It's been a week since the Stitch and Craft show ended and I've been meaning to post since then, but haven't had a chance. Mainly this is because I was so delighted at the positive response to my book - A Handknit Romance - that I realised I must get it onto the website and for sale as soon as possible! This has taken a while as I'm just learning how to work the website and I needed help from a very clever friend - thanks Nuria - but it's now done.

Here is a picture of me extolling the benefits of knitting with fine yarn (and wearing the Lace Blouse and Cotton Skirt from the book) to a very nice- and obviously mesmerised - customer!

I did manage to finish a couple of beaded bags, but although I was pleased with the colours, I think the designs need refining before I sell the kits from this website. Hopefully in the next 2 or 3 weeks.
Here they are modelled on a faithful friend (also wearing the Lace-edged Camisole and the Lace Shrug from the book) who has been with me since the days when I had a shop (see my first blog post) and was brought out of retirement to model at the Stitch and Craft show. Sadly over the years she has lost her looks - but not her figure!

For more images from the show, including photos of my fellow stand sharers, Sarah Hatton and Martin Storey, see here.

Designing
So this is the reality of designing - 3 days to go until the show and I still haven't finished my beaded bag designs! Here are some of the options I've come up with so far, but it could all change.......
For anyone coming to the show, my booking signing times are:
Thursday and Friday - 2-3pm
Saturday - 12 - 1pm

See you there!

Have been very busy preparing for the stand at the Stitch and Craft Fair at Olympia, London - 15th - 18th March, which I will be sharing with fellow Rowan designers, Martin Storey and Sarah Hatton as we all have books published by Berry& Bridges out at the moment.
I will be signing copies of my book there.(times to be confirmed)

I also want to have small kits to sell and have been working on designs for beaded bags. I love using beads to add a bit of subtle colour and sparkle. The colours for this spring/summer are pretty pastels and luckily I already had some fine mercerised cotton that I can use.

I'm using small glass seed beads from The Bead Cellar and have knitted a few swatches, but will add more here later.