Having a hoot with yarn-bombing at Cannock Chase
It's known as yarn-bombing but involves nothing more explosive than pieces of knitting and crochet work.
Staff at the Museum of Cannock Chase in Hednesford called on local knitters to create colourful creations to decorate the venue for a book festival.
And visitors on Saturday were suitably impressed by the themed display.
Book lovers turned up to their droves to attend readings, panel discussions, question and answer sessions, have books signed by their favourite authors and even take afternoon tea with them.
Seventeen novelists took part in the event, among them best-selling authors Millie Johnson and Cathy Bramley. Also among the favourites were romantic novel award winner Iona Grey, and top crime thriller writers K.L. Slater and Mark Edwards.
The yarn bombs adorned railings and trees at the front of the Valley Road building to make an eye-catching display. Around 15 women started knitting and crocheting for the event six months ago.
Lee Bellingham, museum services manager, said: "Most of them had never heard of yarn-bombing before. But we wanted to do something unusual and this reflected the fact that we do a lot of arts and crafts activities at the museum, which also has an art gallery.
"It's taking wool into art, not just using it to make clothes, scarves and gloves."
The visiting authors included local writers such as Miranda Dickinson, from Sedgley, and Rugeley-based Anouska Knight. A pop-up Waterstones book shop was also on site.
Lee added: "We went for popular reads, the sort you can buy in the supermarket to read on the beach, rather than a literary event. I'm such a book lover I was in my element and it was lovely to see other people walking round with armfuls of books enjoying the atmosphere."
The museum also hosts popular monthly ‘Meet the Author’ sessions.
