Coming over all Kirsty Allsop - The village show

Did you watch Kirsty Allsops CRAFT show and enjoy it?

Although I am sure many feel that she received a little too much 'help' with her entries I can confirm that entering a village show is a lot of fun whether you win or not.  The taking part in itself is delightful.

We are very fortunate to have a village show in Herongate and Ingrave.  Every year the locals grow the biggest marrows, arrange the prettiest flowers and make the tastiest jams and preserves.

My prize winning crochet bag from an Attic24 pattern

 

 I have entered my crafts into lots of the categories over the past three years and won many prizes.  Granted they are often only 10p or 20p prizes but I keep hold of all those little place cards and am very proud of them.

Mum and I were delighted to be selling our 'Prize winning chutney' at the Ingrave Market a few years back, but last year we were beaten by my Mother in Law.  Family competition is fierce!

MIL's prize winning mincemeat

If you too would like to enter the Ingrave and Herongate Flower show you can.  Anyone who does not live in the village can become a friend of the show for only £1.

Entries need to be dropped off on the morning of the show and then the prize giving takes place in the afternoon when there are also lots of stalls and events taking place.

Beautiful Things had a stall at last years show

Its a lovely afternoon and I would be so proud if some of my regular pupils entered their makes.  This years show takes place on Saturday 20th July 2.30pm - 4.30pm.  You can get a copy of the show guide and entry forms from me when they are printed in the next few weeks and I am happy to deliver all the entries on the morning of the show to save you coming to Brentwood twice if your not that local.

The whole family turned out to man our stall

I'm also running to classes prior to the event for anyone who might need a helping hand with their entries.

Here are the handicraft categories:

HANDICRAFTS

THE CENTENARY AWARD: (To be held for one year) Presented by the Laurie Family in recognition of their family association with the Flower Show from 1886-1996, for the exhibitor gaining most points in Classes 120-135

Class No.

93.       Dressmaking, 1 Article

94.       Hand Knitting or Crochet

95.       Needlework (Tapestry/ Embroidery/etc but not Cross Stitch)

96.       Cross Stitch

97.       Quilting

98.       Piece of Art (any medium)

99.       Handmade Cards (Max 10)

100.    Jewellery, Single piece or set (maximum 4 pieces)

101.    Vegetable Creature

102.    Hobby (Senior Citizens Only)

103.    Hobby, 1 Discipline

104.    Poem "One Giant Step”

105.    Photography "Car”

106.    Photography “The Sky is the limit”

107.    Colour Photograph (with title - mounted)

Guest Class

This class has been introduced to showcase one craft item, it will change every year. The only criterion is that you must have made it yourself. Items can have previously been shown

108.    Lavender bag

There are also housewifery, growers and childrens classes and I have a full list available if anyone would like to see it. 

Childrens vegetable creature catagory

 So come on crafty followers, whose joining me?

Granny Square Challenge - Week 6

Well here we are at the end of week 6 and haven't we all done well?

I finished off the last 3 colour ways that you saw me starting last week and then made a start on joining.

It took me ages to work out a pattern, but if you look closely you can see one.

I split my 28 colour ways in to 2 groups of 14 and made reversing rows until I had a pattern I was happy with.

Then I piled up each row and popped a number on it and stored them carefully in a box.  Now I am joining 1 row at a time and then joining that row to the blanket.  I'm 4 rows in so far so a quarter of the way there.

 

I have every intention of running a few rows of granny stripe round this block and then I think I might even add a few more squares as an edging but we will see.  Fear not although our 6 week kick starter is now over, I am well and truly on my way to the double bed sized blanket I want. and I will keep you posted on my progress.

Here's how some of our other challengers have got on

Firstly our bloggers:

Diane

Sharne

Now for some photos:

Donna has made 66 squares and is carrying on to make a blanket

Helen has started adding rounds of granny stripe and is making more squares to add an edging

Wendy has finished her edging on her central panel and is carrying on with more squares to edge

 I hope you've enjoyed following our progress and perhaps we have inspired you to make your own granny challenge.  If you would like to learn how to crochet we have classes on a regular basis at Beautiful Things HQ.  You can find out all about them here www.clairemackaness.com

Granny Square Challenge - Week 5

Well we are almost at the end of our kickstarter 6 week challenge and a lot of us are slowing down.  Others are going great guns and we even have a couple of nearly completed blankets!

I am doing my best to complete the final reverse colourways on my existing bunch of squares and have 3 lots to go.  I have made a good start on the middles today during our crochet Class at Beautiful Things and hope to be done by next week

I think I am going to start joining my squares now to see what sized blanket I actually have.  After that I may add a few rounds of granny stripe to the whole thing and possible then some more squares but we will see.

I made a start on blocking some of my squares today, it's going to be a long process but worth it to get the nice flat shapes with straight edges to make joining easier

 Lets see how some of our other challengers are getting on:

We have blogs from

Christine

Sharne

Eva

And these fabulous pictures:

This is Helens wonderful blanket.  She has joined her squares an is starting  granny stripe edge

Helen brought her blanket into HQ to show me and I could not resist taking this picture outside in the sunshine

Dianes samples of her next 3 colours, she plans to make more on holiday this week

Donna has been busy it this selection

Wendy has joined her large squares and is now putting some granny stripe edging round them before adding some more blocks

Super Dooper Summer Daytrip

Friday July 5th  - 9am - 5pm

Put the date in your diary NOW as you won't want to be anywhere else than on the Beautiful Things Bus to Crafty Heaven!

First stop on the Beautiful Things Bus is the fabulous 'Shedquarters' of Blooming Felt.  An absolute treasure trove of everything felty, ribbon, trim and lots lots more.  Sarah will be welcoming us with a cuppa and a demonstration of needle felting techniques and then you will get a chance to look around and shop.

Back on the bus and this time we are off to FABRIC REHAB!!  Yes that fantastic on-line supplier of amazing fabrics actually has a shop.  Usually only open on Tuesdays and Thursdays Fabric Rehab has agreed to open EXCLUSIVELY for us so we will have the whole shop completely to ourselves for a whole hour!

After all that shopping you will be ready for lunch and we have a table booked on the riverside at the Boathouse Restaurant in Dedham.  If it's a sunny day we will be dining Al Fresco and if the sun decides to hide we will have the best 'indoor with a view' table.  Enjoy 2 courses (starter and Main) included in the price of your ticket. A menu will be available for you to pre-order from a couple of week before the trip.

After lunch it's time to catch your breath with a short 5 minute walk to the Dedham Art and Craft Centre.  Enjoy a leisurely hour looking at the work of some of Essex's finest artisans.

Then meet up again in the in-house tearooms to enjoy a cream tea (also included in your ticket price)!!

Then it's back on the coach for the drive back to Beautiful Things HQ, arriving back at approximately 5pm

Tickets cost £48 per head including*, travel, lunch & cream tea.

*lunchtime drinks and any purchases in any of the shops we visit along the way are at your own cost, I will not be held responsible for crafty supply shopping!

To book e-mail Claire or call 01277 811136

A 13th Wedding Anniversary One2One with Miriam

The lovely Miriam has been one of my pupils for just over a year now.  She started coming to classes when I was teaching at home and has stayed with me throughout my little journey this past year.

She often pops up on my newsfeed in pictures and even appears on my publicity material!  She is a fabulous ambassador for Beautiful Things HQ and is always spreading the word about what we do here and for that I am truly greatful.

When Miriam contacted me earlier this year to ask for an extra special One2One I could not resist!

Miriam and her husband Mr F celebrate their 13th Wedding Anniversary today and as the gift of choice for 13 years is FABRIC, Miriam decided she wanted to make Mr F a tie.

She found this tutorial online and asked me if I would make it with her (not that she needed my help really, but she wanted her hand held through the fiddly bits).

Miriam arrived on Friday morning, pattern and fabric in hand and we set too making Mr F's present and I have to say I am very impressed.

There are a few teeny tiny little lumps and bumps in it, but it just adds to the handmade feel.

Mr F has gone off to work this morning in his new tie and Miriam is left with a big smile on her face.

 If you have a special project in mind and feel you might need a bit of gentle hand holding then I am happy to offer One2One tuition on many things, just contact me and let me know what your need.

Granny Square Challenge - Week 4

I have to admit I have been slacking a bit this week.  I've no had many free evenings and as this is usually when I do my crochet it has slowed me down a bit.  I did spend Tuesday evening enjoying the final of the Great British Sewing Bee and during it I made a lot of middles.

I decided to do 4 colours and reverse the colour ways so that I would be making 4 sets of 6 squares at a time.  It's quie a good way of doing your squares if you want to reverse you colourways.

I made a good start on finishing them off at Crochet Club on Wednesday at Beautiful Things HQ but this is where they remain!  I'll try harder next week.

So how have our other challengers got on this week?

Firstly our bloggers (make sure you pop a comment on when you visit them)

Christine

Diane

Eva
Sharne

I have pictures from Helen

And Wendy

And Nici

There's a couple more coming in later this week, it seems everyone has been a little pre-occupied!

Granny Square Challenge Round up - Week 3

WOW!  I am amazed how many of you are joining in with this kick starter challenge, your all doing so well.

I have not managed to make much this week (only 5 sets) as I have been busy making samples for classes.  I've been trying out Tunisian crochet and making a cushion, writing my own pattern and going on a hooky day out with some of my lovely ladies.

 

So far I have managed to make 16 sets that are opposite colourways to each other, and another 5 sets that need their opposite colours making.  So thats 21 sets of 6 = 126 squares in total!!

So here's the weekly roundup - do comment on this blog post if you want to say well done as not everyone taking part has a blog.  But if you visit one of our participants blogs pop a comment on there too, i's always nic to know you have support.

So here are our bloggers for the week:

Diane

Eva

Christine

Sharne

And here are some snaps from others taking part.

Donnas Squares

Helens Squares

Nici's growing giant square

Wendy's super sized squares