Having been inspired by yet another facebook group we decided to join in with our very own yarnvent.
First we picked a spot. A railway crossing, great idea. There are some trees in a garden area. Its beside a carpark which people used when the trains used to stop in the village. The trains don't stop anymore. The cars have to though. People out walking and cars have to stop for the trains. Waiting while trains go by can be pretty boring. It's a notorious crossing with folks having to wait for three, sometimes four, trains at a time. Fifteen minutes is a long time when you're sitting in a car. Maybe they need something to look at....
It began with just two of us who live in the same village. We decided to split the daily bomb to odd and even dates. The first one went up. It was the 'Happy Christmas Barlaston' tree. It was made using crocodile stitch. he tutorial can be found
here. Its a great stitch to learn and I couldn't wait to do it. On the bottom I stitched a base for the tree and added some embroidered words......'Happy Christmas Barlaston'
The items grew until the tree infront began to take shape too. This tree was more like a Christmas tree full of decorations. There hung snowflakes, knitted baubles, a bell that tinkled, a Christmas pudding and even a crocheted paper chain.
The snowflakes were great. I loved how they blew in the wind and caught the eye of passers by.
This photo shows the two trees together. They looked wonderful....
I talk in past tense as they've all been taken down. We didn't want to bestow bad luck on the whole village and so we needed to take them all down before 12th night. We turned up after nightfall with a hot flask of coffee and a little helper (who enjoyed climbing the tree more than holding the bag open.....*rolls eyes*) It was quite sad. I felt happy that we'd hopefully made people smile during the minutes waiting in cars, standing in the cold with their dogs or holding the hands of children on the walk home from school. Sad that all the work we'd done had been put away until next year maybe??
The before and after shot....
My personal woolly favourites were.....
The reindeer. He looked soooooo geeky he was cute.
I love the free standing spiral tree hiding amongst the shrubbery.
and finally the scary snowmn with staring eyes who looked down from high up in the tree.
Moments to remember......
Taking a stepladder and giggling as I tied the scary snowman on. Nobody asked what I was doing, which made it funnier. I smiled for the whole day.
And picure the scene:
I pulled up onto the kerb in my car to quickly attach the reindeer. There were some work vans parked up right next to the trees. I couldn't see any workers and so began sewing him onto the tree. The first van drove away leaving a handful of bewildered workman looking at me. Their puzzled expressions said it all. I wonder what was said once I'd left LOL
Thanks to everyone who contributed to this project. Lots of others did little baubles or snowflakes to hang while they were passing through. We even managed to meet a new crafter. Sh's doing some quilting to hang around. Watch this space!
Valentine yarnbomb next people........:0)
