The great British Bank Holiday

Well, it looks like another typical Bank Holiday weatherwise, so I think I'll have a tidy up!  Ugh!   I have been doing all kinds of crafty things this week so it's time to put everything back in its rightful place and  start afresh.   Can anyone explain why, when I've tried to use up some scraps and bits and pieces from my 'stash', there never seems to be any more space?

I actually finished spinning the alpaca fleece this week - the results are not terribly successful - it's been washed again and wound into a ball, but there isn't enough to make anything with!.   The 'waste'. which was too short to spin, I decided to make a piece of felt with.   Despite lots of rubbing and rolling it turned out as just a hairy mass which is only just hanging together.    Not one of my successful ventures at all.

I've made great strides with backing up files and the archiving of photos which I had been putting off for ages - I've now archived everything up to the beginning of this year.  However, I  had hoped that clearing them all off the hard drive would speed things up a bit and it hasn't - a bit disappointing really.

I didn't get round to any feltmaking as I'd hoped, but perhaps I will today.   I have completed 10 more quilt squares but I'm fast running out of fabric - the idea was to use up stuff - not to have to buy more.   What a dilemma?    I've actually completed 3 of the 'treasure bags' - red and gold, purples and turquoise and jade green.   I am absolutely delighted with them - they look stunning.   I've posted a photo of the red and gold one and more photos will follow - hopefully, next week.

As promised, last week, I've posted a couple of photos of the glittery, knitted cowls - the photos don't really do them justice, they are very light and easy to wear and look really good worn with a plain top.  

And finally, I made the fabric for a book cover, yesterday, out of various  offcuts of felt which I'd used to make other book covers a while ago.   I used the embellisher to needlefelt them and some scraps of muslin which I'd dyed previously,  onto a piece of cotton which someone had given me.   My recycling instincts ( or is it just meanness) coming to the fore there.    To finish it off, I added some wool yarn and quilted the whole thing with curvy lines - it is, I think, spectacularly successful and I'll have a photo of that next week too.   

All in all a very productive week - can't promise as much next week though - some catching up with garden, housework, admin and other boring things to be done.

Spinning!

 I haven't posted a blog for a fortnight now and that's partly because I was away last weekend visiting our daughter.   I'm still trying to catch up with all the things I said I was going to do in the last blog.   I haven't been idle though - I've done a bit of gardening, continued with the bags, knitted a couple of scarves but no more archiving.   I really must continue with that this week - my hard-drive is getting clogged up with photos.

We went to a craft fair at Fir Tree Farm, this Saturday and, strangely, didn't sell very much - I only sold some  photo cards and a print, and poor old Liz didn't sell anything.   We had both been busy knitting some glittery cowls out of a yarn called 'Starlight'  - they're like necklaces and very attractive.  I'll post a photo of one or two, next blog.  I hope they might be popular as autumn comes in.  

Today, I've spent ages carding some wool from one of  Margaret Hunter's alpacas - it is very fine, almost like human hair.   I've had a go at spinning it - it's not easy - in fact, it's a bit frustrating at times.   Because it is quite short and silky it needs a lot of joining and that's one thing I haven't quite got the hang of yet.   Anyway, it is good experience and I hope to try knitting it once it's been washed again.

Plans for this week include backing up all the files on my computer, ugh!    Another routine, boring, necessary job.    I'm hoping, all being well, to make some more felt for book covers, make some more squares for the quilt and to finish at least one of the bags (if I'm successful, there'll be a picture of that next week as well).   

That was the weekend that was!

 Had quite a hectic time again this week although I do seem to have achieved something for a change,  and what’s more, the hectic week was followed by an even more hectic weekend.  However,  we survived.

Alas, once again, the garden didn’t get any attention, but we did press on with plans to have the front drive paved and generally sorted out, so we spent a lot of time visiting garden centres etc. to find a suitable paving stone.   You wouldn’t think that would be difficult but it is. 

I continued with my archiving of photos – I’m up to June 2010 now – still a way to go though.    As well as finishing off the felt book covers I mentioned in last week’s blog, I made a couple of covers from felt pieces I had made ages ago and never finished.   I am determined to finish off some of the pieces commonly known as ufo’s (i.e. unfinished objects) and get more organised.   I managed also to make another couple of the organza flower brooches like the ones I made in June – one in greens and one in purples.     They are very attractive and I think I’d like to make some more in different colours.   

Because Friday’s textile group didn’t meet this week, I used to the time to prepare fabrics to use for some ‘treasure bags’  which I’ve also made before – they make lovely evening  bags or gifts.   I’m hoping to get on with them in the coming week.  

The weekend has been spent at craft fairs at Bickerstock Music Festival and Knowsley Flower Show.   At Bickerstock we were in a gazebo and were really lucky with the weather – it was very threatening most of the day but, luckily, we only had a couple of spots of rain.   It was a lovely atmosphere, very well organised and with a variety bands and groups.     The festival goers were interested and interesting; especially one lovely lady who was so enthusiastic about all the felt work and another lovely lady who actually bought 5 felt covered notebooks!   In fact, I had to go home that night and make some more felt covered books because I had so few left to take to Knowsley Flower Show.    In the event, nobody at Knowsley gave the book covers a second glance – that’s craft fairs for you!     At Knowsley we were in quite a large marquee so we didn’t have to worry so much about the weather.     Although I had quite a quiet time there, I was happy to sell a print of the waterfront at night.   Liz was very pleased with herself, she sold several of her lovely knitted bags.   All in all, a successful weekend if a bit on the exhausting side.

Experimental felt

Despite all the good intentions, very little has actually been done - the garden is still in the same state as it was last week.   I have spent a lot of time trying to archive photos from last year - I need to make some room on my hard drive.   It takes ages to keyword them all, burn them to dvd and then put them in the database.    I am making slow progress though and I'll try to continue the good work next week.   It's one of those jobs which gets put off because it's not as exciting making a new print.

I did continue with the felt for the book/diary covers.  I first made 4 pieces of pre-felt and then cut out identical shapes from each piece.   Then I fitted the pieces from one piece into another piece - a bit like a jigsaw, added some strips of fabric or yarn and a little more merino and felted them together.   I think it's called inlay - and it was very successful.   I now have four interesting pieces of felt, two of which I've actually made into book covers  - and, of the other two,  one has had beads added.   I'm hoping to finish them all off, this week.

Today, we went for a walk in the lake district - just low level around Grasmere and Rydal, it was very pleasant and I took a few photographs although the light wasn't great.

Next weekend is  going to be very busy - as well being in the craft marquee at Knowsley Flower Show, Court Hey, on Sunday, we are going to be selling our wares on  Saturday at Bickerstock Music Festival.   It will be the first time I've been to a music festival and, although not exactly Glastonbury, it will, I'm sure be quite an experience - I hope we won't need our wellies.  

Back again

Another holiday!  I've been away for a whole ten days in Pembrokeshire.   What a beautiful part of the country - the views from the coastal  path are spectacular - there a wildflowers in abundance and all manner of birds and insects to photograph.    The weather was a bit mixed,  but we didn't do too badly at all and I came back full of enthusiasm and ideas for things to make and do.   One one of the days that it poured down we went into Haverfordwest and I bough some fabrics to augment my stock of whites and creams for the quilt which is still ongoing.

On the other really awful day, I bought a drop spindle and a bag of fleece and set myself the task of learning to spin.   When it's pouring down there's not much else to do other than stay indoors, so it was a way of using the time profitably.   The first attempts were accompanied by a lot of grimacing, sighing and the occasional swear word but, by the end of the afternoon, I had about 20 metres of yarn - nowhere near perfect, but usable.   A couple of days later, when we came home from a walk early because of bad weather, I spun another 10 or so metres and that is much better, more even.   All I have to do now is to practise and then I have to teach myself to dye it.  

On the way home from Pembrokeshire we called in at a quilt exhibition at Llanidloes.   We have been there before and, as usual, the standard was amazing.   There were some beautiful quilts, both traditional and contemporary and several A4 sized, miniature quilts, which were very interesting.   I'm always inspired by the variety, the colours and the originality of the exhibition.   It really is worth seeing.  Perhaps I'll include some photos in my next blog.

Since I came home, I've been to the usual monthly Craft Fair at Lark Lane where I sold some cards and a bag among other things.   Today, we went look around at the Green Fair at Beacon Park (near Ashurst Beacon) where there were all sorts of things happening, as well as a craft tent.  I bought some beautiful rosewood buttons from a wood turner - I'll have to make something wonderful to use them on.    We also bought a beautiful plank of yew with rough edges - its drying slowly in the garage for the next 12 months or so and then, I think, we might make a little table from it.    We also met Margaret from the Soap Corner again, as well as Julie and Louise who generally have the table next to us at Fir Tree Farm, so it was a bit of a reunion!

The weather was really kind to us and we took lots of photos of the birds of prey, the viking reenactment and of the many dogs who were there.  We'll have to see what they're like when I eventually get round to downloading them - I haven't downloaded the hundred I took in Pembrokeshire yet!

I think next week is going to be very busy, we've got to blitz the garden, look after our grandchildren for a day, and generally catch up with ourselves as well as finishing off the felt for the diaries and starting on the new ideas.    Can't wait!
 

Not much progress

Oh dear, again,  not much to show for this week - although I did do a few bits and pieces like downloading the remaining Norway photos.  I have actually deleted a lot of them because they were blurred,  as I expected owing to the problems with my lens.    Actually, I did, eventually, bite the bullet and buy a new lens - a 15 - 135mm one.     It was only when it arrived that I realised that it has a larger diameter than the one it replaced and so I had to buy a new lens hood, filter holder, uv filter and a circular polarising filter - I should have thought of that!    However, it should be a bit more robust than the last one and I'm expecting great things of it!    I'm going to spend some time trying it out in the next few weeks.   Watch this space.

I did manage to go to my textile group this week and made a few pieces of pre felt which I'm intending to use to make some book/diary covers - it won't be long before 2012 diaries are out - what a depressing thought.

On Saturday, Liz and I went to Halsall School Carnival.  It was not a very promising day to start with but it turned out quite pleasant - the threatened rain didn't materialise.   There was a small craft marquee and we spent a pleasant day there - the organisers were so friendly and helpful and we met up again with Margaret from the Soap Corner in Halsall.   I sold a lovely trellis scarf  - one which took so long to make, I vowed I would never make another one!   Apart from that, I sold some cards, brooches and some little felt badges which children like.     

I'm trying out a new pattern for a knitted necklace at the moment - it's not been a great success so far but I'll persevere and see what happens.

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July already

Well, at least July seems to have started well – lovely weather for the last few days.   As predicted, it has not been a very productive week – I only managed to make some felt poppies and a few notelets and I haven’t even looked at my photos of Norway – I’m hoping to download the remainder this evening and then I’ll have a closer look at them all.

Had a really good day on Saturday though, we went to the Adult Education College in Lancaster.   The staff are  really friendly and helpful and the venue itself is light and airy.   In fact,  the whole experience is a very pleasant one,  we love going there.  I think, because of the really good weather, there weren’t as many people as usual but we had lots of  interest in what we were selling and some lovely compliments.   The scarves sold well, as usual, as did the brooches and cards.  I also sold a print of the Mersey Ferry with the Ark Royal in the background – that is, I believe, now on its way to America.   Liz got an order for a scarf which she actually started on Saturday evening.    We’ve had to order more wool again.

In the coming week, I’m hoping to make up for lost time and get sewing some more organza brooches, felt brooches and who knows what else.