter Workshops over here if you fancy a nosy - crochet, hand sewing, jewellery making, sewing machine skills, photography and some Christmas goodies to make too!

Summer

After the end of term whirl settled into the luxury of no deadlines or clockwatching we headed off with our caravan to the Isle of Wight. Even the journey was exciting for the children as we boarded the ferry. 'Boat!' said The Baby Brother 

 
We had almost three weeks of lazing around, playing on the beach and in the sea making the most of the warm sun. My Little Helper soon had a group of friends who raced about the field beside the site playing wonderful games and enjoying the freedom to chase each other in the warm dusk of evening. 'Playing zombies' he said when called for bedtime. Of course! The Big Sister and her friends became Uno addicts, playing most evenings when everyone was back from their days adventuring.

 
We watched the carnival procession,visited a country show ate ice cream and explored the island.

 
So many different sorts of beaches on a small island, sandy, pebbly, peaceful and windswept.And some heaving with people with hardly an inch of sand to sit on! The children all took to the waves with their bodyboards and we swam in the inviting sea.

 
Even The Baby Brother enjoyed standing on his (slightly broken but inherited from his big brother, so therefore coveted) in the shallows.

 
 
 

 

You can never have too much beach time! We have washed the sand from between our toes and I have washed a mountain of dirty clothes and spent the rest of the holiday playing with friends, visiting the park, bouncing on the trampoline and bike riding.And rather too much whinging and arguing, in case you think this sounds rather Pollyannaish!

 
Oh yes, and sorting gravel too!

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!

 

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.