The most wonderful time of the year!
Woodlands Farm Apple Day
It’s time for the annual Apple Day at Woodlands Farm. A great opportunity to browse craft and food stalls, buy great selection of British apples and try some home made apple juice. There will also be tractor and trailer rides and other children’s activities. A fun day for the whole family!
www.thewoodlandsfarmtrust.org
Spring Fair 2024
Southbank Christmas Market
I will take part this wonderful Christmas Market on Sunday 19th November. Come and say hello!
Exhibition - SCAR at House of Smalls
I am delighted to be part of the upcoming exhibition “SCAR” at the House of Smalls in Chipping Campden between 8-22 April.
The House of Smalls, Cambrook Court, High Street, Chipping Campden, Glos GL55 6AT
@thehouseofsmalls
New Knitting Patterns available at Ravelry
We are really excited to have finished the patterns for the Beanie hat and matching wrist warmers. We named the design ‘Kotipolku’ which means ‘the path home’ in Finnish.
This is a perfect set for the ever-changing spring weather.
‘Kotipolku” Beanie Hat
Patter available now
Warm and practical wrist warmers. Get your pattern www.ravelry.com @woolxchange
Kotipolku Wrist Warmers
Charity Knit November 2022 - January 2023
Autumn Wreath Workshop
The first of this autumn’s workshops at Made in Greenwich was a great success. I was joined by a wonderful group of people who were new to needle felting, although you could not tell by looking at the results. I think you would agree that the wreaths they made are absolutely gorgeous!
Next workshops will take place at Made in Greenwich on Saturday 26th November. We are needle felting Christmas baubles. Find out more on the workshops section.
Apple Day 2022
Blessthismess is taking part in the wonderful Apple day at The Woodlands Farm on Sunday 16th Oct 11-6pm. Come and try some of the different British apple varieties and taste the sumptuous cider. There will be live music, tractor rides (weather permitting), delicious food and craft stalls. You will find us in the covered barn next to the chickens.
Free entry, donations welcome!
Apple Day
The Woodlands Farm Trust, 331 Shooters Hill, Welling DA16 3RP
New Workshops coming up
New workshops coming up in October and November 2022.
Autumnal/Festive Wreaths
Saturday 22 Oct 2022 1-4pm at Made in Greenwich.
Needle Felted Christmas Baubles
Saturday 26th Nov 2022 1-4pm at Made in Greenwich.
Happy Easter
These gorgeous Easter Chicks were created during the needle felting workshop at the Fabulous Made in Greenwich shop. I can not think of a better way to wish you Happy Easter!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2022
Reflections - A celebration of 30 years of the Finnish Art Group
A date for your diary! Our fabulous Finnish Art Group is having a joint exhibition to celebrate their 30th anniversary this November in Coningsby Gallery in central London. I am very excited to take part of this exhibition and look forward to see you there.
Christmas Workshop - Felted baubles
Join us for a fun and festive Christmas bauble felting workshop. In this workshop we will combine basic needle and wet felting techniques with simple stitching skills to create two beautiful decorations for you to take home.
This 3 hour session will take you from design to creation. I will guide you through the materials and tools needed and show you step by step processes to create unique pieces of decorations.
This workshop is suitable for all levels. You don't need previous experience just some enthusiasm to learn a new skill. All materials and tools are provided. Not suitable for the children as the felting needles are very sharp.
This is a small group session. Maximum of 6 participants in order to allow plenty of time for one to one attention and being flexible to the participants needs.
This workshop will take place in Made in Greenwich. It is a gift shop and a local artist co-operative run by a non-profit organisation GCDA . The shop is open during the workshop so there is a great chance for some early Christmas shopping.
Find out more and book your tickets https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/felting-workshop-christmas-baubles-tickets-188890004087
New - Photo embroidery Kit
I am finally back at the studio and ready to start to work again. I have really missed my little creative space. During the lockdown(s) I have had plenty of time to learn new skills and experiment various craft techniques. Few months back I stumbled across photo embroidery and got hooked immediately. Such a wonderful and personal way to enhance photographic memories.
I have created a photo embroidery kit for you to try as well and it will available for you to purchase by the end of this month. I will give you a shout out on social media upon arrival...
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas & Happier and Healthier New Year 2021!
Happy Easter!
Decorated Easter Twigs
Hello!
The spring is here and soon it is time to celebrate Easter. This year’s celebrations might be more quiet than usual but we should still keep up with the traditions and perhaps come up with the new ones!
A firm tradition in our household has been decorating pussy willow twigs (or any natural twigs available). It is a perfect craft activity for all ages and abilities. In Finland these colourful and joyful twigs play an important part in ‘Easter Witch’s rounds’ which is a popular tradition for the Finnish children (more about this below). Decorated twigs will look gorgeous in flower arrangements or by themselves. Any recycled material can be used such as sweet wrappings, pipe cleaners, feathers, tissue paper and even newspapers. You can keep it as simple as you like or go for the full ‘bling-bling’. Only your imagination is the limit!
To make my twigs, I went through my craft cabinet and found the following items:
Recycled tissue paper
Yarn
Feathers
Wired ribbon
But you can use anything you have available.
You will also need:
Pussy willow twigs (or any natural twigs)
A pair of scissors
Craft glue to attach the feathers
(Darning needle)
I was brought up in Finland and Easter in Nordic countries is an exciting mix of history, religion and traditions.Bonfires, church ceremonies and the little children dressing up as Easter witches are all part of the festivities. This children’s tradition to dress up as witches came to Finland with the Karelian immigrants in the 1940’s after Russian occupation and it merged with the superstitious tales from the Western part of the country where they believed that the evil spirits and witches were to roam and do mischief on the Saturday before Easter. The children are dressed up on oversized clothing and headscarves and their faces are painted with freckles and rosy cheeks. They go from door to door with the willow twigs that they have decorated and cast a good spell on their neighbours and friends, wishing them a healthy year ahead. In exchange they would expect to get a little treat, such as a chocolate egg or a coin. I have very fond memories from my own childhood walking around in the neighbourhood doing this. We used hours to decorate our twigs knowing that the more attention we paid the more delicious treats were waiting for us.
Unfortunately, this year the little witches have to stay at home casting their good spells but maybe we can all join them in our thoughts with our beautifully decorated twigs to wish each other a healthier and happier year ahead!
Important Update
I hope you are all well?
It is such a strange time in the world right now with everything that is happening with the Corona virus. I have tried to keep going with workshops, fulfilling orders and keep everything as smooth as possible while adhering to health guidelines from the Government. Our health is the most important matter and to keep us safe, it is with huge regret that I have decided to cancel all the workshops until further notice. There are more workshops planned for the autumn and hopefully the situation has stabilised by then. I will continue to work at home and take this time to plan ahead and make stock for the autumn and Christmas fairs! Luckily, we have social media so let’s stay in touch and support each other through these difficult times.
Keep safe, healthy and happy, and stay in touch!
Easter Needle Felting Workshop
It is time for another workshop!
Join us for a Spring inspired needle felting session on Saturday 4th April at the gorgeous workshop space in ‘Made in Greenwich’. A delightful little shop located in the heart of Greenwich selling beautifully crafted products, all handmade by local artists and crafters.
To find out more and to book your place visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/needle-felting-workshop-easter-bunnies-and-chicks-tickets-93467683357
Book early to secure your place!
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hanna@blessthismess.london