Recycled clothes

Yesterday was the first recycled clothing workshop, and it was fab! We had out 4 sewing machines, loads of clothes, scissors thread etc and everyone just piled in and really got into it! It was so lovely to see the workshop full of happy industrious people. The second one is next sunday- all welcome- yesterday raised £41, so thank you everyone, what a brilliant day!!

sheep

Oh dear, it's been ages since I wrote the blog! I went to my friends small holding the other day, she has just opened a farm shop there, I got some lovely tomato plants and a hanging basket which has pride of place in the back garden, and detracts nicely from the 1 million bikes currently living on the patio! Anyway, Anita has pregnant sheep ready to lamb at any moment, then, at shearing time, their beautiful fleeces will be mine! They are so gorgeous, I can't wait for a day spent in the garden with a big bath tub and the fleeces washing nicely, with the sun on me and the smell of the countryside in the air! (actually I am the only one who likes the smell- the kids think it is disgusting, but what do they know?!) I am on the look out for a drum carder to prepare them too- the ones on ebay are prohibitively expensive, I am hoping Joab might make one- he does have these flashes of brilliance occaisionally.
Don't forget Ravelry day, coming up soon. I am having a stall for drop spindles, knitted stuff and also a new secret thing we're making- will be reveiled nearer the time (although probably only knitting nerds will find it as exciting as me!!) Speak soon x

WOOHOO!!!

Well, guess who is on the front page of the Coventry Observer this week?!!! They came and did a story about our up coming recycled clothing workshops which are beginning in May, and I just heard it is front page news!! I haven't seen the article yet, but am assured it is fab! I've added a page to the website, so now need all the bookings to come rolling in!

Easter

Happy Easter! We have started our easter activities now- had a busy day on Saturday decorating eggs, the workshop was full of sweets and chocolate!
The kids and I have just come back from a lovely walk in the woods to collect feathers and sticks for magic wands on Wednesday (Fairy and Wizard day). Tamsin insisted on collecting absolutely every tiny little feather she saw so I'll have to have a sort out when she's gone to bed! It does help things when the weather is nice- as soon as the sun comes out there are loads more visitors to the canal basin, fingers crossed for a nice week! The Observer photographer, Jamie, came down to do a picture for this week or next for a story about the recycled clothes workshops- I must set some dates for those to start-I am thinking a Sunday afternoon. Anyway, I better get these kiddies in their PJs and away from the easter eggs.

Herbert Art Gallery Fair's Fair

We had a table at the Fair's Fair today. Had a good day, the new part of the gallery is gorgeous. I love selling at craft fairs- it is good for the ol' self esteem having lots of people admiring your work and handing over their money for it. I was with a lovely group of girls, so had a good laugh, which was a welcome relief from the recent headaches and worry of the last week- no one should say starting a business is easy!! Anyway, have a piccy of the day. Speak soon.

projects update

Joab has been working hard to help get the projects moving along a bit. We are now going to be at the Festival of Cycling in Coventry in June- will post details as I find them out! We have several bikes with really cool stories attatched to them so will have these with us. Also we have launched another new project about recycling clothes- we are running several workshops at YouPunkeroo with fashion designers and dressmakers to help people revive old, tired clothing. We will be donating all the profits from this to Manal Timraz and her appeal for Gaza- this is not a religious or political appeal- it is humanitarian so we are behind this 100%. No rest for the wicked (or ambitious!). My gorgeous friend Jenni is now on the case for finding funding for Recycled Cycles so we can the first round of trainees started, hopefully in the next few weeks.
As a little aside, the Punkeroos are back from their world tour with a camera full of photos- here's a little sample!Joab will make an album soon. I think they want to go again, now they've got the taste for travel!

Too Busy?

I am just shattered at the moment. The Art market was great on Sunday, but was really exhausting, then tonight I started a new craft group out in a tiny village near Rugby- they'd asked me to help get them started on some different easy crafts, so I took my peg loom, some jewellery, spinning and knitting. They were a lovely group, but I've got back and can barely keep my eyes open. I haven't done any of my chores yet- I may just have to send the kids into school in wrinkly shirts, or get up earlier tomorrow and iron them! I'm looking forward to Thursday's group, just sitting, and knitting and chatting!

what to do with youpunkeroo?

Well its been another exciting week at youpunkeroo. We had a wonderful day at the craft fair, largely due to Lynn and Janet (and hubby!) from the craft group and Jenni, our crafty mate from brighton....and a sun beam that we eventually found and sat in!

There are a number of exciting things happening at YouPunkeroo, we are very hopeful that we'll soon be joining forces with a good friend to bring some truly beautiful ceramics to the canal basin, as soon as i know more i'll post some picky's.

The workshop is looking very pretty now, with jenni's work, some of my own, lisa's ceramics and Lynn's beautiful photography its a joy to sit in.

We have just updated our list of easter events, which you can find on the site, i've also added two proposed events 'recycled clothing' and 'Pinhole photography'- so if your interested drop me a line

take care for now

joab x

I've decided that I have a compulsive knitting habit- not just that I love doing it- I have to do it. I was early to pick my daughter up from school and it was too cold to stand around outside the school so I satyed in the car. I couldn't just sit there though- I had to knit. Thank goodness the car has never been cleaned or tidied because I found wool and needles- Hurrah!! I got a few funny looks from mothers passing the car and peering in, but it was so lovely to do. I spend so much time rushing about, it almost felt naughty to sit relaxing and knitting in the car! The result was a baby bootee (just the one!) so now I simply have to make the matching one- perhaps I can do that whilst in the shower!
We have had such a brilliant response to our recycled cycles appeal for unwanted bikes this weekend, I reckon we could soon have the project up and running. If you haven't already, have a look here is more info!
Take care, Bye ;)

I had a bit of a disappointing kiln firing today- I'd had an order for some ceramics, but the colours were dull this time. Still it's the first time it's happened to me so I think I've been lucky! I think I need to be more careful with the glazes I use. I have my favourite brand so perhaps I should stick with what I know. I've also been getting redy for the art market at the canal basin, which is suddenly only two weeks away. Fingers crossed for a sunny weekend that weekend!

Well, all that worry over the journey and it was actually fine! I took my mum and my daughter, and between us we chatted non stop for 3 hours! I still hate that motorway, but it wasn't as bad as I thought. The new wheel is lovely, and I also got a gorgeous stool too- more of a perching stool really which is so comfortable to sit at whilst at the wheel.
I started on some handmade drop spindles tonight using clay and sticks from the local woods- sounds easy, but once I got started it was much more complicated. I left all my decent brushes at the workshop so had to raid the stash at home. I think my eyes were tired- I made loads of mistakes and had to keep sponging the glaze off. Never mind, I'll have another go tomorrow. It is the canal basin art market in a couple of weeks and I also need to get ready for that too. I have some ceramics done, but need more! There aren't enough hours sometimes! Speak soon, xx

Just rummaging around on the lap top and I found this photo of a couple of months ago- freshly washed fleece, which is now all but spun! It was my first fleece- before that I'd spun clean and prepared tops, but this fleece was truly amazing. I loved the smell, the oil on my hands, the feel of the fibres, the way it was thick and knotty, but also soft and poofy like a cloud. Even the colours like chocolate in places all the way through the browns to palest cream. See I loved it so much it's made me all poetic! Anyway, I have more fleeces organised and so will be putting in dates for some spinning days on the website asap. Tomorrow I have to face my fear of the M6 and go fetch a new pottery wheel for the workshop. Not only does that motorway bring out irrational fear in me, but my stereo broke so it looks like the only sounds I'll hear all the way up and home again are my whimpers. Take care!

Howdy! Had another good day today. Two guys from the Observer came and had a chat with us about our recycled cycles project- keep an eye out for photos and story hopefully soon! It feels like it's strating to all come together now. It helps that today the sun was shining and making the canal sparkle too- everything looks so gorgeous in the sunshine. We also saw two swans there, so maybe there will soon be a nest!
We're gearing up for another Saturday in the workshop- trying to think up different easy, but cool crafts for children to do, and keep a good variety on offer to keep people interested. Also, Al Davison of Astral Gypsy came in to judge the alien competition, so I'll announce the winner on here and the website as soon as I've phoned the winner to let them know. Take care!

What a good day! Had a class in to do slip casting. It was brilliant, they all seemed really pleased with the results- it's definately not as easy as it looks, but it went so well! Then had the evening craft group, cup of tea, chocolate cake and ceramic painting. I usually do my knitting in the group, but I've had some orders for ceramics so got quite a lot done. I'll post some photos when they're finished. Also, Joab's brilliant idea- we made an ad board for his bike so that when he's going around on his bike, or has parked it up in town- he's advertising the workshop- stroke of genius!! Let me know if you'd want one- there's a picture on the website on the recycled cycles page. Anyway, have a nice evening, and speak soon. xx

Hi. It's been ages since our last post- mostly because we've spent the last few weeks getting the workshop up and running. It's a lovely place to work in, very peaceful, with a fantastic view of the canal and the boats as the pull in and out of the basin. We've managed to get a lot of our craft equipment in there so can offer a lot of variety to our customers! We have our our first class tomorrow- doing slip casting, so I'm very excited, it's lovely to share in the pleasure of creating something new, especially when it's a new craft to someone! I am really going to make a huge effort to keep the blog up to date now, so will let you all know how the class goes. Bye!!

...exciting news!!!

Well its been very busy between posts, we have finally signed our contracts and are due to move to our new workshop in the middle of january. We are hoping to be open in time for the beginning oif february and will be having an opening day- if you'd like to come drop us a line and we'll add you to the list. Over the next few weeks we'll be setting up and sending out infornation for all of the groups that we'll be running over the next year. Thoughts so far ae that we'll run groups on:

Knitting (adults and children)
Sewing
Crochet
Spinning
Weaving- Making and using your own loom
Gardening (for children)
Ceramic paintings
Pottery (mixed techniques)
Sugarcraft
Jewellery making
Recycled Crafts
Screen printing

The list isn't finalised yet so if there is anything you'd like to try let us know!