Thing to do, places to go people to see

MEET-UPS

PIN ‘N’ NEEDLES. FOX & FIRKIN. 316 LEWISHAM HIGH ST, LEWISHAM, SE13 6JZ.

http://Facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=151763751381 Twitter: foxpinsnneedles

I’ve been going to this group for a few months, & I adore it.  I was a bit apprehensive about going to a pub, as i’ve experienced some shocking dives in my time, but Fox’s interior with it’s sparkly chandeliers, art work, friendly staff, wifi (& the white wine spritzer & pizza’s good too), makes going there, a great mid-wee treat!  The originators of the club, are nice ladies (I used to work with one of them), & they are on hand to the complete novice to advanced knitter/crocheter/crafter, to give advice, help & lessons.  ALL r welcome, it’s not just for women or ‘grannies’ but I know how to crochet a mean Granny Square!

COOPER LOCKE GALLERY. 132 HITHER GREEN LANE, HITHER GREEN. LONDON

I was told about this (new) gallery cafe, by a fellow pub knitter.  The owner manager has food & pastries for people like me, who have dietary restrictions, and she has a weekly knit group on Wednesday mornings from 10.30am – 12.30pm.  I’m not 100% sure about these times, so check out their Facebook page for more info.  There’s a website, but nothing’s on it, yet.

I’ve not been able to go there, so can’t really review it, but if you have, or know someone who has, please feel free to let us know.

PELTON ARMS, EAST GREENWICH.  WEDNESDAYS FROM 7.30PM. www.susieatthecircus.typepad.com

A drop-in for knitters & crocheters, in a relaxed atmosphere, which is good for beginners & experienced alike.  I have a friend who’s a fellow peg loom weaver & Ravelry addict, who put me on to this.  However, I also have a group on Wed nite, but may go there, for a change.  I’ll get my friend to review it, then i’ll post it for you to read.

SHOP FRONT

THE VINTAGE TEA PARTY

I was being lazy, so decided to cut n paste the info for this great day, from the internet:

For more information please check out www.vintageteaparty.webs.com

Date: Saturday 20th November 2010

Time: 7pm-10.30pm

Venue: St Swithun’s Church, Hither Green Lane, Hither Green, SE13 6QE (opposite The Co-Op)

A nostalgic evening celebrating all that is chintzy and fabulous!

The evening promises to be fun and frivolous with an emphasis on all things vintage.

Local businesses are signed up and raring to go, even Cath Kidston has given a donation!

Come along for a huge swap party, tea and cake served by pin-ups, tea dancing and music, a baby sale, raffle, bunting workshop, mosaic making, knitting, sewing, art class, strawberries and cream, massage and nails and so much more.

Tickets are £15 each – please bring a friend or two

They’ll be a few of us from Pins ‘N’ Needles, who will be there on the nite: Anna will be teaching knitting, Ellen – fascinators & headbands & i’ll be teaching crochet.  Let’s get together to support Helen & Bliss.

 

LEWISHAM WINTER CRAFT FAIR. SUNDAY 28TH NOVEMBER 2010. FOX & FIRKIN PUB, 316 LEWISHAM HIGH ST, SE13

I think this is the first craft fair @ the Fox & Firkin, and some of us from the Wednesday club will be there, buying, selling & supporting.  I’ll be there selling my wares, & I think there maybe some tables/stalls left, if your interested in taking part.  Ellen’s the girl to contact or The Fox & Firkin (see Pins ‘N’ Needles above).

CRAFT FAIR.  PELTON ARMS, (near the Thames), EAST GREENWICH.  SUNDAY 5TH DECEMBER 2010. www.susieatthecircus.typepad.com

I’m not sure if i’ll be able to do this one, as I don’t think i’ll have enough stock for it, plus I may be working the day before.If you’re interested, contact Susie John’s, above, for more information.

That’s all for now so until the next time.

Peace & Love

Glammamamma x

Hello world!

I’m not going to give out too much personal information, as that’s the way I want it, for now.  A little mystery’s good for the soul!

I’ve been creating, making & crafting for about 7 years +, and have not stopped! I’m a qualified tutor and teaching assistant, and have worked with young children, teenagers, older adults and special education needs.

I have no recollection of mum teaching my sis & I to knit or crochet, but remember trying to sew a girls’ frilly dress on an old Singer sewing machine, with the turning handle.  It had many mistakes, & I think it sold for £1!  My sister was better at machine sewing.  I always remember mom’s stool with the removable lid, which would house all the buttons in the world, just trying to pick a button, was an all day event, but such fun!

I did a City & Guilds course at university, & shared a stall with a fellow student @ Portobello Market, then some time later, I had a stall @ Old Spitalfields Market, especially with a friend for Alternative Fashion Week.

John Lewis had 1 hr classes at their Oxford St branch, & I did a crochet & embroidery class, and would buy books to teach myself the crafts I was interested in, so you could say i’m self-taught.

The same went for bead loom weaving.  I had already bought a loom, but didn’t know how to use it, despite the written instructions, as i’m more of a visual learner.  Then I saw a show on a shopping channel, blew the dust off the loom, & off I went!  Off-loom bead weaving is good too, but those loose ends are a bugger to weave in at the end, you think you’ve finished, then you see all those ends, so like knitting & crocheting, I weave in the ends as I go.  Trust me, it saves time.

Those who know me, know I frequent charity shops, for old and vintage patterns to knit and crochet.  I love any pattern pre or post war, and have a jolly old time, trying to work out ounces into grammes, as yarn was sold by the weight, also, I recommend a needle conversion chart.  It’s not the first time i’ve confused an old 8 and a new 3mm needle or hook!

Apart from charity shops, street markets are great places to hunt down the old knitting & crochet books.  Try not to laugh at the finished product or models pointing to a mountain on a painted back drop, just think of the techniques, that’s all you need.  OK, a discreet giggle at some of the photos!

A few months ago, I taught myself to (dry) needle felt, spin my own yarn, and recently, I learnt how to weave on a peg loom.

It’s been a journey, which i’ve enjoyed, and which I will continue to use throughout my creative crafting life!

You can contact me via my email.  You can see some of my work & contact me via Ravelry: http://www.ravelry.com/people/bigbagmomma1 plus more  pics on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/glammamamma/

TEACHING: Want to learn to knit or crochet?  I’m available for one to one or group sessions.  I can be contacted via email or via my Ravelry page.   Sessions are a minimum of 1 hour, with no set maximum time, for the moment.

So, until the next time.  Keep crafting.