Just Unwind

Tea in 'Bronte Country'

Last week I finally made time to do something that I now know I need to do more often!

Sorry, am I being cryptic?

That 'thing' is making time for the people who really matter to me (as opposed to spending time running around doing things that don't). People are the really important thing in life so I made a definite date to spend an afternoon with one of my sisters (the other was already busy having fun, I think!).

My sister lives not far from Haworth, the home not only of the Bronte Parsonage Museum, but also of several nice Tea Shops, so we put on our boots and went out for a walk, with the promise of a nice warm Cafe half way around for that very necessary cup of tea.

The famous graveyard was packed full of snowdrops, hundreds and hundreds of them. I really do have a thing for Snowdrops, maybe they could be one of my new collections!!!

and I couldn't help but take a photo of this Cockril, nature just has the best colour combinations, he was the most lovely combination of rusty orange, soft brown, turquoise, black & green

 

 

Sorry, haven't quite mastered my more portable pocket camera yet!

Then after a stroll up the cobbles we went to the highly recommended 'Cobbles & Clay' Cafe, thank you Wendy & John and Paula for that. The food was delicious, and the tea pot was adorable!

How could you not enjoy a cup of tea served like this.

After that we had a look around some really lovely shops, I spotted quite a few potential birthday presents which gives me the perfect excuse to go back before too long, a plan I think! before we headed back home in a very good mood.

So, can I recommend not only Haworth and it's Tea Shop's, but making sure you enjoy it with somebody special whoever that may be!

Jo

Socks, Socks and more Socks!

February has seen me busy teaching. I love passing on skills as I get immense pleasure in seeing that 'Light Bulb' moment when people suddenly get 'It', whatever 'It' may be. 

Socks are one of my great knitting pleasures, I like to make other peoples designs and also create my own. I currently have 3 new creations on the needles, and several more in my notebook still waiting to be cast on. So teaching people to knit socks really does tick most of my 'happy' boxes.

These are just a few photos from my last class:

We drank tea and ate cake, laughed, sighed, and tutted,

But we also created socks!

Everyone went home with sock needles, a pattern and some yummy sock yarn, plus bags of enthusiasm.

They are portable, fun and make great gifts, so why not give them a try.

I have another class running on Sunday 27th March at Messengers Cottage, details of which you can find on my website www.justunwind.co.uk/shop, then click on 'Courses'.

Or if you would like a fabulous weekend away I will be teaching a beginners and improvers class in France in April. Details of this one can be found on jakibogg.artwebb.com under French Knitting and Crochet Workshops.

Happy knitting!

Jo

 

Crochet In The Yorkshire Dales

Just over a week ago I spent a lively day at the home of Carole, a friend I have made through one of my local Knit & Natter groups. She had several friends who were wanting to learn to crochet, so we teamed up. I organised the crochet, and Carole being an excellent caterer, organised the food!

The day was grey, raining (oh there's a surprise!) and just perfect for being sat with a log fire, good company and yarn. The ladies settled in with Tea, Coffee and a wonderful Date Slice, then we got to work.

Each person chose three colours of yarn, as the aim was to have everyone crochet a granny square which could eventually be made into a small blanket or cushion cover.

The morning was spent in equal amounts of entertaining stories, as the ladies had been friends for many years, interspersed with bouts of intense concentration, while people got the hang of chains, doubles, trebles, and slip stitches. As is normal at these sessions, some people turned out to have 'done a bit of crochet years ago' and picked it up again quite easily, where others really were starting from scratch. By lunchtime everyone had mastered enough to have started on their Granny Square, and we took a welcome break.

After a lunch of delicious soup and three types of fresh bread, followed by slabs of the most yummy cake and of course more tea and coffee, we continued. 

The equal amounts of encouragement and friendly rivalry made for a great atmosphere, 

Topped off with plenty of delicious food and hot tea and coffee.

None of us could believe how quickly the afternoon went.

But everyone had the hang of it by home time

So what for many would have been a wet, grey day in the Yorkshire Dales, was for us a warm, colourful, fun and very entertaining day.

Thank you Carole for being a super hostess, and thank you ladies for coming, without you the day could not have happened!

Joanne 

 

 

Things to make me Smile in January

Happy New Year everyone. 

Friends of mine will already know that January is not my favourite month! Couple that with the current lousy weather and I really have to work hard to put my positive head on.

Finding and recognising the little things that make me feel happy is a challenge I set myself every January. No unatainable new year resolutions for me. Just making myself realise when something lifts my mood, or makes me smile.

So here are a few little things that are doing just that:

My brand new diary

already filling up nicely!

Finding a small note book to match my new diary:

Sad I know, but those people who share my love of note books will understand! 

A new design on my needles:

coming together nicely, and I already have some super alternative colour options planned.

And leaving the best till last, catching up with friends over a cup of tea. 

Take time to appreciate the little things, and January will soon be over. I personally am just waiting for the Snowdrops to appear, the plants in my garden are so confused they could be here any day!

What makes you smile at this time of year?

Jo

Fabulous Fair-Isle in France

Well I cannot believe it is a whole week since I was at the beautiful home of Jaki Bogg, in the countryside near Limoges in France, with a great group of ladies who had come to learn more about Fair Isle Knitting.

The long weekend consisted of comfy beds, good company, good food, amazing weather & of course 'Knitting'.

After a delicious breakfast of hot porridge and fresh croissants, we spent the mornings doing the Fair Isle workshop I had planned

Great levels of concentration, and many tongues (of concentration) sticking out:

We would then break for lunch, either at the house, or out in a local town. At least 2 days we were eating outside with the sun burning through our t-shirts. The wonderful breads, cheeses, pate, & tarte au pomme, amongst other yummy things, washed down with your choice of wine, beer, or soft drink.

The afternoons were spent taking in the local towns and brocantes.

This is a beautiful little square we wandered through in Limoges after a wonderful lunch sat in a sunny cafe, where we had done that fascinating holiday thing 'people watching'!

 

One afternoon we made a small diversion to the town of Mortemart, which was so beautiful we stayed and never got to where we had intended!

We drank coffee in this square, and almost didn't move from here! On the left we have Jaki & Carole, and the chap on the right was an English ex-pat running the cafe with his wife. Really chatty and helpful.

The local town had come together not only to make the place stunningly beautiful, but had errected signs and plaques to explain why it was historically important. They had also created a number trail for you to follow.

We sat by the moat and soaked up the sun and autumn colours:

Talking of autumn colours, they were amazing:

and they matched wonderfully with the Fair Isle knitting we were doing

A happy coincidence, I think!

Evenings were spent, eating, drinking, chatting and knitting. Quite perfect.

I was really impressed with the dedication of the group, nearly everyone had knit a pair of wrist warmers by the time we went home. Just some sewing up left to do.

A perfect break with 'like minded' people. If you would like to more about these weekends, visit http://jakibogg.artweb.com, I have been both for a break, and to teach, and can't wait to go back. I am already planning to go back next year to teach another workshop!

I will be teaching Fair Isle plus other things at Jaki's studio in Skipton, visit http;//jakibogg.artwe.com/joannes-workshops for more details.

Now back in the very wet and very wind Blighty, I hope this has inspired you to snuggle down and get knitting, and think to the possibilities for next year!

Happy Knitting.

Jo :)