My Fashionable Life: You are blessings, every one

July 05, 2006

You are blessings, every one

This is a temporary blanket thank-you to you all for your continued support and encouragement.

Rather busy here, with plans, and life. I went to Woolfest with a favourite aunt, but didn't come away with any yarn. I did snap up some beautiful ebony needles from Scottish Fibres. Auntie bought an entire Teesdale fleece, with long silky ringlets, and almost a drum carder too. We went to a lecture with Sasha Kagan, which was very interesting and threw in relief my own interests and priorities when designing (Sacha said she is very interested in pattern and colour, less interested in shapes). We stayed here, and my room with a view looked out over a paddock where lives a five-week-old foal! I do not need to tell you how adorable.

There was a great deal of driving up and down mountain passes, and round and round on wiggling roads. I'd never been to the lakes before and it was a balm for flyblown* eyes. There were orchids, and valerian, so many foxgloves, water forget-me-notes, crystal-clear streams, pineapple-weed, ragged robin, dog roses, a walk in a downpour, ospreys, wheat-ears, swallows, peculiar placenames, Crofton cheese. Also many other points of interest and educational value which I can't at the moment recall. And those vistas of green, mountains, rolling hills, little pastures and stone walls, stone houses and the water. The aunt is good company. And would you believe (of course you would) that I didn't even take my camera? It was rather difficult to come back to stifling and grimy old London, post World Cup defeat, after all that fresh air.

* ref You, by Dennis O'Drisoll, to read here (scroll down)

Posted by Anna at July 5, 2006 10:59 PM

Comments

What a totally delightful time you must have had! So glad for you. Personally, I find your interest in shape to be one of the great parts of your designs!

Posted by: Birdsong at July 6, 2006 12:15 AM

Yes, wasn't Cumbria looking beautiful. I too went from stifling London to refreshing Woolfest - and also bought ebony needles from Scottish Fibres. And some yarn...

Posted by: Brigid at July 6, 2006 12:21 AM

It was my first time in the Lakes as well. It's rather a shock to the system to come back to London isn't it? I looked at the ebony needles also, but they didn't have any in the size I wanted...

Posted by: Mary at July 6, 2006 01:32 AM

I am so thrilled that your time was so FAB!

You might not have had a physical camera, but I've always said that the best pix in the world are taken with your heart.

Posted by: knittingnurse at July 6, 2006 02:26 AM

Color over shape? Interesting. Now I'll have to take a closer look at her designs and see how that comes through. Your travels sound beautiful!

Posted by: Cookie at July 6, 2006 05:10 AM

I'm really glad you had a good time. I wanted to go to Woolfest, but it's too far and I'm too busy. I've got tickets for Ally Pally in October; that will have to do. Are the needles from Scottish Fibres the ones from Germany? I'd love to try some to see if anything can wrench me away from my Addi/Inox circs.

Posted by: sarah at July 6, 2006 09:46 AM

I personally think that the shape of a design is the building block of a piece, if it's to be worn. I don't think shapeless designs look good on anyone, if anything they detract from beautifully decorated pieces. It's quite lazy of designers like Sasha Kagan not to take shape into account in an overall design.
What do you think Anna?
You talk about buying some beautiful wooden needles, I'm hankering after some from Lantern Moon.... Christmas isn't too far away.........
Do you know the blog 'making things'? If you don't I thought you might find it interesting, and the blog 'zephyr'.

Posted by: Vanessa at July 6, 2006 09:51 AM

Sometimes when you take a camera, you aren't living in the moment but rather saving for posterity. Sounds like you lived in the moment and loved it. I'm happy for you!

Posted by: lorinda at July 6, 2006 01:12 PM

Oh The Lakes. I love the district. I spent a time in Malvern Wells 32 years ago and other areas of the Lakes District. It felt like (Ontario's) the Muskoka area here but "tamer". Beautiful country.

Posted by: Leslie at July 6, 2006 03:15 PM

You DO have such a fashionable life! I'm living it vicariously...thanks!

Posted by: Dava at July 6, 2006 09:05 PM

I put myself squarely in the Sasha camp. Not that shape and fit don't matter, but for me they are the structure for colour and pattern.

Posted by: B. at July 7, 2006 04:51 PM

Can't believe you didn't buy any yarn! It was fabulous though, wasn't it? Did you see the angora bunnies?
Am off to buy yarn for Bridie and The Hat. Thank you!

Posted by: Victoria at July 7, 2006 07:11 PM