I really shouldn’t be here this evening but today I found a “must share”. The ‘Follow the Herring’ exhibition of knitting and crafts is travelling down the east coast of England and today I caught a preview in Hartlepool Art Gallery.
How do you knit a coat for a boat? The coble boat, made by the North East Maritime Trust, will be at the centre of each exhibition, brought to life with locally made artwork.
A travelling show, ‘Get up and Tie your Fingers’, uses the background of the 1881 Eyemouth Fishing Disaster to tell the story of the ‘herring lassies’ who followed the fishing fleets down the coast to meet the catch at each port of call. With knives at the ready and strips of cloths tied around their thumbs and forefingers to protect from the blades, they gutted, salted, and barrelled the ‘silver darlings’, the bountiful herring that were destined for markets across the world. Sometimes at the cost of their menfolk’s lives.
A wooden ‘wave’ has been constructed and at each venue a section of local handiwork is added. The exhibition set off from Musselburgh in Scotland and the shoal will be beautifully and creatively increased by the time it reaches Hastings on 3rd July.
More details about the exhibition and the show can be found on this link to The Customs House.
An amazing collection of work, isn’t it? You can even download a ‘Follow the herring’ knitting pattern and join in on the website.
I probably won’t be able to respond to many of your comments until I return from the Algarve next week. The laptop is going into rehab, but I thought that this was a nice way to leave you.








Wow so many comments from remarkable people ! Really creative Jo. So glad you shared it! PARIS! That is wonderfully romantic Jo. ♥
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I hope it will be, Kathryn 🙂 (Paris) Thanks, darlin’. Hope you can see a happy future ahead.
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Thanks Jo !!
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Oh my goodness, lucky you! Well, lucky us too for your sharing it here. The kitty and all those little fish is just adorable. Did you post that photo on Facebook? I’d love to share it….it’s just a delightful photo. Happiness is, all the fish you can see!
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Thanks, Karen 🙂 D’you know, I never get round to posting on FB these days. The WordPress link is put up automatically on my Restlessjo page so I only visit to catch up with friends activities, and even that’s a struggle.
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thanks for leaving us with such wonderful art – and the sea theme – oh so nice. the traveling show looks great – peace out my friend – and have a great time. ❤
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And now I’m back! 🙂 🙂 With a head full of stuff but making no sense yet.
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What fabulous colors!!! I absolutely love the sea glass. The herring might wind up taking the place of my owls! Ah? No! But still, gorgeous!!! Missing you and working my way back. Be well, sweetie. ❤️
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Jewel bright, aren’t they, Gem? 🙂 🙂 (so sharp I’ll cut myself one of these days)
So glad to hear from you. I was having a ‘worry twinge’ and I’ve scouted up some more owls to help out.
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Got the one. Thank you so much. Too many phone calls and appointments keeping me hopping!!! Like a bunny. 😉
But I’m making my way back. I look forward to the owls-always! ❤️
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That’s good to know! Hugs 🙂
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These knittings are fabulous! I really enjoyed the display slides. Beautiful post, Jo.
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It was a great exhibition, Amy 🙂 I’m just back and thinking about ‘catch up’! Hope you had a lovely holiday.
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I flew back on Monday. Happy to be back to the blogosphere. Looking forward to walking with you next Monday 🙂
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I have never seen anything like this before…STUNNING.
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Good, isn’t it. Laurie? 🙂 Such a celebration of colour and life!
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Stunning knitting, Jo. Makes me want to get my needles out 🙂
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Me too, Tish! Amazing what can be achieved with a bit of wool 🙂 Well- a lot of wool!
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Just come upon this post…what fun! What creativity! Have fun in the Algarve, look forward to your posts when you come back….
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Just back, Sue 🙂 Head still full of blue sky and I’d almost forgotten about this post, It was a stunning exhibition, though.
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A head full of blue sky is a thing to covet! 🙂
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I do! 🙂
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🙂
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I for one am glad you made time for this wonderful post.
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It never ceases to amaze me the creativity that’s out there, Dawn- just waiting to be shared 🙂
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I agree!
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OMG amazing creations I am so glad you went and shared with us xo
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Knew you’d like this one, Eunice. The colours were superb 🙂
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🙂 Awesome
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First of all, great title Jo! These are some of the cutest pictures I’ve ever seen – so cheery… 🙂
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I just pinched the title from the name of the exhibition, Meg, but I did think the whole thing was amazing! 🙂
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Wow! Such a unique, inspiring, beautiful work of Art. And the story behind it takes you back in time and make us reflec on both the blessings of the past and the present. Thanks.
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They were hard times to make a living in, Mr. B, but lots of people still have hard lives, don’t they? It’s character building, they say!! 🙂 Fabulous imaginations to make it happen!
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This is incredible!! I’d love to be there with you. I’m knitting myself a pullover now – some friends in Norway inspired me. It’s good to feel inspired, but even better to inspire other with your creativity. Thanks for sharing this, Jo.
Have a great weekend.
Greetings from a very hot Bonn, phew…
Dina 🙂
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If I’d had more time I’d have downloaded the pattern, Dina. It’d be nice to have a few fish swimming about the place 🙂
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How incredibly creative Jo! Wonder who comes up with these ideas? Glad you found time to visit and share this with us. Enjoy the Algarve 😉
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Just home again, Madhu 🙂 I’ll be catching up with posts instead of fish!
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I couldn’t knit even if my life depended on it, which makes me appreciate the exhibits even more 😀 I thought you were packing?
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Oh, knitting’s easy, Paula! Knit one, drop one, knit one, purl one- well, something like that 🙂 I’m unpacked again 😦
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Where are you now? Back home?
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Yes- commenting on your owl 🙂
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😀 when are you leaving again, and where to?
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I have ‘permission’ to book Paris for our wedding anniversary in August 🙂
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Fabulous 🙂 How many days are you allowed? 😀
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Not sure yet. Still reading my ‘Rough Guide’ 🙂
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what arrondissment will you be staying in. I can recommend a decent hotel
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Any suggestions gratefully accepted, Paula. We want to visit Versailles, Giverny and Fontainebleau if possible so location is a little tricky. I’m going to look at lots of options.
My battery is still playing up so I may suddenly ‘disappear’ 🙂
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If you want to stay in Quartier Latin at about 500 metres from Notre Dame I know a good hotel 🙂
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Morning! 🙂 Yes, please. I’m thoroughly undecided as yet. Still got my ‘beach babe’ hat on.
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This is a fabulous exhibition! I wish it was coming to a venue near me (I’ve checked the website) because I would love to see it. 🙂
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Amazing what you can find in the local galleries, Elaine, but this was a stunner. I understand they’ve been yarn bombing Saltburn pier again, in aid of the World Cup, so I’ll have to pop and have a look, soon as I can. 🙂
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I’m looking forward to your post about that! I bet the knitting will be wonderful. 🙂
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Such a fun exhibition, Jo, representing so much artistic talent. ‘A coat for a boat’ sounds like quite a challenge. Have a wonderful trip to the Algarve. See you soon. 🙂
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The art world is amazing, isn’t it, Ad? I’m home and unpacked, then Nordic walking, on just 4 hours sleep! Does this woman never rest? 🙂
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Enjoy the Algarve, and a successful rehab for the laptop,
Pit
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Thanks, Pit 🙂 I’m told it just needs a new battery (bit like me 🙂 ) Not an expensive option, thank goodness.
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This is brilliant Jo! such great displays. Hope you have a fab holiday, see you soon 🙂
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I loved it, Amanda 🙂 Such a lovely thing to find on my doorstep.
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What an amazing clever and imaginative exhibition that was. Thank you for sharing it. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience
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It was a joy to share it, Peter 🙂 Amazing what people can achieve when they pool their resources.
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