Well , hello !!

Well hello , I do seem to be a stranger to these parts of late . Be assured I have given myself a right  good talking to and am living in hope that I can manage to pop by a lot more often . I must admit though I have been seriously juggling my time and working myself  hard . Unfortunately I must sleep and this always wins out at the end of the day !! literally .

What have I been up to over the last few weeks ? eerrrmm well , making stock ! Lucy and I have decided the date for our first open studio event , unfortunately am going to keep you in suspense for a little longer with regards to the date as we want to do a big announcement very very soon . As you can imagine there is smoke coming of my fingers , I want there to be lots of handmade goodies that are made with love for people to look at and hopefully buy . However we are also still sorting fixtures and fittings and I have bought some much needed equipment that is essential for the production of my creations . This week my budget has allowed me to buy a much needed iron and ironing board , so with my studio Buddie in mind ( as she would have to spend a lot of time looking at it up) I bought this and it met with approval !! Very Lucy colours don't you think !

I wouldn't usually get so excited about an ironing board and iron but the difference it has made to my creative week is unbelievable . I have been at my most productive ever over the last week and I am going to the studio  every day , straight from school drop off and don't return home until I have done the school pick up or on the days I'm able to I stay until 4 pm . I do have to nip out on a Monday , Tuesday and a Wednesday for my other job but that won't be for too much longer  . The studio is starting to feel like a creative place of work and I can't wait to open the doors to the public !! Until then I am making making making !

I have had lots of fun playing with colour this week and I have had a thing for spotty and stripey legs which are soooo sweet .......

....but I have (unusually for me ) enjoyed playing with soft pink tones as well .

Friday evening I sat planning a new make which I plan to start this week and so I started putting little fabric collections together .

I am really looking forward to staring this make  and sharing it with you , then I can have a Ta da moment but for now all I can tell you is they are called ' home sweet home ' Angels .

On Thursday evening I had a bit of a spur of the moment make , crochet bunting . This is it blocked out ...

......and this is it in place ,  in 'Coopers cafe bar' where our studio is based .

But I was a little Hasty and didn't leave it blocked for long enough as I wanted it up before I left on Friday afternoon , It will be taken back down tomorrow and done properly and maybe helped with a little starch .

I made it with the intention of drawing customers attention to this sign and swelling our numbers to our ever growing group of yarn loving ladies . I think I need to make more bunting as it was fun but I do need to take more time over blocking , lesson learnt !! But it was fun .

Today I have had a little break from working as I am working 7 days a week at the moment . We had a little family jaunt out to Harrogate , we love Sunday shopping in Harrogate it's so relaxed and best of all it's got a new Wool shop . Leeds based 'baa ram ewe'  has opened a branch in Harrogate , yayyy !! This has hit my happy button big style . Very easy to find ( even though I went in the wrong direction ) it's only a stones throw away from Betty's Tea rooms . Check out their web page for directions www.baaramewe.co.uk

I could have spent a small fortune and will be going back to do that when my funds allow , I also saw quite a number of  knitting books I would like for the studio . But I rained myself in and remained focused and had a

little splurge on some 'Rowan fine tweed ' in a soft smokey blue that is destined to be a' Yorkshire mill Mouse' shawl . As well as this hand dyed 4ply yarn produced by 'Eden Cottage Yarns' www.edencottageyarns.co.uk in a soft hue of misty greens which  is going to become  'Linen Hare' jumpers .

I am looking forward to using these muted tones and matching them up with co ordinating fabrics .

So back too it in the morning and keeping those creative cogs turning .  I hope you have some creativity in your week ahead and thank you for popping by and ta ta for now . Tracy x

Like treading Treacle

Well life is hard sometimes and the week before last felt like I was treading treacle and going no where fast!

But things seemed to turn a corner last weekend when I went to spend the weekend at my mums to use her oven and bakes my sisters wedding cakes , me and the boys went to stay so they could see Granny P. and Auntie M. and I could bake (and I wanted to see them too ! ) . I am seriously missing not having an oven , sob sob sob !!

 Boy that was a serious bake off  , the bottom tier only just fit in my mums oven and took five and a half hours to cook . Top tier and bottom tier done , only middle cake left to make and a good friend has offered me the use of her oven for that job . It was lovely spending time with my sister we planned and we ordered ( arggghh brides maid dress , I sooooo need to drop a few pounds !!). But something shifted in my head that weekend and everything didn't seem so overwhelming and I was able to focus better , it's amazing how being with people that have been their all or most of your life help you feel at ease and able to focus .

I got very excited this week when I took my newly bought and painted table/ trolley down to the studio . Oh I do love it and it's cheery colour makes me smile when I open the studio door , as its the first thing I see .It was Lucy's keen eye that spotted it languishing outside of a local secondhand shop and text me to go  take a look . The kind lady said if I took it there and then I could have it for £20, a deal was struck and I carried it home . Yes that's right carried it !! I don't drive so I am used to lugging things about the place and I am not easily embarrassed so it didn't bother me carrying it across town and home . Thankfully it has casters so the last stretch I did wheel it up the road to my house . I'm surprised there aren't any youtube films of a mad women with table in a busy market town .

So the studio is coming along nicely and we are really enjoying finding old and unusual pieces to clean up or revamp to make a creative and inspirational place to work/ design , as well as an interesting backdrop for our makes . We hope to be able to open this pace up to you for you to come and experience in the not too distant future.

We are also keeping an eye out for nice little chairs to put all the crafty bottoms on that we anticipate visiting us and I found this little beauty in my local antiques and collectors centre the other week . I think it is a Victorian bedroom chair and was in need of rescuing . I gave the lovely lady her £9 and whisked it off home and started stripping off the paint .

I was amazed by the pattern that unveiled it's self and was utterly in love with the old vintage yellow and blue colour that made up the different layers on the chair . It has been the most exciting £9 I've ever spent .

I am still in the process of painting the main part of the chair , but I don't have it in me to paint  over the back panel . I adore the texture and pattern too much and want to see some of the history of this sweet little chair when I look at it . I just love old things !!

Today I have been working on the final stage of a textile piece which I am going to frame and it will be for sale in the studio .  I am really wanting to branch out and do some textile pictures and I have so may ideas and really want to get stuck in to developing them .I am quite pleased with how this piece is turning out .

But one thing that really  lifted my spirits yesterday was when the letterbox went , I opened a large white envelope not sure what was inside??  But as I pulled out the magazine I got slightly giddy !!

It was something I and Lucy had been expecting . Some weeks back this lovely magazine Handmade Living got in touch wanting to do a little article on introducing us to their readers and talking about our Studio venture. We gave them the thumbs up and did a little interview and took some pictures and hey presto Saturday morning I'm opening up the pages and seeing the article for the first time .

 Wow I was sooooo pleased with the way they had presented the article . I've never really looked at this magazine before but after sitting with a coffee and taking my time to look through and read the articles I like it ! it is a fab crafty mag covering lots of different crafts and beautifully photographed and there is a bit of something for every one . The issue that our little piece is in  is the June Issue which I believe is out at the end of this month . I know I will be definitely be having a flick through the pages of this magazine in future .

But it did feel a bit strange seeing my things in a magazine almost a bit dream like , I'm not used to this sort of thing but this is my life now , well the one I'm working very hard to create . I love to sew , stitch , knit and crochet and if I can eventually make a living out of it then that will be just grand . But if I can share my love for creating with others too then that would be the icing on the cake .

So thanks for popping by and enjoy the week ahead of you , ta ta for now . Tracy xx

Making preparations !!

What a wonderful break this Easter break has been , we have just kicked back and enjoyed being at home . I don't think you realise how tired you are until you actually stop !! We have had a really good rest , particularly the hormonally challenged 11( nearly 12) year old who has been delighted at staying in bed until 11 o'clock as often as possible !!

This time at home has given me the opportunity to catch up on some much needed homeyness especially after the last couple of months working towards getting the studio ready to move into . Now there are  tangible signs that spring is well and truly here and it has kick started my green fingers into action .Every year I set out with the aim of try to grow as much to eat as possible and with varying success .Until we are able to afford a house with land I try my best to work with what I have .  I am also living in the hope that due to extended cold period we have been experiencing  we will get heat when we really need it and at the right time for growing crops and flowers . It's been 3 summer's since I last had any bumper crops of anything !! Last year was appalling I gave up in the end and admitted defeat . But this last week especially , my youngest and I have sprung into action and started preparing some edible crops , herbs for a herb garden and seedlings for summer colour .

I love these special times spent with the children passing on my thoughts and knowledge ( all be it somewhat limited knowledge !!) and lets face it what 6 year old boy doesn't like digging in the dirt !!

In fact my kitchen and bedroom have turned into a makeshift green house as it's too cold yet to put anything out and my house is warm and snugly  . So for the next few weeks I will be filling up every available and suitable surface with seed trays and pots .

 Most of my produce is either grown in tubs in my bijou back yard or in my small front garden . I have to be quite inventive with how I grow things and approach it in a very urban gardening sort of way , I recycle as much as possible to grow things in and am always on the look out for inventive ideas .

It feels really satisfying to have made a start on this job .

One very unexpected event last week was purchasing a rather fab bookcase from a friend 20 minutes before she sold her house and handed the keys over . It was a wonderfully bizarre moment with myself and a friend and the window cleaner ( who got roped into the whole scenario )to carry this very large Victorian pine bookcase over two roads to my house . What a sight we three were !! but we got it in and after a mild panic attack , it fit ! There was much jigging about  as at one point it didn't look like it would fit .Phew !!! and I love it .

I decided yesterday after a bout of Spring cleaning in the kitchen that I wanted to have one shelf dedicated to cake and tea . In fact I think I'm going to call it my 'Afternoon Tea ' shelf . A homage to the English afternoon tea !

I've never been able to have my two tea sets out on show they've always lived in a cupboard which I have to strategically remove crockery from every time there is an occasion to use it . Not now , it is straight to hand along with my growing collection of cake stands  . In fact I think this has been a sort of therapy as I am having withdrawal symptoms from not being able to bake . Yes still no oven , sigh !! but at least the shop bought cakes will look pretty on my plates and they are adding some spring time colour to the kitchen , hey it's win win all the way with this idea .

Oh boy this last two weeks has been good for the soul , I feel ready and prepared for returning to my two jobs and the madness and fast pace of life that goes with everyone returning to work and school life .

I am also looking forward to spoiling my friends tomorrow evening and holding our Monday evening crochet group at mine and looking forward to getting back in the swing of making !!

So what ever your doing this week I hope you have a nice time and thanks for popping by .
Ta ta for now Tracy .x

HAPPY EASTER !!

HAPPY EASTER

Can I first of all start by saying a big thank you to all the wonderful and encouraging comments that have been left since my last post . I have loved reading them and they have given Lucy and I a great deal to chat about , thank you !

Well , I hope your all enjoying your Easter Sunday ! My family and I have had a very chilled out day . The children have had a mini revolt and refused to get dressed , they have been so happy having a p.j day and munching chocolate treats !! I  myself have been in a very laid back mode and in a crochet happy place . I decided yesterday to give myself a break from 'Handmade Over Yonder' sewing and work on some personal projects which have been quite neglected of late . I have also realised that over the last week I am quite wiped out after the last few weeks and I am in need of a bit of winding down time . A bit of cooking and a bit of crochet was called for , I find theses two things very therapeutic .

Usually I would spend the build up to Easter baking but not this year as my poor oven has died and it's final ! I was warned the last time it was repaired that the next time it went I had to buy a new one . Oh flippin! heck , no money in the pot to replace my big oven , well not for a few months any way , I do feel odd not being able to bake . But I am soooo very grateful to have a slow cooker a Bread maker and an Halogen oven . So this year their is no Simnel cake or Easter buns  .  However I can still use the gas rings on top of the oven so I changed tack this year . I went for homemade Easter gifts for friends and family of  Lemon Curd , which I hope they think is  yummmmmyyy!!

It is a recipe I have used a few times now always with perfect results , the recipe is out of this Pickles and Preserves book I was bought at Christmas . A couple of hours in the kitchen making these gifts really was a bit of much needed therapy .

When I went to bed last night I had already decided today was going to be a crochet day and in particular a blanket day  ( I do have 3 on the go !!).

So I decided my eldest blanket was the project for today and it was time to tackle the boarder( for the 3rd time) . I've started and unpicked and started again with a different idea and unpicked again ,but last night whilst looking on pintrest for inspiration I put together some ideas . I love pootling on over to pintrest for visual inspiration !! 

Oh what a simple pleasure it has been today sat in my favourite chair in the bay bathed in sunlight ! Now I have finished the Granny squares and joined them ( I joined them as I went , 120 in total ) I am going for a simple and mainly white boarder with hits of colour . I am hoping this will reflect the main part of the blanket .  I am opting for rounds of single crochet and so far I like it !! I haven't had the urge yet to yank it all back as with previous attempts . But it is important to get the boarder right as it will either make or break the overall look of the blanket .

It has felt strange not working on the much  needed stock for 'Handmade Over Yonder' , my shop has been empty for quite some time now . Mainly due to the studio and my other job as well as being a mum and wife . However in this last week I have had chance to be on the sewing machine in the studio which has felt good. 

I am presently working on stock for the studio as we are planning an open studio date in the not too distant future , which is an exciting prospect indeed !! ( date to be decided)

I am also picking up quite inexpensive pieces to furnish the studio with , I found a very cheap and quite old cooling rack and turned it into something very use full.........

.......a tool hanger , it works so well with some little 's'  hooks'  . I also found this little sweet 'wot-not' in a new antiques\ collect ables shop that has recently opened in town . I was a little unsure where to hang it so it lived here for a while .

I am really enjoying the fantastic light our new studio has as well.

But best of all I am enjoying growing into my space !!

But tonight I am really enjoying being sat on my bottom blogging !!

So I hope you enjoy your Easter break , however you decided to spend it  and if like me you need a bit of a rest I hope you get that too !!

Thanks for popping by and ta ta for now .x

A studio !!!!

Well here I am , I have now got to the point where I can share the very exciting journey of getting a studio with you . Wahayyy! a creative work space that is not in my house , I'm SOOOOOO HAPPY !!!! Best of all I have a studio Buddy  to share it all with . Oh my goodness me the past several weeks have been exciting and  exhausting .

Lucy and I for some time now have had toyed with the idea of getting a creative work space to share and now it is reality . It's all happened so quickly I don't know whether it was divine intervention or just simple fate that has lead us down this path , but a lot of things fell into place very very quickly .

The first viewing .......lots of potential and two very excited ladies !!!

Oooooo old and a bit battered and has character , that was a very big tick in the box!!!

Good light as well !! another big tick !

We knew it would be hard work and we were prepared to roll our sleeves up and get dirty in order to pursue our dream .

First day of scrubbing , scraping and scouring a 100 years of grim off of the Victorian floorboards ..........

...........but it was worth it . Oh boy was I stiff the next day , muscles had been used that hadn't been used in years !!

All that scrubbing was worth it as the floor boards came up a treat and all they needed was a good dose of Danish oil .

Once we had cracked the floor we knew the bulk of the hard graft was done , then came painting . White is not a colour I would usually go for when painting a room but in this instance it was a must . We wanted the room to be very light and good for photography . The injection of colour in the room will come from our own personal touches and our work .

I think I got more paint on me than the walls, those rollers don't half splatter!!

Lucy bought this Hyacinth in the very first week when we had agreed to take the studio and we've watch it slowly open up as we've worked our little socks off!!

But we were definitely right to pick white as our back drop !! 

The room is so light , I cannot wait until high summer when the room will be warm and flooded with sunlight .

Lucy joked the other day we may need to wear sunglasses inside at summer as it will be sooooo bright !!

When we had put the last lick of paint on on Saturday I went and bought some celebratory flowers to give the studio a homely feel .

..............and I started moving in .

Oh how I love the light for sewing !! It's fantastic .

We each have a corner we are putting our own personalities and styles into ,this bit is such fun and I feel very blessed to have this opportunity and space to explore my creativity . I no longer feel shackled down by the restraints of my modest sized home which was bursting at the seams with all my stuff !!

I have spent this week moving bits in and creating my working space as well as starting to sew again , my sewing and making has been seriously interrupted by getting the studio up and ready to move into . But I feel this has been a worth while sacrifice and I will soon get back into the swing of things . 

Tomorrow will be my first full day down at the studio working and I am really looking forward to it , I spent this afternoon setting things up for tomorrow and I am itching to get down there . The room feels very tranquil ( even though it is on a main road and you can hear the traffic ) and whenever I glance over my shoulder I get a burst of colour from Lucy's end of the room which is quite invigorating and refreshing , It's like being on holiday at the height of summer in Cornwall or Devon . Beautiful !!

I now have a studio to fill with stock for people to come and buy when we start having open studio days .But this whole process has taught me to let things move at their natural pace . I am in a very happy place right now and I can see lots of creative possibility's for the future .

This is the very start of our creative adventure in the studio and the future is full of possibilities , we certainly have plenty of ideas already both as individuals but also for  joint use of the studio . I hope in the future some of you get to come and enjoy the space too .

Thanks for popping by and ta ta for now . Tracy xx