Sunday 23 November 2014

Didn't we have a lovely time at the Harrogate annual retreat :)

Yoooo Hooooo its me again .... yes another post soo soon ...lol I have just got back a few hours ago from the annual Knitting and Stitching show held at Harrogate (UK) and boy do I need some new feet ..lol, any hooo pull up a chair grab your brew ... there may be some cookies left in the tin ...and enjoy the post :)
Thursday dawned bright and early ... well more early than bright but hey at least it wasn't snowing ...I packed the mouse mobile and tootled off to go and pick up Roz and Chris my companions for the journey as they were just going for the day I said come with me and save yourselves from setting off earlier and two trains to get there ... well I had fun trying to find Roz as I am not sure if the sat nav had a sense of humor or that I put it in wrong ! but find her I did, after a wee phone call and directions I picked her up and we headed on our way to Chris's and then onto Harrogate via the fog on route .... we actually made good time and I dropped them off near to the venue before I tootled off to find our house for the next few days (mine , Ally's , Sandra's and Maureen). I managed to park outside the house doing a parallel park for the first time in years and it wasn't a bad attempt either heheheheh...
I popped my stuff in and then tootled down to meet Ally and pass her the keys so that she could get in and wait for Sandra before coming down to the show later ...in the mean time I bobbed into the show and found Chris and Roz  and Kate and also Sally   and her DH ... Sally was truly impressed with the show and was as giddy as a kid in a sweet shop ..lol I arranged for her to come back to the house later on that night for a cuppa and a natter too so that she could show her goodies and I could do the same .....before we parted ways to carry on shopping ... then while I was talking to another Kate ....Kate  from Sparklies .... my phone rang and Gill was right behind me ... Gill is also Sally's friend and had spotted me and wanted to make sure it was me ...lol so we passed a pleasant few minutes chatting before we parted ways too and I made my way from Sparklies after buying a couple of pieces as you do to Jane Greenoff's stall to purchase my major thing on my list .... this piece which I will show you later in the photos was one I wanted last year but hummmed and ahhhh'd as it is rather on the expensive side but as I said to my friends I still want it after all this time ... I am going to get it ... and I did ... Bill kindly held onto it until the end of the night when it was time for me to go home :) I found a few other bits and my bag at the end of the night was a wee bit full heheheh .... 
We decided that we weren't cooking that night when we got back to our wee house and called for a Chinese which was rather scrummy and we had just finished when Sally and her DH called round for the cuppa ... sooo we had a lovely few hours chatting and sipping tea and drooling over purchases's we had made that day :)
Friday dawned rather wet but that didn't dampen our spirits and we  tootled back down to the show ....I ended up helping Trudy Ann one of the lovely exhibitors at the show as the day before she had had some stuff taken from her stall and it got rather busy with customers while I was browsing sooo I did my good deed for the week and served a few for her :) 
Friday tea time we had invited Sheila(one of friendly stitcher members who was there too ) as well as Kate from Sparklies to tea and we had a wonderful night .... we served Spaghetti bologna and Eton Mess our way ..lol .... when they had gone on their merry way back to their pads for the week we got out some stitching and stitched into the early hours of the morning ... in fact I finished a wee ornament ... yes you read that right I stitched and finished something heheheh .....I am surprised that we actually got any done as we were laughing all night and I can't remember what about ...lol 
Saturday was a bit of the show and a bit of the town ... we managed to visit Duton's for Buttons, Samuel Taylors and the Remnant House as well as take some photos of the lights decorating the trees around Harrogate .... and we even stitched Saturday night too ...I was on a roll .....
Today only Sandra and I went back into the show as Maureen had an early train to catch and Ally an early bus .... we tootled round the show and as it wasn't as packed managed to get to look at all the stalls as well as go down into the Hall's underneath and see the costumes on display .....soon it was time for us to part too and go on our merry ways ....and I can safely say that this year was pretty good ...lol and looking forward to next years now and I had better start saving my pennies up :)
I have taken piccies of my stash but I can't show you all of it as some of it is for prezzies for peeps ...but I hope you like what I can show you :) I am looking forward to using the charts/ fabric and trims and know what I am going to use them with etc etc etc etc .... 
ok the kettle has just boiled again sooo tea, coffee ???
International halls Harrogate


Eaton Mess our way

Maureen , Kate, Ally, Sandra and Sheila :)

stitchy progress

Walk down to the show 

love this :)

Maureen photo bombing 

Hall M of the show the only one I could get a photo in :)

view over looking Harrogate from the town centre


taking the lights 



bit of stash

and a bit more

and some more

my big purchase :) 

seee I did stitch :)

Kate from Sparklies stall :)

students work in Hall E

Jane Greenoff and Sue Hawkins having a rare five mins :)
Sew there you have it .... my adventures of Harrogate Stitching show again over for another year ... Master Bentley is bopping me to get him some more food ... he is rather pleased for me to be back ....
hoping to get more stitching done now my mojo has come back from its walk .....so that I can show you progress photos next time :)
take care one and all and happy stitching :) till next time :) love mouse xxxxxx

33 comments:

Jacqueline Morris said...

WOW!! no another I think! WOW!!
Goodness! Looked like you and your friends had a marvelous time.
The show looks AMAZING .. I bet loads and loads of things to look at too...
Ooooh your new stash items look brilliant too.
OH MY!! You saw Jane Greenoff?? WOW! I have some of her books :)
Happy stitching :)
Smiles :)

Michelle said...

Glad you had a nice time - I thought the stitching side of it was smaller this year - a friend has commented on my blog post to say she thought the same too. I also have one of Jane's Carousels - I saw it at her house when Kath and I went there a few years ago for her Christmas stitching day. They are cute although sad to say mine is still in its undressed state x

Rhona said...

Oh my....what wonderful new stash! Can't wait to see what you do with the stitchers carousel...it's gorgeous (slightly green with envy here!!!) Glad you had such a good time.

Robin said...

Oh my gosh! That is more than a bit of stash! It looks and sounds like it was a wonderful time. Aren't retreats the best! Can't wait to see your work on your big purchase....me thinks it looks like something I may want.

Ps. Love the photo bomb. I have to remember to do that to someone

Jennifer M. said...

You certainly came home with a lot of goodies! I would love to go to a show like that. Glad you had a good time.

Maggee said...

Wow! What a great post Mouse! It looks like another great trip for you and your buddies! You acquired quite a bit of stash and it all looks great! You SHOULD have enough to last till next year eh? Thanks for sharing! I REALLY want to stitch ornies but I am almost finished with a project for Christmas which has to be framed! Yours look great! Big hugs!

Tricia T said...

Oh, it looks like you had SO much fun!!! Enjoy all your new goodies! : )

Linda said...

Love your new stash. Looks like you had a great time.

Linda

Margaret said...

Squeeeee! Thanks so much for sharing with us!!! I've been hearing about the Harrowgate show from both stitchers and knitters and I so wish I were there! lol! No such luck. I'm not even in the UK. sigh. I love seeing the pics, and the stash, and your big purchase -- nice!!!!!

Jackie's Stitches said...

It looks and sounds like a marvelous time! Great stuff in your "bit" (ha!) of stash that you've acquired!

CalamityJr said...

Ooh, what fun! Love all your pictures and am only a wee bit jealous :). Glad you had such a great time.

Thoeria said...

Oh man Ms Mouse....you sure do know how to make a poor soul drool!! I'd say thats a tad more than a wee bit of stash!Sooooo jealous! :D
Glad you ladies had fun:)

butterfly said...

Oh Mouse , what fun , love all your wonderful goodies
Good for you not holding back .
You will be able to play all winter .
Enjoy them all and can't wait to see some wonderful work hugs.

Annette-California said...

oooh WOW!!! What a lovely time you had. All you ladies got to shop, visit and stitch. Pure heaven! And you got the carousel kit - ooooh my!!! Lovely stash and beautiful stitching you got done. Love both designs. Great post & photos.
love Annette

Melanie said...

I went to the show on Saturday and it was fab, lots of new stash bought. Glad you had a great time.

Sally said...

Wow you certainly got lots more lovely stash than when I saw you on Thursday! Lol! It was great to see you again and to get to meet Sandra, Ally, Kate and Kate Sparklies! I loved the show and when I got home I wished I'd picked up more bits so I've been Internet shopping for a couple I couldn't get and for a couple I wished I'd got! Hehe! I am hoping to go again next year too.

Is that the new LK mystery I see there?

Vickie said...

Oh wow! You really found great things. And many great things. ;)

Denise SA said...

So glad you enjoyed yourself and so envious of your stash that I am drooling

Julie said...

What a fun weekend, a few names I recognise that you met up with.
Lots of nice new stash, your big purchase it lovely, looking forward to seeing that all made up.

KimM said...

Oh my goodness!! What a delightful time! I would have been like a child in a candy store. Love your stash - and your big purchase. Fun, Fun!
xxx

Sarah in Stitches said...

Wow, it looks like you had an amazing time! Great stashing, too. Beautiful stitching! :D

Melanie said...

Hi Mouse
Love your post on the stitching show. I went on Friday and Sunday and had a lovely time. Looks like we visited similar stands. I also bought a lovely project from Jane, the scissor stand, looking forward to starting that soon. I spied the new LK mystery chart in your stash. DH has bought that for me for Christmas, loving the colours and buttons. Enjoy your stitching x

The Inspired Stitcher said...

Oh what a fun time you had! I sure wish I was there with you. I've not had Eaton Mess but it looks divine! Love all the stash goodies too and I can see why that Jane Greenoff goodie haunted you for so long. It would have me too. Thanks for sharing your grand adventure.

Beth said...

How wonderful that so many of you traveled to the show and were able to meet and eat and talk and have fun together! I think that your stash will last through all the many long winter nights ahead and provide you with all the reasons you need to keep plugging away on your new craft room! Wow!

Carol said...

What fun to meet up with fellow stitchers at that great show! I'm a tad envious (okay, more than a tad!) at all that new stash you brought home, Mouse--enjoy!!!

Andrea said...

So glad you had a good time, it seems everyone did who I've read about. A lovely stash haul. Absolutely love the Jane Greenhoff piece. Looking forward to seeing that one develop. Beautiful photos of Harrogate too. Enjoy your rest it certainly sounds like you need one!

Roz said...

Brill time eh Ms Mouse. Roll on next year, I've started my savings already. must have spent a small fortune, so have to save that much again. Mind you £162.99 on Jane Greenoff's stand made a BIG dint in my money, but well worth while, especially as I rejoined the Cross stitch Guild, so received my 10% off, plus another £8. :)

Kaisievic said...

Wow! The show looks amazing and I love all your pics of Harrogate - it looks so pretty! Thank you so much for sharing with us all. Thanks for the cuppa and the bickies too.

Cricket-bug Corner said...

Oh what fun! Thanks for sharing pics so we could see your neck of the woods decorated!

Jo who can't think of a clever nickname said...

What an amazing weekend! You look like you had so much fun. Renting a house is a great idea, so much cheaper and more cosy than hotel rooms. And you can make as much chatting noise as you like without waking other guests LOL.

Amazing stash too, love the Jane Greenoff carosel. I want to see that stitched next year.

rosey175 said...

Oh I love the Christmas lights (although so early :b) and wow so little stash? Tsk tsk you must be slacking off some LOL. This looks like it was an amazing show and you had a ton of fun. Not being on that side of the puddle, stitching stuff doesn't get nearly enough showing off here! Love seeing your pictures. :D

Jayne said...

Oh boy I think I was very restrained at the show didn't buy too much I did buy a storage unit on the really useful box stand that has yet to be delivered, but I did go home and think about it first and ordered it the next day, I live in Harrogate and I have not yet seen the lights!.
Have you been on any of Jane Greenoffs weekends or holidays as we may have met ?

Karoline said...

Sounds like you all had a great time and got some gorgeous stash!