susie johns at the circus

Knitting Workshops in Northern Ireland

On Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd February, I'll be hosting knitting workshops at Glen Gallery Crafts, County Antrim.

On the Friday, I'll be showing participants how to knit a hat (using patterns from my book Knitted Beanies: Twenty to Make) and on the Saturday we'll be knitting fruit and flowers, including these pretty periwinkles.

It's my first trip to Northern Ireland, so I'm very excited.

Postcard from Europe

My 18-year-old daughter Edith is currently travelling around Europe with her friend Alice. This morning I received in the post this lovely hand-drawn postcard, documenting the places she had visited in the first few days of her three-week trip... Paris, Brussels, Bruges, Amsterdam and Berlin. This lovely artwork was posted in Krakow a few days later. I feel so privileged that she took the time to create this artwork and send me such a lovely, personal greeting... Thank you, sweetie!

What to do in Barcelona

I took my two daughters to Barcelona at half term. We tried not to stick to the obvious tourist agenda but explored markets, back streets, vintage clothes shops, bookshops, small cafés, gardens and the beachfront. We liked Gaudi's mosaics but we aslo liked the grafitti, especially around the university.
Our recommendations for anyone visiting Barcelona are...
Best places to shop: the Mercat de la Boqueria on Rambla de Sant Josef, for food; and the streets just behind, between the market and the Museu d'Art Contemporani for beads, jewellery findings, clothes and accessories, particularly Curtidos Pinós, 79 Carrer de l'Hospital, which sells leather thongs and bands in every width and colour. There's also a big flea market, Encants, selling new clothes and furniture as well as antiques, books and lots of real tat – plus a few treasures! It's a few blocks east of La Sagrada Familia, and open every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Best places to eat: two restaurants, both in the same street (nearest Metro station: Passeig de Gracia). Madrid e Barcelona is more intimate and cosy and La Rita is lighter, brighter and more bustling, but they both serve great Catalan food and the prices are very reasonable.