We knew her time left with us was short, but the news of Bee/BOF’s death was still a terrible shock, we send so much love to her family and her many, many friends who love and will miss her greatly.
Reading everything we have, the thing which really strikes us is how much she was loved. As a significant presence on MN, she was a proper good egg, astute, kind and funny. So many benefitted from her incredible sense, passion and support. She ALWAYS knew what to say it seemed. This was replicated over on Facebook, for those in her amazing reading group, and of course to those who counted her as close friends in the real world. She gave of herself so freely. Touching the lives of so many, she was beautiful inside and out. I constantly felt in awe of her. We were lucky and went to her wedding, and this is how we will remember her, this glorious vibrant epic woman in absolute love. We just wish we’d known her better and for longer. Those who did, you were truly blessed.
However we knew her, we were the lucky ones
Cancer is such an evil indiscriminate bastard and it’s robbed the world again. We feel so sorry for her DH, her girls, her mum, those who knew and loved her best and for our site here which will be a poorer place without her popping up and getting stuck in. It’s all so wrong.
It is time to do something for her now, we want to really push ourselves here and make four blankets, so that each of her direct family can have a Woolly Hug with them and know how much we loved her. So for her DH, her two beautiful daughters and her mum.
We hope we can achieve this. We shall need crafters and donors of funds and wool, can you help us? We’d be so grateful. Thank you so much
So many ideas to think about. If you can please check this list out
Obviously Bees
Bee was a proud Liverpudlian, red through and through, a proud socialist
Her wonderful DH proposed to her in Venice
Roses are very important
Her DH is the most talented artist having painted Bee and for her over the years, maybe paintbrushes etc?
She adored William Morris and Liberty prints
She was a very talented quilter
She had King Charles’ cavalier dogs
She loved Greek food and tapas
The beach was really important to her and ice lollies which she always called lolly ices! We need a lolly ice!
She loved Sir Antony Gormley’s cast iron men located on Crosby Beach, Merseyside
She adored Marilyn Monroe, Hollywood glamour, red lipstick, make up and perfume.
She adored art nouveau, strong patterns
She had an allotment, which was such a happy place, loved flowers particularly irises/roses
She was a passionate prolific reader, Agatha Raisin, the Goldfinch ( her DH painted this for her, it is exquisite) and she loved history especially podcasts.
She loved Opal fruits sweets, pineapples and SHE LOVED WINE!
She was very into Line of Duty, so AC12, and towards the end of her life a priest blessed her with Ted’s famous line “Jesus, Mary, Joseph and the wee donkey,” which amused her no end
She loved Les Mis, musicals, The Life of Brian! Also the Chase with Bradley Walsh
She loved those cheesy Christmas films, cheesier the better
Initials - B, L, H, A and R.
We are so grateful to her friends for helping with this list, other may have different ideas.
If you are making a picture square, you might consider making four the same, we know this is a big ask, but then we can have a core of squares the same across the blankets. This has worked well in the past.
The colours
We are using her colours from her wedding day as our base palette
Plums/magenta/mulberry
Rich purples
Pinks
Blues
Then for accents and embellishments
Greens
Red, but one of these two please, Drops Merino Extra Fine 11 Red, or Jenny Watson Pure Merino DK WM6 ‘Ruby’ please
Oranges
Yellow, this one please.. Drops merino extra fine DK no 24 ‘light yellow’ can be bought here..
Cream, but please one of the following - Debbie Bliss Rialto DK 02 ecru, Jenny Watson Pure Merino DK WM4 cream, or Drops Merino 01 off white
Taupes
Brown
The Yarn we will be Using….
Debbie Bliss Rialto DK ( can only be bought from Love Crafts)
Drops Merino Extra Fine DK
Jenny Watson Pure Merino DK
Katia Merino 100% DK
King Cole Luxury Merino DK
Sublime Extra Fine Merino Wool DK Currently on sale on at Black Sheep Wools
Patons Merino Extrafine DK Currently on sale at Lady Sew and Sew Knits
Just from the brands listed please because we know they combine for wash and wear. If you still have any of our wools that have been discontinued - Artesano Superwash Merino DK, Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK or James C. Brett Pure Merino DK in your stash, please do use them.
Our listed yarns are all easily available online, in addition to the above try Wool Warehouse and rkmwoolsdirect.
There does seem to be a supply issue for some of our yarns but hopefully folk will source enough. If you find another gem of an online shop please do share the link!
Important crafting info
Squares to be six inches, using 4mm needles or hook. Please knot off VERY carefully when finishing or changing colour and sew your ends in, thank you! No magic ring starts please. No blocking please, makes it much easier to join squares.
Simple or complex, made by beginner or expert, we genuinely welcome them all. It really is the love and thought that counts.
Last posting for this project is July 1st it will be to Teddington.
We still cannot quite take it in that we are making for Bee/BOF. Life has been so terribly cruel. 
Thank you so much wonderful people 
There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship.
Thomas Aquinas