A Date with 11 Women!

Last year I felt very lonely in my crochet and yarn addiction, I wanted to meet more like minded sick women ;) and so after a few weeks Café Create was born! Galway’s first Stitch’n’Bitch Group,

Well what a beautiful day it turned out to be for our first group outing! The sun was shining and we were all ready for a great time, We met at the Menlo Hotel as this would be the pick up/ drop off spot for John our bus driver,

People attending were: Me (Neen), Aga, Elizabeth, Jacqueline, Anne, Ann, Siobhan, Julie, Kym, Yvonne, Kathleen and Maureen.

We all pilled on the bus eager to start our day...

Siobhan Sewing her summer hat

Ann and Elizabeth deep in conversation

We arrived in Turlough Park for the Feile Na Tuaithe festive at 12 noon, and I for one was so surprised by the sheer beauty of the surroundings, still waters boarded by woodlands – breathtaking.

Ann, Siobhan and Aga

Kym looking very Happy!

I was disappointed that there was not that many craft demonstration stands but the people there were very friendly and very helpful – Spinners, Corn Threshing, Pottery, Candle Making etc

Spinning with fresh sheep wool

Jacqueline with the drop spindle 

Traditional Rope Knotting

I was very happy to meet Ester Kelly and her wonderful patchwork projects; I also was delighted to pick up these adorable craft buttons from Willow Crafts and at only 2euro a bag a real bargain! When I met up with Anne, Julie and Kym we all laughed to see we had gotten the same buttons!

1.30pm Lunch time, Sitting on the grass we all dug into our food, we were so hungry! And Kym was so thoughtful to bring some homemade coconut bakes which was so yummy that I had two!

Kym's Coconut Bake

The group soon got separated and I was very happily left with Aga to wander around, this is when we found Lambs, a Lama, Calves, Chicks, and a Peacock! We took a walk around the lake, I loved kicking off my shoes and walking bare footed in the grass, where we sat for a short time, 

Art surrounded the grounds and was so interesting

we soon bumped into Elizabeth and Jacqueline (who was comfortably knitting standing beside a bin) it was then we heard she had lost her camera and thought it could have been in the bin, but it wasn’t and the camera wasn’t found L poor J!

Jackie and Liz wishing they had some swimsuits!

We decided to have a look see in the museum, and it was very ... much like any other museum, but what a surprise we got when on the second floor we stumbled upon a group The Connacht Textile Crafters, these are a group of women that meet once every second month to promote handmade crafting

A HUGE Spinning Wheel

Back into the sunshine and there was Siobhan very happy as she had just been kept busy by two men!! ;) No scandal here though one was teaching her the art of traditional rope knotting and the other how to do corn threshing! Or at least that’s what she told us ;) hehe

Siobhan and Me(see I was there!)

I also picked up a pack of buttons, hair clips, and a necklace from Derryaun Crafts,

Somehow I lost my companion Aga and so was on my own to take in the woodland around me and it was then that I found Lothar Mushketat with his pet Owl and HUGE Bald Headed American Eagle! also I walked through a with over hedge into the cutest herb garden where the lilac scented the air - beautiful!

I am very proud of this photo!

Soon it was close to the 5.30 pickup time and slowly we began our walk back to the main gate – where here before we climbed back on our bus we had a group photo taken.... I had such a wonderful day with these wonderful women J

Liz, Ann and Me

The Two Ann's

Yvonne and Siobhan

Jackie,Me,Ann,Siobhan,Aga,Kathleen,Yvonne,Liz
Anne,Kym,Julie,Marin 

Look what I got ...

My crafty friend Aga gave me one of her gorgeous wet felted flowers today at our stitch group, are'nt they amazing! Aga is a polish woman who has lived in Galway for many years (maybe thats because she loves the Irish weather;) hehe), to say that she is talented with her knitting needles is a HUGE understatement! this woman has created the most breathtaking shawls I have ever seen everyday ones and bridal ones, and one day I hope to own a Jagienka Original, which can be gotten from here>> http://www.etsy.com/shop/knitspinfelt or here>> http://en.dawanda.com/shop/knitspinfelt
as well as Knitting/ Spinning/ Felting/ Dying yarn I cant help but wonder is there anything this girl cant do? Thank you Aga for the lovely Pin, I love it!

Fetustard Inspired Hat

Morgan  and I have really been enjoying watching The Shaytards on YouTube, The Shaytards are: ShayCarl (The Dad), Kate (The Mom, who is pregnant with Fetustard) and then we have the adorable three children Sontard, Princesstard and Babytard - 

Communion Bag

I was commissioned to make this Communion Bag for a little girl in Australia from Ann her aunt. The pattern is my own and I think it turned out very pretty and simple, It was made with Pearl yarn, and in the center of each handmade flower is a hand stitched crystal. I hope she will like it

Patchwork and Hooking in Galway

On Saturday Morgan I went to see this patchwork exhibit in the city museum, everything was so beautifully put together, I really enjoyed looking at them all and loved them even more knowing that all works were made by people living in Galway and wanted to share them here with you :) The museum was very interesting and in many ways I was ashamed I had never visited before, I mean it is full of history of my home land! I enjoyed my time spent there and I know it wont be my last visit!

Also I called into PippaBlue  one of the best yarn/ material shop in Galway and the owner Ger, gave me this great huge hook as a gift! Ger and Eva have been wonderful over the year to me and the stitch group and  now I cant wait to start my broomstick lace :)