Podcast appearances and mentions of Emma Mitchell

In this latest instalment of our 'Senses' series we hear from Emma Mitchell. Emma is an AHRC-funded Creative Writing doctoral researcher at Brunel University London whose work uses archival research and experimental literary forms and practices to reclaim the voices of marginalised women from History. Her project focusses on Georgian sex workers and works with contemporary documents, objects and ephemera to generate narratives that place women's voices front and centre. An ex-school teacher and brand strategist, she has performed worldwide as a comedian, circus and burlesque artist, and is best known for her critically-acclaimed one-woman show, The Naked Stand Up. She's been featured in The Times, Daily Mail, Scotsman, The Daily Record and even The Sun. She is the producer of Naked Girls Reading, London, and has appeared on BBC Radio 4's Late Night Woman's Hour discussing nudity and her work. Her recent writing has been published by Haunted Girlfriend, Broken Sleep, Steel Incisors and Streetcake Magazine among others. ------------ Image: Emma Mitchell ------------ Technecast is a podcast series showcasing research from across the arts and humanities. It is produced by Felix Clutson, Isabel Sykes, Morag Thomas, Olivia Aarons, Chiara Muzzi, Eva Dieteren and Pragya Sharma. Fancy turning your research into a podcast episode? We'd be happy to hear from you at technecaster@gmail.com.

The modern world calls us on us to be visible, to be sociable, to be ‘out there' and tell everyone about it, not to mention to fill our days rushing from one thing to the next to keep up with everything society makes us feel we should be doing, nevermind the pressure from advertisers to create the perfect Christmas, and the knowledge that we are soon to be bombarded by visions of other people's perfect Christmases online in the coming months, and it is a lot. This year I want to entertain the idea of giving ourselves permission to be less visible if we want to, less sociable if we want to, more ‘in here' than ‘out there' when that feels good, and to slow right down, and to do less, in a way which feels like more, without feeling guilty about it.That's why, before we dive into all the chaos of the festive season, and all the joyful themes coming up on the podcast, like gift giving, festive feasting, gathering and more, I wanted to take the time to do a whole episode on nourishing ourselves – mind, body and soul. This includes asking for, and receiving, what we need at this time of year, even if that isn't what society wants us to want, because it does not fit the commercial agenda, or the plans of our loudest friends, or anyone's expectations. Welcome to The Calm Christmas Podcast. I am Beth Kempton and this is Episode 2: Candlelight Carol, which is all about radical winter wellbeing.This episode includes:·      Why retreating is a good idea ·      Practical ways to nourish yourself in winter·      Our regular nature corner·      Christmas traditions from around the world (including several shared by listeners!)·      A lovely simple crafting project that might even become a Christmas gift for someone·      Two lovely recipes (hello nourishment!)·      Get ahead tips and more!With inspiration from @brie.doyle, @tracee_stanley, @davidjwhyte, @silverpebble2 (Emma Mitchell), @bonniesmithwhitehouse, @deliciouslyella, @ellamills__, @nancyhachisu, Fiona Danks, Jo Schofield, Elizabeth Jenner, and Emily Thomas. Lovely things for you:·      GIVEAWAY - ! This week I am giving away a very special gift for YOU AND A FRIEND! It includes some beautiful solid skincare from my friends at SBTRCT along with a personalized, signed copy of my book Calm Christmas for EACH of you. Hop over to Instagram @bethkempton to enter. If you are listening to this after the giveaway deadline, don't worry. I am going to be doing various lovely giveaways each week up to Christmas so there will be something waiting there for you!·      CALM CHRISTMAS PLANNER – Download yours for free here (if link is broken go to dowhatyouloveforlife.com)I hope this podcast will help you locate Christmas as an anchor in the stormy seas of winter in this world right now.Take good care,Beth(@bethkempton on Instagram / bethkempton.substack.com / dowhatyouloveforlife.com)All show notes with book and article references etc and ingredients for recipes can be found here.

Hello WitchesOn todays episode our book review is Entering Hekates Cave by Cyndi Brannen. Resources mentioned in the Rewilding section - 15 Ways to Rewild Yourself (gatherandgrow.com)How to Rewild your life for mental wellbeing - From Britain with LoveRewilding For Women: 24 Brilliant Ways To Rewild Your Life - The Outdoor ApothecaryThe Cottage Life - An Escapists Guide to CottagecoreBooksFeral – Rewilding the Land, Sea and Human Life – George MonbiotWilding – The Return of Nature to a British Farm – Isabella TreeThe Hidden Life of Trees – Peter Wohlleben The Salt Path – Raynor WinnWintering – Katherine MaySapiens – A Brief History of Humankind – Yuval Noah HarariWild Signs and Star Paths – 52 keys that will open your eyes, ears and mind to the world around you - Tristan GooleyThe Wild Remedy – How Nature Mends Us – A diary by Emma Mitchell. Podcasts -As the Season TurnsBelongingQueen Bees YouTubeEarthing - https://youtu.be/44ddtR0XDVURewilding - https://youtu.be/diyoGovawLIThe Great Forgetting/Rewilding - https://youtu.be/wRJPb_N_q60Sign up via Patreon - The Witches Institute - The Witches Institute | creating Podcast episodes, Online Workshops, Grimoire Sheets | PatreonMy Patreon is packed full of content, each month I release either a folklore tale, ghost story or give you the story of a historical haunted or witchy location.I release four Hedge Witch Studies per month with grimoire sheets for you to add to your book of shadows covering a power animal, crystal, plant and tree.Each month I post an exclusive Patreon podcast episode along with grimoire sheets. You will receive grimoire sheets for The White Witch Podcast also.We also have The Literary Witch's Coven, this is optional but within this we read a book together each month and have a meeting to discuss and share our reviews on it. We also have our amazing witchy community to interact with, our Patreon has been running for over a year so if you join now you will have access to a ton of witchy content in our back catalogue. Its just £6 per month please check out our link to find out more and sign up!Find me here -Etsy - TheWhiteWitchCompany - Etsy UKThe White Witch's Book of Healing: The White Witch's Book of Healing: Weaving Magickal Rituals throughout your Craft for Sacred Healing and Reclamation of the Wild Witch Within: Amazon.co.uk: Rose, Carly: 9781914447266: BooksFind me on Instagram - The White Witch Podcast (@thewhitewitchpodcast) • Instagram photos and videosFind me on Facebook - The White Witch Podcast (facebook.com)You can email me at carly@thewhitewitchcompany.co.ukLots of witchy loveCarly xxSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-white-witch-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, David and Rob have a very special guest as the often mentioned Emma Mitchell joins them for an in-depth discussion about editing. Covering everything from the different types of editing to how to build relationships with your editor, Emma's expertise is sure to be a fascinating listen. Yorkshire based psychological thriller writer, Stephanie Rogers also joins the duo to face the 'Seven Questions.'A can't miss episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Before the season gets back up and running, Reading and Scotland's Emma Mitchell joined the pod to discuss the disastrous set-up that currently exists in the WSL for players like her who have chosen to start a family. Got a question for Kathleen, Karen & Emma? Email TheCOYGIGPod@OffTheBall.com! The COYGIG Pod on OTB Sports is in association with Cadbury FC, official snack partner to the Republic of Ireland's Women's National Team.

Before the season gets back up and running, Reading and Scotland's Emma Mitchell joined the pod to discuss the disastrous set-up that currently exists in the WSL for players like her who have chosen to start a family. Got a question for Kathleen, Karen & Emma? Email TheCOYGIGPod@OffTheBall.com! The COYGIG Pod on OTB Sports is in association with Cadbury FC, official snack partner to the Republic of Ireland's Women's National Team.

Emma Mitchell was Red Rose number #19, with an international rugby career that spanned 15 years. She won 57 caps for England and Great Britain, competed in 4 World Cups with the 1994 World Cup win being her career highlight.Following her retirement in 2002, Emma went on to coach at club, regional and international level in the USA, Canada and the UK.In 2007 Emma joined the English Institute of Sport as a Performance Lifestyle Coach, supporting over 200 elite GB Hockey athletes and coaches over four Olympic cycles. Over the last 10 years, she's also been involved in a number of coach development programmes, providing mentoring support to coaches in Tennis, Squash, Sailing, Hockey, Rugby, Swimming, Boxing and Football.In this fascinating and entertaining conversation, we explore the early days of women's rugby in England in the 1980s and Emma shares the conditions laid down for women to be allowed to play at London clubs and what it took to place for your country. What she's learnt from a life in coaching and in her role as a lifestyle Advisor at the EIS. What can women's team sport learn from Olympic and Paralympic programmes as it becomes professional and what the future looks like for women's rugby players globally. Thank you to Sport England who support The Game Changers through the National Lottery Find out more about The Game Changers podcast here.Hosted by Sue AnstissProduced by Sam Walker, What Goes On MediaA Fearless Women production

Have you switched over to an electric car yet? Is Limerick even electric car friendly? Is there something in particular putting you off going electric? We answer these questions- and more- with Emma Mitchell, Operations Director at The Society of the Irish Motor Industry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Laura speaks with Emma Mitchell, captain of Reading FC Women and member of Scotland's National Team. We talk about her career as a professional footballer, maternity leave and motherhood. Emma's daughter Innes is 10 months old and Emma returned to football after 8 months of mat leave. We touch upon mental health, physical recovery from birth and logistics of being a mum and training/playing professional football. It was brilliant to talk with Emma and hear what she had to say about motherhood and an athletic career. I hope you enjoy listening. You can watch Emma in the BBC programme The Future of Women's Football: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0cdwd26 And the Scotland team video following Emma's return to her national team and qualifying camp can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwRJ1E6KRwo Thank you for listening and supporting the Mother of All Solutions podcast - hosted and produced by Laura Broderick, with music by Ros Fraser. Do subscribe and keep in touch via @SolutionsMother on Twitter and Instagram - it would be great to hear from you.   

According to figures from the Society of the Motor Industry electric vehicle use continues to grow. There is an 80% year on year growth and a market share of 13%. Paddy Comyn, who is Director of Communications with AA Ireland, Emma Mitchell, the Operations Director with the Society of the Irish Motor Industry, and Lunchtime Live presenter, Andrea Gilligan, joined Regina to discuss if Ireland has the infrastructure to deal with increasing numbers of EV owners.

Former England international Alex Scott looks at the explosion in popularity of women's football and asks what the future holds for the game she loves. Women's football is the fastest growing female sport in the world. With wages on the rise and multi-million pound broadcasting deals being agreed, this summer's European Championships in England are set to be a watershed moment for the game. Traveling to Barcelona, Alex witnesses a seminal moment in the sport's history as a world-record 91,000 people pack the Nou Camp for the women's Champions League match between Barcelona and Real Madrid. Keen to know if that growth is sustainable, Alex seeks the views of some of the sport's biggest names such as Chelsea manager, Emma Hayes and England Lionesses captain Leah Williamson. Alex hears how Reading's WSL player, Emma Mitchell, is juggling being a new mum and a top-flight footballer, with maternity rights only recently being introduced for players. Meeting other Women's Super League players, Alex learns about the challenges they still face, exploring the lack of diversity in the women's game and the ongoing issues with social media abuse. This is a pivotal time for women's football and in order to find out if the game she loves is in safe hands, Alex flies to Switzerland to speak to Uefa and travels around the UK, meeting experts across the industry, including agents, investors, international stars and former players, to hear how far the game has come – and look at its incredible potential for the future.

Happy New Year!One of my 'resolutions' for this podcast way back when I first started it was to broaden the definition of adventure. I want everyone to reimagine what outdoor experiences look like, to bring a new appreciation of the small moments or unique connections with nature that you can have right where you are now, that can bring so much joy and fulfillment.You don't need to be 17 miles into the backcountry, surrounded by woods and megafauna, to have a fulfilling outdoor experience!So to kick off 2022, I'm sharing my conversation with Emma Mitchell, who is a National Park Ranger. You might think that means Emma spends her days dodging elk in Yellowstone, or recommending day hikes in Acadia, but no - Emma is stationed at the Lowell National Historical Park in very urban Lowell, Mass. If you're not familiar with Lowell, it's a mid-sized city along the Merrimack River that was one of the first planned industrial cities in America. In the first half of the 1800s, Lowell was an important center of textile production it's canal-powered manufacturing became a model for urban development across the country, for better or worse.Today's Lowell benefits from the diverse ethnic and cultural makeup that is the legacy of employing successive waves of immigrants, but has had to grapple with the environmental disaster that was the industrial revolution, and the economic fallout of all of the city's foundational industries moving south or overseas over the last century.Emma's chance visit to Lowell as a child actually set the stage for her applying to be a ranger at that park, as we'll hear. But we talk about a whole heck of a lot more - so if you're a jack trapper, get ready to rumble. And even if you have zero idea what I'm talking about, I know you'll want to listen in to this fun one.Make sure you follow @RangerEmma406 on Instagram, and check out some of the other links from our conversation:National Park ServiceYellowstone National ParkMammoth Hot SpringsStudent Conservation AssociationIditarodWhat is ‘jigging'?Boston National Historical ParkBoston African American National Historic SiteBoston Harbor IslandsFaneuil HallCharlestown Navy YardBunker Hill MonumentBoot Cotton Mills MuseumKittery Trading PostSeashore Trolley MuseumPetzl HeadlampCounter Assault Bear SprayHeritage Ice Fishing TrapsJack Traps

So here we are in Christmas week! This week I am sharing a few quiet words and a couple of festive recipes (for you and for the birds) to bring a sprinkling of calm as the festivities peak. With inspiration from Julia Baird, Emma Mitchell, and Maya Angelou. Wishing you whatever kind of Christmas you want and need this year.Beth XxPhosphorescence by Julia Baird p.286  (William Collins)Making Winter by Emma Mitchell  (LOM Art)Untitled by Maya Angelou in Celebrations: Rituals of peace and prayer by Maya Angelou  (Virago)Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year: A Little Book of Festive Joy by Beth Kempton (Piatkus)Ingredients for featured recipes:(1)   For the birdsYou will need:250g block of lard250g wild berries like rosehips or hawthorn, or dried fruit like dried cranberries or sultana, wild bird seed, and porridge oats (250g in total, in any combination of berries, seeds and oats)A saucepan of boiling waterA heatproof bowl to make a bain-marieYoghurt pots, fibre plant pots or coconut halvesGarden twine(2) For you2 litres still or sparkling cider or apple juice 2 large or 3 small apples, washed, cored and sliced but not peeled3 oranges or 8 tangerines (washed and sliced but not peeled),1 lemon (zest and juice only)1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground allspice, 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, 8 cloves, 6 short cinnamon sticks6 tablespoons brown sugar

Our host Dr Joanna McKenzie is joined by Professor Ed Mitchard - Co-founder and CTO of Space Intelligence - and Emma Mitchell of NatureScot to discuss the companies' collaborative project exploring Scotland's biodiversity. Check out Space Intelligence's land cover map of Scotland: https://www.space-intelligence.com/scotland-landcover/ 

#002 - Welcome back to Whitgift School, the podcast where we talk to staff, parents and pupils about topics that are relevant to you. In this episode we're talking IB, the International Baccalaureate. Emma Mitchell, Director of IB at Whitgift School, talks us through who the IB is aimed at, what the benefits are for students, she addresses some of the concerns that some parents might have about IB and also what its future is in schools. So if you've ever wondered about the IB, or even just want to know what it is, then this episode is especially for you. Let's step into this episode now with Director of IB at Whitgift, Emma Mitchell. Whitgift School online Website: www.whitgift.co.uk Twitter: @WhitgiftSchool1 Facebook: WhitgiftSchool LinkedIn: whitgift-school 

Emma Winnitoy, girlfriend of Mitchell Stephens, who plays for the Detroit Red Wings in the NHL, joins Brittany and I on the podcast today. Emma and Brittany go all the way back to to when they were kids because their brothers played hockey together. Being from the same city, they would occasionally chat but it became full circle when their significant others both signed in Tampa Bay and they won a Stanley Cup together. In this episode, we hear about how Emma + Mitchell met, long distance + the NHL bubble and their day with the Stanley Cup. However, the underlying theme was....friendships. One of our favorite topics to discuss. We have all experienced "being the new kid" and talk about how it has shaped how we approach newcomers now. Emma is such a sweetheart and the ideal friend you want in this hockey world. This is one of my fav epis, so enjoy!     Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/breakingtheice  www.instagram.com/emmawinnitoy www.instagram.com/britttanyenglish   Get 10% off your first month of BetterHelp: www.betterhelp.com/breakingtheice 

This week, Matt Densky talks with one of our seniors, Emma Mitchell, about her story and how God has been growing her and teaching her in the past few years. Emma talks about putting identity in what others think about her, and talks about wrestling with an eating disorder. Matt and Emma talk about freedom from shame, comparison, and what it looks like to ask for help.Speaker: Matt Densky

This week's episode of #InsideTheCircle: The Podcast sees GB's Hollie Pearne-Webb and Ollie Willars joined by Emma Mitchell to discuss the role of a Performance Lifestyle Adviser. From helping athletes develop skillsets outside of hockey to finding employment alongside playing the sport professionally and helping them transition out of the game, find out about Emma's crucial work and how it impacts on the players both on and off the pitch.

Sam chats to the inspiring Angela Whiley about her love of place, particularly the town of Elland through her work at Calderdale Council, and living in Halifax. Angela also shares with us her personal story of the most difficult year of her life, and what this means for her today. Content warning: childhood cancer For support and information on living with cancer or supporting loved ones: Macmillan Cancer Support CLIC Sargent - support for young people with cancer Cancer Research UK Find out all about Elland here. The Wild Remedy - How Nature Mends Us by Emma Mitchell

Scottish International and Reading defender, Emma Mitchell opens up about: her mental health, wedding plans and dress shopping, plus the idea of having children while enjoying a football career (something that doesn't happen often with women in football in the UK)

In this week's mini series a real treat, a World Cup winner in 1994, who's international career spanned 15 years. A stalwart of not only the England test side but also Saracens; scrum half Emma Mitchell selects her All Time England XV. Will she select the side that were crowned champions in 1994 or will there be some surprises? You'll have to listen to find out............ Why not check out our back catalogue of podcasts; where we speak the some of the biggest names in the game, as well as players, coaches and administrators from emerging rugby nations. Plus more in this mini-series, where legends of the game choose their All Time XVs; players such as Sarah Hunter, Rocky Clark, Rachel Taylor, Lynne Cantwell, Maggie Alphonsi, Lisa Burgess and Gill Burns.

Clare Balding recalls her favourite walks with a colourful variety of writers and singers including Bill Bryson, Toyah Wilcox, folk duo Ninebarrow, and the choral group Werca's Folk. Clare has been walking on air since 1999, and for this lockdown series of highlights has been digging into the archives to retrieve some of her most memorable moments: Today she gets dressed with Bill Bryson, takes a lift across a small puddle with Toyah, discovers that Dorothy Wordsworth avoided marriage so she could continue walking, and hears from author Emma Mitchell about exactly why our mood is lifted when we spend time in nature. Scroll down to the 'Related Links' box where you can click through to all the featured programmes. Producer: Karen Gregor

For our opening episode we report from The Hive, home of Spurs as they receive West Ham in the first London derby at the ground. Is moving from Arsenal to Spurs scandalous in the women's game? The loanee herself, Emma Mitchell, explains her move to Football 51. Plus we talk tactics with Spurs coach Juan Amoros. All that and plenty of analysis of all the weekend's Women's Super League games and the major stories of the week.

Leigh Chambers’ studio guest is Emma Mitchell talking about her book, The Wild Remedy, a diary of her battle with depression and the healing powers of nature. Andre Mangeot discusses his new poetry collection, Blood Rain. And Awais Khan talks about bringing Lahore to life in his debut novel, In The Company Of Strangers.

Leigh Chambers’ studio guest is Emma Mitchell talking about her book, The Wild Remedy, a diary of her battle with depression and the healing powers of nature. Andre Mangeot discusses his […]

Dr Jenny Harries, the Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England has become a familiar face and reassuring voice at the regular press conferences from Number 10 over the last couple of weeks. Today she joins Jenni to talk about the latest advice and information about the coronavirus pandemic and answers questions posed by our listeners. We've been hearing a lot from medical experts, politicians and commentators recently. But how is Covid-19 affecting regular Woman's Hour listeners? Over the coming weeks, we're going to be following a range of families and individuals and asking them for their take on the unprecedented situation we currently find ourselves in. Then - once it's all over - we'll have a unique social record of the coronavirus crisis from the perspective of women. To kick it all off, Jenni speaks to mum of two, Mercy Haruna. Why do we choose the clothes we do? In her new book, ‘Dress Your Best Life’, the American fashion psychologist Dawnn Karen explains how our clothing is the ‘connective tissue’ between the physical and emotional. She joins Jenni to discuss how our clothes do the talking. A lot of people suddenly have extra time on their hands, either from the lack of a commute because they're now working from home, the loss of a social life or from not being able to work at all. So once you've cast a critical eye over your bookshelf and binged on box-sets, why not take up that hobby you've always meant to start - or indeed return to. Jenni asks nature writer Emma Mitchell, journalist Almara Abgarian and Woman’s Hour listener Rhiannon Jenkins for their top picks of activities that can be easily accessed - from learning a language, to mastering macrame and drawing a leaf. Presenter - Jenni Murray Producer - Anna Lacey Guest - Dr Jenny Harries Guest - Mercy Haruna Guest - Dawnn Karen Guest - Emma Mitchell Guest - Almara Abgarian Guest - Rhiannon Jenkins

This episode has no references.

This week on the podcast Judith shares stories from her second French holiday, Jenny had a bathroom incident at a book festival, they discuss forest bathing and are joined by the crafty Emma Mitchell. Jenny Eclair @jennyeclair Judith Holder @greyprideuk Emma Mitchell @silverpebble

Embracing plants and nature can brighten the darkest of days, and taking time out of a busy day to step outside for a moment’s peace can have a huge impact on your wellbeing. Someone who knows this exceptionally well is Emma Mitchell, author of "The Wild Remedy: How Nature Mends Us”. In this episode of the Plant Based Podcast, Emma chats to Michael and Ellen to discuss gardening, wellbeing and her passion for nature and how she shares this with her 100,000+ Instagram followers. They explore how nature can boost your mood and help fend off depression as a means of self-medicating and how important it is to stop, enjoy the day and the detail, and take time to celebrate plants and the tranquility they can bring. Visit www.theplantbasedpodcast.net for an exclusive article from Emma about the benefits of embracing nature.   The Plant Based Podcast:  www.theplantbasedpodcast.net Instagram Twitter Facebook    This episode of The Plant Based Podcast is brought to you by our friends at Vegepod.  Their integrated raised vegetable garden bed kits makes growing vegetables easy for everyone. With self watering features and protective canopy, with Vegepod you’ll be harvesting your own produce in no time.  Available in 3 sizes to suit any sized garden, visit www.vegepod.co.uk to find out more!   Vegepod UK: www.vegepod.co.uk Instagram or the Instagram global profile #vegepod Find out more here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyMJi9Thf3U  

Artist and naturalist Emma Mitchell talks about how she uses natural materials and inspiration from walks in the countryside to craft beautiful things. She also highlights the powerful healing power of nature for mental and physical health issues. Find more from Emma on Instagram at silverpebble2 and on Twitter @silverpebble See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The writer, Emma Mitchell, takes Clare Balding for a walk around the woods at the back of her house in Cambridgeshire and explains why exposure to the natural world can have a mood-lifting effect on us all. While acknowledging that she relies on antidepressants and talking cures to prevent her depression from becoming overwhelming, she says that walking several times a week, even on days when she feels well, has a cumulative effect and helps to make the dips in her mood less vertiginous. She says “For me, taking a daily walk among plants and trees is as medicinal as any talking cure or pharmaceutical”. But it’s not just because she has a “fondness for looking at bonny bosky views” rather, she says “I am experiencing real physiological responses that affect my body and mind”. As they walk, Emma explains to Clare why they both feel their stress levels falling... it’s not just the physical act of walking, it could be, partly, because they’re breathing the volatile compounds and oils emitted by the plants and trees that surround them. Emma discusses this and other ideas that she explores in her book The Wild Remedy. She also talks about her cow parsley tattoo... If you're reading this on the Radio 4 webpage, please scroll down for photos from the walk of hibernating ladybirds, Annie the Lurcher and Emma's tattoo... There is also a link to the Woodland Trust page for Reach Wood, where we walked. Also more detail on Emma's book. NB: If you are feeling emotionally distressed and would like details of organisations which offer advice and support, go online to bbc.co.uk/actionline or you can call for free, at any time to hear recorded information 0800 066 066. Producer: Karen Gregor

Joining Tom Jackson to discuss the postcards from their pasts are author, maker and blogger EMMA MITCHELL (Making Winter, The Wild Remedy) and writer MARINA BENJAMIN (Insomnia, Last Days in Babylon, The Middlepause, Rocket Dreams, Living at the End of the World). In this episode we explore the therapeutic and educational benefits of collecting anything and postcards in particular, and travel to Baghdad to see glimpses of a lost city. Along the way we ponder the perfectly placed pebble and waterskiing down the Thames. Wish you were here? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Episode 31 is an interview with Performance Lifestyle Advisor to GB Hockey - Emma Mitchell. Emma is also a former international rugby player and 1994 World Cup winner.  We talk about the issues and challenges of her role, what it was like on the inside when England women won gold, and how she supports athletes to develop the skills and qualities needed to cope with the special demands of high performance sport. Emma joined the EIS as a Performance Lifestyle Adviser in February 2007 and has experience of supporting over 100 elite GB Hockey athletes and coaches over three Olympic Cycles. Before joining the EIS, Emma was a successful senior executive with twenty years of experience in the publishing and sports clothing business sectors in the UK and USA. From 1987-2002 and whilst working full-time, Emma played rugby for England winning 52 caps at scrum half and competing in four World Cup campaigns, with the 1994 World Cup win being her career highlight. Following her retirement, she went on to coach at club, regional and international level in the USA, Canada and the UK. Emma is a History graduate from Loughborough University, holds an ILM Level 7 Certificate in Executive Coaching and Leadership Mentoring and is a UK Sport endorsed mentor. Over the last 5 years, Emma has also provided support to a number of UK Sport ECAP and sports coach UK Aspire coaches from Tennis, Squash, Sailing and Boxing.

Welcome to The Crochet Circle Podcast and the show notes for Episode 26 – CALathon.   In this episode, I cover: Quick news beats; Old dog, new tricks;  FOs; WIPs; DIPs; Feeding the habit, Review of Making Winter book; Big Up and What's good?   This podcast is sponsored by my online crafting company, Provenance Craft Co.  Thanks to everyone who tunes into the podcast whether it is through Stitcher, Podbean, Spotify, iTunes or the YouTube Channel. Your support and engagement are really appreciated and makes running a podcast very special and worthwhile.    If you would like to support the podcast, you can do that through Patreon:   1 - Quick news beats Global Hook Up – Are you all ready to join in the first-ever Global Hook Up?  Here are the joining details:    Hi there, Fay Dashper-Hughes is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: 1st Global Hook Up with The Crochet Circle Podcast Group Time: Feb 3, 2018 7:00 PM London Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://zoom.us/j/4750475819 The meeting ID number is 475-047-5819 and you will need to join via Zoom which you can do here:  https://www.zoom.us/join I have set it up so that everyone is on mute to begin with and then I can unmute you.  The meeting will start when I join in at 7pm (GMT) on Saturday 3rd February.  It will run for an hour and then we can take a call on whether it works and we want longer sessions.   The next session will be on 24th of February and may have a later start time so that it is more accessible from the Eastern time zones too. You may need to bear with me whilst I get to grips with the technology.  If you are on Instagram, then please get involved by using #GlobalHookUp and following that hashtag.  That way I can see what you are all up to and comment on your projects.        I will also release the meeting code on Instagram about an hour before it starts on Saturday night (GMT). One Skein Wonderland CAL – By the time this podcast is out the CAL will have closed.  We will announce prizes shortly afterwards. There have been so many great projects.  Even if you haven’t managed to join the CAL, I encourage you to look at the Finished Objects thread in the Love Charlie Podcast group on Ravelry and #OneSkeinWonderlandCAL on Instagram to see some fabulous projects. Different Designer CAL – This will start on 1st March and run until 8th April.  The premise is that you go to the ‘Different Designer CAL’ Ravelry thread and tell everyone who your favourite designer is.  You share why you love their designs and which your favourite one is.  You then get to look through all the suggestions or come up with your own. You HAVE to try out a new designer, that’s the only rule.  Other Crochet Circle CALs – 4th May to 30th June – Summer tops CAL 13th July – 31st August – Vintage Along (using either vintage yarn or a vintage pattern - 20+ years old)  14th September – 26th October – Sock Along 24th December – 31st January – One Skein Wonderland CAL Apart from the Different Designer CAL, I am going to add a new twist which is that you can enter WIPs so long as they fit the brief. #FridayIsDyeDay – It’s great to see people taking part in this on the last Friday of every month.  There was some amazing speckled yarn by Lyndsay (andthentherewasmorgan on IG), Gemma (curlygem92 on IG) dyed up four fab bright colourways and started almost straight away to crochet a hat with one of them.  Haylie (fireweedfibres in IG) dyed up two colourways and Jo (dancing_goat_crafts on IG) dyed up some wool tops ready for spinning.   I managed to do some from my weekend accommodation.  I dyed a shop-bought pair of cashmere gloves a bright turquoise and over-dyed some orange yarn that I had previously dyed and not loved.  It has already been crocheted up into a cowl which you can see in FOs.  I also made my Mum dye up a skein which you can see below.  It’s and 80% Merino/20% silk mix and she wants me to knit her a pair of socks with it.     Unravel Festival – I am heading to Unravel on the Sunday 18th February.  If you are going to be about and fancy meeting up for a coffee, let me know.  Knitting and Stitching Show at Olympia – Eeek, I’m going to be at this show working on the Erika Knight stand!  If you are going to the show, I will be there all day on Friday on Stand F62.  Come and say hello.  I promise to both wave at you and hug you! Both are obligatory.   2 - Old dog, new tricks Google images – If you have a specific pattern in your mind that you want to make, then a really quick way of trying to see whether it exists is to use Google images as a search function.  I also use this if there is something that I want to buy, and I want to see what options there are.  For instance, I typed ‘crocheted asymmetric shawl lace’ and it came up with hundreds of options which I can then quickly assess and click on the image to find out what the pattern is.  You may still have to do some sifting through because the occasional knitting pattern may appear, but I still think that it is a great way to see what is available beyond Ravelry.   Instagram – I mentioned a few of the tricks of Instagram in Episode 24 and I think that it prompted a few of you to join Instagram.  If that is the case, I really hope that you are finding it to be the positive, inspirational space that I find it to be.   3 - Finished Objects Well first up must be  Cardigan of Doom really.  I used Cascade Heritage in shade Dark Plum (2632) I cannot say how happy I was to get this project off my needles and out of my life.  It has now arrived safely with Frazer (after I sent it to the wrong address!) and here is a quick pic of him in it.  I learned some major lessons with this project: 1 – Never knit a 4-ply cardigan ever again. 2 – Don’t make big items for other people.  3 – If you make an obvious mistake, frog it back and remedy it. 4 – Don’t work simultaneously on two projects that have a level of cross over.  I ended up adding two rows of moss stitch rib to a K1/P1 section of the cardigan rib… My third Criss-cross shawl for the Olann and Criss-cross CAL is finished! I used Rowan’s Alpaca Colour DK, sadly, a discontinued yarn. It was nice to work with and used 260g in total and came out at a whopping 2.8m in length.    You can get the pattern free of charge from Olann and. It is available to download as a PDF in both UK and US terminology and there is a YouTube tutorial to help you through the slightly trickier elements, but that said, this is a pattern for competent beginners and up.  There is still time to get hooking this shawl as the CAL doesn’t finish until the 23rd February.     At the weekend I over-dyed some chunky alpaca yarn from orange to green.  I asked Becci from River Knits for some advice and she very kindly gave me three options.  I chose option three which would give me greens and browns.  I have gone from feeling totally meh about this yarn to loving it and crocheting it up straight away.  More on the pattern in the Making Winter book review below.     4 - Works in progress I have been beavering away on my final set of designs for Erika Knight and remaking the patterns in five different and very awesome colourways.  This means that whilst I have been crocheting away, I haven’t got much that I can show you as I only have a couple of personal projects on the go and they are both for CALs!   Alyson and Vivian from the Keep Calm and Carry Yarn Podcast are hosting an #Ultravioletkcal based on Pantone 2018 Ultra Violet.  I can’t resist a CAL and so I am crocheting up the Inclination Wrap which is available designed by Julme Conradie and available from the Nurturing Fibres website.   It is a properly sized wrap and uses linen stitch to get some nice stitch definition with the colour changes.  My yarns are Drops Alaska (03 Light Grey), a purple yarn that I hand-dyed a couple of years ago (on a base from John Arbon) and want to put to good use and a skein of Life in the Long Grass aran in colourway Viola (the one with pops of yellow and burgundy).    I have a future WIP which I am planning to start between now and the next podcast.  Claudia at the Crochet Luna vlogcast is hosting a Fortune Cookie CAL which starts on the Chinese New Year (16th February) and runs to the 31st March.  I already have my yarn selected and just need to crack open a fortune cookie which will dictate the pattern that I do.     5 - Designs in Progress My other DIP is just at the very beginning stages.  I’m not really a fan of granny squares and the granny stitch.  Is that something you can say when you have a crochet podcast?  Are you going to disown me?  Rosina from the Zeens & Roger vlogcast is hosting a granny along.  It started on 1st February and I figured that it isn’t really acceptable to broad-brush say I don’t like something, so I am determined to create a granny something in colours I like and hopefully a pattern I like too.  The yarn is Álafoss Lopi in shades Dark Grey (0005), Mid Grey (0058) and Light Grey (0054).  These are leftovers that I had from my version of the Phasian Blanket from Take Two.       Watch this space to see whether I can be converted. Or not.   6 - Feeding the habit  When I did the interlocking crochet workshop at Black sheep wools, I was in great company.  One of the other participants was the lovely Kathryn from Crafternoon Treats Podcast.  We did some podcast goodies swapping and I have a lot of very lovely things to give away from Kathryn’s Crafternoon Treats Etsy store.  Even better the prizes were chosen by Katherine and Lyndsay when we met up for a coffee before the workshop started at Black Sheep Wools.    If you haven’t looked at Kathryn’s store yet, you really should.  She dyes up some beautiful colourways and specifically works with British breeds.  So, you will see some of these goodies going out as podcast prizes for the 2018 CALs.     She also gave me some lovely yarn to design with and some great single breed hanks which I can use for my version of Wool Exploration throughout the year.  I am a very lucky lady!   I spent the last weekend in Wales.  Do you remember tales of me supposedly walking back down Snowdon having taken the train up there?  Well, because we had moved the dates of our trip, it was out of season for the train.  I took one look at the torrent of rain and decided that even a little walk was not for me.  Instead, I went shopping with my Mum and got some crafting time in. That was after I managed to photograph our feral goat visitors.     En route I had to pop into Abakhan (a haberdashery chain based in the NW of England and Wales).  They had a nice selection of Rico cotton which I bought because ready for the Vintage Along in July.  I want to use a pattern from a very old book and it up to date with soft modern colours of cotton.      7 – Book Review ‘Making Winter’ by Emma Mitchell I bought this book from Loop London the day after it was launched in the same shop.  I bought it for a couple of reasons.  Firstly, it is a multi-craft book with crochet patterns in it and I feel that this needed supporting.  All too often the woollen craft part of these types of publications is knitting so it’s refreshing to have crochet in there instead. Secondly, other crafts feel very natural and environmentally friendly.  The author, Emma Mitchell is very much inspired by nature and this is oh so apparent if you follow her in Instagram.  This is the kind of crafting that I like.  Taking my inspiration and raw materials from nature whenever possible.   I have pulled together a full book review which you can read over at my blog.     8 – Big Up It has been a little while since I did a Big Up and new crochet podcasts are popping up!   Here are some of them for you to look at: Micky Midge Crochet Podcast – Michelle has been podcasting for a few months and has a weekly podcast.  She’s based in the UK, is a working Mum and is starting to be drawn into the rabbit hole that is hand-dyed yarn!  Michelle is about to start a SprintimeCAL which is due to start on 14th February and ends at Easter.  The idea is that you crochet something that is Spring themed.   Talia Louise Crochet – Natalie has a couple of podcasts out so far.  She’s based in Australia and works on a range of projects with lots of different yarns.  I think that Natalie is aiming for a monthly podcast.  Earl Grey Crochet – Elizabeth has been podcasting for about seven months now and crochets all sorts of things.  She makes A LOT of amigurumi.  She is great fun, based in Australia and full of enthusiasm.  Elizabeth is also running a Blurred Shawl CAL starting on the 31st March.  Of course, I will be participating in that! Samsqueak Craftcast - Sam has a couple of podcasts out and is based just outside Chicago.  She loves to crochet and do all sorts of other crafting too.   9 - What's Good I had a thoroughly lovely day at Black Sheep Wools.  The morning was spent drinking coffee and eating cake with lovely friends Katherine, Lyndsay and Kathryn.  Charlie and Katie popped their heads in for five minutes too!     The workshop that some of us did in the afternoon was interesting and it taught me a new technique – interlocking crochet.  The tutor was Graeme Knowles-Miller and he was great fun and very informative.  It’s so nice to be able to sit and chat with fellow crafters, so roll on Global Hook Up!    Fay x   Instagram: Crochet_Circle_Podcast  Instagram: provenance.craft.co   Instagram: FayDHDesigns YouTube: The Crochet Circle Podcast Crochet Clan on Mighty Network: Invite

Welcome to The Crochet Circle Podcast and the show notes for Episode 22 - The Secret's Out...   In this episode, I cover: Quick news beats; Old dog, new tricks; FOs; WIPs; DIPs; Feeding the habit; Setting up a craft group; Big up and What's good?   This podcast is sponsored by my online crafting company, Provenance Craft Co.  Thanks to everyone who tunes into the podcast whether it is through Stitcher, Podbean, Spotify, iTunes or the YouTube Channel. Your support and engagement are really appreciated and makes running a podcast very special and worthwhile.    If you would like to support the podcast, you can do that through Patreon:   1 - Quick news beats #Fridayisdyeday - On the 27th October I hosted the first #Fridayisdyeday, showing how different yarns can be dyed using professional (acid), icing colourant and natural dyes.  If you are interested in having a go, take a look at the blog post that I pulled together.  The plan is to do a #Fridayisdyeday over on Instagram on the last Friday of every month.  I might be dyeing again, showing what I am making with my own hand-dyed yarns or highlighting what I am making with some of those special hand-dyed skeins that are residing in the Stash Palace!     If you fancy having a go, it would be great to have you on board.  The blog post has lots of links to further information on dyeing yarn and here are my results from Friday:     Ravelry moderators - the keen-eyed amongst you will have noticed that I have added three more moderators to the group.  Anna, Jo and Lisa are always in there welcoming people in and responding and generally being a bunch of lovelies and making our Rav group a lovely sharing place to be.  They agreed to be moderators for us all.  We have never had to kick anybody out or edit what is in the group which is amazing and the job of moderating is more about welcoming people to the group and keeping the chat going.  Tamara and Helen were already in there as moderators and I am hoping that they will stay on even after the #BackToSchoolSweaterCAL.   Global Hook Up - A wee while ago (... quite a few months ago) I mentioned that I wanted to start hosting Global Crafting gatherings online.  You then heard nothing more on the subject but in the background, I have been researching the best way to bring this to you.  The sessions are going to be on a Saturday night (GMT) so that as many people as possible can join in.  A handful of people will be able to interact on an audio and visual basis and as many people as want (I believe) can join in by seeing what is going on.  You can also use #GlobalHookUp on Instagram to track what is going on with the session and interact and show off your crafting.   The initial test Global Hook Up is going to be on Saturday 25th November.  The exact time is to be announced and the details will be added to a Ravelry thread and on Instagram. The idea is to use the first hook up to see how it works for everyone and iron out any niggles, ready for the next one in December   CALs for 2018 - Over the next couple of months I would like to ask you to tell me what CALs you would like me to run in 2018.  I have a few ideas but would like to get you involved in the process.  I have opened a thread on Ravelry so please do let me know what ideas you have.   Christmas Eve CAL - We had so much fun with last year's Christmas Eve CAL, that it's going ahead this year too.  Charlie from Love Charlie podcast and I are teaming up together to host the One Skein Wonderland CAL.  You can hook on at 00.01 on the 24th December.  More details to follow on this but the idea is to look out that special skein of yarn (100g) or maybe you have one coming as a present on the 25th?      There is a thread on Ravelry so that you can suggest one skein projects that I can add to a bundle for everyone to see.    2 - Old dog, new tricks This month it's all about upping the odds of winning at yarn chicken (that game you play when you really, really hope you have enough yarn to finish off a row or round).   I tested out three different yarn weights (4 ply, DK and chunky) to see if there was any real difference in the amount of yarn needed.   After a couple of rows of dc to settle my tension on each swatch I then crocheted three rows of dc, three of half treble and three rows of treble crochet.  This allowed me to take an average length of yarn required over three rows.      Here are the results: 4 ply (400m per 100g) dc requires 9 times the length of your row/round htr requires 11 times the length of your row/round tr requires 14 times the length of your row/round   Double Knitting (DK - 200m per 100g) dc requires 9 x the length of your row/round htr requires 12 x times the length of your row/round tr requires 14 x the length of your row/round   Chunky (100m per 100g) dc requires 9 x the length of your row/round htr requires 12 x the length of your row/round tr requires 14 x the length of your row/round I have since tested this on the Homebody Sweater that I am crocheting.  It's in rows of htr and I am using a 4ply yarn and a 4.5mm hook, so very different from what I tested above.  Guess what?  Yup, it took just under 12 x the length of the row.  My final nugget of yarn had 10 lengths and so I managed to save myself some time and just started a new ball instead.   3 - Finished Objects  I didn't think I had much to show this month but it turns out I do.  First up is my Sicily jumper which is free of charge Rowan pattern.  Although it calls for 4ply cotton, I used a 4 ply wool blend instead (Shilasdair luxury 4 ply in shade Hawthorn).  The wool has a lot more stretch than the cotton and the sample on the model seemed quite bulky so I opted to make the smallest size and it is my best fitting handmade garment to date.     It has been really lovely to be part of the Back To School Sweater CAL with Helen and Tamara.  So much so that I have started a second jumper.   As part of another along, I took part in the Fibre Friends Podcast North Bound Knitting Along which meant knitting any of Lisa Mutch's patterns.  I chose to do Auspice using up the 100g skein of skinny Merino that I had hand dyed with blackberries.  The yarn has faded from a soft purple colour to a silver grey and I really like it.   I also had a day out in London with four lovely friends (Flic, Corrine, Helen and Charlie) and we made our way to i Knit and Loop.  Whilst in Loop I purchased a hot off the press copy of Making Winter by Emma Mitchell (Silverpebble2 on IG).  It has some lovely crochet patterns in it as well as recipes and lots of other crafty makes.  I suspect that this is going to be a firm favourite with lots of people and I know that it is already on a few Christmas lists.      I have made the Hawthorn mittens and although I could have stuck to the one colour version in the book, I had to fiddle and add some of my Hawthorn inspired Shilasdair yarn for the actual hawthorn berries and some brown wool that I did a test icing colour dye on in advance of #Fridayisdyeday    It is so cold in my office that I have had these on all day!  You can also see a scrap yarn garland that I have made ready to be part of my exhibition stand.  This is a free pattern from Little Conkers.  My final FO is a pair of socks.  I have been trying a different heel construction this time and I have to say I really like working the after thought heel and am in love with the colour.  You can see the sock/yarn blank in the photo and the subsequent socks.      4 - Works in progress I only have a couple of WIPs on the go at the moment.  The first is my second version of Criss-cross using Gym Nut from Green Elephant Yarns.  This is a CAL with Olann and which will start in January (it was going to be November but we are now going for January).  If you fancy joining in, you need a 2 x 100g of 4ply with at least 350m per 100g.  More details will follow on Ravelry and Instagram. Progress is fairly slow on this one because I am recording a tutorial for the pattern as I crochet along.     The second is a new jumper using some Bluefaced Leicester (BFL) and Masham blend (4 ply and using a 4mm hook) which is really light and airy but oh so warm.  The pattern is Homebody Sweater by Megan Shaimes and it is available as a free download.  I liked the idea of having a slouchy, kick around the house crocheted jumper and had already dyed up the wool during #Fridayisdyeday knowing that I wanted a stone-washed denim look.     5 - Designs in Progress Thank you to everyone that responded to my call for test croheters and product reviewers.  My plan is to keep with this segment whenever I have something to say.   This month I have something massive to tell you!  The reason I have been quiet of Ravelry and IG is that I have been designing crocheted items for Erika Knight.     That's it, the secret really is out now.  I have been sitting on this information for just over two months and have a series of four shawls that I have designed in Erika's fab new British Blue 100 range (8 shades in gorgeous 100% British BFL).  There are some other designs as well, one finished and some in the pipeline.      I have been working with Erika and Bella to design a set of four shawls that increase in complexity as you move from one to the next.  All four are based on the same basic pattern repeat and shape but a change of stitch or addition of lace rows leads to four very different shawls.   When I started crocheting and knitting three years ago, I naturally gravitated towards Erika's patterns and yarns because I am always drawn to elegant simplicity.  If you haven't already, please check her out - there are 10 pages of patterns on Ravelry to look at and a massive back catalogue of books too (I think I own almost all of them). In the Stash Palace I have two shelves that are dedicated to specific yarn brands.  One is Erika Knight and the other is John Arbon Textiles.  I think you all know what that means.  The love is strong.   I still keep on having to pinch myself because I cannot quite believe that this has happened.  I have the utmost respect for what Erika and Bella achieve - they are incredibly hard-working, lovely people. The patterns will be released next year and I will, of course, shout about it from the rooftops and show them off to you when I can.   I am so, so happy! :-)   And then this arrived through the post and that's my Doppio Colosseum on the front!     6 - Feeding the habit   Bags from EMYA Handmade (AKA the very lovely Emmie and Yael).  Not only did they send me these bags as a surprise (one of which is going to become a podcast prize) but they are also offering a 20% discount code on their shop www.emyahandmade.com you just need to use the code EMYA20.  They have a great range of items, including reusable make up remover pads and panty liners (one of my biggest concerns of non biodegradeable waste).   Making Winter from Emma Mitchell is priced at £14.99 Indigo dyed yarn and natural undyed yarn from Border Tart.   7 - Setting up a craft group I promised to go through how I set up Woolgethering Sandbach and it turned out to be quite lengthy so it became a blog post as well as the detail that I gave in the podcast.     8 - Big up I'm going a little left field this month with an audiobook(ish) and a film podcast: I love listening to audiobooks, especially since I started working from home on my own.  It's very easy to feel like your brain is turning to mush and there is a lack of intellectual content because you are missing out on office situations where dialogue and debates occur every day.    Audiobooks mean that I continue to learn really interesting stuff as I design or crochet or catch up on emails.  My latest is a series of lectures called The Great Courses and I chose to listen to the lectures on The Vikings.  It is extremely in-depth and brilliantly delivered by Prof. Harl - not at all dry and boring.  It was just one credit on Audible and I had 18 hours of amazing content.  There are many subjects to choose from in The Great Courses and they're well worth taking a look at. Every Friday night Matthew and I sit down to listen to the Empire Podcast.  We love watching films and really enjoy this film review podcast.  It's silly, quite sweary and great Friday night entertainment.   9 - What's Good 2018 is shaping up to be a pretty good year.  I feel like I set the standard for what I want to achieve in 2017 and feel ready to take 2018 on as a crochet designer and podcaster.  Watch out world!    Until December.   Fay x   Instagram: Crochet_Circle_Podcast  Instagram: provenance.craft.co   Instagram: FayDHDesigns YouTube: The Crochet Circle Podcast Crochet Clan on Mighty Network: Invite

Welcome to The Crochet Circle Podcast. Here are the Show Notes from Episode Six - Shore to Shore.   In this episode we continue with our crochet journeys, including helpful hints on blocking; Yay Crochet or Nay Crochet; Yarn Review of Daughter of a Shepherd Hebridean/Zwartbles yarn; Magazine Round-up; a review of two fibre festivals on either side of the pond – Woolfest and Houston Fibre Fest; WIP Wall and FOs, Feeding the Habit, a fab giveaway from Anna Nikipirowicz and finishing with What's Good.   This podcast is sponsored by my online crafting company, Provenance Craft Co. and Lynne Rowe Knitting and Crochet Thanks to everyone who tunes into the podcast whether it is through Stitcher, Podbean, Spotify, iTunes or the YouTube Channel. Your support and engagement are really appreciated and makes running a podcast very special and worthwhile.    If you would like to support the podcast, you can do that through Patreon:   1. Yay Crochet or Nay Crochet (at 2.55 mins) It's a Nay Crochet from Fay due to the lack of crochet content at fibre festivals and in general. When we visited Woolfest, we noticed that most of the stalls were aimed at knitters and even on most of the yarn stalls the samples that were on show were also knitted. This seems at odds with the increasing rise in the popularity of crochet and may be off-putting to new crocheters who perhaps don't realise that you can crochet with any yarn. We know that at Yarndale we'll see a lot more crochet-related vendors and Lynne and I will also be there waving the flag for crochet.   It's a Yay Crochet from Lynne for all the lovely things that people are crocheting up and the inspiration that they give to others. I’ve really been enjoying The Crochet Circle Podcast Ravelry forum – especially seeing all of the lovely finished objects that people are sharing. In particular, it’s also made me realise how adaptable crochet is, even if you’re not hugely experienced with crochet. It seems easier for people to take parts of a pattern and make something else altogether, or tweak patterns to suit their individual taste.   Here's the link to our Ravelry FO's board: http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/the-crochet-circle-podcast/3400722/51-75#71   2. Yarn review (at 9 mins)   Daughter of a Shepherd: 75% Hebridean and 25% Zwartbles DK weight 233m/255 yards per 100g Recommended needles/hook:3.5-4.5mm hook/needles Cool hand wash only and leave flat to dry  Completely UK produced (sourced, scoured and spun in UK)  RRP: £18 for 100g.  Website: www.daughterofashepherd.com Rachel's blog: http://mylifeinknitwear.com/ We had 10g each to test and crochet up.  The characteristics of Hebridean wool are very similar to the Zwartbles that is has been blended with as both are very dark brown/near black in colour, durable and dense.  This yarn is spun at John Arbon Textiles and John says that the longer staple length of the Zwartbles helps with the processing of the Hebridean because it gives the Heb staples something more to align and grip to.        Fay – I tried this with a 3.5mm, 4mm, 4.5mm and 5mm hook and found that the 4.5mm gave the nicest effect, so using a 4.5mm hook I created a tiny little bowl to put my measuring tape in because I am always losing it!  It is hard to see the stitch definition because of the natural yarn colour (which is very dark), but it is good.  I still had a little bit leftover and so made some leaves with the remainder and also made some using some Jacob wool that I had to create a cup holder for when I am out and about (I usually have them in my different handbags so that I don’t need the cardboard sleeve).   The wool is soft and nice to work with and becomes softer when washed and blocked. I would use this again for crochet and could easily take it up against my skin.  It would make a beautiful crocheted shawl with an open lacy structure that really makes the most of the stitch definition.  I would also use it with other natural wools to bring out the depth of colour that it has.  It would be great at the dark end of a gradient project or mixed with a really vibrant blue or burnt orange.   Lynne: I really enjoyed working with this yarn – as soon as I wound it off the skein I could smell the sheep and it made me feel happy to be working with a natural fibre that can be fully traced back to its source.  I love the natural colour of the wool– it’s a very deep brown, almost like treacle, and there are a few light coloured fibres running through. I have really sensitive skin, but for the time that I was using the yarn, I was absolutely fine. I don’t think I could stretch to wearing it directly around my neck (but that’s just me) but I could mix it with something else and just keep the Hebridean/Zwartbles away from the neck edge. I made two things also with my mini skein – a bookmark, which I’ve already been using, and a small mandala that I’ve made a pincushion from. Both have great stitch definition and are firm in structure. I made my pincushion using wool fabric from Eliza Conway (a Yarndale purchase) and I’m delighted with both of my mini-projects.   On Ravelry in Rachel’s group, there are lots of projects on the go with this yarn – often it’s mixed with something else, but it’s a great place to go and visit if you want inspiration.   Link to Rachel's Ravelry group: http://www.ravelry.com/groups/daughter-of-a-shepherd   3. Magazine round-up (at 22.15 mins) Fay's overall favourite: Cowslip Parsley Garland from Simply Crochet issue 47, designed by Emma Mitchell. It's a free pattern download from Emma's blog: www.silverpebble.net Lynne's overall favourite: Lace Shirt from Love to Knit and Crochet issue 4. It's a button-down shirt with a scalloped edge on the cuffs and hem. A clamshell pattern creates a light and airy effect which is perfect for Summer. Simply Crochet – issue 47 Ravelry link: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/simply-crochet-issue-47 Website Link: http://www.simplycrochetmag.co.uk/2016/07/21/simply-crochet-issue-47/ Fay's favourite: Cow Parsley Garland,  designer Emma Mitchell, pg 98 Lynne's favourite: Freeform Floral Cowl,  designer Jennifer May, page 83 Let’s Get Crafting – issue 83 Ravelry Link: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/lets-get-crafting-knitting--crochet-83 Website Link: http://www.letsgetcrafting.com/ Fay's favourite: Mouse toys (knitted), designer Sachiyo Ishii,  I have a pregnant friend that woudl love these for her daughter and new baby! Lynne's favourite: Hearts Garland, designer Kath Webber, pg 48  Crochet Now - issue 4 Website link: http://www.crochetnow.co.uk/ Fay's favourite: Flower Bedspread, designer Mrs. Moon, page 36 - this is beautifukl yarn to work with. Lynne's favourite: Candy amigurumi Deer, designer Irene Strange, pg 62    Love to Knit and Crochet - issue 4 Website Link: https://www.theknittingnetwork.co.uk/ Fay's favourite: Silky Vest Top, pg 33 Lynne's favourite: Lace Shirt, pg 34 4. A Crochet Journey - some tips on blocking your garment (at 26.30 mins) Like everything with crochet (and knitting), there are some aspects of blocking that are just a personal preference.  Fay - in the main I wet-block by immersing my finished object in cold water with a small amount of soaking product, gently washing then very gently squeeze out excess water and roll in a towel before pinning out to required dimensions.  You can see from the below photo that this can help to take out any residual (unexhausted dye).     Lynne - in the main, I spritz (or spray) my work to the point that it’s wet but not saturated. I use a plastic spray gun (the type that you can buy for the garden - usually around £1), then I gently press the water into the fibres with my hands. I then pin out carefully, according to the dimensions of the pattern, and leave to dry. Sometimes I repeat this process if I feel it necessary.   Even when a project is already the size you want it to be (pre-blocking), I'd still recommend blocking as it greatly improves your stitch definition and "sets" the stitches. I mainly steam block for cotton (I cover my project with a cotton cloth and hold the iron above and steam  - do not touch the fabric with the iron). I also steam block fair isle items because it really sets the stitches nicely. After steam blocking, I pin out because it’s damp and leave to dry.   What if I’m desperate? Sometimes I may be on a close call with a deadline – it could be 2pm in the afternoon and I’m still working on a project that needs posting that day – by 4.30pm – so I will always steam block just to make sure that the stitches look good for photography. If necessary I will use a hairdryer to dry it off before posting.   A lot of people say don’t block acrylic as it’s not wool and therefore has no stitch memory – but I do block acrylic projects, just because it improves the overall appearance and stitch definition. I would mainly spray block acrylic but have been known to steam block (very carefully) when desperate. There is more risk with steam blocking as you can relax the fibres too much and your work can become very droopy and much bigger than originally made. I always sew my ends in first and then block, whereas Fay doesn't sew in her ends before blocking because she found that if she sewed her ends in first and then blocked, the tail ends sometimes shift and she would have little bits of yarn poking out which then just create more work to neaten them up again.  When pinning out it is essential that you get your measurements right because if you overstretch the yarn then it’s ruined forever – yarn has a memory so once it’s set then it will spring back to that shape after washing. So be really careful when blocking, especially if using an iron. It really is a case of trying the method that suits you best given the yarn and project that you have made, but it is definitely worth it - see below!     5. Woolfest and Houston Fiberfest (at 48.50 mins) As you know we went off to Woolfest at the end of June.  Whilst we were there, Tamara, one of the listeners to the podcast was at a yarn festival in Houston, Texas.  Tamara kindly recorded some audio for us on the festival that she attended and we have some photos too.  Woolfest: Houston Fibrefest: We have started a thread in Ravelry for you to add details on any yarn festivals that you have been to. Kerry listens in Australia and has just added details of the large Wool and Sheep Festival that she has been at in Bendigo, Australia.  Feel free to add details of any yarn festivals that you have been to so that others can see what is available throughout the world.  I have added some standard questions that you can answer if you need something to crib from. Tamara is on the left - thanks for doing the review! Here's Tamara's round-up from Houston Fiber Fest: Link to website: http://www.houstonfiberfest.com/ New companies that Tamara hadn’t come across before: Independence Farmstead Fiber Mill, an artisan mill service for the independent fiber producer: http://www.independencefarmsteadfibers.com/ Windmill Crest Farms near San Antonio: http://www.windmillcrestfarms.com/ There was a gentleman there had an industrial needle felting machine: http://www.feltcrafts.com/ Lucky Ewe Yarn in New Braunfels dye their own yarn which is called Wool Tree Yarn using natural ingredients: http://www.luckyeweyarn.com/ Things that Tamara bought: Brazen Stitchery Harmony Sock in colourway Team Gayle semi-solid in tonal shades of dark green: http://www.brazenstitchery.com/ Lazy cat yarns 2 x 50-gram skeins of Endurance - semi-solid – in shades of gorgeous teal: http://www.lazycatyarn.com/ Western Sky Knits, 2 variegated 100g skeins: http://www.westernskyknits.com/ Hedgehog Fibers is an Irish indie dyer. I was surprised to find Irish yarn in Houston. This festival was their launch at Park Avenue Yarns (a loyal yarn store): http://shop.hedgehogfibres.com/ http://www.parkavenueyarns.com/ Blind date project from In Skein Yarns, one of the local yarn stores. So fun! They were clear plastic bags with a label on the outside describing the project - The craft (I chose crochet), yarn weight, fiber content, the difficulty of pattern and type of project:  https://inskeinyarns.com/ Shawl pin – from the Muddy Knitter: https://squareup.com/store/themuddyknitter Two mini Loomes spelt L-O-O-M-E and you can make pom poms, cords, tassels and weavings: https://www.theloome.com/ A funky necklace from Fiesty Fenn Fibers: https://www.etsy.com/shop/FeistyFennFibers Some tea from Independence Fiber Mill: http://www.independencefarmsteadfibers.com/     Didn’t buy but have ear-marked: Suzoo’s Wool Works: http://www.suzooswoolworks.com/ Inner Loop Dyeworks: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/InnerLoopDyeworks – I will definitely buy some more of her yarn – we stock her yarn at the store where I work which is very lucky but tempting at the same time http://www.nimblefingerstx.com Podcaster Suburban Stitcher’s project bags. http://suburbanstitcher.com/ I might buy a mini loom for weaving from Purl and Loop www.purlandloop.com All of Tamara's photos of Houston Fiber Fest can be found here:  https://uk.pinterest.com/craftyescapism/  and you can also view her blog here: http://www.craftyescapism.com/ 6. Finished Objects (at 71.45 mins) Fay - Missed Kingfisher shawl was completed whilst in France with Jenny.    Cowls for the book – testing more colours because I am thinking about doing them as a kit for Yarndale.  Also, the items for the yarn review. One sock firmly in the HO pile!   Lynne: Pincushion and bookmark from Daughter of a Shepherd (so pleased with both); mandala coaster for hubby (at his request) to put his mobile phone on at night; lots of commission projects, including a hot water bottle cover, a pair of fingerless mittens, a teddy, a lampshade cover, a set of crochet frames, a cushion, a pair of slippers, another pincushion and another couple of bookmarks - phew.   7. WIPs (at 79 mins) Fay - Simply Crochet wrap-over, Henslowe shawl, Nut-Hap (Kingfisher colours), Tardis cushion, Shorelines blanket, Baby Bird scarf, blanket for the booklet, John Arbon socks for a study on adding stripes to socks. I'm still at eight but there are so many things that I want to start! Lynne – I'm still at 14, but have started (and finished a few) so they didn't even make onto the list (which is good) and I probably won't be able to make a dent in this until after Yarndale.     8. Feeding the habit (at 91 mins) Fay – I thought I was really good this month and so, I bought some extra Rowan Felted Tweed to be able to do a Kingfisher based Nut-Hap.  I also realised that I needed to get another skein of the Kalinka linen because it would look great with a contrast colour. Then I remembered that I had been to Woolfest... At Woolfest, I bought yarn from John Arbon and Ripples Crafts, some amazing Art Deco buttons and some woven fabric. It was also my Birthday so I am book rich – Fleece and Fiber, Erika Knight’s latest, a book on dyeing yarn, British Sheep Breeds and an old book of my Dad’s.  Very lucky to have so many nice wool related books to go through in the next few months and enhance my reference library with.     Lynne - At Woolfest I bought some John Arbon skeins (I love their mini skeins too),  a couple of squares of handwoven fabric which is really lovely, some buttons for my cowl from Textile Gardens, and Emily Foulds kindly gave me a ball of WYS Signature 4ply from the cocktail range for my knitting book which I can’t wait to use. I have bought lots of yarn for kits and to test colours, but I don’t count work-related purchases as they go through the business.     9. Competition Time - Odeletta Shawl Give-away     This month we have a give-away, kindly sent to us by Anna Nikipirowicz for her Odeletta Shawl Kit which contains everything you need to create your own shawl, including two balls of Rowan Kidsilk Haze, patterns, beads and a crochet hook. Plus a lovely teabag so you can enjoy a nice cuppa whilst you crochet. Thanks Anna!   Anna's website is here: https://moochka.co.uk/ Find all the details for the giveaway here: http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/the-crochet-circle-podcast/topics/3468941     10. What’s Good (at 105 mins)               Fay:  This was meant to be my What's Good but I was so excited about it that I covered it off early!  I just mentioned that my Dad gave me one of his books.  It is a very special book that was my absolute favourite book when I was little. It is the Observer’s book of Farm Animals.  I was born in 1977 and the book came out in 1976 and was given to my Dad by friends when we moved from Wiltshire to Caithness in the North of Scotland in early 1978.  It used to fit in the pocket of my pinafore and I would spend ages pawing through the different breed photos and memorising them.  I even wrote in the front of the book to amend it to say “Fay - it is to Fay” so that I could lay claim to it.  Needless to say, the book is battered and the spine is being held together with masking tape and love. It is delightful to have something in my possession that brings back nice memories and until recently I had completely forgotten about.  It clearly influenced and shaped the person I have become.   So my What's Good became the excitement for going to interview John Arbon down in Devon - it really was good!   Lynne: Really enjoying natural fibres at the moment – you can definitely feel the difference and there are lots of affordable natural yarns out there that are well worth a try. I’ve been using Wendy Ramsdale which is about £3.50 a ball for 50g and the colours are lovely as well as the texture and feel of the yarn. I’ve used if for hats (only takes 1 ball to make a child’s hat) and also for my cushion (6 balls, so less than £24) for the yarn. Also Erika Knight British Blue is £4.20 for a 25g ball – a bit more expensive but well worth it when you can make a nice cowl with just three balls - so that's £13 for a cowl made with British yarn - where every step is traceable. Remember cotton is also a natural fibre and you can buy Rico Cotton Aran for less than £2 for 50g. I’m not saying I don’t use acrylic as I do because some projects have to be really affordable but there are some lovely yarns out there that may cost less than you would expect.   Happy listening and crocheting.   Lynne and Fay x   Instagram: Crochet_Circle_Podcast  Instagram: provenance.craft.co   Instagram: FayDHDesigns YouTube: The Crochet Circle Podcast Crochet Clan on Mighty Network: Invite                

Darker Projects in association with Infected Bookspresents David Moody's vision of apocalyptic horrorListen: Autumn TrailerAudio production, written, and directed by Paul Mannering. Post production by Matt Mclaren. Original music by Devin Anderson http://www.devinanderson.com Based on the book, Autumn, by David Moody.Autumn featured the voice talents of:David Ault as Michael Collins Rebecca McCarthy as Emma Mitchell Mark Kalita as Carl Henshawe Shane Harris as The Narrator Elie Hirschmann as Philip Evans Clym Angus as Stuart Jeffries Steve Anderson as Garner Colin Snow as Ralph Fiona Conn as The Teacher Zack Fester as The Boy Miles Reid as Jack Bynam Joan Hovey as Sandra Laura Post as Jenny and Kate