Bottoms Up

How embarrassing. It's been so long since I've written anything on here, but I've been ever so busy setting up a Women's Institute in Hebden Bridge. The photo shows our first meeting which took place on 18th April... a cocktail making and tasting session at Moyles. The fabulous Apo, General Manager of the hotel and restaurant in Hebden Bridge offered to host our inaugeration celebration and I jumped at the chance to get the women of the institute boozing. We plan to have loads of fun.

Loving Valentine's

I'm too embarrassed to call this heart decoration a craft project, as all it requires is some lovely felted hearts, bead and a length of ribbon. I guess you could do the felting yourself if you had the time, equipment and inclination... but to be honest, these hearts have just landed in Ribbon Circus and have made my life so much easier.

All you do is thread the ribbon through the felted hearts and randomly place beads and knots in between. It really is that easy. Perfect for a last minute gift of love.

The Best Muff In Town

Bring back the muff. Not only is it the only thing keeping my hands warm at the moment, but the endless innuendos are keeping me laughing. The photo shows Jack with his face in my muff. See what I mean? Endless fun...

Wire Hearts

There's no getting around it. It's nearly December. Which means it's nearly Christmas. Which means I should have started panicking weeks ago about making stuff. So... here's an easy solution to a number of Festive craft needs: Wire Hearts.

Get some wire (fuse wire, jewelry wire, whatever). Thread buttons on to it. Twist the ends together. Shape into a heart. Ta da.

Make small ones to put on presents, make an enormous one as a door wreath and anything else inbetween. Hang them on a lovely bit of ribbon and there we have it in all its glory, fantastic craftiness from bits and bats lying about the house.

Chicken Jumpers Rule

Ribbon Circus held its second Chicken Jumper Knit In on Sunday. "What on Earth are you taking about?" I hear you cry...


Well, lots of lovely people come to the shop, drink tea, eat cake and knit a jumper that will be given to a recently liberated hen from a battery farm. We're knitting for a good cause, but we're going to have fun doing it.

Some hens leave the battery farms a little worse for wear and lose their feathers. They make a full recovery, but in winter need a little help keeping warm and this is where a teensy jumper can make all the difference to a bald chicken.

Chicken jumpers are great for knitters of all abilities. Beginner knitters can learn to increase, decrease, make buttonholes and shape a neckhole. Advanced knitters can use up their leftover yarn or just pick up a jumper inbetween more complicated projects. And then there's those of you who knitted many moons ago and want to get back into it, but have lost confidence. Chickens jumpers, they're perfect for everyone.

I give out free patterns and yarn at Ribbon Circus for anyone wanting to knit a chicken jumper. Pop in and see me.

Citrus Pomanders

The autumn chill has descended upon us and my instinct at this time of year is to prepare for the festive season. Some people will panic and think "That's months away" whilst others will be saying "I've had everything organised since June." I think the World can be split into how you prepare for Christmas... months in advance or totally last minute. I don't believe it's a split of the sexes either, it's not that easy. Anyway, I digress, pomanders need to be made at about this time so they can dry out in time for filling the home with their spicy aroma for Christmas celebrations.
Pomanders have been used around the house for centuries. Whilst I'm making them I feel as though I'm touching the past, knowing that millions of women before me have done the same to keep wardrobe beasties away from textiles and clothing.

These are so easy to make - all you're doing is sticking cloves into an citrus fruit, but there are a few pointers that will the process much easier. The best thing about making pomanders is the gorgeous mingling of orange, clove, cinnanmon and nutmeg smells that can instigate a aromatic trance.


What do I need?
Citrus fruit(s)
Rubber bands
Whole cloves
Tablespoon of cinnamon, nutmeg and ground cloves for each fruit
A paper bag for each fruit

What do I do?
Put two elastic bands around the fruit in a cross - you can use any citrus fruit, although orange is my favourite. This is where you'll put the ribbon once the fruit has dried out, so if you're going to use a wide ribbon, leave a wide gap. If you're not going to hang the pomander up, but fill a bowl with them then leave this bit out. Now, all you need to do is fill the the outside of the fruit by pushing cloves into the skin. The cloves need to be close together, but not touching. Put a tablespoon of cinnamon, nutmeg and ground cloves into a paper bag (don't, under any misguidance use a plastic bag). Some people add a few drops of sandlewood to the spice mixture to help preserve the fruit, but to be honest I don't bother and let the cloves work their own magic. Pop the cloved fruit into the bag with the spice mixture, give it a good shake so the fruit is completely covered in spicey loveliness and then leave in a dry place. Shake the fruit in the spices every day for a week (if you can remember, I often forget and there's no big disaster) and leave it to fully dry out for about 6 weeks. If the fruit goes mouldy, throw it away, we're not undertaking a study of penicillin here. You'll know it's ready when it feels light and looks like dried out fruit (amazing, I know). When your fruit has magically turned into a pomander, shake off the remainder of the spices, tie a ribbon around it and hang it up wherever you please. Christmas jolliness will ensue.

Rag Market Blitz

Yesterday's monsoon weather triggered the flood warning system here, which sounds just like a WWII air raid siren. It was a bit eerie at the first Rag Market in Hebden Bridge Town Hall, as I was dressed the part, complete with 1940s hairdo and vintage haberdashery apron.

It was grand to see so many people brave the storm to visit us and hopefully pick up a bargain or two. All the panic didn't stop me scoffing three cakes from stall opposite, including the scrumptious beetroot and chocolate. Yummmmmm.