Why is it...

...always the way?

When my boss visited last Tuesday, he decided to pop into the "Knit & Natter" group - to show his support.

25 minutes later, the only person who had dropped by was a member of my staff to ask what size crochet hook she should get so that she could learn how to crochet.

Our group is very informal and the idea is that folk can drop by as & when they wish during the 2 hour lunch break on the specified day...and it is normal for there to be periods when no-one is there but then a group arrive - a bit like London Buses LOL

So we chatted and then he had to leave for another meeting.

A few moments later, a couple of folk arrived with their lunch to sit and do some colouring. That got the ball rolling and in total we had nine attendees that day. I took this photo...

...just to prove to the boss that I don't sit there like "Billy no mates" for 2 hours every week.

We even had a new attendee. She has just changed job within the office and felt that she needed some time to just 'chill'. She is quite proficient at crochet so it was lovely seeing what she was making.

I wonder how many we will have this week.......................................................

I thought I'd have...

...a bit of a play.

Before Christmas I bought a set of Card-io stamps from Pinnacle Crafts and did a bit of "batch" making on the Christmas card front. I've since managed to get some more sets but haven't had the time to sit down and have a 'play'.

As our "Knit & Natter" is also a "Craft & Chatter" group, I took along some of my stamps...

...some card blanks and an ink pad.
I started off by drawing a light pencil circle on the card blank...

 ...this is to act as a guide for placement of the design.
This is the selection of stamps that I used for my Christmas card scene...

 ...and as you can see, there is nothing really that 'screams' Christmas. I continued to add the circular frame using the Tapestry leaf stamps...

 ...and that is where I left it. I didn't have any colouring mediums with me but I think I will try this as a non-snowy scene which will mean that it can be used for other occasions.
I had a bit of a play with some of my new stamps...

...including a set of Majestic mini festive leaves. This will probably be a Christmas card but I will have a play around with some gems and liquid pearls in the 'wreath' surround to give the effect of berries.

When I've decided how to finish these off, I'll show you the result. I just need to find a bit more 'playtime'...........................................................

Knit & Natter...

...is still going well at work.

This month we have a lot of new folk moving into the building so once they have settled in we hope our numbers will swell even more.

The knitting loom is still proving to be very useful...

...another hat in the soft grey yarn with the pink tufts and a hat using some "Super Chunky" yarn that I picked up in Linens Direct. I made some hats with this type yarn at Christmas but forgot to take any photos. The variegated blue that I used at Christmas came out in blocks of colour but this mauve combo has worked in a twisted pattern - strange how variegated yarn can work-up in such different ways.

I love the colour combo of the "Pretty Print" yarn that I have been using lately and after making a hat & scarf set I'm making a cushion & throw...

...as you can see, the throw is coming along nicely and I now have completed 'granny squares' for the front of the cushion.

One of the ladies in our Knit & Natter group is crocheting Star Wars characters - they are only dinky (about 4 to 5 inches tall at the most) and everyone has fallen in love with how cute they are. I will have to ask her to bring them all in when completed so that we can get some photos.

I have another ball of the mauve "Super Chunky" and I'm tempted to make another hat to see how the pattern turns out this time. Still thinking about that one........................................................

Final push to...

...clear some more of that stock.

The latest message from Andy, Joanne & Paul...

Hi everyone,

Well, we’re on the final push to downsize Pinnacles to make the much

needed space we need in the new downstairs work room and shop...

To complete this, we are having a final reductions downsizing sale...

70% off

the marked price of all stock, both in store and on line...

Yup, that’s 70% off the marked price of everything (excluding current issue magazines)...

This final reductions sale starts right now over on the website and in store from Tuesday 14^th February @ 10am..

It will continue until 4pm on Saturday 25^th February.

We will then be closed from Sunday 26^th February – Wednesday 01^st March (inclusive)

for us to de camp from our upstairs workroom and do the impossipuzzle and set up the new

downstairs work room and re arrange the shop...

We will re open @ 10am Thursday 02^nd March.

During the move, our card making lesson (Tuesday 01^st & Wednesday 02^nd March) schedule will be on hold,

(don’t worry ladies, I’ll make it up to you!)

but the Tuesday evening Parchment lesson will be unaffected..

We’ve been re stocking our shelves with more and more stock as space has become available.

So, if you’ve already been in and grabbed some bargains, there are many, many new ones on offer at this exceptional discount..

So, come and stock up!!

Whilst we are downsizing we will be out of stock of some of our essentials such as adhesives etc,

these will start to return to our shelves once we reopen.

We thank you for your patients, support and custom during this period and look forward to seeing you

during our final reductions sale and afterwards in our new look set up...

If you are shopping on line, simply enter code    downsize70  in the

promotional coupon box when checking out to activate your discount.

Orders over £40 (after discount) qualify for free delivery.. Although we don’t have a click n collect option, if you would rather collect your

order than have it sent out then please indicate this on your order in the delivery details section.

If your order is under £40 and you choose to collect it then we will of course refund the delivery cost on collection.

We will be sharing these details on our Facebook page and other social media outlets,

please feel free to do the same on your Facebook pages, blogs, or other crafting groups as this sale is open to everyone...

Pinnacles...

...WOWZA, 70% off - now it really would be rude not to take advantage of that..................................

Meet Verity Rose...

...the cute "1920s" style collection from Crafters Companion.

I remember seeing this character in card & gift shops quite some time ago - pens, notebooks, mugs, bags etc. - but hadn't realised that Crafters Companion had done a craft range of this line.

Here are 3 of the 6 characters available...

...there is also "Flutterby", "Sunbeam" and "Starlet".

I came across this range in The Works this week when I went in to see what craft stuff they had in their current promotion.

There is a clear stamp set for each of the characters and also a small accessory stamp set. Embossing folders, ribbons and sticky labels (that's what I've found in my local branch). I will be keeping an eye out to see if they have anything else as they currently have a "Triple Points" promotion for their loyalty card holders and there is also a 20% off part to the promotion when you meet the minimum spend of £10.

So if you fancy any of these "1920s" cuties; pop along to your local branch of The Works to see what they have.........................................................

The Pinnacle Crafts downsizing...

...is going well.

Andy says they are working their way through the boxes of stock and fingers crossed they will be on track for the move of the classroom to the ground floor.

For regular visitors to Pinnacles, the walls & racks may currently look very different stock-wise but do take the time to have a good browse  - I have certainly come across a few treasures that have had to come home with me LOL

Everything in the shop is at 50% off and this includes sale items that were already reduced. There are some exclusions such as current issues of magazines but if you are not sure, just ask Andy, Joanne or Paul.

There will not be any newly ordered stock in the shop until levels have reduced to provide the space needed for the new classroom BUT you can order anything in the normal way - prices of ordered items will NOT be part of the 50% off (Club members will get their normal discount on ordered items).

I now have a lovely set of "All our Yesterdays" rubber stamps, some "Back & Front" clear stamps, a Gelli plate and some cross stitch kits (amongst other things **chuckle**). Some of the stamps I've managed to get are ones that I don't ever remember seeing in the shop but that could be that I was more into scrapbooking when I first started shopping there and stamping wasn't something I did very much - until I discovered Copics...and the rest is history as they say.

So if you are in the area, do pop in for a browse and a rummage. You never know, you might just find something that you have been looking for and with 50% off it would be rude not to grab a few other items whilst you are there.............................................................

"Pretty Print" is...

...the perfect name for this yarn.

I've already shown you the hat & scarf set that I made with this pretty variegated yarn...

 ...and as you can see, both items (knitted on looms) resulted in a stripe pattern.
I am currently making a crochet blanket in the same yarn but wanted to see if the 'pattern' was any different when using needles...

 ...so I decided I would make a cushion cover out of granny squares.
Here is the first completed square...

...and as you can see - we still have the stripe thing going on.

I'm going to continue with the granny squares and see what they look like when joined together.

So as we head into February, it is clear to see that I have plenty of knitting on the go - I just wish it was easy to take my card making stuff on the train then I might get a few more cards done but I can't see folk being very happy about contending with glitter & glue LOL.............................................