At Knitfield we already know the power of flowers goes beyond their colour or scent. Flowers are good business creating an ambience more pleasant for customers and for us. Of course we're partial to wild things from the surrounding fields.
When invited to present the 'Crafternoon Tea Event' as part of the Northwest garden show, now in it's 5th year, we at Knitfield jumped over our needles with ideas. The venue for our part in this community led event was The Irish Garden for the White House, an exact replica of the Diarmuid Gavin designed garden built in the grounds of the White House with many Irish - American references.
Our location for the Northwest garden show weekend was the beautifully designed stone built oval room, central in the White House garden
Knitfield made it to the White House after some vehicle difficulties by 'borrowing' the van from the business next door, MacBride Bros Joinery
Some work in the branding department and we were ready for the large crowds that annually attend the Northwest garden show from North and south of the Irish border.
Roses are made daily at Knitfield and never need watered, even if the models do !
Late the night before show opening and it's starting to look the part
#socialgardener & gardener with BBC radio foyle, Gareth Austin takes a break from the allotments to relax with some knitting! He learned at school and you never forget how to hold the needles even if the blackberry stitch here was a little ambitious ?
Rita extreme knits by the White House garden pools with our Knitfield blanket wool
Or make new friends?
Or even get very daring with the falconry display from Glenveagh, if birds are your thing. We're just after their lovely feathers at Knitfield for head pieces.
Our most fashionable family at Crafternoon tea undoubtedly and great helpers at the Sunday afternoon extreme knit demo with Edel
Jemima puddle duck finds a frog in the garden pool!
The Tin man in the sensory garden designed by Janice Campbell had loads of lovely plants too from Dunwiley nurseries
We loved the green octopi growing in the natural designed garden by Tim Austen
Irish TV loved our big colourful wool too and we look forward to seeing Edel's interview on soon and the coverage from the garden show. Little Eilish kate's lovely hand knit by Bogbean in the picture here.
This exhibitor from the Juice bar booked an early morning Crafternoon Tea having witnessed how impossibly packed the room was the day before. All that China and we didn't hear a piece drop in 2 days, check out the beautiful knit flowers on the mantle behind by a fellow Knitfielder, beside our letter from the actual White House
A close up of our letter from the White House now IN the White House garden, Thank you too Hillary!
You can eat this! wonderful colour in vegetable land
We loved all the hot pinks and reds of flowers we didn't know the names of
Donegal's Rose for the #rose of Tralee this year is Tamara and we found her loving our floral buttons from Knitfield
It helps to be prepared especially where cooking live in front of an audience is concerned. Edel takes up a twitter challenge from the #nosaltchef to cook a surprise dish if he learns to knit
Brian the #nosaltchef is all set to Knit with the extreme needles
Time for a little cooking brush up with the #nosaltchef master himself RTE's Brian McDermott in the live cooking theatre
Remember the weekend case....we got into it!
McCrearys made sure Sundays live Donegal game could be viewed by visitors
Elaine in Edel MacBride iconic Gold beret takes bookings for Knitfield courses coming up soon, check them out at the edel macbride.com site
Michael Carlin and Edel MacBrideOrganiser Michael Carlin can take his hat off to the best Northwest garden show ever by Sunday afternoon and the weather behaved pretty good too!
We loved the ethically made 'Bogman' hats handknit in Donegal by Anna at Bogbean designs
We found our Spring intern Kathleen Craig in entrepreneurial fashion selling her wondrous fudge
From colourful cakes to big bold colourful yarns, all rich with homemade goodness. Sharing technique and conversation.
Edward showcased our knit Bow tie with oodles of charm
AND we are back to crochet roses after a fantastic weekend, made fantastic by the massive interest in our yarns and kits and patterns and demos and workshops and everything!
Birds of a feather us knitters, gardeners, cooks and folks
If you'd love to make roses that don't need watered contact Elaine at Knitfield, she'll have just the option for you!
Good bye from us at the White House and back to the Knitfield in Convoy and our lovely wee shop at the Derry Craft Village, see you soon!
THANK YOU to the organisers of the Northwest Garden show for the invitation, especially to Karen Murphy who connected with us on Facebook and got the ball rolling ! Karen manages the very successful Trashnfashion event at the garden show and you'll find lots of info on Facebook.
More images of Knitfield at the garden show 'Crafternoon Tea' on www.facebook/knitfield page.
To buy Edel MacBride - Knitfield kits or to book classes go to www.edelmacbride.com
For more information on the garden show go to www.northwestgardenshow.com
At Knitfield /EdelMacBride we are available on landline at 00353 74 9147508 10 am to 5.30 pm Monday to Saturday.
