Sunday 11 November 2012

Extreme Crochet Fruity Basket

Hello Everyone

No post last week I'm afraid as we were away for the weekend up in North Devon.  No photos either this time as it is somewhere we have been before and I forgot to take the camera on the walk we did! But you'll be glad to know we had a lovely time and were quite lucky with the weather.

We did however pop into Ilfracombe, on our way up, to have a look at their new sculpture, Verity by Damien Hirst. Just click on this link to find out more about her.

Damien Hirst sculpture, Verity on Ilfracombe harbour side


Sculpture by Damien Hirst of pregnant woman called Verity

Damien Hirst sculpture of pregnant woman called Verity on Ilfracombe harbour side

What do you think?  I absolutely love it!  In my mind it sparks conversation and discussion.

Are you all enjoying the sunshine this weekend? There are some wonderful Autumn colours around as I'm sure you will all have noticed.

I have had a couple of interesting 'meetings' this week, one with a local yarn shop Spin A Yarn in the lovely village (or maybe small town!) of Bovey Tracey.  It is a gorgeous shop with every possible type of yarn you can imagine, so inspirational and extremely difficult to walk out of there without buying anything.

Specialist yarn shop in Bovey Tracey Devon

I am very pleased to say I will be tutoring a Jumbo Crochet Basket Workshop here after Christmas.  More details will follow when they are released.  In the meantime I am experimenting with just one or two of the yarns in the shop.

Colinette Zero, King Cole Gypsy and Big Fab black

A ball of King Cole Gypsy, a skein of Colinette Zero and some Big Fab in black that I had in my stash.

Jumbo crochet basket using four strands of super chunky yarn and a huge crochet hook

And here is the finished article, complete with bananas to give it some scale.
4 strands of super chunky yarns and a 20mm hook.  Not quite as large scale as my usual but I am pleased with the way it has turned out, not to mention how quickly it crochets up!
I shall try another one with more muted tones next time.

My other meeting was with the organiser of the Contemporary Craft Festival  held annually at Bovey Tracey.  We discussed a large crochet/knitted creation for a display to herald their 10th Anniversary.  Watch this space for more details!  As soon as I know more I will let you know :)

Well, that's all for this week folks, I will try and visit as many of you as I can over at Handmade Monday on Handmade Harbour.  My apologies for not having done so for a couple of weeks, life just got in the way, you know what it's like, although I will try and remedy this over the next couple of days.

Have a good week! 
Bye for now 
x

39 comments:

  1. I love this! I have to try it. I have loads of Big Fab - it was on offer and I couldn't resist! Thanks for sharing and giving me some inspiration.

    Karen

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    1. Glad this has inspired you, I'd love to see anything you make :)

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  2. What an amazing looking shop. Wish we had one like that near me. Not to sure about the statue, not my thing really! Great knitted basket.

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    1. Your not the only one who thinks like this - on both counts!

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  3. i am glad you are ok - had missed you :) I think your fruit bowl is fab. I am looking forward to hear more about your creation - sounds very exciting :)

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    1. Aww! It's nice to be missed. I may be needing help with the 'creation' so you may regret mentioning it :)

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  4. I love the jumbo crochet fruit bowl! Have never tried jumbo crochet before but am sensing an urge...

    I really like the statue too. Thanks for sharing.

    H

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  5. Bloomin marvelous Fruit Basket. Every home should have one! I for one am not at all sure about Verity. I think she is fantastic and would love to see her but then I can drive home. I would imagine she is rather imposing and I would not like to look at her all the time. 'Blot on the Landscape' springs to mind...well you did ask... xxx

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    1. You're not the only one! There are mixed reviews in Ilfracombe, but she is on the very edge of the harbour so the locals can avoid her if they so wish :) The friends we first saw her with weren't that taken either!

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  6. I've not seen Verity before but I quite like her - very different, very confident, very honest. I like that. Love the bowl, too. Every home should have one. And a crochet one would save incidents like the time my youngest daughter was about 18 months old, reached up for an apple, the bowl crashed at her feet and she stood there with an apple in her hand (oblivious to the mess) saying "bapple, bapple" - one of those times that just stick in your memory!

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    1. Aww, lovely memories :) Totally agree with your comments on Verity you have put into words what I was trying to say - thank you!

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  7. I'm not sure about Verity. I don't think it's the skeletal look of the body, which is a bit like a medical textbook, but I'm not sure about the sword in her hand. I really liked the sculpture of Allison Lappin in Trafalgar Square, but this doesn't seem to have any gentleness about it. But maybe I'm not meant to like it!! and it has got me thinking why I don't.

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    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    2. Sorry typo in the first comment.

      I think that's good, at least it's not one of those sculptures you walk past without giving a second thought to :)

      I have just googled Allison Lappin sculpture and now know who you are talking about. I think this is a more emotional sculpture, it definitely pulled more at the heart strings for me and made me question a few feelings I have. Whereas Verity made me question things verbally! Does this make sense? :) I suppose both sculptures have achieved what they set out to do though in there own way. Hmmm! Interesting?

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  8. I am completely undecided on Verity, not sure she's my cup of tea...I do however love North Devon...South Devon and all the bits in between.
    Am also loving your fruit bowl!!
    Have a good week!
    S x

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    1. I'm loving hearing everyone's thoughts on Verity, I find it fascinating how everyone has such a different view. Glad to hear my fruit bowl is more your cup of tea :)

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  9. I quite like Verity. I'm sure some of the sculptures we now consider as stalwarts of the art scene were once considereed controversial, and after all, isn't that what art is about - to encourage different views and debate?

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    1. I agree! I am so pleased that Verity has sparked such thoughtful conversation :)

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  10. Well done on all your meetings this week an exciting time.

    I saw the statue go up on tv and may be in a minority but turns my stomach slightly and would turn away rather than look but I am not a fan of Damien Hurst.

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    1. I have to admit I'm not a fan of Damien Hurst's work either but Verity is a little different, nothing like any of his formaldehyde creations!

      I was quite excited about my 'meetings'. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we can 'pull off' the Contemporary Craft Festival one :)

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  11. I agree, the sculpture is brilliant. The whole thing about art of any style is that while not everyone will like it, it always provokes interest, comment and conversation - as it should. The Jumbo Crochet Workshops sounds great and I am sure will be a big success - your bowl is lovely, great colours. Hope you have a good week.

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    1. I hope the Jumbo Crochet Basket workshop goes well too. I've had to cancel a couple of these in different places, so hopefully this one will be more popular because of the clientelle it will reach :)

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  12. your bananas look lovely and snuggly in their new bowl! sounds like you've found a great venue for a crochet workshop :) x

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    1. Thank you, not necessarily what it was intended for but I thought they gave it a bit of scale.

      Spin a Yarn is a gorgeous shop. I am very pleased to have this opportunity :)

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  13. Please say the large creation you're planning is yarn bombing Verity, I would love that!!! (Can't decide if I like her or not btw, quite like the area and not sure if it fits? But at the same time it does look rather magnificent?!)

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    1. This made us laugh! I'm not really into yarn bombing but I have to admit yarn bombing Verity seems to appeal! I'd need to find a crane first though, she's enormous! She is definitely a talking point, which in my book is far better than a sculpture you walk past and don't give a second look:)

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  14. When I first heard about the sculpture I thought I wouldn't like it but having seen photos I think it looks wonderful and would love to see it in real life.

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    1. If you have to make a special journey to see her, wait until they have completely finished. At the moment they still have fencing around the base, she is actually stood on books. I'd recommend a visit though, she is definitely eye catching, however you view her :)

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  15. It sounds like you had a great time. The colours of the crochet bowl remind me of wax crayon pictures where the jewel like colours appear as if by magic.
    I have heard about the statue, and seen photos lying down on her side. She looks amazing.
    Good luck with the Contemporary Craft Festival!
    Wendy x

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    1. I like your analogy to the wax crayon pictures! I'm there with you! Don't know why I didn't think of it before :)

      Thank you, I wont know much more until after Christmas but I'll keep you all informed - just try and stop me!!

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  16. I have a couple of friends who would go craazy in that yarn shop

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  17. What an amazing sculpture. The yarn shop looks great (yarn lovers heaven), hope you enjoy teaching the jumbo crochet class. The yarn colours for the basket look lovely.
    Ali x

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    1. I'm experimenting with colours and yarns at the moment so next time I'll probably use more subtle colours.

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  18. I usually drive up to Joyce's (Spin a Yarn) for 'special' wool as it's like being in a sweet shop! My husband loves it too especially as he usually gets given a coffee when he's there.. It was at her original shop further back down the road that I first learnt to spin... I'll be watching out for your workshop in her newsletter now and if I'm free I'll be there!
    Sue

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    1. I hope you'll be free! I'm really looking forward to it and would be lovely to meet you.

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  19. Sounds like you had a lovely holiday! Hope the crochet workshop goes well :-) Simmi x

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I really appreciate all the lovely comments you leave so thank you for taking precious time to do this.