Busy day with the web site

I've had a really busy time today. Having spent some time at the weekend photographing some scarves and brooches, and then quite a lot of time editing and preparing the images, I've spent all day uploading them to the web site.  It takes ages to write the descriptions, key words etc. but it's a job well done.    I've entered lots of products and lots of pictures so I'm hoping that, perhaps, I might have an order or two?

I made a really lovely scarf, last week.   A friend gave me some striped, woollen fabric in lovely autumn colours,  which I backed with a gorgeous piece of embroidered taffeta which I've been hoarding for ages.  The result is a luxurious, fully reversible, warm scarf .

Last Friday, I nuno felted a hand-dyed pink silk scarf.    I used a very fine layer of pink merino wool and decorated it with wisps of grey/blue merino and some small pieces of blue/lavender/beige wool yarn.  I let the silk 'frill' at the edges.  The result is a pretty, very lightweight, but surprisingly warm, scarf.  It's not very big but its absolutely beautiful - the texture of the silk on the back is wonderful.

A New Year - a new me?

Well that, albeit early, New Year's resolution didn't last long, did it?   It has now been over a fortnight since I added a post.   What can I say?   I did go away for New Year and, of course, there was a lot of catching up to do when I came back.   I will say, though, that I haven't been idle - I've done lots of reading of those lovely books I was given for Christmas and I promise I will get round to trying some of the new techniques they describe.

In the mean time I've made a couple of lovely felt scarves, one red/orange based and one blue/green.   I am particularly happy with the red/orange one,  it's not a colour combination that I often use - I stick to the old favourites green/blue/purple - but I am really pleased with it and hope to use that combination or variations of it more often in the future.

I have also finished a canvas.  It is a mixture of gossamer felt and hand and machine embroidery on pale green silky fabric.   I have just got to mount it so, hopefully in the next blog, I'll post a photo.

I've started to make another scarf, not felt this time.   It's reversible, made of woollen fabric lined with an embroidered taffeta and it is mostly rust and brown, another seldom used colour combination for me - so perhaps there is a new me in there somewhere!!!  . 

Christmas past

Once again I have been very lax about my blog.   November was a busy month and , needless to say, December was more than a little hectic.

On 7th November we were at the Park Inn, St. Helens.  What a lovely venue - light, airy room, well laid out and the staff were delightful.  We really enjoyed the day and it was very successful - as well as a few brooches, cards and gift tags, I sold a dozen diaries/notebooks and address books - Christmas presents, no doubt.   My lovely pink/purple treasure bag was bought by the mother of a young lady who obviously adored it and the beautiful black and white nuno felt wrap also sold.   Two of my favourite pieces sold on one day!    Still, it's great when someone appreciates your work.

The following weekend we went to a sale at Cuddington in Cheshire.   Quite a trek for not much return - there were quite a few people there but they seemed to be there for a chat and a cup of tea rather than to buy!

On 20th November, we went to the Adult Education College at Lancaster.   We've been there before and were looking forward to it.   In the event, it was worth the journey - the staff, as usual were friendly and helpful and the room was bright.   We renewed some old acquaintancesand met some other  interesting people too.   I even met my old boss why had retired up to Lancaster - that was a surprise - for both of us.   One lady bought a print of Bamburgh Castle which she was going to send to USA as a Christmas present.   Another American lady bought a couple of items to send home as presents too - in fact, she bought the red and gold treasure bag which I had made specifically with Christmas in mind. 

Flushed with success, the next day, we were at Eccleston, St Helens for a sale organised by a charity.  It was not a happy day for us - we were not in the best position, opposite the door, and it was freezing.   Add to that, nobody seemed that interested in us!  

On Friday, 26th November, we spent the day at the Chapel Gallery, Ormskirk.   We have been there before, and, as usual, the staff were very friendly and helpful but the weather was awful and I think it kept a lot of people at home.   On the Sunday, we were at Fir Tree Farm, Crank - it was bitterly cold but we kept warm by 'dancing' to the carold played by the local brass band.  We were kept supplied with hot drinks and, despite the condititions, enjoyed ourselves as usual.

On 3rd December, we went to a PTA Christmas Fair at Malvern Primary School in Knowsley.   Again, the weather was dreadful - snow.   The sale only lasted about two hours but there were hoards of people there and we really enjoyed ourselves.

Our last two fairs of the year were at Walton Vale and the wildflower centre at Court Hey, Liverpool.   Both were spoiled by the awful weather which kept most people at home.   The organisers at Walton Vale tried valiantly to get people through the door but it was an uphill task.  The Court Hey organiser had, I think, a terrible day, trying to keep everyone as warm and comfortable  in what must have been the worst possible conditions.

The year, then for us, ended on a downward note but we'll put that down to the weather conditions and start to prepare for next season.   We've already got one fair booked at Ormskirk on Saturday, 12th February - just in time for Valentine's Day so I'll have to put my thinking cap on and make some appropriate bits and pieces.

As you can see from the list of events we've been to, there hasn't been a lot of time for creative activities.   Apart from making lots and lots of Christmas cards, I think I've only managed one felt scarf since November.  

Because, unexpectedly, I started work again in September, having 'retired' in July, I had a little extra money so I treated myself to an Pfaff embellisher which I'd been coveting for ages and which I saw at the Knitting and Stitching show at Harrogate.    Because of the snow, I have been more or less confined to the house since 17th December (I hope to go out tomorrow!) so I've been using the time to get to know the machine - I've made lots of samples but, as yet, not much else!   Still it's great fun.

For Christmas, my daughters bought me some craft books so I'm avidly reading and hoping that they'll give me ideas for some different techniques - not that I'm short of ideas - the problem is not having enough time.

I think that's about all my news for now, except that my (early) New Year's resolution it to update the blog regularly and to put some new items on the website - here's hoping!

November already

I can't believe it's November already - and that I haven't added anything since 17th October.   In my defense, I have been busy and also managed a weekend away in Holland.   I have been using some of my lovely new wool tops to make felt bags.   One is complete - it is a mixture of purples and deep pinks and I'm very pleased with it.   The other, in purples, turquoise and blue (this seems to be my favourite colour mix at the moment) it is also a success but I'm afraid I made the handle too short so I need to make another one before I can say that's complete.  I should have some picture soon.   I've also made some felt beads - I'm hoping to use some of them to make the fastening for my lovely felt jacket - I haven't quite managed to make them all the same size yet - I'm still working on that too!

As well as  making felt , more diary covers and some Christmas cards, a friend has taught me how to make little memory/keepsake books.   They are lovely but I'm still a bit slow making them - the folding has to be accurate and decorating them is also time-consuming, but the finished article is very satisfying.  I'm hoping to make some Christmassy ones this week.  

We went to a Craft Fair in Walton Vale today, a new venture, and I'm hoping it's going to prove successful - it got off to a good start but I think the weather (teeming rain) kept a lot of people at home.   There is to be another one on 4th December so we'll be there again then.

Tomorrow, another new venture, this time at St Helens - we've not been there before so I'm looking forward to meeting some new people

Lovely wool

Well, the wool did arrive, lots of it, reds, greens and blues - where to start?Actually, it wasn't too hard to decide - I had been commissioned to make a red scarf so I got to work.   I'm really happy with the result - a longish (56" x 10") scarf in scarlet with touches of orange, green and burgundy and inclusions of silky yarn and scraps of silk and silk fibres.    I hope the lady who ordered it likes it.

Inspired by Sheila Smith's talk last week I also made a red felt bowl - I've not been too successful with bowls in the past, but this one is looking good - I'm embellishing it with some french knots - perhaps I'll have a photo of  it next time!   I think I'll try making some smaller ones too if I get time.  

Apart from making some more brooches by needle felting and re-felting some pieces  of pre-felt I had lurking in a bag of 'bits', I haven't done anything else creative this week - although, looking back, that's not a bad week's work, is it?

Felt

It's been a bit of a busy week - I worked for two and a half days.   I had set aside Friday to do some felting with the wool I'd ordered last weekend.   Unfortunately, it didn't arrive - I know why now - I had entered the wrong credit card number!   What an idiot.  Instead ,I made some Christmas cards so the time wasn't wasted.

On Saturday, I went to Parbold Embroiderers Guiled to hear a talk by Sheila Smith (the author of Felt to Stitch and other books) it was inspirational.   She bought lots of samples of her work and passed them round so that everyone could have a good look at them.   They ranged from delicate silk chiffon nuno to sturdier 3D objects and all were exquisite.  She often embellishes the felt with stitch and beading.

I came home fired up and ready to go - hope the wool arrives this week.

Where did September go?

Can't believe it's October already - September just whizzed by - it could be something to do with going back to work a couple of days a week!   

We went to Lark Lane on the last Saturday of the month and, unfortunately, there were not a lot of people about - it all seemed very quiet.  Those people who did come along were very interested in the new bags but nobody bought one - it's probably a bit too early to be thinking of party dresses and accessories yet.  I did sell a couple of photographic prints though which was nice.  There were some new stall holders there and we met a couple of old friends as well.

Since then, I have been making covers for A5 2011 diaries, (and also some smaller ones) which were much admired at the sale at the Floral Pavilion, New Brighton, last Saturday .   What a lovely venue!

Last week, I made some felt using Autumn colours - it reminded me so much of maple leaves (I love maple tees) that I cut it into leaf shapes, machine embroidered it and made it into brooches - I'm quite pleased with them.   See what you think!

I also experimented with making silk 'paper' - I'm not sure that I've quite got it right yet but I'm going to have another go - the colours and lustre of the silk are wonderful.     I've just ordered a selection of wool tops as I've been commissioned to make a long scarf like one I sold earlier in the year so I'm looking forward to making some more lovely felt.  All I need is time!