Felt, Photography and Fibre Festival

Prototype bag from last week's post

Another ruffle and brooch fastening for it made – I really must stop now and make some other things.

 

 

On Saturday, we went to The Villa, Ormskirk, to sell our wares at their craft fair.   It’s a lovely venue and, despite being in a marquee, we were not too cold.   There weren’t a lot of people about so it was quite quiet but I sold a photographic print of the Liverpool Waterfront to one of the other stallholders who is going to send it to a friend in Australia as a wedding present.  It makes me feel really good to think that it will bring fond memories of Liverpool to someone who lives so far away.    The mother of one of the other stallholders bought my lovely single bed patchwork quilt, she says she’s going to snuggle up under it on her settee – so that’s gone to a good home too.   I’ll be off to the Villa again on 9^th November for their Art Show.

On Sunday, Liz and I went to Wilkinson Camera’s Digital Splash show in Preston.    There were lots of tempting cameras, bags, tripods etc. crying out to be bought.   We did some research into equipment we might buy at a later stage, but managed not to spend a fortune.   There were some good demonstrations also – Damian McGillicuddy was on the Olympus stand taking portraits – and generally entertaining the crowd.   David Newton was on the Canon stand showing some of his safari photos which included some brilliant cheetah and lion shots.  We also managed to glean some really useful information from the Colormunki rep about black and white printing – we’ll probably try it out on Friday.

I’ve been knitting some little purses which I intend to felt, one’s finished and felted already and there are more, in different yarns, in the pipeline.   My other project this week was to complete some cards with felt leaf shapes and some more bookmarks which will go with us to the Fibre Festival in Burscough on Sunday

Christmas is coming



Frozen Loughrigg Tarn

So what have I been doing this week?   First, last Monday morning rush to get prints ready for my camera club’s competition night.  Didn’t fair terribly well, but there was some strong competition.   I thought my picture of a frozen Loughrigg Tarn deserved better but heigh ho!    On Tuesday,  we had a meeting at the other photography group I belong to discuss how our exhibition had gone and about arrangements for next year.   I can’t believe we’re making plans already for next September, but we are – so many days blocked off on next year’s calendar for labelling, mounting, framing, hanging etc.

 

I have, at last photographed the two Ruffles – I’ve decided that’s what I’ll call my frilly neckpieces -and made fastenings for them both.     I’ve also made some small felt brooches for a local shop – I’m going tomorrow to see whether the owner wants to stock them.   I had a little ‘heart’ attack the other day and made a selection of small cotton hearts decorated with buttons and ribbons – they make pretty decorations.   Today, I’ve made a prototype of a bag I’ve been thinking about for a few weeks – it’s quite successful and with a few tweaks it should be good to go.

We had our flu jabs at the weekend, so now I know Winter is looming and, what’s more, when we were waiting for the car to be serviced this Monday, we started our Christmas shopping!

 

 

Home to Stay

We’ve been away, yet again – we hardly seem to have been home this Summer, however, we are not proposing to go away again  for ages, so I am intending to me much  more productive.   We shall see!

What have I been doing since my last post – which seems like months ago?   Well, Friday Felters started their new term and, on our first get together,  led by Stella, we all tried out a new technique.   We made frilly neck pieces which are really unusual and very pretty - see photograph.   Mine is made from merino wool with some silk decoration.  I was so enthusiastic that I couldn’t wait to try it out at home – however, as I had other commitments, I’ve had to wait until today to have a go.    I made two more neckpieces – I prefer to call them scarves – and they are at the moment drying out – I’ll have photos of them for next time.    

Our last little get-away was to Glasgow with some friends for 4 nights.   I’ve been a fan of Charlels Rennie Mackintosh and his wife for a long time and was looking forward to seeing lots of their work.   Our hotel was just outside the city and we were able to take the train (about 10 minutes walk away)  one stop into Glasgow Central so we didn’t have to battle with traffic and parking.   Glasgow is  full of beautiful buildings and we were all very impressed.    On our first day there, we enjoyed an open topped bus tour to get ourselves orientated and then visited the Gallery of Modern Art and the Lighthouse.    The Gallery of Modern Art was a total disappointment – I didn’t find one exhibit which appealed to me – it was certainly modern but not my idea of ‘art’.   The Lighthouse – the former Glasgow Herald building (Mackintosh’s first public commission), has been transformed into a centre for Design and Architecture.     We climbed the spiral staircase right to the top for panoramic views of the city – it was well worth the effort.   There was plenty of information and photos  but disappointingly few actual examples of Mackintosh’s work.

The following day, we decided to spend the morning at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery  and Museum, a very imposing building.   How naïve! – it took the whole day and then, I bet, we didn’t see everything – there were natural history exhibits as well as paintings, sculpture, militaria, ancient culture, and even a Spitfire.   There were also some Mackintosh and Glasgow Style exhibits so there was more than enough to keep us interested.

On our final day we decided, as it was close by, to visit the Burrell Collection – another full day – what a wonderful collection – and housed in a modern building set in beautiful woodland.    We had a conducted tour round some of the highlights of the collection  and then wandered on our own.   After lunch, the same guide, Wilma who was excellent, guided us round the current exhibition of impressionist paintings.   My favourite was an evening snow scene, which I'd not seen before,  by Henri le Sidoner.

Suddenly, we were on our way home again – not having seen as much Mackintosh as I’d hoped.     So, the good news is, we’ll have to go back again – perhaps next year.

Saturday saw us at at Lark Lane again https://www.facebook.com/CalidadEventsArtandCraftFairs - a couple of new faces – some beautiful jewellery and lots of old friends.    When it was over and we’d packed up, Liz and I went to see an exhibiton by Tina Leahey www.tinaleaheytextileartist.co.uk at Arts Hub 47 http://www.artshub47.co.uk    It was so good, I particularly liked the Liverpool skyline denim picture and some of the framed textile pieces.   I hope it has been a howling success, it certainly deserves to be.

On Sunday, the highlight of the week – Liz and I went to Skipton to ‘Yarndale Wool Festival’.   It was brilliant, everything from alpacas and angora rabbits to felt, spinning, weaving, knitting, dyeing, even some ceramics.   It was truly inspiring and I came away with my head buzzing with colours and inspiration.   I also came away with a bag full of ‘stuff’ which, of course, is essential!