Olympia!

Well now I have returned from Olympia and have slept and had the opportunity to review the day here is all the news and the views (and pictures!). Essentially the show is much as it was last year, just slightly bigger. There were, as always, a fair few stands selling uncraft related tat (such as pillows and old lady clothes) but generally a good mixture. The focus is very much on stitching and cross stitch in particular but the first floor did have a good number of stands for card making and knitting.

The exhibitions were OK - interesting to see the cross stitch designer's stands and the winners of the scrapbook competition were very good but the knitted wedding display was all of about 5 photos and there was nothing to match last year's tapestry display.

I do think the embroiderers guild coloured blocks were fantastic though.

This year I think the reason I really went was for the classes and workshops which are still excellent and very good value although I think you have to choose carefully. I went for two from the Royal School of Needlework which were brilliant and then one called "off the sheep's back"!

The first RSN class was whitework (as in christening frocks) and it is really beautiful. We also have a project which we could actually finish in the alloted hour, and here it is:

It is actually white but to be able to see the crazy daisy I have to do a bit of camera trickery so it has come out grey!

The second class was silk shading and ta da:

It's a flower!

My spinning class was not successful encough to merit a photo but was also lots of fun!

I also acquired ten balls of pure alpaca in a gorgeous purply blue which I will use to knit myself a cable jumper just as soon as I find the right pattern! If anyone knows of any good patterns let me know!

Progress on most of my knitting has taken a bit of a hit as the colour for the main part of Carolina leaks all over my hands and needles and I have had to return it to John Lewis. Still in the meantime I have plenty of projects to keep me going including plotting for my Rowan Exchange and making a project spectrum project for April in orange or yellow - hmm time to get the thinking cap on!