the knitting noras

One of my friends, Vicky, over on Ravelry (Crobbles) is involved with the Knitting Noras which is a group of knitters from Bolton trying to raise money for the Christie Hospital. Sadly and poignantly their co-founder Sarah Richards was diagnosed with breast cancer in September 2008 and very recently passed away.

The group has had publicity in Simply Knitting, Knitting, Let's Knit and the just out Rowan May newsletter if you want to read more about them.

They are selling calendar's with artfully posed nude pictures based on the Women's Institute Calendar Girls idea. The calendars can be pre-ordered from www.theknittingnoras.co.uk and you can get more information about their progress at http://nakedknitting2010.blogspot.com .

Vicky is a very encouraging and helpful knitting friend on Ravelry so do look her up there or visit the Knitting Nora's site. I hope you might be tempted by the idea of a knitting related calendar which will make someone a very interesting gift!

Fine Cell Work Exhibition

Fine Cell Work is an exhibition coming here in the Town Hall Galleries in Ipswich from 14th to 25th April 2009. I went to see it at Layer Marney Towers where Kaffe Fassett gave a talk explaining what it was all about. Prisoners are being shown how to embroider which is encouraging them to spend their time in both a theraputic and productive way that has a financial value too. The items, which are mostly cushions like the one in the photograph, are for sale and the proceeds go towards expanding the programme and buying materials.

I have found that there are some very strong opinions about the idea, ranging from utter horror to complete belief that creativity can be a healing and reforming process.

If you are interested go and have a look and I would love you to leave a comment here to see what you think of the idea and the work.

(Teresa)