Sock Pumpkins

Kiri Cottage Sock Puppets 2

We made the cutest sock pumpkins at Ards and North Down Borough Council last night.

There were some great ideas and we had a lot of fun coming up with them. 

Dorset Buttons at Ards Arts Centre

Kiri Cottage Dorset Buttons October 2024 1

This evening we made Dorset buttons at Ards and North Down Borough Council. 

Some of these turned out to be quite big Dorset buttons! Most had a Halloween theme too. 

Working with Wool – Lucet

Kiri Cottage Working with Wool October 1

Over the last couple of weeks I have run the first two in a series of 10 ‘Working with Wool’ craft workshops for Ards and North Down Borough Council on 24 September and 1 October.

We used a lucet to create a woollen braid at the first workshop and then stitched the braid into a placemat at the second one.

Working with Wool – Week 3

Working with Wool Kiri Cottage 2

This was Week 3 of Ards and North Down’s ‘Working with Wool’ program. This week it was about weaving paper plate flowers.

Well done ladies on the creativity, energy and craic that are so evident in the finished flowers!

Castle Espie

Kiri Cottage On The Wheel Teal

Today I spent  a peaceful morning at Castle Espie with Inspiring Yarns demonstrating spinning to visitors.

There were lots of the other interesting crafts to watch and ‘have a go’ at, and plenty of craft supplies and various kits to buy.

Farm to Fabric at Glenside Farm

Farm to Fabric Kirin Cottage 1

I was delighted this morning to have been part of the first stage of a 13 month project run by Inspiring Yarns and Glenside Farm social enterprises ‘Farm to Fabric ‘ project.

15 lovely people came along this morning to learn the first step in processing raw fleece on its journey towards the finished product – how to skirt and wash it. Complete with large trugs, water, detergent and optional disposable gloves, within 3 hours 5 fleeces – blue texel and Suffolk – had gone through this initial step, and laid out to dry.

The next step will take place on 2 November which will look at how to card or comb the washed fleece, ready to spin.

August Soda Bread at Cockle Row Cottages

Kiri Cottage Cockle Row August 2024 1

This was my view from my ‘office’ today! I was baking soda bread on the griddle at Cockle Row Cottages again. I love my visits here and really enjoy the atmosphere in Groomsport and look forward to visiting.

Learn To Crochet at Kiri Cottage

Kiri Cottage Learn To Crochet 3

As part of Ards & North Down Council’s Creative Peninsula season I ran a ‘learn to crochet’ workshop today. The four ladies who participated had never crocheted before. They did really well, picking up the basics, and learning how to include beads into their work.

Kiri Cottage Hosts Karyn for Fairy Bells Workshop

Kiri Cottage Meets Karyn

We spent the morning drinking coffee, eating home made scones and soda bread, and making Fairy Bell charms (also known as Witch Bells), historically used for keeping good energy in and bad energy out of our houses. They were hung on window and door handles, and the bells chimed when there was danger or negative energy in the area.