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!

The Promised Photo

A few weeks ago I promised I'd post a photo of the 'treasure bag' I was so pleased with - so here it is in all its glory.    I was so enthusiastic about it that I made another one - this time with a cord handle so that it can be worn as a shoulder bag.   This time, I used reds with gold stitching and beads making it suitable for use as an evening bag.    You could easily carry your phone, keys and a lipstick in it - and cash if you are thinking of paying for anything!

Tomorrow, we're off to the Old Police Station in  Lark Lane, Liverpool, to a Craft Fair.   Hopefully, people will be thinking ahead to Christmas and parties - evening bags, cold weather - felt scarves and diaries.

Hope Street Feast

Today we were at Blackburne House as part of the Hope Street Feast.   What a day - it poured with rain all day.  What a shame for all the people who had stalls outside and for those people who came to take part.  We, at least, were dry.   There were lots of people browsing and sheltering from the rain but not a lot of people buying - I think most came along for the food not the crafts.   It was still an enjoyable day, met some old friends and some new!

I have been busy again this week -as well as some Christmas cards, I've completed some more diary and address book covers and started a new "treasure bag" - this one in red and gold and, although it is not nearly finished, it is looking good.  

My friends and I from my textile group have been experimenting with foils, embossing powder, tyvek on fabrics and distressing the resultant pieces by heating them.    It is quite exciting - you never quite know what the results will be but I've ended up with one or two pieces which I hope to develop further by stitching into them.

I've also begun the task of hand embroidering a machine embroidered a piece I've had ready for a while - I intend to do quite a lot of hand stitching and then apply a piece of gossamer felt which is all ready and waiting and stretch the finished piece over a canvas.   I don't think that will be ready for Christmas though.

As you can see I have not been idle between posts and I'm hoping to push on with all these things and make some felt by the weekend for someone who particularly wanted a felt book cover.  Wish me luck - and a couple of 36 hour days!

Back to work

Had a lovely weekend away and now I'm back I'm really going to get down to some serious 'work'.   Of course that means some playing about with textiles.   I've got so many ideas buzzing round my brain that I'm not sure where to start.    I went to a craft fair at Liverpool Cricket Club this afternoon, and sold some cards and felt brooches.   As usual, I met some really interesting people and saw some lovely work - it's very difficult not to buy other people's creations but I try very hard to resist.  

I need to replenish my stock of brooches before next week's visit to the craft fair at the Chapel Gallery in Ormskirk - a new venue for me and, I hope, a successful one.   I'm also working myself up to producing some Christmas cards (yes already!) and have already made covers for some 2011 diaries.    I'm pleased with the diaries they are really attractive.   

The 'treasure' bag I made a few weeks ago was admired by quite a few people today and, although it didn't sell, I'm thinking of making some more - this time with handles so that it may be used as an evening bag.    When I learn to do so, I'll post a photo of it.

My first blog

This is my first post.   I'm new to this business so please be patient with me.   I'll post something more interesting when I get my head round the whole thing.