Glastonbury

I went to Glastonbury in Somerset for a day trip last week. I had never been before and friends said it was an interesting place to visit. It is steeped in history probably the most famous been its connections to Camelot and King Arthur.
The high street has many old buildings made of stone (I like stone so many beautiful tones and textures), there are lots of interesting, quirky and colourful shops to wander around. The place has an atmosphere I can't really describe, you have to visit the place to experience it. I hope if I return to see some more of the local places of interest like the Chalice Well Gardens with it flowing red water.
Here are some of my photos of the High Street and nearby Abbey

Midnight Cat does Damask

This weeks Spoonflower.com contest is Cat Damask here's the information that was given for entries - "This week we're asking designers to come up with damask-inspired prints that incorporate illustrations of cats. Previews will be sized as quarter yards (21" x 18") “

This is my entry "Midnight Cat does Damask", can you see the damask shaped cat-head?

http://www.spoonflower.com/fabric/3502190

There are 320 entries this week, you can vote for as many or as few entries as you like or just have a look, no need to sign in or join to vote. Note: you have to go all the way down to the end entry to confirm your vote/ s. To see them all and vote here's the link

http://www.spoonflower.com/contest_voters_temp/new?contest_id=270

International Crochet Day 2014

It's IDC or International Crochet Day today, ICD was created 7 years ago to promote crochet, what are you doing to celebrate :)
What will you do?
Here's a few ideas
- teach a friend to crochet
- crochet out in public
- read crochet bloggers posts and leave a comment to encourage them:)
- crochet a small gift for a friend
- try a different crochet style (broomstick, hairpin, filet)
- try a new stitch
- crochet with a different material (wire, recycled plastic, string)
- sort through your yarn stash (I so need to do this!!)
- visit Jimbo on his blog who created ICD, he has an excellent competition to win one of his beautiful hand craved hook (I won one several years ago and have purchased one also) at http://jimbosfrontporch.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/international-crochet-day-approaches.html

So to celebrate I am posting the mini version of my I ♥ 1 bookmark, follow the grid or follow the symbol chart below.

Starting at bottom of pattern chart, chain 28

Chain 3 to turn which will count as first double crochet of first row.

Treble crochet (UK)/ Double crochet (USA) in 5th chain from hook. Treble crochet (UK)/ Double crochet (USA) in next 2 chains to

complete bottom right solid square of pattern.

Continue following pattern for the first row reading the graph right to left. After completing first row, chain 3 to turn to start next row. 

Continue following graph until all rows are complete.

At end of row 31 fasten off.

I have some tips on decreasing in filet crochet on a previous post here at Christmas Gift Tag  

And here's some links to previous pattern I posted for ICD
ICD 2009 - Red flower
ICD 2010 - I love crochet bookmarks (2 of them) also available free as a pdf via ravelry
ICD 2011 - Hearts Bookmark
ICD 2012 - A spiral flower pattern


Have a HAPPY INTERNATIONAL CROCHET DAY :)

Summer snaps

Its so nice to get out of the city and breath in some fresh air,
take a walk and snap some photos.

Its also great that this summer we have had lots of sunny bright days in contrast to the extremely wet winter and spring.

So here are some of my holiday snaps.