UK Stitch 'n Bitch Day...counting down...

What a mad weekend. I missed all the fun on Saturday when Jane came around to IKL and shone like a freshly polished crystal rosebowl. I think G was really taken with her, and I hope everyone had a good time. I've just had an email from a friend who popped along to the shop and couldn't get in the door! We must move somewhere bigger. It was great to see Jane's post last night about Gerard's pineapple pressie too. He's so thoughtful.

For me, I was working elsewhere and missed the fun, but joined G, Sue and Lynsey at the Vauxhall Griffin for leftover cake and cider, although I suspect they'd already had enough of both by the time I arrived at 9pm.

We like Sundays, they are our one day off after a 6 day week. But not yesterday. The UK Stitch 'n Bitch Day is just 3 weeks away and so much to be done! After a little setback when I left our ticket print sheets on the bus on Saturday (doh) we'll be sending them out this week, with a timetable and some info about the show - if you haven't got one, get one now!. There'll be a free programme on the day with more info and some lovely pics of us and stuff....I spent most of yesterday in the shop confirming details from the designers, the yarny people and the publishers. It's getting really exciting, and we've put up a timetable for the workshops and I Knit Lounge area already. But there's so much more to see and do, with charity projects there and, of course, shopping! We'll have the full website links active by the end of the week...

The difficult bit is trying to get everyone the chance to do something. Obviously not everyone will be able to attend the workshops as space is limited so we've decided to have some kind of registration on the day, and, perhaps for Debbie's Argyll scarf workshop (on the front cover of the book) we'll have to hold a lottery. I like the idea of a tombola. Very retro. Debbie emailed just the other day and she's really excited about it all, and the books are somewhere mid-Atlantic as I write. We're thrilled to say that the UK Stitch 'n Bitch Day will be the first and only place to get a copy in the UK before it's released!

And, just a note about the webpage. There's a curious mis-spelling; the gorgeous wool is from YorkshiRe!

Cx

in the eye of the storm: pt 2

Yesterday was great. Jane Brocket came to the shop to talk about her book, The Gentle Art of Domesticity, and her blog. Jane was lovely and a great speaker and we loved hosting the event, thanks again Jane, we can't wait to see you and your crochet flowers at the Stitch 'n Bitch Day! Also, I was super glad with Jane's perfect accent. The North West of England, being the centre of the universe, produces the most exquisite people.

Not being a great photographer and being at the back of a massive crowd meant I didn't get great pictures...

...Jane's cakes were great! They lasted about 5 minutes.
A chocolatey quilt; gorgeous! Quilting is one of things that I have always loved the idea of. I've never done any and I suspect I wouldn't be very good but I would love to get into it. One day. It's on the list of things to do and, thanks to Jane's book, it's getting closer to the top!

Another great thing about yesterday was that one of my favorite people, blogless Lynsey, finished her first pair of socks. They are as beautiful as her and the sock world is now her oyster!
Craig missed the storm yesterday, and we missed him, but I managed to keep a few of Jane's cakes for him which were munched in the pub with the obligatory cider.

Thanks also to Melissa, Sue and Lynsey for all your help with yesterday. mwah!

Gxx

the eye of the storm

The most controversial figure of the decade is about to descend on us, ladies and gentlemen!

I've read the blog, fondled the book and now I'm braced for some light vanilla sponge and some pinny porn!

Yep, Yarnstorm, Ms Jane Brocket herself, is coming to our little shop this Saturday for a spot of crafternoon tea!

We are thrilled to welcome Jane to the shop for the crafternoon (sorry for using the 'pp' phrase, Jane). The book, The Gentle Art of Domesticity, is gorgeous and we can't wait to meet her, sample some delicious cakes and drink some tea. The books are stacked and screaming to be signed.

We've also set up a baricade of fences to keep the paps and blood thirsty journos at arms length!

It's going to be a great afternoon. See you there!

Gxx

Crafty soirées and The Rottweiler...

We hosted the first meeting of the new Kniterati book group last night. It was a nice night, with some considered chat and chocolate cake! I think I like the idea of this monthly meet-up, as , like our film nights it gives G & I the chance to stop work for a while and be part of the group - sometimes at the weekly knit meetings it's all a bit too much responsibility! It was a lovely group who braved a sudden downpour - I know from Ravelry that there were a few others reading the book who didn't make it along so I hope you can get down next time. We chose the book last night, and I was picked out of the hat - apologies as it's another crime novel, but much newer: The Rottweiler by Ruth Rendell. The next meeting is on Tuesday 30th October, plenty of time to get yourself a copy and read it - and don't scared about not knowing what to say, you can happily sit there and knit whilst the rest of us blether on.

A few weeks ago we were visited by Marissa at Hodder books clasping a preview copy of Jane Brocket's gorgeous book The Art of Domesticity. G nearly wet himself. It wasn't even a book, it was just the proof copy pages - but even then it looked tasty. Now the book is due out it is a thing of beauty. We agreed that Jane should be part of the UK Stitch 'n Bitch Day, but before then she's coming down to the shop to have 'crafternoon tea', sign the book, share some inspiration, chat and be generally celestial and goddess-like. If you've haven't seen her blog take a look here - I always want to just crawl through the computer screen, like I'm entering another world - the photos themselves look good enough to eat!

Jane will be at the shop on Saturday 20th October from around 12.30pm - it's free and, of course, we'll have the book available for sale and signing.

These meetings, film nights, events at the shop have really made us proud about IKL. Our dream of a knitting shop and sanctuary (both parts equally important) have been realised. After only a year it's sometimes quite emotional to see that all the hard work, long days (and nights) and quite a few sacrifices have been worth it. The place really comes alive when it's buzzing with people, and we are so chuffed that it is a 'sanctuary' as well as a shop. We will be extending our knitting group nights to two days from next week, with a meeting on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and we'll always be looking for the chance to hold a crafty soirée or knitting 'do'...and in 2008 expect some exciting ones!

Craigx