Final Curtain

My progress with the mini iPad continues.   I love it, it’s easy to use and so small and light – I try not to be separated from it.  




covered sketchbook

Having been out every evening this week, I haven’t achieved a great deal on the craft front  – the New England album has not moved on much at all,  but I have finished the sketchbook cover I started last week.   






woven s



cobweb felt scarf

On Saturday, we went to Calidad Events Craft Fair at Lark Lane.  The footfall is increasing and we had a very good day.   The picture of the Tulips which I made a couple of weeks ago didn’t sit on the table for long – one of the other stallholders loved it as soon as she set eyes on it and it has gone home with her.  The woven scarf was also much admired but it didn’t sell –I’m secretly glad  to keep hold of   it  for a little while longer.                    

Headdress for bridesmaid

posy for bridesmaid

The final curtain came down on our  performance of ‘The Sorcerer’, yesterday evening and after we’d cleared the theatre, we went to an after-show party – a bit tired today.   The week went very well and it was lovely to be back at the Epstein Theatre.   All the costumes have now been returned to Betty at Charades,  who did us proud www.charadessthelens.co.uk and I can begin to get back to ‘normal’ – whatever that is!

Not many plans for the coming week – I’ve some photos to sort out for a couple of competitions so I won’t exactly be idle but perhaps I’ll get round to making something, who knows?

Wrong again!

Despite  spending time getting to know my new toy – the ipod mini, I did manage to spend  some time being creative.                   

I seem to be in the midst of some sort of needle-felting obsession at the moment, I’ve been experimenting with the embellisher and then embroidering the resultant fabric with free machining – I’ve had a whale of a time.   Most of the results have been very successful except for the last one, which has a few thin spots and even a couple of actual holes.   Not to worry, I’m intending to bond it to some fabric , interface it and then make it into a book cover.   So far,  Ive made two into sketch book covers.

I’ve also been trying, vainly, to stick all the photos and mementos  of our 2011 trip to New England into an album – they’re still all over the dining table – but at least I’ve made a start – it’s only 16 months late!

On Tuesday, Liz and I had a further ‘lesson’ from Alison , the weaver.  I now think that I will be able to warp a loom efficiently, we’ll see.   However, I have actually finished weaving my scarf and it looks fine – it hasn’t been washed to ‘set it’ yet, so I’ll photograph that eventually, too.

On Wednesday, I braved the snow to visit the ever patient Cathy www.lazy-kate.co.uk  who had a second go at teaching me to spin – I think I’ve got it!    I actually made progress and I  enjoyed it so much.   In fact, I was so fired up with enthusiasm that I bid on a spinning wheel on ebay and actually won it!   I’ll be travelling to Yorkshire in a week or so to collect it.

cob web felt scarves

On Friday, I managed to get to the Friday Felters’ meeting at Frodsham - I missed the last one because of the snow.   I was looking forward to it, especially as my friend, Annette, has joined now and we travelled together.   At this  meeting, there was a cobweb felt workshop by Beryl Woodcroft and we all made beautiful scarves.   It was a technique I had wanted to try for a long time and it was really great and my purple scarf (pictured right with all the others) is wonderfully soft and lightweight.   I’ll take a close -up  picture of it for next time I post.

This weekend, I’ve been really busy as my Operatic Society is preparing to perform Gilbert and Sullivan’s ‘The Sorcerer’ at the Epstein Theatre in Liverpool and, as I’m in charge of Wardrobe, I have been busy making bridesmaid’s posies, headdresses, and a bridal bouquet as well as the odd  try-on and alterations.   I’ve finished for the moment but who knows what the dress rehearsal will flag up!

 

 

Exciting Times

On Tuesday, Liz and I went to the Artshub 47 in Lark Lane, Liverpool, to deliver some items which we hope to sell there.    It’s beginning to take off and, as well as the workshop which was in full swing, we went upstairs to see the special exhibition for Valentine’s Day ‘LOVE@artshub 47’ – I hope it will be successful, it deserves to be!  As well as some other bits and pieces, I left  two framed  photographic prints, the patchwork hanging,  and the textile picture of Runcorn which I mentioned last week as not having been photographed.    Well, it’s too late now – I got a phone call to let me know it had been sold along with one of the photos – I’m delighted  but it will teach me that, before I display anything,  I have to have photographed it first.

 On Tuesday evening, Liz and 1I were lucky enough to be included in a small group who were given some insight into how to use a loom by a very experienced weaver – Alison.   She had made some beautiful scarves and garments and she was very helpful and patient with her totally inexperienced audience!   She’s agreed to come again this Tuesday and give us some more instruction.   I’m hoping to learn the correct way to put the warp thread on my loom – my first couple of attempts were not terribly successful but, owing to her input, I’ve managed to rescue one of the mistakes I made and am making progress with the scarf.

During the week I tried my hand at a technique I had wanted to try for some time – it involves using  free machine embroidery, soluble stabiliser and small pieces of organza, silk  and other fabrics to create a picture.   I decided, as spring is on the way (I hope) to use red tulips as the subject.   The result was really very satisfying and I have already mounted it on cream silk and framed it – and I’ve taken a photograph this time!

 

 

 

 

 

Also,  during a spare moment, I  made a book cover out of some acrylic felt to which I needle-felted silk, satin, muslin and yarn – that’s turned out very well too.   Should I stop now whilst I’m ahead?  Having said that, it wasn’t a totally successful week in that the studio photos, of a really great model, which I took at Camera Club on Monday are almost all much too dark!   My fault entirely, I really  should learn to slow down and look at them more carefully instead of ‘snapping away’.   

 

 

 

 

Yesterday, Liz and 3 friends joined me for a visit to the ICHF Craft and Hobby Exhibition at Event City in Manchester.   There were some very interesting stands there and lots of temptations!  I did manage, in the main, to resist buying any more ‘stuff’ other than some very heavy interfacing and some foil which I’m hoping to use to make jewellery.   Most of the exhibitors are fascinating and  are eager to chat and discuss their craft.   I enjoyed very much talking to Ruth Brown and could have spent a lot more time talking to her if we hadn’t been interrupted by a very rude lady!  Her website is well worth a look www.stonecreeksilk.co.uk .    Three of us also enjoyed a talk by Kim Thittichai – she’s always interesting to listen to and has a very easy style of delivery – I already have a couple of her books and I’m now going to sign up to her blog as well.   I hope not to get to the stage where I spend so much time reading favourite blogs that I have no time to ‘play’ – http://hot-textiles.blogspot.co.uk/    

Today was very exciting – I got a birthday present – somewhat belated – an ipod mini.   My long-suffering, knowledgeable brother in law set it up for me and it’s all systems go.      That means that I probably won’t do anything creative for ages – I’ll be far too busy exploring its capabilities  (and mine).

 

 

 

 

New Venue

I can’t believe I’m writing a blog so soon after the last time – it must be because I’m rather pleased with myself.  I seem to have recovered some of my enthusiasm now that the cards are all done and stored in the loft.    

Although the weaving is still not finished, I’ve been busy finishing some other unfinished projects.   The patchwork hanging now has a hanging sleeve and cord and it’s ready to go.    My first inkjet print onto cotton was so successful that I have free machined over it and framed it - it’s a photo I took of the Runcorn bridge at sunset on a very still summer evening and I’ve manipulated it in Photoshsop. I’ll try to get a photo of it for next time – I should have done that before I put it behind glass!   That should be a challenge to see if I can manage to photograph it without distracting reflections – we’ll see! 

 

Onn Monday, Liz and I had an afternoon making felt.   We each made a flat piece of felt which we were very pleased with – mine is now a small notebook cover and Liz’s is still waiting to be made into something. With the small piece left over I’m going to make a cuff – I’ve already machine embroidered it and it just waiting to be beaded – perhaps this week?     It was great to get back to felt making after such a long time – I’ve had a sore shoulder so have been reluctant to aggravate it too much.  In fact, I enjoyed it so much that, after Liz’d gone home I made another piece which I love but I haven’t decided how to use it yet.

    



 

 

 

 

 

 

I must have had a sudden rush of blood to the head on Thursday because I actually bought some picture frames and, as well as the Runcorn picture, I mounted and framed 2 photographic prints and a small felt picture which I’d had waiting about unfinished for months.

Today, we’ve been, for the first time, to a new venue – Holy Trinity in Formby, for a Vintage and Craft Fair.  It was quite busy and we sold mostly photographic cards which is why this evening finds me reprinting.   We’ve booked to go there again on 2^nd March when, hopefully, people will be looking for Mothers’ Day gifts.