Stitch and hobby exhibition

We had a lovely day in Manchester at the Creative Stitches and Hobbycraft Event on 7^th February, and really enjoyed it.      I didn’t spend too much – just some odd balls of yarn and a new lamp for my sewing machine.    There were an awful lot of card making and beading stalls which really didn’t interest me too much and not enough textiles!   However, we did attend a few talks – one by Jenny Rayment who, as usual, was very entertaining and one by Wendy Dolan who makes beautiful stitched landscapes.  We also met Ruth Brown from Stone Creek Textiles (www.stonecreeksilk.co.uk) and Kim Thittichai who was so busy we didn’t get chance to speak to  her– I wanted to tell her how much I enjoy her blog (www.kimthittichai.com)   next time perhaps. 

On 8^th February we went to a brilliant concert by Maghull Wind Orchestra (www.maghullwindorchestra.co.uk) in Southport which raised over £3,000   for a local hospice.   What a lovely evening.  

The last 10 days has been a bit of a blur – my Operatic Society put on its annual Gilbert and Sullivan Opera for 5 nights and, as I’m wardrobe mistress as well as in the chorus, I was kept pretty busy.   My spinning wheel was used in the opening scene and so I had to make do without it for a whole week – strangely, I missed it but it’s home now and, after a few tweaks, has settled in and is working again – it doesn’t really like being moved.

The week’s performance went very well indeed and, apart from the vagaries of Merseyrail trains and the terrible gales on the Wednesday, everything went as planned.   All the costumes were collected on the last night and packed up ready to be collected, the scenery dismantled and carted away and then off to the party!   It’s taken me two days to straighten out the house, put everything away and bring order to the chaos I’d created whilst sorting out costumes.

Sample to be made into bag

collage to be mounted on canvas?

I have not been very creative since the last post but I have photographed the silk and satin pieces – one is going to be mounted on a canvas, I think, and the other one will be made into an evening bag.

Today, I went to Cedar Farm, Mawdesley to have lunch and catch up with a few friends from City and Guilds days which was lovely.

February Already!

The evenings are getting lighter – have you noticed ?   Last week, on one of our daily walks we came across a couple of snowdrops and some violets, then, believe it or not, we saw some marigolds and some spray carnations – Spring is definitely on its way.   

Since I last posted, I’ve made loads more marmalade, I really have run out of even borrowed jars now but the stock should keep us going until next year.     I’ve been busy too getting things together for the production of Yeomen of the Guard which my operatic society www.crosbygs.org.uk is producing in a few weeks in Liverpool.   I have made a felt mask to be used in the production as well as other odds and ends.

Unframed picture

The strip picture is finished now and as a dark green, wooden frame – it looks great.  

I’ve been doing a bit of experimenting with different techniques as well – I’ve made a little purse out of the offcuts of a felt book cover which I made a while ago – I needle-felted it and then stitched it and wet felted it again – it’s quite pretty.     I’ve been trying my hand at quilting and made a sample using metallic thread and free machine embroidery on a piece of hand dyed cotton lawn.   It turned out so well that I decided to make that into a purse as well.   My next couple of experimental pieces are both made from silk and satin fabrics with lots of machine embroidery but neither of them are finished yet so I’ll be hoping to complete them for next time.

 

On Wednesday afternoon, I decided to use a scarf which I’d bought in a charity shop (not sure what the fabric is) to do some nuno felting.   It took a very long time to persuade the wool to migrate through the fabric but, eventually, it did and the textures are really lovely.     I also made some nuno prefelts to experiment with when I get time.

I’m not sure how  much progress I’ll make in the next week, it will be quite busy.   However, on Friday Liz, her neighbour and a couple of my friends from the City and Guilds course will be going to the Stitch and Hobby Exhibition in Manchester.   I’m really looking forward to it – of course I won’t be spending any money!!!