Beaker Button Blog

This week we were joined by two more people.  Elaine shaped her first piece into a bag front.  Helen added more to her cushion and I began filling out the back of my jacket.  Debbie, one of our new people, was content to make a hexagonal Granny Square and marvel at the blissful fun of using natural fibres (she's been forced into using a lot of acrylic lately poor thing.  She was even impressed at how the yarn pulls effortlessly from the centre of the ball).  Sarah started small but has taken hers home so it'll be the size of Belgium in no time.  Can't wait for next week. Debbie Elaine   Mine Sarah Helen

We had our second scumble class last night.  I cannot tell you how liberating it is to do something that is just for me, without having to follow a pattern.  Helen and Elaine seem to be finding it equally liberating.  We are all progressing well, and by the end of the session we had a rough idea what our individual pieces are turning into.  Of course that may change, which is half the fun! Elaine's Helen's Mine

Here is the second of the little people.  Milo is a very friendly lion and won't bite, as long as you feed him marshmallows every day and treat him nicely.  For whoever picks him up here is his story. Milo was a very little lion when he lost his parents.  He wandered off one day, searching for trouble like little lions do, and when he came home his whole pride had gone, leaving all their things behind (not that lions have much obviously, just the odd bit of nicely shaped bone that reminds them of their best hunt, or the small round pebbles they happened to come across while strolling to the river for a drink, that sort of thing).  Milo was terribly upset at losing his parents, and all his friends.  He lay down near his mothers pile of stones and his fathers pile of bones and cried himself to sleep.  When he woke the next morning he still had no idea what he was going to do.  A little lion on his own was in a lot of danger, from predators, and fl...

I made a little person today.  My first.  He had a tag round his neck saying 'please take me home, I'm all yours'.  I left him in the post office.  It was a wrench, more than I was expecting if I'm honest.  I'm curious to know what becomes of him.  If you are the person who picked him up here is his story. Once upon a time there was a bear called Claude.  He was a brave and resourceful bear but he had one flaw.  He had fallen in love with the Princess Maud, daughter of the King.  Of course Claude had no chance of ever marrying Princess Maud.  He was a lowly knight, beneath the notice of the Royal family.  This, however, didn't deter him from trying to impress Maud.  He would fight harder than any of the other knights in tournaments.  He would hunt farther than any of the King's best hunters.  He was the fastest and bravest of knights.  At last Princess Maud asked him to tea in her rooms and as she talked ...

We had our first scumble class last night. I thought I'd share the results of our endeavours. There is nothing like having a table full of yarn, and no pattern! Can't wait for next week. Who needs a comfort zone! The problem is I want to play with mine now, and I have proper work to do.

I have been meaning to post this lot for such a long time.  We've had a busy month in the shop, what with Wool for the Wall  and commissioned work.  I'll let the photos speak for themselves but I love seeing what my customers make. March Competition winner Shirley's Dorset Button Belt  Bobbie's toddler dress in Artesano superwash  Thursday craft club (in the sun, remember the sun?)  Hazel and her socks and her new spinning wheel  Elaine taking a breather  Natalia's cat hat  Sandra's slub (deliberate obviously)  Mum's crochet dream Elaine (again) with her Dorset Button Necklace

I've always loved Old Wardour Castle in Wiltshire.  I played there as a child and now I take my child, and I still play.  This weekend Alex and I visited Wardour to see Robin Hood and his Merry Men.  I took my sword and bow and arrows, Alex took his sword, bow and arrow, shield and helmet.  He looked very Norman I have to say, and quite warlike, although he informed me we were Viking marauders.  There wasn't that much difference between Vikings and Normans I suppose.  We spent the day running round the castle having sword fights (where he mostly ran backwards out of reach, slippery little weasel!) and hunting various family members.  We listened to tales of Robin Hood and had a go at archery.  He hit a pigeon (a plastic one I hasten to add) and I shot my arrow though a hoop.  I'm guessing that he would be better able to feed us and I could ward off any attacking hoops!  We hunted outlaws this afternoon and were issued with an official p...