Monday, 26 November 2007

Mommy's fab weekend!!!!

Wow, what a fab weekend. I was really looking forward to this weekend, filled with all the things I love. It started off with some family time on Friday evening and between myself and my boys lots of playing, making and dancing took place...you can't beat a family disco in the kitchen at the end of a busy week...we all had our cocktails...of course the boys drink was just pretend!!! On the Saturday I left the boys for a day out with their Daddy and I headed off to my patchwork class. Oh how I loved this session, I so wanted to have a go at folding fabric. I love origami so I thought this would be fun. Trust me it was...
Look at these little lotus flowers...they need to have their petals sewn down, although I like the look of them like this...Saturday evening after travelling through all the village's Christmas lights being switched on in the area on my way home, I got the children to bed and ordered in a curry, which went well with a nice glass (or two) of wine and a little hand sewing. An early night was needed as it was off to the Harrogate Knitting and stitching show. I was meant to be going with a couple of friends, sadly though this never happened, boy did they miss out it was GREAT!!!! I do think this is the best show as it does concentrate a lot on design. Plus Harrogate is such a lovely place and despite my reservation about big towns and cities...this place is a little special.
I headed straight for the stall that sells the Boden fabric so I could top up my decreasing Boden stash...As I went on a Sunday I did run the risk of things being sold out, this was way out weighed by the lack of crowds...yes you could actually walk around without being pushed or shoved and see the delights on offer. I worked the three large rooms one at a time so as not to miss anything, then started my purchasing....
This little lot is all the goodies I just felt like buying, some reduced wool to go with my crochet squares I am making on an ongoing project, some funky beads, a little wool dyeing kit, some minkie, a couple of patchwork patterns and a selection of kits to make up with the kids around the Christmas art table...with the idea to make some more for friends children. Christmas is all about 'making' in this house.
I did go for buttons, I love topping up my collection, a great Christmas vintage pack, a few buttons to go around my scarfs, a pin for my knitting pashmina and a selection of buttons for corsages. Sadly I had missed out on the lucky dip packs..usually £5.00 for a bag of buttons, last year I bought the boys one each just for them to play with and they gave hours of fun...not to mention Mommy picking up stray buttons until June!!!

I adored this bracelet, its very me, I am not really in to posh jewels, I like it to be fun so this was a great little find. I bought a few little extra charms as pressies for my friends.
The other good thing about this show is all the work on show, lots of new designers showing their work for the first time and of course some established ones, I could not comment on this without mentioning Julie Arkell (Treefall did a good review). Love her work or not you can not get away from the childlike dreaminess of it all...I think its cute and very clever although someone did say that they found it a little creepy, but is that not part of the design to get such reactions about your work? It really does stir up emotions.
I manged to get to one of the fashion shows, to busy shopping to see any more. I was lucky enough to get to the Rowan design show, some lovely pieces, although my next big knit is going to be a sublime vintage jacket...I fell in love with at the show and I even tried one on so I know its a good look on me, sadly the shop had sold out of the pattern, but I plan to make it my next BIG project. All in all the show was a great success for me, one I recommend, most of the shop assistants came across as very friendly despite it being their last day, the ones that were not...well I did not shop with them. I am a big customer services person, I think it is very important, without it you might as well do all your shopping on line and cut out the human contact all together and then where would be? I did not drag my boys around the show, they went off to a model show just up the road...both of them collapsed into bed at the end of the weekend. They do have their own rooms but they like to sleep in the room with bunk beds and more frequently I am finding them curled up in the same bed...how sweet.
A rather long post today, but I could not leave it without showing pictures of the rest of the family, once the house was quite the animals came out to play, the GPs had a bit of free time with some tasty treats and Archie the rabbit needed a little home comfort rest after his visit to the vets last week.
So all in all a FABULOUS weekend all round. Thanks for the lovely emails you have been sending me of late, I am still having a problem replying to blogger emails, they keep bouncing back into my spam file. I so hate not replying to comments and mail...I really appreciate your comments. Thanks again and I hope you had a great weekend...now its on with my Santa hat as its the run up to all things Christmassie from now on...

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Snap with the fabric - I love the Boden man soooo much! I can never resist his stand. And we both bought the same fabrics! I have to say actually that the crowds weren't too bad on Saturday either - just the occasional person thinking that I could breathe my big tummy in!

Locket Pocket said...

Looks like you had a fabulous weekend! I rang two friends last minute to see if they fancied going to Harrogate on Sunday after reading someone's blog about it but it didn't come off - next year I'm going though! Does the Boden man sell on-line do you know? Lucy x

Lucykate Crafts... said...

i went to the k&s show in birmingham but would have preferred to go to harrogate, its a better show. maybe we need to organise a big blogging meet up there next year!. i got one of those big bags of buttons too, they are fab aren't they.

just read in your post about your blogger email problems, so i'll leave this comment instead. i've enabled the email me bit in my blog profile, if you can email me your address, i'll sort out posting the owl giveaway prize to you asap, x.

Anonymous said...

I am going to go next year too - I can't believe I didn't go this year and it isn't too far away from me either. I don't know Harrogate too well though. Was the place easy to find and good for parking? I may brave it and go on my own next year.

dottycookie said...

That does sound like the perfect weekend! I'm impressed with your restraint in purchasing - I think I'd have gone pretty nuts. Harrogate's too far for us, and I managed to miss Ally Pally too. Must get my act together next year!

Linda said...

What great buys! I love the origami fabrics. I saw a book the other day about wrapping gifts with fabric, I think that it was Japanese.

Unknown said...

Lots of lovely goodies and your two look so sweet snuggled up together - couldn't you just eat them when they're asleep - love the fabric origami, looks like fun

Anonymous said...

That rocket fabric is so wonderful!

I'm glad you had a good weekend. You've really been in need of one and I can't think of a more deserving person!

Unknown said...

I love the lotus flowers. What a cute idea!

Anonymous said...

I've seen a few people mention the show, I wish I'd know about it sooner coz I'd have gone too. Count me in next year! The boden fabric looks wonderful - I second Lucy's question!
Looks like you had a super weekend, the origami patchwork's very impressive.

TheVintageMagpie said...

Hello there, how I would love to do a patchwork class like you! Harrogate sounds fantastic... love the blog x

Anonymous said...

First I have to say, I love your bunny!! And I adore how the flowered pillow case by the bunny!!!

Now, as for your shopping extravaganza! WOW!! And yay to no crowds!!! Love the charm bracelet! Annnnnd, I adore Julie Arkell! There is a shop here in Tucson, Arizona that carries a huge variety of her creations!!! xxo

(In the end, there is no place like home right? Dreamy loves!!!)

Anonymous said...

Wow - what a great weekend! I love the charm bracelet - how cute! And, the Boden fabric looks great - is that pink tartan I spy ? - very jealous!! Your patchworking is looking fantastic - I can hardly believe how long you have been doing it and to get to that level is amazing! Really wish I could have been with you in Harrogate - it would have been brill. Glad you had such a great one....

Anonymous said...

So many treats all in all here! Wonderful patchwork...and those sweet creatures look straight from a Beatrix Potter tale! Happy Days ((HUGS))

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful collection of items! Looks like you will have lots to work on this holiday!

Your bunny is so adorable! Seeing him lounging like that made me chuckle!

julie said...

Wow, that is a great weekend. I love the patchwork with the folding it looks so intricate. Sounds like you had a fab time at the show and snagged some wonderful goodies and the picture of your two tousle-headed boys is so precious.

weirdbunny said...

I love the oragami patchwork, how cool is that !