Woolly Weekend Retreat....

...announcing our first Woolly Weekend Retreat being held in a beautifully converted barn in the Brecon Beacons Nat. Park in Carmarthenshire on 9th - 11th March 2018.

This is going to be a weekend packed full of all things woolly, weave a rug on a peg loom, learn to crochet with giant 'Dreadlock Yarn', plant dye wool yarns and much, much more.

You will be using washed fleeces, Welsh hand spun yarns and wool to make your own, unique rug and storage basket and have lots of lovely naturally dyed yarns to take home with you too.
Learn how to crochet, learn to weave on a peg loom and to dye wool using foraged plants. Lots of tips and tricks to take away with you, tuition and workshops all day.

All meals and beautifully appointed accommodation, all workshops, equipment and materials are included in the price, starting at £325/person for a twin room sharing.

This weekend is about having fun whilst learning new crafts or enjoying skills you already have in a relaxed, comfortable place in the heart of beautiful countryside.
The converted barn is for our exclusive use all weekend from 3pm on Friday 9th until we say goodbye on 3pm on Sunday 11th March 2018.

Bookings are being taken now for this exclusive weekend...but hurry, as places are limited...Click on the link to secure your place now!
                                                         Booking form and more info

Crochet heart...

...just right for Valentines....

...and at my crochet workshop yesterday, hearts, groovy mittens and more...

Crochet and Peg Loom

Workshops...

Busy weekend of workshops...crochet, followed by peg loom weaving in Carmarthen on Saturday and then more crochet in Hay on Wye on Sunday morning.

I love teaching and inspiring others to make and create, it's super rewarding and a joy.

Xxx

chunky crochet...

..hand spun yarn

Have really been enjoying spinning Badger Faced fleece into chunky weight yarn recently. My friend Sarah Rose has a small flock, along with rare breed pigs and Dexter cattle. 

She carefully rears them on land very near to my workshop and her efforts are rewarded by producing the most tasty meat products around. Her number one priority is the welfare of her animals and I like this type of farming very much. Hers is the only meat I eat now, if it isn't from her, or if I am out and about, then I am veggie.

 I feel very passionate about the welfare of animals in the production of a never ending need? to demand cheap food. I personally think this is the wrong route to take, cheap meat will always be second rate and sadly animals suffer because of this, unnecessarily. Less is more as they say, pay a little more, enjoy exceptional taste and quality, eat less of it. (Or not at all as you prefer)

This is Aslan one of Sarah's rams, gorgeous eh?

You can find Sarah at www.fromthehedgrose.com

Anyway, back to this lovely wool...

Beautiful tones of red, cream and brown give an earthiness to this naturally coloured fleece. There is a little kemp in the wool, perhaps not great worn next to the skin, although I wear my bobble hat without any scratchiness.

I have spun it a little chunky, really looks good crocheted up with a 8mm hook. I used fptr, bptr stitches to create a rib like texture and this will be used on cushions and throw blankets, perhaps even a rug. X

Hello...

...it's been a while

Sorry if I left you waiting?

I have been a wee bit distracted of late, planning and running crochet workshops and updating other media sites (FB) nellieandeve, along with weaving and hand spinning yarns, that the world of blogging was left on the back burner. 

Will visit more often.

I am enjoying the workshops greatly, one of the most rewarding things I have done and realising a bit of a dream come true moment when I look at what I am doing.

Teaching and encouraging others to learn and be creative is a joy.

Workshops run only once or twice a month at the mo, mostly crochet, with a peg loom weaving day added every 2-3 months.

 My aim is to do more! Workshops every 2 weeks, something new, building on skills already learnt, felt making, working with real fleece, spinning...an endless list

So watch this space...

And see it all unfold....hopefully later this year?

For the moment I am content with the pace of life, I have a great group of students every month and making and selling my own creations is being well received.

In one word......happy........

And very thankful 

Here's some images of new items I am working on right now...

Next workshop are 14th March for both crochet and peg loom weaving, held at The Quercus Rooms, Carmarthen, 10-1 and 2-5

Get in touch if you would like to come along, places are limited.

See you soon

Love Helen 

busy bee...

...these last few months

Workshops and courses have been received with a super response from all the students who came along to learn new skills this year. Many thanks to all. I have had great fun making and preparing for each workshop and sharing skills, stories and cake!

Christmas Crochet

 

I have also been hard at work stocking up my shops and online store with Christmas gifts, treats and cards too...

All available at   www.folksy.com/shops/nellieandeve

And shops locally

Myddfai

Crafts alive-Llandeilo 

Happy Festive Season

new crochet course date...

...I am happy to announce a new date for the ever popular

Learn to Crochet course

To be held at my local Reading Rooms in Llansadwrn Village, near Llandeilo

4th Oct...2-5pm

£15/inclusive

All equipment and refreshments are provided

This course is suitable for beginners and improvers

Booking essential 

You can email me via this blog page...just click on contact me

crochet course...

...had a great day yesterday with a super group of ladies all learning to crochet

they quickly got to grips with basic stitches and were making flowers by the end of the session.

all worked really hard whilst having fun chats and lots of tea, coffee and cake

looking forward to next months course...more learning to crochet and beanie hats

new crochet courses...

...coming soon

I have some super crochet courses coming up, starting with...

learn to crochet...granny squares, flowers and more

learn all the basic techniques needed to complete various projects. all equipment and refreshments are included.

£15/inclusive

30th Aug, 14.00-17.00 at The Quercus Rooms, Kings Street, Carmarthen 

and more to follow, including

 Crochet a Beanie Hat or Neckwarmer

an opportunity to use my own hand spun yarn, including plant dyed colours to create something very unique.

£25/inclusive

20th Sept, 14.00-17.00 at The Quercus Rooms, Carmarthen 

and 

Christmas Crochet

snowflakes and bauble decorations for the tree!

22nd Nov, 14.00-17.00 at The Quercus Rooms, Carmarthen

£15/inclusive

for more info please contact me 

www.nellieandeve.co.uk

nellieandeve@icloud.com

Or through my Facebook page at

www.facebook.com/nellieandeve

hope to see you soon

Xxx

new courses...

...learn how to weave using a peg loom and learn how to crochet

courses are running in Carmarthen and Myddfai, for booking and further info please visit my website and click on courses and events

www.nellieandeve.co.uk

I will be at 'Hobbycraft' in Swansea on 6th July demonstrating peg loom weaving, pop along and say hi

You can also find me at the following events holding demos in wool spinning and peg loom weaving...

Hay Craft Festival, hay on wye, 24-25th May

Monmouth Show, monmouth, 21st Aug

Llandovery Sheep Festival, llandovery, 27-28th Sept

Xxx

crochet kits...

...are ready

crochet your very own little bunny, cute isn't he?

kits include Welsh hand spun yarn, pattern, crochet hooks and come in a cotton bag

the wonderful...

...Wonderwool

a great big thank you to everyone that came and said hello last weekend at Wonderwool Wales. it was great to meet you and good to see familiar faces too.

i had such fun whilst demonstrating peg loom weaving, thanks for the great comments and feedback and have had lots of interest in the courses i am running, they are being booked up fast.

please have a look on my website for more details if you are interested in attending a course on 'how to weave on a peg loom' or 'learn how to crochet'

www.nellieandeve.co.uk

...happy st David's

...day

living in beautiful Wales the 1st March is a special day! Children dress in traditional costume at school and daffodils are literally everywhere.

It's a happy time...a simple way to celebrate both a patron saint and the coming of spring

Hurray

Xxx

crochet workshop...

...new workshop booking now

GRANNY SQUARES & CROCHET FLOWERS 

workshop being held by Helen Hickman (nellie and eve) and Debi Lamborn 

23rd November 2013    2-5pm

The Quercus Rooms 24 Kings Street, Carmarthen SA311BS. 

The Quercus Rooms offers a cosy friendly atmosphere.

we will be demonstrating how these nostalgic favourites can be created and promise it will be a fun filled afternoon

 All levels of crocheter's welcome

Starter pack containing crochet hook, various yarns and instructions for you to take away... all for the small cost of £15.00. 

Tea, cake and biscuits of course !! Learners from 10 years to 100 !! 

Please contact The Quercus Rooms ( Hazel or Cheryl ) with your interest and booking...thank you

01267 231212

www.creativecarmarthen.org

hand spun Jacob...

...crocheted shawl

a little something I have been working on recently, a lovely shawl crocheted using a cluster stitch and my hand spun Jacob yarn, a capelet in Romney yarn and a cute neck warmer in a blend of Romney and Shetland fleeces. All washed, carded, blended and spun in my studio at home on a hill in south west Wales. All wool is as local as my neighbouring field, except the merino

these pieces will be part of my autumn collection including yarn, headbands in a Shetland/Jacob mix and elegant shawls and shrugs in cream Romney/Shetland/Merino blend hand spun yarn

coming soon....

do you already knit or crochet? want to make these items and more for yourself? i am putting together some simple kits, includes hand spun yarn and pattern from some of my best loved pieces

keep an eye on my website for more details... i aim to have the first kits available this september

xxx 

too pretty ...

...for washing dishes?

i had some spare coloured commercial yarn hanging around

and thought i would use it up by crocheting these cute wash cloths

here's the very easy pattern

foundation chain 25 stitches, turn

treble into the 2nd stitch from hook

treble to the end, chain 2, turn

continue for 15 rows, taking care at each end to treble into the turning 2 chain
finish off work.

frilly edge
change to another colour, slip stitch into one corner of your work

*chain 3, (counts as one treble) treble 2 into same stitch

slip stitch into next stitch* continue from ** all the way around your wash cloth

slip stitch at end, tie of yarn and weave in ends.

do hope that all sounds clear...

it does in my head, but sometimes it's quite hard to write out a pattern so that everyone can understand it

you now have your own wash cloth or maybe use it for the dishes? or a little place mat

you get the idea

cotton or acrylic mix yarns work best as they wash better and are long lasting...for once my beloved pure wool doesn't really work as it mostly felts when using

they make sweet gifts too, make a trio and tie with string

have fun