tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-350360432024-03-07T04:33:22.015+00:00Just Call Me RubyThe Vintage Knitting Adventures of Susan Crawford<br><br>
Vintage Knitting, Retro Dressmaking, Make do and Mend, Original and Vintage Inspired Knitting Patterns,<br> Vintage Inspired books - A Stitch In Time - Vintage Gifts to Knits<br>Just call me Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00900845943945737063noreply@blogger.comBlogger396125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35036043.post-14232889248098482222016-04-30T20:34:00.002+01:002016-04-30T20:34:38.857+01:00A New BeginningI am extremely excited to announce that I have today launched my new blog on my newly designed website over at <a href="http://www.susancrawfordvintage.com/" target="_blank">susancrawfordvintage</a>. You can find my very first blog post right <a href="http://www.susancrawfordvintage.com/a-new-beginning/" target="_blank">here</a> and from now on this will be where I will be blogging from. It has been a great 10 years here at Just Call Me Ruby but the time is right to make the move. I do hope you'll join me.<br />
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So its goodbye from Ruby but hello from Susan xxx<br />
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<br />Just call me Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00900845943945737063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35036043.post-16113873816880833572016-02-09T13:11:00.001+00:002016-02-09T23:57:24.184+00:00The Vintage Shetland Project is Coming!<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">As the first snowdrops appear on the farm and we look forward to Springtime
arriving, I thought that it would be helpful if I gave you a progress update on
the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b><a href="http://www.susancrawfordshop.com/PBSCCatalog.asp?ItmID=17877382">Vintage Shetland
Project<span style="font-weight: normal;">.</span></a></b></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Now that the weather is starting to improve, I will be heading
back to Shetland for one last research trip later this month, to fill in the
gaps on one or two of the stories I will be sharing in the book. There are also a few last minute photos to
take. Once they are taken, the final sections of the layout can be
completed, editing finalised, and the book will then be on its way to the
printers! If all goes according to plan, publication will be early
April. We then have the huge task of packing and sending all the orders
out. Crowdfund contributors will have their books despatched first in
mid-April, followed directly by all pre-orders. Anyone who has either
funded the book via the crowdfunding platform or has pre-ordered through the
website, will receive an email letting them know when their book has been
despatched. Only once all these orders have been despatched will we be
able to commence despatching orders received after publication.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">You can still <a href="http://www.susancrawfordshop.com/PBSCCatalog.asp?ItmID=17877382">pre-order
your copy from my online shop</a> for only £25 (plus p&p) for a few more
weeks, although 'pre-orders' will close when the files head off to the
printers.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I've sent a newsletter out to Crowd Funders today with more
details about arranging the additional rewards chosen, so please check your
inbox for it as it hopefully answers anything you may need to know.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">If you're thinking of ordering yarn to get knitting projects from
the book as soon as the books are ready, never fear! In the 'gap' between
sending off the files to the printers and receiving them back, I will be
getting yarns and project kits added to the website so orders can be placed at
the earliest opportunity. With Fenella, I do only have a limited amount of yarn
at any one time, so I would recommend getting your order in as soon as possible
to avoid disappointment.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">As if that wasn’t enough to be excited about, we will also for the
first time, have lambs being born on the farm from the end of March
onwards! We had our flock scanned
yesterday, to see how many lambs we could expect. Our ladies are expecting 38! Our four Zwartbles will be first to lamb at
the end of March, with the Shetlands lambing in April. We discovered yesterday that one of the
Zwartbles is expecting triplets! I have
a feeling that Gavin and I will be very busy in April….</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I am so excited about my plans and projects for this year. I want to thank you all for your patience and
support whilst I have been writing and researching The Vintage Shetland
Project, it has meant so much to me over the past few months and I cannot wait
to be able to share the book with you.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">For now,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Susan xxx</span></div>
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Just call me Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00900845943945737063noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35036043.post-55438697543797697432016-01-19T20:45:00.000+00:002016-01-19T20:45:45.424+00:00Perfectly FlawedI have to admit I have been impatiently waiting for the moment when I could share this teaser of the film my very talented daughter, Charlie Moon, is making for me about <b>The Vintage Shetland Project</b>. The title relates to a section in the book which explains in more detail why I chose the pieces that are featured in the book. These two words alone say so much and for me, sum up the choices I made.<br />
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<b>'Perfectly Flawed'</b> offers a glimpse behind the scenes during photoshoots which took place both at the Shetland Museum Archives and on the Island of Vaila. Best of all, it shows some of the garments - and original museum pieces - included in the book.
It is a beautifully and carefully shot film. Charlie has an incredible eye for detail and for the shot that other people just don't see which you can really appreciate in this film. The weather was typical of Shetland in late autumn and we were all battling with fierce winds whipping in off the Atlantic but the light, and, as a result, the colours, are breath-taking.<br />
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As I've already mentioned, this is just a preview of a longer film that Charlie is working on which will be screened for the first time at <b>Edinburgh Yarn Festival on Saturday 19th March</b>, immediately after a talk I am presenting all about the Project. The talk and screening take place from 2.30pm and are followed by a Q & A and a chance to have a close look at the pieces from the book. Tickets for the talk and the film screening cost £10 from the Edinburgh Yarn Festival website <a href="http://www.edinyarnfest.com/extra/susan-crawford-the-vintage-shetland-project-talkexhibitionscreening" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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If you have already purchased <b>The Vintage Shetland Project</b> you can attend the exhibition after the screening free of charge. Likewise if you wish to purchase a book at the event but can't attend the talk you are very welcome to come along to the exhibition afterwards too. I won't be having a stand at Edinburgh this year due to work pressures so this will be my only 'official' port of call for the whole show. I will have helpers available during the exhibition who can take yarn orders which we can send out once I return home but I won't have yarn with me this time. That does mean I will be out and about enjoying the Festival on Friday which I am so looking forward to. You can see more about the event itself <a href="http://www.edinyarnfest.com/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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And so, Ladies and Gentlemen, without further ado may I present to you for your delectation and delight,<b> 'Perfectly Flawed' </b>by Charlie Moon, featuring <a href="https://ellagordon.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Ella Gordon</a>, Ria Moncrieff, Denis Brice, Gavin Crawford and the back of my head! Music by Kathryn Tickell - a piece called Earth and Sky recorded in 2009.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/151179655" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<a href="https://vimeo.com/151179655">PerfectlyFlawedIntro</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/susancrawfordvintage">Susan Crawford Vintage</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
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You can of course, still pre order copies of <b>The Vintage Shetland Project</b> from my <a href="http://www.susancrawfordshop.com/PBSCCatalog.asp?ItmID=17877382" target="_blank">online shop</a>. and thereby be one of the first people to get your hands on a copy of this very special book.<br />
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for now,<br />
Susan xx<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Copyright Susan Crawford 2016. Music Copyright Kathryn Tickell 2009.</span></i>Just call me Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00900845943945737063noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35036043.post-59089533009090027842016-01-11T15:51:00.002+00:002016-01-15T18:04:40.597+00:00Me, My Life and David Bowie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This wasn't a post I ever imagined I would need to write. Bowie was immortal, some sort of other-wordly, supernatural creature that transcended normal earthly rules and would exist forever. The news of his death today has proven this foolish belief to, of course, be wrong. And so he is gone. Incredibly the end of his life would appear to have been beautifully, extraordinarily choreographed into a piece of art itself with the release of <a href="http://davidbowie.com/blackstar/" target="_blank">Black Star</a> and the video of Lazarus, leaving a message for us all.<br />
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But just why did he matter so much? I can only speak for myself and for the people I knew back in the 1980s when as '2nd wave' Bowie fans we embraced him as our own, the spiritual leader of we, the freaks. I grew up in a Northern town struggling to survive in 1980s Britain. I felt 'apart' in school and becoming part of the 'real' world, getting a job at 16 in a local bank, made me feel even more different than I felt before. I was drawn to the alternative scene that already existed. Most towns and cities around me had at least one club in it which had an alternative night each week. On those nights we would come out of the shadows, put on our handmade or second hand costumes and dance until we dropped. Bowie would get played at least once every night and was the undisputed king of the scene. I had so many friends who could quote every line to every song he had ever written.<br />
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I rejoiced in the freedom those nights gave me. I wore more and more outrageous and inventive outfits, exploring the hidden me who was unable to escape otherwise. Like him (or so I believed) I took on the persona of the creature I became and it seemed to give me artistic and creative freedom.<br />
I felt safe behind my mask and it gave me the strength to edge my way into the world. For the first time I had friends. We all felt the same about Bowie and the music scene that built up around that love. Interestingly for a 'scene' we each had our own very strong visual identities which could change depending on what look you were trying for at the time. It merged rockabillies and pre-goths, punks, vintage kids, new romantics, transvestites, straight guys who wore make up, ex-northern soulers, ska and two tone lovers, gay, straight, black, white, there were no rules. Basically if you didn't quite fit in with the norm, were non-conformist in some way, you could find a place at the Temple of Bowie. Out on the streets we would get threatened, sometimes beat up, often abused verbally, but there we were safe and accepted.<br />
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The music that emanated from those clubs was equally alive and dangerous as Bowie. Some of my favourites were Empire State Human by the Human League (can you imagine Phil Oakey existing without Bowie going before him?), Homosapien by Pete Shelley, I was a teenage werewolf by the Cramps, anything by The Cure or Siouxsie and the Banshees and of course, Tainted Love by Soft Cell. Marc Almond has of course spoken at length about how Bowie freed him to be himself and escape from the narrow world he found himself in. Bands such as Frankie goes to Hollywood had come along with a sexual freedom that could only have emerged in a post-Bowie world. And so the list goes on. Boy George could not have been Boy George without Bowie. Its hard to imagine Ian McCulloch and Echo and the Bunnymen without Bowie going before. Its highly unlikely the glorious band Suede, would have the sound they have if they had not listened to and been influenced by him or whether Jarvis Cocker would quite be the Jarvis we know and love without Bowie in his life. I could go on and on and on. There are probably bands and artists who have been influenced without even knowing it. This influence continues to this day with artists continually being inspired by his music, his body as an artform, his merging of artistic genres, his collaborations, his individuality, his refusal to be pigeon-holed musically, creatively or as a human being.<br />
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We have all benefited from his presence on this planet. Only last night I watched a re-run of the first <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01nnfdd" target="_blank">The Voice (UK)</a> show of the current series. On to the show came a young girl, Cody Frost, 16 years of age. Her look was a cross between skin head and punk. In fact I think she described herself as a failed punk. She sang the most amazing version of <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03dtdt0" target="_blank">Lay All Your Love on Me</a> by ABBA and reminded me of a young Sinead O'Connor. Asked what music she listened to, she said 'angry songs'. She looked and sounded amazing. A number of the judges tried to choose her for their teams but she went with Boy George. And I said to my husband how fantastic it is to live in a world where it is now perfectly acceptable for someone who looks, sounds, acts and represents 'difference' to appear on prime time BBC TV without comment, criticism or censorship. Its so easy to forget that this acceptance is a very recent thing and has been very hard fought for. We are lucky in Britain not to be routinely judged and censored for how we look, for who we are, for our sexual orientation and we owe much of this to trailblazers like Bowie who stood up and took the flack. My heart is broken today but we are better for having basked in his light than to have not.<br />
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If he is to have a lasting legacy beyond his music, this is what we must not forget - Bowie changed our lives & gave us permission to be whoever or whatever we
want to be. Just imagine the world if he'd never opened that door for us.<br />
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for now,<br />
Susan xx <i><br /></i><br />
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<i>If you've never listened to David Bowie or not sure where to begin, can I recommend the album Hunky Dory as your starting point - it features amongst others, the unbeatable songs, Oh you Pretty Things, The Bewlay Brothers, Kooks, Life on Mars, Queen Bitch - need I say more?</i><br />
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<br />Just call me Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00900845943945737063noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35036043.post-58834227099825295462016-01-08T13:50:00.001+00:002016-01-15T16:08:17.449+00:00 A Thank You Note
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I want to thank everyone for all their words of support, advice and encouragement. I am still working my way through the comments and replying to them all but I just wanted to say thank you so much, your words have really, really helped. Sometimes just admitting you’re in the midst of a crisis is enough to start turning things around and I think this has been the case in this instance.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am still extremely tired; I’ve not yet had the confidence to begin writing again - although you could say that returning to writing my blog is doing just that; and the to do list is more like a to do encyclopedia. But - I can feel a change in my mood. Yesterday I wrote a long but prioritised list and managed to cross off a large proportion of the things on it and have started to try and make sense of the bigger picture. I think one of our problems since moving to the farm has been a need to be in fire fighting mode at all times. However, waking up each day and responding to what is thrown at us is probably not the best way to live and certainly brings about a feeling of impending chaos and panic at every turn. Sometimes we have no choice. Animals need care and take priority. The weather also plays an enormous part in our lives, unlike before. But there has to be some structure in our lives otherwise things just aren’t going to get done. I also believe that the chaos and uncertainty is having an impact on my mental state and inner confidence. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And so, lists, goals, priorities, <b><i>REALISTIC</i></b> targets, relaxation time, moments to smell the roses, less self-critiquing - all these things and more are part of my plan for getting me back into some sort of mental shape. I’m going to give myself small writing challenges over the next week or two to get me back in the groove and get rid of some of the ‘pending’ jobs that keep hanging over my head like the proverbial albatross and that will hopefully make me feel like I am getting back on track.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A couple of friends have suggested therapy to help me with my negativity, my never-ending propensity to criticise, compare and pull apart everything that I do. This is something I’m very keen to explore further. I would like to get out of this undulating cycle of feeling up, then feeling down, then having to build myself back up again. Its tiring. It affects my creativity. That energy could be much better spent elsewhere. I have felt comforted by so many of you expressing similar feelings - I feel less of a freak and therefore more prepared to talk these things through with a professional. If I learn how to spot the signs I can hopefully stop it before it gets into full flow? It might not be an easy journey and I think its going to take me some considerable time to unlearn the habits and responses I’ve developed over the years, but I’m always up for learning something new and if 2016 is the year I manage to face and tackle my demons then its going to be a good year and a brighter future.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And yes, one of the jobs on the list is to get the jumper pattern in the picture above released as a single pattern!!</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">for now,</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Susan xx</span></span></div>
Just call me Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00900845943945737063noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35036043.post-20733268505539637322016-01-03T14:31:00.001+00:002016-01-15T16:08:36.063+00:00New Year Introspection<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Like so many other
people I would imagine, I find myself at this time of year becoming
increasingly introspective, internally interrogating myself on the
previous year's achievements or perceived lack of.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The year – and in
particular, the elements – has been difficult and draining,
throwing many spanners in the works, preventing or delaying plans. It
began this time last year, with gales ripping apart my studio,
sometime later a fire destroyed a barn containing the year's fleece,
then we lost our prize Icelandic tup to a bacterial infection. A
working trip to Shetland culminated in the first of the autumn storms
beginning their rampage across the British Isles trapping us on the
island of Vaila for several days.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Back at the farm, our old stone
buildings developed structural problems which were then exacerbated
by rain and flood waters. Three barns currently lay empty, unfit for
use until repair work and drying out can be accomplished. Our home
now houses most of the accumulation from those three barns and feels
extremely cramped and complicated to navigate physically and mentally
as a result. We lost power, phone lines and internet for several days
during the floods. We feared for a number of our ewes spending the
breeding season in the North Lakes in the middle of the worst of the
flooding. In lulls in the storms, we travelled up to bring them home
surrounded by rising waters as we travelled. At home, we worried constantly,
watching the waters and the weather by day, listening to it rampage
all around us at night.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Add to that, ending the
year with a dislocated upper rib directly below my collar bone,
preventing me from either knitting or typing for more than a few
minutes at a time, and you will forgive me for wanting to see off
2015 as quickly as possible! And yet, despite my total exhaustion, my
inner self still had the energy to begin dissecting and criticising
my achievements, leaving me riddled with self doubt. It makes me want
to hide, disappear, never to have to offer myself up for public or
private scrutiny ever again.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This is nothing new.
Sometime during every major project – in this case, The Vintage
Shetland Project – I seem to go through this debilitating, negative
and non-productive phase. It always seems to come close to the end of
a project when I really need to get my act together and get
everything finished. I begin to truly believe I am not up to the job
at hand, that everyone is going to be disappointed in my work, most
particularly me, that it will be criticised, torn apart, and that it
won't sell. I find myself waking up anxious, with a gnawing pit
inside me, churning away. My brain refuses to settle and prevents me
from concentrating on what needs to be focussed on and completely
refuses to be silenced even for a moment. I reject each and every
piece of work that I've created, desperately wanting to start again
from scratch, convinced that the next time will be so much better.
The perfectionist in me is never, every satisfied and delights in
tearing apart my self confidence from within. I can't write prose, I
can't write patterns, I can't take photographs – and so it goes on.
It compares me to others and always finds me wanting.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Self-analysis is an
important part of the creative process yet I cannot prevent myself
from taking this to extremes. Like the bad weather I know to expect
it, yet when it arrives I can do nothing to stop it from tearing me
asunder. I find myself drowning in a deluge of my own insecurities.
Despite being so tired I drive myself constantly. I can barely string
a coherent sentence together, yet I work day and night. I don't take
days off, I don't have time to knit or do other activities for
pleasure. I don't go out or even to the shops. I feel intense guilt
if I take a few hours off during a week or phone a friend and feel
this will result in the failure of the Project. I push myself to the
point of collapse.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Today, I decided to try
and meet this force head on – Creative or Writer's Block
accompanied with a liberal dose of crippling self doubt, perfectionism gone wrong, whatever it may be – and voice
the dread I am feeling. It feels more powerful, more overwhelming
than ever before and I think this is because the project and the book
mean so much to me, and that so many people are excited about it,
anticipating just how good it is going to be, supporting me in my
endeavour, and perversely this in itself applies pressure and stress.
Many of you are eagerly waiting for the book and probably don't want
to hear that I am going through this, but if I don't finally let this
dam burst, release my own flood of fear and doubts, it will continue
to stifle and choke me. I desperately don't want to disappoint, so
what happens? The road blocks go up inside my head and prevent the
creative process, implementing my self-fulfilling prophesy. I hope
this post today is the first step in tackling the fear. I have never
spoken up about this before and just writing the post scares the
living daylights out of me, but at the end of the day it is all part
of what makes me tick and I have to try and learn how to deal with it
somehow. I have lately found myself visualising it as a long, arduous
walk to the bottom of a gorge. Once at the bottom I know that at some
point I will start to climb out – once I am strong enough. But how
do I build myself back up to climb back up the other side of the
valley? And how do I make that journey without ruining the
experience? I am so close to creating the best piece of work that I
have ever done and the only thing that is stopping me is me.
</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I believe stresses
manifest themselves physically and a couple of days ago I came down
with the worst cold I've had in years. I think its telling me I've
hit the bottom and it will soon be time to set about clambering back
up. Additionally, this is actually the longest blog post I have written in some
time, so maybe I have already taken the first positive step forward by
acknowledging the struggle I am having? Yesterday I started on a
small creative project unconnected with 'work' to force me to have
some down-time. I feel I am taking steps in the right direction. I'm
sure I'm not the only person to hit these barriers either creatively,
professionally or otherwise. Maybe you have ways of tackling these anxieties that would help me? Your thoughts and experiences would be so
very greatly appreciated.
</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">For now,</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">a very weary, but
infinitely calmer,</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Susan xx</span></span></div>
Just call me Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00900845943945737063noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35036043.post-76007006329076853652015-12-24T16:54:00.000+00:002016-01-15T14:49:17.708+00:00Seasons Greetings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio88HkTLadutQsMcNAoDOqC74NHbz7CQkPVMJofw80xvop6a1BVg5hYc5XsGHZfncJrkEByiY-dxRjBwANEiMYiajKrSPkGNrInU0eCiocC6JuscXWqY3Xyf8JgrSi8QPxujbh3w/s1600/ChristmasMessage_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio88HkTLadutQsMcNAoDOqC74NHbz7CQkPVMJofw80xvop6a1BVg5hYc5XsGHZfncJrkEByiY-dxRjBwANEiMYiajKrSPkGNrInU0eCiocC6JuscXWqY3Xyf8JgrSi8QPxujbh3w/s1600/ChristmasMessage_large.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
The latter part of 2015 has not been the calmest for myself or many others on the North West coast of Britain and with more storms to come I suspect this is not going to be the year for long walks across the fields to work off my Christmas excesses. However I am so very lucky. I am warm, dry, well fed and safe. My thoughts are with everyone for whom life has been less kind and I wish you all a peaceful, happy Christmas with the ones you love.<br />
<br />
I'll be back very soon,<br />
but<br />
for now,<br />
Susan xx<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Image copyright Susan Crawford 2015. Not to be reproduced without permission of the copyright holder</i></span>Just call me Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00900845943945737063noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35036043.post-85933546954432465522015-12-15T21:30:00.001+00:002015-12-15T21:38:11.087+00:00Bring Me Sunshine - A Free Festive Corsage Pattern<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1XjNPoJ5Xq0_gJxs59i_mIrXsLG-3quEqzfLyK0WAL3B0WiXoETheexZ92ERF-HPZDeKTJkwgOjv-yRqf_nQPiuV4iTO9t67_eS-6_MfLsf6A5h6mh77Fqs6SQN_s7XxbFhHNtw/s1600/Corsage1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1XjNPoJ5Xq0_gJxs59i_mIrXsLG-3quEqzfLyK0WAL3B0WiXoETheexZ92ERF-HPZDeKTJkwgOjv-yRqf_nQPiuV4iTO9t67_eS-6_MfLsf6A5h6mh77Fqs6SQN_s7XxbFhHNtw/s1600/Corsage1.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Festive season is drawing ever<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> nearer</span></span></span>, <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">so</span> to continue my theme of bringing you some sunshine, I’ve decided to share
with you an incredibly simple pattern for a knitted corsage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can really let your creativity run wild
with this pattern, as it provides the starting blocks to all manner of
beautiful corsages, brooches and hair decorations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It only takes around an hour to make so is perfect for making last minute gifts. <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">An added bonus is it<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></span>only <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">takes </span>a few grams of yarn to make one. In fact you could knit the petals in different colours to use up <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">the smalle<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">st of left overs!</span></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRdrXgMx-MJGM09N1tTP8_gUeKCnjniAQrkAzEsQJzV9Bw_alnFERIgPL6gvRwaO6Dhs6e-wnqiQKIRecNpYLRxfRXo1quVQAgUCsMQNkGKTJo-8f0-3Yvz1AIMuI1AU66jQVbLA/s1600/Corsage2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRdrXgMx-MJGM09N1tTP8_gUeKCnjniAQrkAzEsQJzV9Bw_alnFERIgPL6gvRwaO6Dhs6e-wnqiQKIRecNpYLRxfRXo1quVQAgUCsMQNkGKTJo-8f0-3Yvz1AIMuI1AU66jQVbLA/s1600/Corsage2.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">The pattern can be followed using thicker or thinner yarn,
smaller or bigger needles, all just resulting in bigger or smaller finished
items.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Decorate with oddments of ribbon,
lace, buttons and beads for a truly unique looking piece.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi91uCy6CQ57g42BUVBSu48dJbskmj7WsJwtLvCh2cGeEDMj7eXP1uKfu0ju5O668NiPAQEVrG7ewOGsIhqHAAiW4vBbPLhAaBDpKgH97Hq89A9pb2ju5YkcZ2mUD1JlRebGwPq_A/s1600/Corsage3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi91uCy6CQ57g42BUVBSu48dJbskmj7WsJwtLvCh2cGeEDMj7eXP1uKfu0ju5O668NiPAQEVrG7ewOGsIhqHAAiW4vBbPLhAaBDpKgH97Hq89A9pb2ju5YkcZ2mUD1JlRebGwPq_A/s1600/Corsage3.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">You can download your PDF copy of the free pattern by following </span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/simply-perfect-corsage"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">this link</span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">'<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">t forget, <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">y</span></span></span>ou don’t need to be a member of Ravelry to
do this. </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;">I do hope you enjoy this little ray of Yuletide sunshine! </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;">For now, </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;">Susan xx</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">Images copyri<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ght Susan Crawford 2015 Images not to be used without per<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">mission of the c<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">opyr<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ight holder</span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span> <o:p></o:p></div>
Just call me Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00900845943945737063noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35036043.post-69065079570650701082015-12-12T13:52:00.001+00:002015-12-12T13:53:40.051+00:00Bring Me Some Sunshine Soup!<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I thought I would share with you an old favourite recipe of
mine which I originally shared on the blog, back in 2012, but if you haven't yet planned your Christmas menu this is a great starter to consider. Rather fittingly it looks like sunshine in a bowl! It is creamy, well flavoured but not too heavy so great for when there are multiple courses. Served with garlic bread or my favourite, soda bread, it also works as a great lunchtime filler. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So, today’s
#bringmesunshine is my </span><b style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">Pumpkin, Sage and
Parmesan Soup</b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNmfLLmLb8SipBMZo3bU9MZzYADrc8KF9a81cspJUZZmV2jBUW2nZ8drcQxQ-ZHmQrgWPdwtZAJ0V8Ch54Da-_b7PjOiqOd3u6qJpZwk_aMHw2ePBAZ_L3oAET-gcnFfMoWFa9dQ/s1600/Pumpkin+Soup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNmfLLmLb8SipBMZo3bU9MZzYADrc8KF9a81cspJUZZmV2jBUW2nZ8drcQxQ-ZHmQrgWPdwtZAJ0V8Ch54Da-_b7PjOiqOd3u6qJpZwk_aMHw2ePBAZ_L3oAET-gcnFfMoWFa9dQ/s640/Pumpkin+Soup.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The ingredients you need are as follows:</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">The flesh of a medium
pumpkin, chopped into cubes (I often use homegrown frozen pumpkin)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">25g of unsalted
butter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">1 chopped white onion<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">1 chopped clove of
garlic<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">Nutmeg <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">A good handful of
freshly chopped sage leaves<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">800ml of vegetable
stock (I use Marigold Vegetable Bouillion)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">3 tablespoons double
cream<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">Parmesan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">Salt<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">Black Pepper<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">Begin by melting the
butter in medium sized pan with a good heavy bottom. Add the onion and gently
cook for about 5/10 mins, then add the garlic for a minute or so. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">Next add all
of the chopped pumpkin, along with the sage and a healthy grating of nutmeg. (I
like a lot of nutmeg but obviously that's down to personal taste, however I
think pumpkin needs plenty of other flavours added to it so don't be nervous of
the nutmeg or the sage). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">Finally add the vegetable stock. Now keeping the heat
pretty low, cook until the pumpkin is 'pulpy' stirring occasionally - mine
takes about 20 minutes with the lid partly over the pan, but use your own
judgement on this. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">Turn off the heat and either mash or preferably roughly blend
the soup. I use a cheap little hand blender for this and it does the job in
next to no time. Don't over blend as you don't want a completely smooth soup.
Pour in the cream and gently stir.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">When serving add a plentiful quantity of grated parmesan all
over the surface of the soup so that it melts into the soup. Add salt and
pepper as preferred (you can always add the seasoning during cooking, but I
like to do it at the end so that everyone gets it seasoned as they like it).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">Serve immediately. Enjoy</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">For now,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">Susan xx</span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Just call me Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00900845943945737063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35036043.post-65138509938141523952015-12-09T13:55:00.000+00:002016-01-15T16:09:05.068+00:00My Friend Woolly WormheadThis post was actually due to be published on Monday (two days ago). Unfortunately on Saturday evening disaster struck the North West coast of Britain with unprecedented rain fall causing flooding throughout Cumbria and North Lancashire. I was very fortunate. Areas of my village have been flooded and further afield friends have been cut off from the outside world or forced to abandon their homes as the flood waters have reached them. At the farm we found ourselves without power for several days. Mobile phone masts went down along with our landline telephone. We had no light, cooker or hot water. We however were very lucky. We have wood burning stoves and ample supply of wood so were able to keep warm and cook using these. Light was provided by candles and paraffin lamps but the most difficult part was communicating with the outside world. Without power though we had no way of charging up our phones or using the internet. The roads all around us were flooded, the bridges damaged and closed so we were genuinely cut off. And so, I was unable to publish my planned post until now. It did however give me more time to contemplate what I actually wanted to say.<br />
<br />
It has been difficult as I have struggled over these last few days to find the 'sunshine' that I have been trying to bring to the blog recently but despite the devastation all around me at the moment, the one thing I have witnessed and heard about repeatedly is the friendship and support people have been showing each other to help others get back on their feet, to have somewhere dry to stay, to have some warm food to eat. So I guess the 'sunshine' I'm trying so hard to find right now is just that - friendship - and that's what I want to talk about.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmnXbbwAe1WZcBpARaqZMxaCqtP02_VsnAh0zJVNlRqgtcOdmWT5N_1pfMbfPoDCvELwsQ_1EF66oK3PH8hgAMZcuNTQdOdv37IjdvLmC3yxzqfR953JLfH7moEOl4z8JwkSTMxw/s1600/woolly1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmnXbbwAe1WZcBpARaqZMxaCqtP02_VsnAh0zJVNlRqgtcOdmWT5N_1pfMbfPoDCvELwsQ_1EF66oK3PH8hgAMZcuNTQdOdv37IjdvLmC3yxzqfR953JLfH7moEOl4z8JwkSTMxw/s1600/woolly1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Woolly in a very familiar pose</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.woollywormhead.com/" target="_blank">Woolly Wormhead</a> is an incredibly skilled craftsperson, an amazing designer and photographer but what she is to me is far more than that. Woolly is my friend. We have been friends for eight of the ten years as a Hat designer that Woolly is celebrating. During that time I have been her publisher, her distributor, a collaborator. Gavin and Woolly have also worked together on the graphic side of things. These connections gave us the opportunity to get to know each other better. Talking regularly via email, phone, skype and enjoying the occasions when work brings us together and allows us to unwind together. Our friendship has grown over the years, as good friendships do. I travel to Italy to stay with Woolly. Woolly, Tom and Aran come and stay on the farm to escape the heat of the Italian summer. Tom and Gavin are friends and most wonderful of all Gavin and Aran are friends. Aran waking up early in the morning to accompany Gavin on the farm rounds, feeding the chickens and checking the sheep. Woolly has also become friends with my daughter, Charlie, helping her with her final film for her degree, allowing Charlie into her and her family's life so that Charlie could create a truly beautiful film about Aran's life on the <a href="http://www.justcallmeruby.blogspot.co.uk/2011/05/italia.html" target="_blank">'yard'</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ciframe%20src=%22https://player.vimeo.com/video/94162414%22%20width=%22500%22%20height=%22281%22%20frameborder=%220%22%20webkitallowfullscreen%20mozallowfullscreen%20allowfullscreen%3E%3C/iframe%3E%20%3Cp%3E%3Ca%20href=%22https://vimeo.com/94162414%22%3ETeaser%20Trailer%20-%20Mutoid%3C/a%3E%20from%20%3Ca%20href=%22https://vimeo.com/charliemoontm%22%3Echarliemoon%3C/a%3E%20on%20%3Ca%20href=%22https://vimeo.com%22%3EVimeo%3C/a%3E.%3C/p%3E" target="_blank"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/94162414" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> </a><a href="https://vimeo.com/94162414">Teaser Trailer - Mutoid</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/charliemoontm">charliemoon</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
<br />
Charlie and Aran are also firm friends. Woolly supported Charlie through this, giving her advice and encouragement when the creative process stuttered.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Evphd4pvR4Mvp5QDZ7cwnAYTxb7rOHonjSldVuUZ1wQuHIuhkAGwv3CaHCR-EYR-Y3gJN2NaQwwU-JMu-eWOdIEyAo37beTupONMjkyn-mbqmsRRE_6Wjw_2mRr0Qreo4bwI2Q/s1600/charlie+and+aran.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Evphd4pvR4Mvp5QDZ7cwnAYTxb7rOHonjSldVuUZ1wQuHIuhkAGwv3CaHCR-EYR-Y3gJN2NaQwwU-JMu-eWOdIEyAo37beTupONMjkyn-mbqmsRRE_6Wjw_2mRr0Qreo4bwI2Q/s640/charlie+and+aran.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charlie and Aran at the farm</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Woolly and I don't get to see each other often but we are always there for each other if needed. We have both created new lives for ourselves in a slightly unorthodox way and are both the 'bread winners' in our family group. Both of our lives are complex and sometimes difficult but having someone to talk to who instinctively understands is something everyone needs in their lives and I am very very lucky to have Woolly.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvGmLtofImw83QFqoYCtc-pU39zjf4Qexsmx3owDDh3zNf0gESuiQ_exm8rHg0r8QvU1ZYL4tmI0q18FBeBk6oLtYTew37mBVjjke5iHQDJqckVM3pPu7Mym6DdzLVRr2BgVi34A/s1600/painted+woolly+toppers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvGmLtofImw83QFqoYCtc-pU39zjf4Qexsmx3owDDh3zNf0gESuiQ_exm8rHg0r8QvU1ZYL4tmI0q18FBeBk6oLtYTew37mBVjjke5iHQDJqckVM3pPu7Mym6DdzLVRr2BgVi34A/s640/painted+woolly+toppers.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
If you don't already have any of Woolly's patterns or books then you really should. From <a href="http://www.woollywormhead.com/going-straight/" target="_blank">Going Straight</a>, her first book to <a href="http://www.woollywormhead.com/painted-woolly-toppers/" target="_blank">Painted Woolly Toppers,</a> each and every one contains the patterns to some of the most exciting Hats design you are likely to see and Woolly's website includes some of the best technique<a href="http://www.woollywormhead.com/knitting-crochet/" target="_blank"> tutorials</a> around. I for one go back to them again and again. And just in time for this blog post she even has a fabulous new pattern out in the latest<a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEw15/PATTbimitral.php" target="_blank"> knitty</a>. In the background of Woolly's stunning photographs you can just make out the time machine, an imposing structure, built by fellow artists living in Mutonia, and an important visual reference in much of Woolly's work.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ciframe%20src=%22https://player.vimeo.com/video/94219806%22%20width=%22500%22%20height=%22281%22%20frameborder=%220%22%20webkitallowfullscreen%20mozallowfullscreen%20allowfullscreen%3E%3C/iframe%3E%20%3Cp%3E%3Ca%20href=%22https://vimeo.com/94219806%22%3ETime%20Machine%20Teaser%3C/a%3E%20from%20%3Ca%20href=%22https://vimeo.com/charliemoontm%22%3Echarliemoon%3C/a%3E%20on%20%3Ca%20href=%22https://vimeo.com%22%3EVimeo%3C/a%3E.%3C/p%3E" target="_blank"> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/94219806" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> </a><a href="https://vimeo.com/94219806">Time Machine Teaser</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/charliemoontm">charliemoon</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
<br />
I don't know what the next ten years will bring but I do know that
Woolly will continue to be creative, exciting, unpredictable and will
continue to grow as a craftsperson and designer and I for one just
cannot wait to see what she comes up with. Here's to you Woolly, I consider myself incredible fortunate to have you as a friend.<br />
<br />
for now,<br />
Susan xx<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Images copyright Susan Crawford except for cover image of Painted Woolly Toppers copyright Woolly Wormhead. Film shorts copyright Charlie Moon. Not to be used without permission of the copyright holders.</i></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Just call me Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00900845943945737063noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35036043.post-12527310537416566342015-12-06T09:00:00.000+00:002016-01-15T16:09:37.369+00:00Bring Me Sunshine - Easy Carrot SoupOne of my favourite and certainly one of the easiest soups that I make is Carrot soup. Sounds boring? Not at all. It is packed full of flavour but is very easy to make and only really uses store cupboard ingredients. You can increase the quantities and freeze it in batches. I often serve it with some grated parmesan on top and some freshly baked soda bread.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5WmZyhvC8W08J6fWEWpwbb-inaVtHjd8e2QOrQRgfdjA7ghK29HoizFuI8tGr3MrWRLzq88vU6YbUHReGd6J6qip2v9Diu9OoP0ycHoVmHemNjfAeubPQ0HzEFfZ8hcNV2zTcaw/s1600/carrot+soup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5WmZyhvC8W08J6fWEWpwbb-inaVtHjd8e2QOrQRgfdjA7ghK29HoizFuI8tGr3MrWRLzq88vU6YbUHReGd6J6qip2v9Diu9OoP0ycHoVmHemNjfAeubPQ0HzEFfZ8hcNV2zTcaw/s640/carrot+soup.jpg" width="444" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<b>Easy Carrot Soup</b></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
(for 2-4 people)</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
4 large carrots</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
1 large red onion</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
2 cloves garlic</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
1 medium potato</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
Parsley</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
Thyme</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
Black Pepper</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
Worcestershire Sauce</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
Olive Oil</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
Marigold vegetable
bouillon (or other vegetable stock)</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
Finely chop garlic
cloves and red onion. Add a little olive oil to large pan on a medium
heat then add the garlic and onion. Sweat for a few minutes. In the
meantime chop the carrots and the potato into small chunks. I usually
only top and tail the carrots and certainly don't bother to peel the
potato.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
When they're chopped
add them to the pan, stir for a couple of minutes whilst boiling the
kettle. Make up 1.5 litres of vegetable bouillon and add to the pan.
Add dried parsley and thyme and ground black pepper and a healthy
dash of Worcestershire Sauce. Turn down the heat to low and leave to
simmer with the lid partly covering the pan for a good hour or until
carrots and potato are soft. Remove from the heat and blend
thoroughly. Can be eaten right away or can be reheated and is also
great for freezing.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Enjoy!</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
for now, </div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Susan xx </div>
Just call me Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00900845943945737063noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35036043.post-40165678007297564502015-12-05T09:00:00.000+00:002016-01-15T13:22:01.364+00:00Bring Me Sunshine - The Bowtie Tie Free Pattern<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJL8IwNTSFJbxPTjd_8FtFhheWOzoGEs644n8ECnMwx0nuCeobKOa07O61sGPiQaqefi6gFXuajO0I4YXCMkGyABaP86L_ta6KXKtOpRfOXI7vnNDApRZJHw2VGJXs8QzzZjueQ/s1600/BowTie1_sml.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJL8IwNTSFJbxPTjd_8FtFhheWOzoGEs644n8ECnMwx0nuCeobKOa07O61sGPiQaqefi6gFXuajO0I4YXCMkGyABaP86L_ta6KXKtOpRfOXI7vnNDApRZJHw2VGJXs8QzzZjueQ/s640/BowTie1_sml.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
So to get this party started here is the Bowtie Tie knitting pattern. The tie is knitted in a standard 4ply yarn and can be customised to suit whatever colour or style you might fancy knitting.<br />
<br />
The pattern includes charts for two logos which can be knitted as part of the tie - the Chevrolet logo - known as the Bowtie and the International Harvester logo - known as Man on Tractor. You can knit the tie with or without the logos. You could add your own logo or knit it in one colour or striped if you prefer. The world is your oyster!<br />
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The pattern also includes instructions on how to back the tie with fabric if you prefer.<br />
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And the pattern is completely free. Just follow the download link below to obtain your PDF of the pattern.<br />
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.ravelry.com/dls/susan-crawford-vintage/307274?filename=SC069_BowtieTie.pdf%22%3Edownload%20now%3C/a%3E" target="_blank"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/dls/susan-crawford-vintage/307274?filename=SC069_BowtieTie.pdf">download now</a></a><br />
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I hope you enjoy it. Stop by tomorrow for a delicious and simple soup recipe.<br />
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for now,<br />
Susan xxJust call me Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00900845943945737063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35036043.post-83477472064897016232015-12-04T18:46:00.000+00:002016-01-15T16:10:04.766+00:00Bring Me SunshineWith Advent upon us and with so much sadness and conflict all around, I felt I needed to do something positive to bring just a little light and happiness - to the pages of my blog at least.<br />
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So for the whole of the Christmas period, I will be sharing some quick posts which will include free patterns, recipes, tips and hints, favourite songs - whatever makes me happy on a given day - in the hope that it will bring a little sunshine into your day too.<br />
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As I tried to think of a working title for these posts, the theme tune to the immortal comedy duo, Morecambe and Wise came into my head.<br />
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As a child of the 70s and 80s I grew up watching Morecambe and Wise every Christmas. I still watch them at every opportunity to this day and I only need to see Eric Morecambe on screen for the briefest of moments to start to giggle. They are so much a part of me that I bought the videos and then all the DVDs of their TV shows so I could introduce my daughter to them and keep watching them myself. My Albert grand-dad modelled himself on Eric and to me as a child I guess they became almost interchangeable and watching Eric on TV was as though I was getting to see my grand-dad on the small screen.<br />
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I now live not far from Morecambe Bay and to the seaside town of Morecambe itself, where Eric Bartholomew was born, and from where he took his stage name. The rest as they say is history. A fabulous statue now stands on Morecambe promenade dedicated to the town's most famous and most loveable son.<br />
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So without further ado, for our first ray of sunshine on a cold, miserable day, here are the dynamic duo singing their famous rendition of the song<br />
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And here are the words if you want to sing along - try it. There's something about it that cheers the soul no matter how bleak the world is around you.<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Bring me Sunshine, in your smile,<br />
Bring me Laughter, all the while,<br />
In this world where we live, there should be more happiness,<br />
So much joy you can give, to each brand new bright tomorrow,</span></span></i>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Make me happy, through
the years,<br />
Never bring me, any tears,<br />
Let your arms be as warm as the sun from up above,<br />
Bring me fun, bring me sunshine, bring me love.</span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Bring me Sunshine, in your
eyes,<br />
Bring me rainbows, from the skies,<br />
Life's too short to be spent having anything but fun,<br />
We can be so content, if we gather little sunbeams,</span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Be light-hearted, all day
long,<br />
Keep me singing, happy songs,<br />
Let your arms be as warm as the sun from up above,<br />
Bring me fun, bring me sunshine, bring me love.</span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Sylvia Dee & Arthur Kent </span></span></i></div>
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For more wonderful clips from this amazing duo, head to youtube and search for Morecambe and Wise and while away a few hours!<br />
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Call back tomorrow morning for our first free pattern. Just perfect for rustling up a quick hand made gift.<br />
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for now,<br />
Susan xx Just call me Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00900845943945737063noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35036043.post-15602314162711875822015-11-24T08:00:00.000+00:002016-01-15T16:10:32.500+00:00Susan Crawford Vintage at The Knitting and Stitching Show<div>
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Its already that time of year again and as is fast becoming a
tradition, I will be having a stand at The Knitting and Stitching Show
in Harrogate, Yorkshire, next week! </div>
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The show is open from Thursday 26th to Sunday 29th November and is at the <a href="http://hicyorkshire.co.uk/" style="color: #8f0000; font-family: verdana,geneva,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;">Harrogate International Conference and Exhibition Centre.</a> </div>
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<b>You will find the Susan Crawford Vintage stand at the back of Hall A, stand number A696</b>.
As always we will have a wide range of our yarns, books, kits and
patterns available, plus a small selection of preview garments from the
Vintage Shetland Project for you to see. There will also be a rail of
ex-display/sample garments for sale! These are a variety of sizes and
designs and all one of a kind. Come and have a look! </div>
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As an Autumn treat to brighten your day, we are offering a 10%
discount at the show for all newsletter subscribers. If you're not already a subscriber you can join by following the <a href="http://www.susancrawfordvintage.com/Home.html" target="_blank">sign up link</a> on my website.</div>
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It will be wonderful to meet friends old and new at the Show so please do drop by to say hello!</div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "palatino";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>Susan xx</b></span></span></div>
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Just call me Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00900845943945737063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35036043.post-49377536405159490712015-11-21T16:35:00.001+00:002016-01-15T15:27:28.770+00:00My Shetland Adventure Continues<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">The last few weeks have been incredibly busy. I’ve recently returned from a trip to
Shetland and the <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">beautiful</span> island of Vaila, where I was working on further research
and photoshoots for the<a href="http://www.susancrawfordshop.com/PBSCCatalog.asp?ItmID=17877382" target="_blank"> <b>Vintage Shetland Project</b></a> book.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Arriving <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">on She<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">tland - c<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">opyright Jeni R<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">eid 2015</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></td></tr>
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We had originally intended to stay a week, but this turned into just short of
two, as gale force winds and high seas whipped up around Vaila preventing our
departure. Our wonderful hosts, plentiful food and a huge amount of work to do
meant our extended stay was in no way a hardship or a waste of time!</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The stormy seas around Vaila</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">The limited hours of daylight at <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">6</span>0 degrees north latitude,
caused a few challenges during the photoshoots.
However, the beautiful images captured on the visit were worth the
horizontal rain and gale force winds.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Copyright Jeni Reid 2015</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">Here I am being held upright by the wind as we walked to the extreme western edge of the island for a very special view. Hidden inside her parka, is my daughter Charlie, who, along with her chap, Denis, accompanied us to Vaila. Charlie in her role as moving picture Director and Camera-Woman filmed behind the scenes, the photoshoot, and the incredible island of Vaila itself. This stunning footage will be edited together into a short film revealing a unique glimpse of our time on Vaila. Look out for further information of when the film will be available to view. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Denis was also <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">with us for a very good reason, agreeing to be <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">the<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> primary ma<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">le model in the book. H<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ere he is somehow managing to look completely relaxed wh<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ilst surrounded by <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">camera<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">s. You may be aware of an additional <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">photograp<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">her behind me in this shot and this is Jeni R<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">eid, who took some amazing 'backstage' photos of the<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> trip which will help decorate the book. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Two days were also spent at the <a href="http://www.shetland-museum.org.uk/" target="_blank">Shetland Museum Archive</a>, where we set up a
temporary studio to photograph each of the original museum pieces which are in
the book. This was something I despe<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">rately wanted to be able to include in the book and thanks to the Crow<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">d F<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">unding campaign I <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">have been able to do so. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Copyright Jeni Reid 2015</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Exciting new research has revealed some crucial new stories and
developments, which were previously unknown to me, but which are pivotal to the
<b>Vintage Shetland Project</b> story and the completeness of the study as a whole.
Whilst at the Museum, an additional garment came to light - the missing jigsaw
piece in a way - that brings everything together and completes the collection.
I felt it essential to include these new details. So this piece is now already being knitted and will be part of the final photoshoot.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">This extra research<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, knitting and pattern <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">writing is obviously going to take up more time so I have <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">had to move the date of release to the Crowdfunders.<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> All<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Crowdfunding books will still be s<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ent out first <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">with</span> other pre-orders being sen<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">t</span> out shortly afterwards. However for Crowdfunders this does mean t<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">hat the<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ir books won't be despatched until early in 2016.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span> If you <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">are a <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Crowdfunder you should have been receiv<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ing regular newsletters about progress including one earlier this week telling <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">you about t<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">his. If you've not been receiv<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ing your newsletters please check your spam box for e<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">mails from n<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ewsletter@susancrawfordvintage.com If there's nothing there <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">either please let<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> us know by contacting tracy@susancr<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">awfordvintage.com </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">You can also sign up for my regular ne<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">wsletter b<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">y following the<a href="http://www.susancrawfordvintage.com/Home.html" target="_blank"> sign up link</a> on my web<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">s<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">it<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">e. And don't forget you can still p<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">re-order your very own copy of <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>The Vintage Shetland Project<a href="http://www.susancrawfordshop.com/PBSCCatalog.asp?ItmID=17877382" target="_blank"> </a></b><a href="http://www.susancrawfordshop.com/PBSCCatalog.asp?ItmID=17877382" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">More news <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">very soon, but</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">For now,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">Susan xx</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">All images copyright Susan Crawford unless otherwise stated. Image<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">s no<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">t to be used without the <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">written permission of the copy<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">right holder.</span></span></span></span></span></i> </span></span></div>
Just call me Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00900845943945737063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35036043.post-68287768421156884542015-11-03T09:00:00.000+00:002016-01-15T14:51:09.011+00:00A Glimpse Inside The Vintage Shetland Project<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As many of you know, I'm currently working hard on bringing together my research, patterns, photography and history for The <b>Vintage Shetland Project</b>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This very special book is based on garments held in the collection at the <a href="http://www.shetland-archives.org.uk/index.html" target="_blank">Shetland Archives</a>. I've selected a number of items from the collection and have meticulously charted and recorded stitch counts and patterns, to enable me to recreate them and from this information create multi-sized knitting patterns. My choice of pieces has not only been based on beauty, but also on the stories which they have each revealed. From the Suffragette Movement to WWII, prize winning knits to highly experimental work the book is proving to be incredibly rewarding and fascinating work. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I've recently held a photoshoot for the book, on the island of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaila" target="_blank">Vaila</a> which is off the West coast of Shetland and surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean. It is a truly awe-inspiring and majestic location - but more of that later, first let me introduce you to some of the patterns that will be in the book and also give you a peek at some behind-the-scenes photos.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Here is my beautiful model, Ria, knocking at the door of Vaila Hall whilst wearing these beautiful pair of gloves featuring a Norwegian flower motif and knitted in organic Shetland wool produced from the sheep of Vaila.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Here I am hard at work, photographing Ria in the gardens of Vaila Hall. She is also wearing a stunning Aquascutum coat from the 1950s.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Here's a detailed shot of the mittens. Typically of the late 1940s/early 50s these mittens have extra long cuffs to ensure the gap between coat and hand is protected. These mittens are knitted in Jamieson & Smith 2ply jumper weight wool.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">One of my absolute favourites is this amazing and highly unusual sleeveless pullover whose pattern and colours echo the rugged landscape and coast of Vaila. If you look to the horizon you can just see the island of Foula in the far distance.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>The Vintage Shetland Project featuring 26 patterns, essays and histories is available for pre-order for only £25 (plus p&p). </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>You can pre-order your copy <a href="http://www.susancrawfordshop.com/PBSCCatalog.asp?ItmID=17877382" target="_blank">here</a> </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Please note that despatch will commence in early 2016.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The island of Vaila is a very special place, owned by Richard Rowland and his wife Dorota, accessible only by boat and home to Shetland sheep, ponies, seals and many, many sea birds. Richard describes Vaila as a microcosm of all that is Shetland - incredible scenery, nature, space and peace. I'm so very fortunate to be able to use the island as the backdrop for my book.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When you arrive on Vaila you feel you have stepped into a fairy tale - after all how many places do you know that has a watchtower at the bottom of the garden!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And so, my thoughts are turning to the next photoshoot for the book. I'm now on my way back up to Shetland and then to Vaila. I'm excited to see how the landscape has changed since I was there a few weeks ago and also very excited to see the newly prepared pieces in this stunning location! Look out for more behind the scenes photos and shots of beautiful Vaila on my<a href="https://instagram.com/susancrawfordvintage/" target="_blank"> Instagram</a> feed in the next few days.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">For now,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Susan xx</span></div>
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Just call me Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00900845943945737063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35036043.post-50436415702343162992015-10-29T16:03:00.001+00:002016-01-15T14:51:47.699+00:00Diamonds Are Forever and It Cannot Fail to Please Released as Single Patterns<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm really pleased to announce that, due to demand, I have released <b>Diamonds Are Forever </b>and <b>It Cannot Fail to Please </b>as single PDF patterns.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/diamonds-are-forever-8" target="_blank">Diamonds are Forever</a> is knitted in the round from the bottom up and features a stunning yoke knitted in</span><span style="background-color: white;"> an extra-special <a href="http://www.susancrawfordshop.com/PBSCCatalog.asp?ActionID=67174912&PBCATID=1400652&PBCATName=Excelana%204%20Ply" target="_blank">Excelana 4ply</a> wool limited shade of Deepest Charcoal, to work alongside Persian Grey. The yoke also features Saharan Sand and Sweet Chestnut reflecting the amazing range of natural colours found in the fleeces of our Shetland and Icelandic sheep. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Gentle waist shaping with 1.5 inches of positive ease, creates a flattering yet tailored fit. This design is reminiscent of early 1960s knitwear designs which focussed on what was considered at the time, a woman's more 'active' role in the working world. It also reminds me of the sweaters which Bond Girls from the 1960s wore, (hence the name) and the way that women reflected the changing times with their wardrobe and didn't compromise on design.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This beautiful colourway will be available to order as a very limited edition kit from mid-November. More details will be announced once the kits are ready. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">You can buy the PDF pattern from the Susan Crawford shop on</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Ravelry </span><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/diamonds-are-forever-8" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> (You do not need to be a member of Ravelry to make a purchase from the site).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">The PDF pattern costs £5 (however, please see the bottom of this blog for a very special offer).</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">You can also purchase or take a look at all the possible colour combinations of Excelana 4ply in our shop <a href="http://www.susancrawfordshop.com/PBSCCatalog.asp?ActionID=67174912&PBCATID=1400652&PBCATName=Excelana%204%20Ply" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Materials required:</span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Excelana 4ply (100% pure British wool - 159m/174yds per 50g ball)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">7 (9, 9, 12, 12, 14, 14) balls, shade Alabaster - A</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">1 ball, shade Saharan Sand - B</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">1 ball, shade Sweet Chestnut - C</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">1 ball, shade Persian Grey - D</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">1 ball, shade Deepest Charcoal - E</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Needles and Notions needed:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">One 2.75mm (US #2) circular needle</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">A set of 2.75mm (US #2) double pointed needles (DPNs)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">One 3.25mm (US #3) circular needle</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">A set of 3.25mm (US #3) DPNs</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Stitch markers</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Stitch holders</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>T<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">he second freshly released pattern,<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/it-cannot-fail-to-please" target="_blank"> It Cannot Fail to Please</a>, is a beautiful form-fitting pullover, featuring an all-over lace design, which has 4-6 inches of negative ease to really show off the lace detail. It is knitted flat, in pieces, which are seamed together. The lace pattern is incredibly easy to knit and there is only shaping at the armholes and sleeve heads.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Some of you may well know this show stopping sweater from<a href="http://www.susancrawfordshop.com/PBSCProduct.asp?ItmID=8805930" target="_blank"> A Stitch in Time volume 1</a> where it has remained one of the most knitted patterns since the book first came out in 2008! These newly released photographs show the design knitted in our own <a href="http://www.susancrawfordshop.com/PBSCCatalog.asp?ActionID=67174912&PBCATID=1400652&PBCATName=Excelana%204%20Ply" target="_blank">Excelana 4ply wool</a> in the gorgeous Damson Wine shade.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU8hIgwFNPpb7YS7gvzm-sHcaBu0emMwqM_quPwaHutkpLv8HhyphenhyphenF05kuO09vaS3CtZU3vS7q_uOyaFUUnQ8V7tQvrMCTv6vkoVguDqmBoEHgXBhfk2_rg5HfLddvtr0R1vRNRyLA/s1600/ItCannotFailToPlease05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU8hIgwFNPpb7YS7gvzm-sHcaBu0emMwqM_quPwaHutkpLv8HhyphenhyphenF05kuO09vaS3CtZU3vS7q_uOyaFUUnQ8V7tQvrMCTv6vkoVguDqmBoEHgXBhfk2_rg5HfLddvtr0R1vRNRyLA/s1600/ItCannotFailToPlease05.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">I'm also pleased to say that I've spent time re-writing this pattern, extending it to include both written and charted instructions, plus additional sizes. I do hope you enjoy it!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">You can buy the PDF pattern from the Susan Crawford shop on</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Ravelry</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/it-cannot-fail-to-please" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(You do not need to be a member of Ravelry to make a purchase from the site).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">The PDF pattern costs £5 (however, please see the bottom of this blog for a very special offer).</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">You can also purchase or take a look at all the possible colour options of Excelana 4ply in our shop <a href="http://www.susancrawfordshop.com/PBSCCatalog.asp?ActionID=67174912&PBCATID=1400652&PBCATName=Excelana%204%20Ply" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Materials required:</span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Excelana 4ply (100% pure British wool - 159m/174yds per 50g)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">5 (6, 6, 7, 7, 8) balls, shade Damson Wine</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Needles and Notions Needed:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">1 pair 2.25mm (US #1) needles</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">1 pair 3.25mm (US #3) needles</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Stitch holder</span></span><br />
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<b><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">To celebrate the release of these gorgeous patterns, you can purchase them at 50% off the normal price until midnight on the 1st of November (GMT). Simply use the following code when proceeding through the Ravelry checkout - GULLIVER </span></span></b><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now, I can hear you all asking, what has Gulliver got to do with anything?! Well, Gulliver is our new Shetland Ram! With the invaluable help of <a href="http://www.shetland-sheep.org.uk/" target="_blank">The Shetland Sheep Society</a>, we got in touch with a wonderful local breeder who was looking for a new home for one of their favourite rams, Gulliver. Last week, we made the short trip to South Lakeland in Cumbria, to pick up 'Gully' and bring him home to Monkley Ghyll. He's now settled in and waiting</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_CWEsjYPsldgYrH6008-BOXji7c3pBdO-yo775tv-BetEIyJYv7dzoQRPnPWNAK5Cv2FrNl31nANQSNzit4qOlIftO4kJhqIR7LAG7JLuz18Q-8HOhiQfn3W10Sw0Yp1NhUjjA/s1600/Gulliver1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_CWEsjYPsldgYrH6008-BOXji7c3pBdO-yo775tv-BetEIyJYv7dzoQRPnPWNAK5Cv2FrNl31nANQSNzit4qOlIftO4kJhqIR7LAG7JLuz18Q-8HOhiQfn3W10Sw0Yp1NhUjjA/s1600/Gulliver1.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">to meet our Shetland ewes on the 5th of November, which is traditionally the date when Shetland rams (or tups), are introduced to the flock. Gulliver has 'Smirslet' marking which intriguingly features back white legs. His fleece is also the less common light fawn which I can't wait to turn into yarn! By putting him in with the ewes on the 5th this ensures that lambs will be born five months later, in April, as the days are starting to get longer again and the weather kinder. And so, </span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">with romance about to blossom on the farm, I shall sign off.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For now,</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Susan xx</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Images Copyright Susan Crawford 2015. Images not to be reproduced without the permission of the copyright holder.</i></span> </span></span>Just call me Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00900845943945737063noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35036043.post-88618551096322426832015-10-23T17:53:00.001+01:002016-01-15T15:28:07.650+00:00Temporary Suspension of Pattern Support<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">As you all know, I am currently in the midst of preparations for the publishing of the <a href="http://www.susancrawfordshop.com/PBSCCatalog.asp?ItmID=17877382" target="_blank">Vintage Shetland Project</a> book.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">I simply have such a huge workload at the moment, that it is with much reluctance I have had to decide to make some temporary changes. This is to ensure that I have enough time to finish the Project by the deadlines needed. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">So, with this in mind, I have decided to temporarily suspend pattern support until the beginning of the New Year (2016). </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">It’s not been an easy decision to make, however, if you visit the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/a-stitch-in-time-susan-crawford-vintage-designs" target="_blank">Stitch in Time Susan Crawford Vintage Designs</a> group on Ravelry I am sure there are many fabulous members who will be very happy to help with support whilst I am unavailable. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">I hope you all understand and thank you all again for your continued support. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">For now, </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">Susan xx</span></span></span>Just call me Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00900845943945737063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35036043.post-47825489731102470562015-10-14T17:53:00.003+01:002016-01-15T15:29:29.644+00:00Can you help me with some research?I'm currently working away on the research for the <a href="http://www.susancrawfordshop.com/PBSCCatalog.asp?ItmID=17877382" target="_blank">Vintage Shetland Project</a> and I wondered if you, dear reader, could help me with some of that research. One of the most striking of the garments in the Project is the '<b>Rose Cardigan</b>' featuring a repeating flower/rose motif. This type of flower motif, usually accompanied by stem and foliage, seem to have been popular for a relatively short length of time in the late 1940s-early 1950s and I'm ploughing through my pattern archive trying to find as many examples of this type of motif as I can to date their arrival and demise.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN3-lQ4TyQk2WwMqxaGS4ByLbxJiKTcT3inOxU6pAib2ipJ4i_Tsr8TFlSsSnjM_3vxI4dONNdLLQQ5IYHQimgzgh_EXMXJm62QnnIfAfitLyXuCIosvrfVPh1jzPwKNN5iEaDMA/s1600/TEX2008-200_sml.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN3-lQ4TyQk2WwMqxaGS4ByLbxJiKTcT3inOxU6pAib2ipJ4i_Tsr8TFlSsSnjM_3vxI4dONNdLLQQ5IYHQimgzgh_EXMXJm62QnnIfAfitLyXuCIosvrfVPh1jzPwKNN5iEaDMA/s1600/TEX2008-200_sml.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/trimmed-with-roses-twinset-jumper" target="_blank">Trimmed with Roses</a> from <a href="http://www.susancrawfordshop.com/PBSCProduct.asp?ItmID=8805935" target="_blank">A Stitch in Time Volume 2</a> is another example of these motifs, only the motif is bigger and uses a combination of stranded and intarsia techniques to create it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0FpI0Y3elInF8UXeyMbwjXcz1jGuRqKJ5d8B4mOTExGYmy3lj0Z5reoz0wJ-YJG3CG_tcKRZ7mIHdUB5eAgfeRPotlQZOca-Epi6sG58AxSajKckPcXKfhvQh-eQ6vtzQLx3G9w/s1600/TrimmedRosesJumper_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0FpI0Y3elInF8UXeyMbwjXcz1jGuRqKJ5d8B4mOTExGYmy3lj0Z5reoz0wJ-YJG3CG_tcKRZ7mIHdUB5eAgfeRPotlQZOca-Epi6sG58AxSajKckPcXKfhvQh-eQ6vtzQLx3G9w/s640/TrimmedRosesJumper_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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So how can you help? Do you have a vintage pattern or pattern book archive - particularly containing patterns published in the UK? I'm only looking for flower motifs from before the 1960s, I don't need any 1970s or 1980s examples. If so, could I ask you to take a flick through your patterns and see if you can find any examples of flower/rose motifs of this type. If you do find any could you scan the cover image, an image of the garment if different from the cover and the chart/instruction for the flower - I don't need the pattern otherwise, just the motif. If there are any other date references these would be very useful too. Please then email the information to susan@susancrawfordvintage.com <br />
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To say thank you let me know in your email any single PDF pattern of mine available on my ravelry pattern page you would like and I will send it to you via ravelry free of charge.<br />
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for now,<br />
Susan xx<br />
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<br />Just call me Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00900845943945737063noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35036043.post-75837630580918254972015-10-02T11:18:00.001+01:002016-01-15T14:53:05.739+00:00Yarndale Success!<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What a whirlwind Yarndale was this year!</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As some of you may know, <a href="http://yarndale.co.uk/" target="_blank">Yarndale</a> is a yearly
yarn festival taking place at Skipton Auction Mart in North Yorkshire,
England.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It took place last weekend, the
26 -27 September.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As I’ve mentioned in a
previous update of my blog, we decided to try a different layout for our stand
this year.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">One which gave a preview of
the <b>Vintage Shetland Project</b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What wonderful feedback and interest we received!</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We had three of the garments from the Project
on display for people to examine and lust over, with a <a href="http://issuu.com/susancrawfordvintage/docs/thevintageshetlandproject" target="_blank">preview brochure</a> for you to take home.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Plus we also had a ‘squishing rail’ of hanks of our lovely <b><a href="http://www.susancrawfordshop.com/PBSCCatalog.asp?ActionID=67174912&PBCATID=2292492&PBCATName=Fenella%202%20Ply" target="_blank">Fenella</a></b>
yarn with shade cards available.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My colleagues Tracy, Jo and Tess
were also on hand to answer any questions, take pre-orders of the <b>Vintage
Shetland Project</b> book and orders for<b> </b><a href="http://www.susancrawfordshop.com/" target="_blank">all our yarns and kits</a>.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We were overwhelmed by the response to the
garments and the interest in the book.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Included in this post are photos taken by one of our
fantastic customers, at the Yarndale show.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIcvkufG-4UnLD6l1BcmOvqDqeIESJSl5ZqyFeIEw457zSyPFsB7QQ9m7JfjvD0SzmD6tBYPRhSfgOP9v89ccbcX4ri-plejDUo-Vi8fkNFVEwjIQZEt9GbRCRlkLOzMbB3pe1kg/s1600/Yellow+Yoke1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIcvkufG-4UnLD6l1BcmOvqDqeIESJSl5ZqyFeIEw457zSyPFsB7QQ9m7JfjvD0SzmD6tBYPRhSfgOP9v89ccbcX4ri-plejDUo-Vi8fkNFVEwjIQZEt9GbRCRlkLOzMbB3pe1kg/s320/Yellow+Yoke1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here you can see the Beaded Yoke Sweater knitted in
Limoncello from our <b>Fenella</b> yarn range and also a beautiful cardigan which is
knitted in six shades of <a href="http://www.shetlandwoolbrokers.co.uk/" target="_blank">Jameson & Smith</a> 2ply jumper weight.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This particular garment is one which I’m also
displaying at my mini trunk show during <a href="http://www.shetlandwoolweek.com/" target="_blank">Shetland Wool Week</a>.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here’s some more photos showing some of the
detail on this very wearable cardigan.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGrQxS53DnVClKTiKwLHO-hXF1h7XuQOsdlRprT7PIjM-OCNXOJIjXlciuutA9LM8Q72Kv8OHb2ZNWFB73Mef4jXAcAxZ9ktwv4tBiWlN6jveWe-tNn2U6ncoN0gZSyUok3bXMag/s1600/Cardigan1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGrQxS53DnVClKTiKwLHO-hXF1h7XuQOsdlRprT7PIjM-OCNXOJIjXlciuutA9LM8Q72Kv8OHb2ZNWFB73Mef4jXAcAxZ9ktwv4tBiWlN6jveWe-tNn2U6ncoN0gZSyUok3bXMag/s320/Cardigan1.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2M9e5RNAlJO_7-ZRXiAqzq0rXwVaSEZ5wJoY0woNkeQZE0fH8sZRCIkBZ75Qm40XVw4Zi3TAtJn0xaCu6FaNTq-8MdBg5Rf9HoQ7kvf7O_uwg1k7qVuOOWFIy0PeX78elVsRXzw/s1600/Cardigan2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2M9e5RNAlJO_7-ZRXiAqzq0rXwVaSEZ5wJoY0woNkeQZE0fH8sZRCIkBZ75Qm40XVw4Zi3TAtJn0xaCu6FaNTq-8MdBg5Rf9HoQ7kvf7O_uwg1k7qVuOOWFIy0PeX78elVsRXzw/s320/Cardigan2.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My colleague Tracy’s, favourite garment was also on
display.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This beautiful slipover is
knitted using 5 shades of Jameson & Smith 2ply jumper weight and is such a
timeless piece.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0RhT23DuoBXYYU9JCvQYQQZVaSQfHZ5bEVRlO6UbjrDNanBHR4KFJyOTS393dxw48zePJ65Y6URst4cjM2h1Hsf5S-frrr1gtgb-05no2hNSDtntYa9FgOWANd2CNNxPawhQzlw/s1600/Slipover3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0RhT23DuoBXYYU9JCvQYQQZVaSQfHZ5bEVRlO6UbjrDNanBHR4KFJyOTS393dxw48zePJ65Y6URst4cjM2h1Hsf5S-frrr1gtgb-05no2hNSDtntYa9FgOWANd2CNNxPawhQzlw/s320/Slipover3.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I know she is itching to start knitting it for herself!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was such a pleasure to be able to share these garments
with you at the show and to receive such positive and supportive feedback.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thank you to you all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For now,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Susan xx</span></div>
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<br />Just call me Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00900845943945737063noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35036043.post-50810950412215285672015-09-24T16:17:00.001+01:002016-01-15T15:29:54.173+00:00Home and Away<br />
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<span class="s1">Autumn has arrived in this part of the world, the days are getting shorter and cooler and the mornings often begin with a mist laying heavy over the valley. </span>It’s a beautiful place to live and work, but at the moment, I’ve had little time to contemplate those lovely views. We are hard at work knitting, finishing, writing, pattern sizing etc all day every day often through to the early hours to make the <b><a href="http://www.susancrawfordshop.com/PBSCCatalog.asp?ItmID=17877382" target="_blank">Vintage Shetland Project</a></b> the best it can possibly be. </div>
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<span class="s1">Last week, we began a series of photoshoots which are going to be taking place over the coming month. This first shoot included some of the garments from the Project. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyzuVW1KehAy-w5240LrECdH-f3p_iAhgBx27cEL5LZKn65hjCPOKV7y_9VHOBwItEOzXHA-WxbyswNDZ399hErywpyURq1zMjrGtfItagyT1MDzDi7LV0-uME5zMNgoxtvjw60w/s1600/knitwear+rail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyzuVW1KehAy-w5240LrECdH-f3p_iAhgBx27cEL5LZKn65hjCPOKV7y_9VHOBwItEOzXHA-WxbyswNDZ399hErywpyURq1zMjrGtfItagyT1MDzDi7LV0-uME5zMNgoxtvjw60w/s640/knitwear+rail.jpg" width="546" /></a></div>
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<span class="s1">There were also new versions of favourite designs which are being relaunched as single patterns very soon.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMGSCzv9xNbpU4vMua62oGid8r4jnw-0ip5D9uK9PrZ42XCXbQ54fR_wa54BVvwBTRpoBRA4rAHgAdEWCJpN2vMU_3TRjDB1OJhKGIkWqek9zzGjOYHegEzn_wezIAGEJZyUPNAQ/s1600/photoshoot+in+action.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMGSCzv9xNbpU4vMua62oGid8r4jnw-0ip5D9uK9PrZ42XCXbQ54fR_wa54BVvwBTRpoBRA4rAHgAdEWCJpN2vMU_3TRjDB1OJhKGIkWqek9zzGjOYHegEzn_wezIAGEJZyUPNAQ/s640/photoshoot+in+action.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="s1">Here's I am in photographer mode photographing our fabulous new house model Becky wearing '<b>Diamonds are Forever</b>' (in a range of suitably sheepy shades) and surrounded by some of our sheep. You can see the 'rear' of our gorgeous new Icelandic ram as he's being fed by Becky. And below, you can just see me going to any lengths to get just the right shot! You can also see '<b>It Cannot Fail to Please</b>' knitted in Excelana 4ply <span class="s2"><a href="http://www.susancrawfordshop.com/PBSCProduct.asp?ItmID=13620211" target="_blank">Damson Wine</a></span> again being modelled by Becky, braving the brambles and nettles to harvest some of Monkley Ghyll's very own Damsons.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnkFkgBNPLj-j3MIOz-OiYf3aQQKoylU2WWqiU3TIGi70k4DU6NIaG6MxlJGf58t01_rUPhbJ-f9LS5DfWEpi0FHZCTdRtAfHniecbvXtifizrbNG1aHOb5L04mju_XY2BFIjZxw/s1600/getting+the+perfect+shot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnkFkgBNPLj-j3MIOz-OiYf3aQQKoylU2WWqiU3TIGi70k4DU6NIaG6MxlJGf58t01_rUPhbJ-f9LS5DfWEpi0FHZCTdRtAfHniecbvXtifizrbNG1aHOb5L04mju_XY2BFIjZxw/s640/getting+the+perfect+shot.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here I am styling the lovely Becky in the beaded yoke jumper from<b> Vintage Shetland Project </b>with a spectacular 'skirt' created using 8 metres of Vaila Organic Shetland Tweed.</div>
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I was so pleased with the photos from this shoot and can't wait to share more of them. In fact if you come along to the <span class="s2"><a href="http://yarndale.co.uk/" target="_blank">Yarndale</a></span> show at Skipton, North Yorkshire, this coming weekend more of the images will be on display along with some of the finished items from the book. There will also be the opportunity to pick our new promotional brochure with images and previews from the book itself. With so much to do, Gavin and I won't be manning the stand this year, but our wonderful friends and colleagues Tracy, Tess and Jo will be there to help everyone visiting our dedicated <b>Vintage Shetland Project</b> stand. So if you are coming to the show make sure you call at stand <b>100</b> to get the chance to see these beautiful pieces from the book and don't forget to pick up a preview brochure.</div>
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<span class="s1">Due to the huge demand for <b><a href="http://www.susancrawfordshop.com/PBSCCatalog.asp?ActionID=67174912&PBCATID=2292492&PBCATName=Fenella%202%20Ply" target="_blank">Fenella</a></b> during and since the pubslush campaign our stocks are extremely limited until more undyed yarn arrives in October ready to head off to the dyers. Therefore at Yarndale we are only taking orders for Fenella not selling it at the show. There will be lots of information about yarn quantities and colours for the patterns along with the chance to pre-order kits for the likes of the <b>Rose Cardigan</b>. </span></div>
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Along with your brochure you can also pick up the new <b>Fenella</b> shade cards featuring all 25 of our gorgeous colours, including the new colours - Sloe Gin, Alta, Melancholy, Balado, Rannoch, Verdigris, Caramel and Dolly Blue (my favourite) - more about these very soon. Kits for designs made using Jamieson & Smith yarns and our other limited edition yarns will be available to order on the website before Christmas.</div>
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<span class="s1">As I mentioned in my last blog post we've been welcoming many new family members to the farm and just this week we have had a very exciting</span> new addition - Iris. Iris came to live at Monkley Ghyll only last week and has already made a huge difference to efficiency on the farm. Here she is. Our fabulous International 784 vintage tractor. She may look a bit rough around the edges but she's a hard worker and we love her.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqkKfYkzIQPjB3TlXjYP36qnZYRvrZHsW1rGf3JUum69RqjjWj9ANydVmYPeSQ1SAyxCjX4w59qlnkmL0bcPJIiUhbNoVxbTJ84jClpM-F9xo7rvuLpbzbcSqt7DLCBdRDN-pRVw/s1600/Iris_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqkKfYkzIQPjB3TlXjYP36qnZYRvrZHsW1rGf3JUum69RqjjWj9ANydVmYPeSQ1SAyxCjX4w59qlnkmL0bcPJIiUhbNoVxbTJ84jClpM-F9xo7rvuLpbzbcSqt7DLCBdRDN-pRVw/s640/Iris_1.jpg" width="512" /></a></div>
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When I revealed her on <a href="https://instagram.com/susancrawfordvintage/" target="_blank">instagram</a> a few days ago I was directed to the <b>The Mike Sammes Singers</b> who sung the jingle for a new version of the International tractor - it was for the 'hydrostatic' which is a much fancier version than ours, however the jingle is well worth a listen :)</div>
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Thank you to <a href="http://www.knitsonik.com/" target="_blank">Felicity Ford</a> for sending me the link to this.</div>
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<span class="s1">Straight after the Yarndale show I’m heading off up the country to Shetland for <span class="s2"><b><a href="http://www.shetlandwoolweek.com/" target="_blank">Shetland Wool Week</a></b></span>. I have a lot of non-wool week work to do for the book whilst I am there but will be hosting the <b>Vintage Shetland Project</b> Trunk Show at the Shetland Museum on Thursday 1st October from 1pm-4pm. There is no booking required and the event is free. I do hope to see some of you there.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">For now,</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Susan xx</span></div>
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<br />Just call me Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00900845943945737063noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35036043.post-84932473438998856112015-09-13T13:19:00.000+01:002016-01-15T16:11:17.094+00:00So that was the month that was...I mentioned in my last blog post that things would be quiet around here whilst I got on with the myriad tasks in hand for the <a href="http://www.susancrawfordshop.com/PBSCCatalog.asp?ItmID=17877382" target="_blank">Vintage Shetland Project</a>, as well as all the other tasks that go on anyway. But I didn't expect it to be a whole month between posts.<br />
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August has indeed been incredibly busy. In addition to the research, knitting, finishing, writing, planning etc that is going on just for <b>Vintage Shetland Project</b> alongside the general running of our business, there is an endless list of farm tasks to do as we try to ensure we are ready for the oncoming winter. For the first time we will also be putting our ewes to the tup so come next Spring we will have our first lambs born here at Monkley Ghyll.<br />
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Despite the loss of fleece in our barn fire we are lucky to still have a number of Zwartbles fleeces sourced from local farms which will soon be going off for spinning and today we head off to collect a batch of Shetland fleeces from another nearby farm which we hope to turn into yarn very soon too. So although it won't be fleece from our own sheep this year, it will be fleece from sheep who live all around us and I am very, very excited at the thought of these yarns getting spun and what they will be like when they return.<br />
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We have added a number of sheep and goats to our little family here at Monkley Ghyll, with some very exciting yarn ideas in mind.<br />
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Poppy, Molly, Aretha, Etta, Nina and Simone joined us recently. These beautiful Herdwick sheep have settled in very well, the steep hills and stony ground of our farm seem to appeal to them! Known for their less than soft fleece I am experimenting with a number of ideas enabling us to make good use of this unique fibre.<br />
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Alongside them are our two Angora kid goats - Jake and Ellwood - these two boys will produce kid mohair for around three years. Their coats grow at such a rate they can be clipped twice a year and will provide 10kg of mohair each per year.<br />
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There are a number of other new arrivals who I will tell you about next but I will leave it there for now as there is much to do as the days grow shorter and the air begins to smell of autumn...<br />
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And the autumn mists come rolling up the valley<br />
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I'll be back soon,<br />
but<br />
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for now,<br />
Susan xxJust call me Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00900845943945737063noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35036043.post-91676406738475782062015-08-11T14:49:00.000+01:002016-01-15T16:11:39.865+00:00An Enormous Thank You!<br />
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<span class="s1">Slightly earlier than I had incorrectly calculated, the crowd funder for the <b>Vintage Shetland Project</b> closed in the early hours of Monday morning. I set my alarm for 5am to see the final moments and sit in stunned amazement at the incredible response to the campaign.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">We raised an incredible <b>£31,954 </b>with <b>855</b> wonderful knitters supporting the campaign. In addition to this I received a further £685 of pre-orders in the 24 hours that followed - when the campaign should still have been running.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">After processing fees of around 8% and a 2% contribution to literacy charities I will receive <b>£29,258.65</b> via <a href="http://ww.pubslush.com/" target="_blank">pubslush</a> once the monies are forwarded to me. This is the agonizing part really, knowing you have raised the funds but not yet having them in the bank!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">The money will go a long way. It will pay for a bigger print run than originally planned, some photoshoot expenses, additional research expenses, tech editing and proof reading costs, image licencing fees, pr and marketing, the little extras such as project bags and lapel badges and much, much more, including additional samples. It will also help cover the costs of having a new batch of <i>Fenella</i> spun and dyed to ensure there is enough yarn to fulfill all the yarn rewards that were chosen and also for me to purchase stock of <i>Jamieson & Smith 2 ply</i> for the same purpose. There are packaging boxes and bags to be purchased in anticipation of December’s mail out and I will also have to employ someone part time to help with the despatching of so many orders in December to ensure all orders are despatched promptly. Signing around 900 books alone is going to take some time! I’m also still working out the best way to manage wholesale orders, so if you are waiting to order books for your yarn shop if you can just bear with me for a little while and then we can hopefully get a smooth system in place before the publication date.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">With the number of emails still coming in, I’ve realised that many people are still just finding out about the Project and are disappointed at missing out on the chance to pre-order a book. Due to the amount of time its takes responding to each email, I’ve come to the conclusion that I will have to set up ‘standard’ pre orders on the website sooner rather than later. So I should hopefully have this done by the end of the week. As previously mentioned however these orders will only be despatched once the crowder funder contributions have all been met - and most likely, after Christmas. I also won’t be able to offer signed books on the standard pre orders on this occasion as it really would just become an all-consuming operation. I feel quite bad about this but I really do have to get to grips with my own limitations!!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">So what next? I will be spending every moment I can on the book - obviously I still need to run the rest of my business and the farm, but please bear with me if emails and the like take a little longer than usual to be replied to, as I will need to spend time really focussed on the book to ensure it is everything I want it to be. There have been moments during the campaign when the weight of expectation has felt heavy and the best way I can deal with that is allowing myself the space to dedicate myself to the book as much as possible. I will keep in touch with all contributors via email but there is a chance that things might go quiet here on the blog and on social media!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">And now, there are so many people I need to thank for their involvement and also for their wholehearted support of the campaign.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">First of all every one who took part in the <a href="http://justcallmeruby.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/announcing-vintage-shetland-project.html" target="_blank">blog tour</a> who not only took the time to write a post for the tour but really got stuck in and made the blog tour fascinating for so many people to read and enjoy. You are all stars every single one of you.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">To everyone who tweeted, retweeted, shared on facebook and other social media, who wrote their own blog posts, regrammed, talked to friends, read each and every post on the blog tour. Thank you, thank you, thank you. You got the message about the campaign out far and wide.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">To so many friends who really went that extra mile sharing the campaign again and again, including <a href="http://bygumbygolly.com/" target="_blank">Tasha</a>, <a href="http://www.woollywormhead.com/blog/" target="_blank">Woolly</a>, <a href="http://shinybees.com/" target="_blank">Jo</a>, the ladies of<a href="http://www.edinyarnfest.com/" target="_blank"> Edinburgh Yarn Festival</a>, <a href="https://instagram.com/sweaterspotter/?hl=en" target="_blank">Sweater Spotter</a>, <a href="http://kateatherley.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">Kate Atherley</a>, <a href="http://mylifeinknitwear.com/" target="_blank">Rachel Atkinson</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/WilliamsWools" target="_blank">Adrienne</a> of Williams Wools, <a href="https://ellagordon.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Ella</a> at Jamieson & Smith who wrote TWO blog posts, to <a href="https://twitter.com/ClaraParkes" target="_blank">Clara Parkes</a> for mentioning the campaign on the <a href="http://www.knittersreview.com/" target="_blank">Knitter’s Review</a> - WOW! and made my professional career by tweeting this:</span></div>
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<span class="s2">“</span><span class="s1">If you were to fund just one knitting project this year, let it be the Vintage Shetland Project”</span></div>
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<span class="s1">To my good friends at <a href="http://www.theknitter.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Knitter</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/KateHeppell" target="_blank">Kate Heppell</a> at Knit Now. To my friend <a href="http://tessyoungdesigns.com/" target="_blank">Tess</a> who has helped me in a million ways, to <a href="http://www.kariebookish.net/" target="_blank">Karie</a> for everything but in particular, ‘that’ sentence, to <a href="http://www.knitsonik.com/" target="_blank">Felicity Ford</a> who not only supported the campaign but gave me such great advice before and throughout, to <a href="http://sheeptoshawl.com/" target="_blank">Donna Druchunas</a> who also shared her experiences with Pubslush and encouraged me to take the plunge, to <a href="http://www.jenacknitwear.co.uk/" target="_blank">Jen Arnall-Culliford</a> who gave me a bloody good talking to when I needed it most, to Gavin who turned my clumpy video presentation for the pubslush page into something rather wonderful and wrote the most amazing <a href="http://justcallmeruby.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/decoding-vintage-shetland-project.html" target="_blank">post</a> as part of the blog tour, to <a href="http://ysolda.com/blog/" target="_blank">Ysolda</a> who spent an entire afternoon filming our interview about the project and then spent two days and also two very late nights editing and battling the internet to get the video uploaded and to <a href="http://www.knitbritish.net/" target="_blank">Louise Scollay</a> who literally made this all happen. Louise has been the most supportive friend imaginable, pushing me when needed, supporting and bolstering me when confidence was low, checking my words again and again, and basically being the best right-hand woman ever! I couldn’t have done it without her.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">To all the people who gave me support when our barn caught fire during the campaign and in particular to Caroline and Freyalyn who are going to try and save some of the fleece for me.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">And finally to all the wonderful, wonderful people who have supported the campaign, who have sent me so many amazing messages, letting me know they believe in what I’m doing and really, really want to see the book in print. I am extremely lucky to be surrounded by so many folks who get what I do. To paraphrase one of those incredibly supportive knitters it is <b><i>“wonderful that the knitting community has responded and confirmed that in this world of disposable fashion and superficial books there is not only a place but a genuine longing for books like the Vintage Shetland Project”</i></b>.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Thank you for making my dream come true.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">for now,</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Susan xx</span></div>
<br />Just call me Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00900845943945737063noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35036043.post-80805475630004929502015-08-08T14:30:00.000+01:002016-01-15T14:53:41.588+00:00My Vintage Shetland Project Video Interview with Ysolda TeagueThe blog tour for the <b>Vintage Shetland Project</b> <a href="https://pubslush.com/project/7016" target="_blank">Crowd Funding campaign</a> is drawing to a close in a quite marvellous fashion.<br />
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On my way back from Shetland a couple of weeks ago, I stopped by at <a href="http://ysolda.com/blog" target="_blank">Ysolda Teague's</a> studio in Edinburgh, where we filmed a LONG interview all about the Vintage Shetland Project. Ysolda and I have often 'bumped' into each other in Shetland, most recently about 18 months ago when I persuaded her to take part in my experiments to see how reliable knitted swimsuits actually are! Ysolda bravely went swimming on a cold October day along with Gavin and Mary Jane Mucklestone and found that the swimsuits really did their job.<br />
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I will one day release the video of that day but but in the meantime, Ysolda has very kindly spent many hours editing our lengthy conversation and battled internet failures to publish our interview in pretty much its entirety. so why not settle down with your knitting for an hour and tune in!<br />
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<a href="http://ysolda.com/blog/2015/8/7/the-vintage-shetland-project-an-interview-with-susan-crawford" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdzea8fPXSr1hhDfPf6YYFxqtFCXqCe5GmUqsQSl-WQ3FaQsGRHfImiSM9h12XXfDitp17gWwK9ck5ABpq-UZu2gyB-oktwd8sppwoNu9LrREjsZPJWPtzqLZaJdoQ2Q0eA-2Kw/s640/Susan_and_Ysolda.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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After last week's server problems over at Pubslush, the very supportive team there, have extended the closing date for the campaign to this coming Sunday night, so you still have a couple of days left to <a href="https://pubslush.com/project/7016" target="_blank">'pre-order' your copy</a> of the book in time for Christmas.<br />
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And as I've got an extra couple of days before the campaign ends, I will try to publish a post either tomorrow or on Monday all about the size ranges that will be included in the book and also share a couple of the pieces in the Project.<br />
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You can find out more about the Vintage Shetland Project or to support the campaign at<br />
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<a href="http://vintageshetlandproject.pubslush.com/">Vintageshetlandproject.pubslush.com</a><br />
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But for now, I hope you enjoy our video cast and that you all have a great weekend.<br />
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Susan xxJust call me Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00900845943945737063noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35036043.post-31021718687153310552015-08-02T09:10:00.002+01:002015-08-03T10:44:12.933+01:00Pubslush Site Maintenance<span style="color: red;"><b>ETA: I'm very pleased to advise that the Pubslush site is now up and running again after essential maintenance over the weekend. </b></span><br />
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After having some problems accessing my crowdfunder page on the pubslush website I contacted them for advice. Unfortunately the site has had to have maintenance done over the weekend and is therefore currently unavailable until its completed.<br />
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My sincere apologies if you've been trying to access the crowdfunder but it should be back up very soon. As soon as I know the page is working again I will let you know right away.<br />
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I'm terribly sorry for the inconvenience.<br />
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for now<br />
Susan xxJust call me Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00900845943945737063noreply@blogger.com0