Summer Sun and Crafting fun!

Yes!!!!! Schools OUT for summer! I have been looking forwards to enjoying the sound of my two little people playing in our wonderful local parks, splashing in the paddling pool and exploring the open spaces, Den building, my dining table covered with sequins, glue, cuttings and paint! Summer sun and Crafting awaits - including the popular craze of loom bands I imagine.

I have been thoroughly inspired by the Knit Wits, who have worked their magic and yarn bombed various parts of Wolverton, including the Square and the Community Orchard. The railings are entwined in crochet and knitted flowers, lamp posts are decorated in knitted panels, equisite metal flowers are poking through at the Orchard, with knitted flowers in the trees. Such wonderful colour and cheer! If you are local I thoroughly recommend a visit, it's truly inspiring.

Down at Knit, Natter & Stitch we have held our Annual AGM and now have voted in a new committee. Loads of Love, Hugs and thanks go out to Sue Myhill and Sandy Williams our outgoing joint Chair(s). They brought us Andy McDermott and his Pottery, Friends and Family MK and the jewellery Demo's, despite a very busy and hard year where their personal lives have been full on, both have been committed and worked hard at pushing KNS forwards into the wonderful community group that we love. We also thank Jason Myhill for his work as our Treasurer and Terri Henry who remains our Secretary.

So we have a new Treasurer... our lovely Judi Gale has stepped into this role with passion and enthusiasm and I have moved back into the Chair Role.

Our AGM showed our numbers are strong and we have a new committee to push forwards the plans and dreams we have for the group over the next 12 months. Lots to look forwards to over the coming year.

At our sessions, we have been enjoying some freedom over the past few weeks to play with our own projects. For a little while we haven't been up to our eyeballs in charity projects, as a group, with the exception of our wonderful Pat who speedily works up the lovely Prem baby hats and clothes with such love. Most of us have been busily working on our own little desires.

Change is as good as a rest they say, there has been a few crocheted blankets on the tables, gorgously colourful and mostly gifts. I love the corner to corner ones that Sue has been bringing in. There are a few projects of course that I can't mention as the gifts are still in progress and we wouldn't want to spoil the surprises.

Pascaline and Eleanor have been working on some gorgous pot holders, and after putting their heads together worked through some pattern errors and issues to create some lovely finished items.

Emmeline, one of our new junior members finished the hood on that scrummy blue hooded jumper - hopefully once she is back from her Uni visit we will see it all sewn up!

At our Stony Stratford session, this gorgeous tea cosy and bag created many an admirer and I am looking out for some gorgeous yarn to start a cosy of my own.

We also showed off our NEW complete KNS banner and enjoyed a slice of a naughty Vodka and lime cake... Nom Nom!

I love the Stony Library sessions, the members are lovely, we take over all the chairs upstairs and they have such lovely projects - so inspiring!

Keep Calm it's Summer and keep stitching!

Much Love,

Sarah Gates

KNS: Our brand of stitchery goodness expands! Stony Library sessions are go!

It has been an exciting and eventful couple of weeks over at KNS! So many wonderful things going on and lots of lovely bright Mandalas have been cheering the tables.

First to the wonderful news that our first session in Stony Stratford Library was a big hit!!
We were swamped with new members who have also popped into our New Bradwell session as once a month is clearly not enough. New friends were made and Judi showed us all how to create a colourful Mandala for the 2014 Yarndale Festival.

 

We were joined by little Evelyn and her mummy, who was knitting a pretty little cardigan. Evelyn was very interested in what we were all up to! showing us some lovely bright smiles.

There was so many of us, we will be taking over the library - our next session at the library is Tuesday 1st July 5:30-6:30pm, refreshments and cake included - just bring along your project.

 

 

Down at KNS we really enjoy seeing what crafts and projects our members have been busying themselves with. Tam's hobby is leatherwork, making bespoke purses which she sells. One of the best things about KNS is watching and admiring the work of others, being inspired to try something new. We sit together and help each other to try new things, give opinions and share successes.
Tam's purses are lovely and it's great to see how she puts them together.

 

 

A rather unusual project recently was this baby sock, bouquet for one of the Toddler Group mum's surprise baby shower. After our Monday evening session, a toddler group meet in the same room in the community centre. We leave the mums our left over cakes (if there is any- its often so yummy its gone!), some of our members attend the toddler group. The bouquet was made by rolling baby socks and attaching them to wood kebab sticks, with bars of chocolate and some yellow ducks. It was so much fun putting it together, we all chipped in with idea's of making it look this amazing and these are the results! What do you think?

 

 

 Eleanor has been busy making "George" - he is the cutest thing ever!

 

 

So our neighbours St James Church held the much awaited Craft and Flower Festival last weekend and as you know we have all been decorating letters to make our KNS banner in time to be displayed.

If you didn't make it to the festival I am about to treat you to some of the loveliest sights, the photographs really do not do justice to the scents and sounds experienced at this event.

 

 

 

 Live music filled our ears and the happy sight of flowery bunting in the churchyard, captured you from the start. The scent of stocks, roses, cake and tea drew you in from the entrance into a wonderful calm and peaceful atmosphere. There was something new and intriguing at every turn, the clever displays graceful and serene. There in the aisle hanging proud was our beautiful KNS banner!

What a wondrous sight, neatly stitched with a border and put together with such care and attention - Lesley Venneker should be very proud of organising this project and arranging for it to be displayed.

 

 

 

 I mean just look at it! totally gorgeous!

I've absolutely got to share the other lovely displays with you too.

Enjoy x

 

 

 Just a final reminder to members that our AGM will be held on Monday 30th June from 8pm and we will be discussing our upcoming 3rd birthday plans.

 

Happy Stitching

Sarah

XXX

Scrummy Cakeiness!

There's nothing better than stitch club cake! Our members take it in turns to get creative in the kitchen and bring along something scrummy for our evening of crafting.

Last night was not a disappointment in the slightest as four gorgeous cakes arrived to be fuel to our stitching, creating and inspiring.

 

 

 

So let me tell you about the cake! There was the Vodka and Lime Victoria sandwich (trial) by me, Weight Watchers Chocolate cheesecake from Maggie, Spiced apple ring cake by Lesley and Rhubarb crumble cake by Terri - all kinds of awesome on the table to be washed down by lashings of tea, coffee or fruit teas. This beautiful load definitely got our creative juices going as you will see - there was so many things going on around the table I don't know where to start.

 

So this yesterday evening we welcomed Tam, whom Eleanor and I met recently and was hugely impressed by her leatherwork purses. Tam's creations are simply stunning and we all loved seeing her working on this heart studded pink leather.

 

 

Steph is working on her A5 piece towards the art installation organised by Jane Charles. I love the buttons on the trees and we all loved the delicate stitching.

 

 

Judi has been busy hooking these colourful Mandala's for Yarndale 2014. Last year members from our group contributed crocheted bunting for the Yarndale festival and this year Lucy from colourful and inspiring Attic 24 blog is calling for Mandala's for a planned Art installation.

I defy anyone not to be cheered or inspired by these lovely 7inch circles of delight. Find out more here: http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/2014/05/mandalas-for-yarndale.html

 

 

Talking of crochet, there was plenty going on at KNS this week, with a skill share, some bunting by Kate and Helen was working on this sweet little Dream Catcher. Sue was working on a lovely point to point blanket, from the Crochet Addict site.

 

 

 

I love walking around the group to sneak pictures of what your all up to, this week was soo exciting! Lynda and Sarah were knitting away their pieces are very intricate and colourful - we do love bright and happy at KNS. Sarah was finishing her tea cosy and Lynda had her Wool Against Weapons panel.

 

 

 

Banner Time Update: news in from this weeks session - the last two letters have been allocated and we have another week until Monday 26th, that these need to be in by.

 

So check this cheeky little lot out!

 

 

This is my letter, using a pattern from Cross Stitch Crazy Magazine

 

This is Katherine's Piece all done!

 

This is Beverley's lovely letter

 

Sue's piece is done.

 

I believe this is Kate's lovely beaded knitted piece - how cool and it really reflects the recent jewellery demo.

 

And this is Eleanor's finished piece.

 

Can you imagine how amazing this banner is going to be?  I can't wait to see it hung up finished in church for the flower and craft festival on 14/15th June - were all very excited!

 

Keep up that stitching,

Sarah Gates

It's BANNER time! like Hammer time but with stitching and no dodgy trousers!

Calling all Knit, Natter and Stitchers!!!!!

It's BANNER time! yes the Craft and Flower Festival at St James Church is rapidly approaching and we need to start gathering in our pieces to be stitched together.

This week at KNS we saw the first pieces appear and take their places on our new Club banner.
The banner will be displayed on the weekend of the 14/15th June inside the Church as part of their festival and afterwards displayed at the club for us all to enjoy.

 

This project was initiated by our lovely Lesley Venneker, all our members have jumped to the challenge and the worked hard to portray the crafts we know and love that represent KNS.

The pieces that have arrived so far are absolutely gorgeous and full of detail.

 

 

      Judi Gale has made this Superb piece for our banner - Love the delicate stitching of the K.
                                                              Thank you so much Judi x

 

 This is the awesome piece Maggie Cooper - love the little balls of wool and needles, thanks Maggie x

         And this is Lesley Venneker's Gorgeous piece - love the buttons! thanks Lesley x
      
There are lots of other lovely pieces waiting to go on and the grand final assembly, if you haven't already been given a letter to decorate and want to be involved please do speak to us at group on Monday as we have a couple of letters left and our deadline approaches fast!

Don't forget you can always produce additional craft or flower pieces to be displayed at the festival, please come and see me and I can give you more information. After the hugely successful Christmas Tree Festival in December it is bound to be another wonderful community event.

So what else has been happening at our group you may ask?
There has been some exciting developments this week! We meet in a beautiful listed old School Building that was designed by G E Street in 1860, there are some great historic pieces of architecture which needs preserving and repair. Now as New Bradwell Community Centre, the building committee has been working hard to get funds committed to repairing damage to the roof and finally this week this work has started. There has been some developments in our kitchen, new tiles and some bright new paintwork! its all going on.

And in addition to the building repairs and works we have been preparing for our Annual AGM meeting, which will take place on Monday 30th June at 8pm during our normal session. Knit, Natter & Stitch is a community group which replies on its members to form a committee to keep the club running, organised and we need you and your great idea's!
Please come along and support the group, we welcome new members on the committee - new idea's and fresh points of view.

Lastly this brings me to the plans for our 3rd Birthday celebrations! Come on everyone, as we need to start preparations at the AGM for our birthday plans. Last year we did our summer stitch along for SANDS and had a fundraising party with the Disciples of Gonzo, a local band play for the event. We even had a visit from the MK Major!

So get those thinking caps on folks!

Much Love,
Sarah Gates

Another one bites the dust! 6 week Jewellery course delights and challenges!

Over the past few weeks we have enjoyed the weekly company of Wayne from Friends and Family MK. We have arrived to our sessions with only one question on our minds, "what sparkly thing will I be making tonight?" Wayne has joined us each week since the Jewellery making demo and taught our members key skills for making jewellery, our members adore the pieces they have lovingly crafted over the past few weeks and amongst applause this last session before Easter produced just as beautiful results.

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At KNS we love to try our creative hands at something new, a challenge and over the coming weeks are working on a new project - the KNS Banner. Lesley is heading up this project and many of us have chosen a section of the banner - a Letter, to create, craft and decorate ready for the upcoming flower and craft festival at St James Church. Lesley started us off with the below:

 

 

I can't wait to see how this banner comes along and am cracking on with my contribution nicely.

 

KNS is more than just demonstrations, our regular members have been working on some stunning crafts, I'd like to share a few with you.... but wait a minute! You don't have to be old hat at any craft to come and join us, are you learning something new? unsure how to work a certain stitch or finish off your first ever knitted project? Just come along to the session and we will have a room full of people bursting to help you out.

 

 

 

And finally we are delighted to welcome to our fold our youngest EVER member! Baby Coral Nina Hayle with proud mummy Barbara... Congratulations to Barbara and Tony, Elisabeth and Nathan from everyone at KNS, we hope you liked your flowers and little gift.

 

 

Much Love
Sarah Gates
x