Start of the Christmas Fairs

November heralds the first of the Christmas Fair season!   At least I tell myself it's the start but really I think it started in October!   On Sunday, last, we went to one of our favourite venues, Scorton, in Lancashire.   It's a pretty little village with a vibrant community and we always get a great welcome there.    Unfortunately, for us, although there were lots of people, we didn't sell an awful lot - made up for by the fact that we met up again with old friends such as Michelle Clift, Independent Phoenix Trader,   who always seems to buy one of my notebooks - she didn't let me down this time either.  We had another fair in a large office building in  Liverpool on Thursday lunchtime - a great space, light and airy and quite busy.    This weekend we’re off to the Unitarian Church in Ullet Road, Liverpool – it’s a beautiful building and we always have a good day there.

glasses case

 During the week I've been completing a few ufo's - that's unfinished objects, - anyone who makes craft items always has lots of them lurking at the backs of cupboards, drawers and other dark spaces.  It's always good to complete them and move on to the next project.   Speaking of which, I've finished another woven scarf – cream and green this time.  A friend and I had a whole day, last week, with an experienced weaver who taught us the correct way to warp a loom – it looks so easy when an expert does it – I’m still stumbling along but at least now I know what I should be doing.

I’ve had a couple of sessions of  feltmaking this week too – it’s really self-indulgent - I love it.   I intend to stitch into both of them and then I hope to make book covers from them.

Liz and I had a little try at marbling recently, very successfully on paper but less so with fabric.   I think we are going to have to do some more experimenting although the results are still usable in patchwork - nothing gets wasted here!

 

Where to start

It really is a bit difficult to remember what I've been doing since the end of July but I'll try!  I've been  to more than a few craft fairs including the Summer Arts Market at St. George's Hall and on several photography outings with members of Maghull Photography Club.  The ongoing task of carding all that alpaca fleece has finally been accomplished and I've begun spinning it - another mammoth task!   

At the end of July we spent a couple of days in Liverpool photographing the Giants - what an amazing event.   There was Southport Flower Show and,as if that wasn't enough, we went off to see the Military Tattoo in Edinburgh with Liz and her husband.  The four of us had a lovely break and the the tattoo was everything I'd expected and more - what theatre! 

Motorfest in Ormskirk, in late August,,was another opportunity for some photography and I've got umpteen photos of vintage and classic cars. 

September saw the start of the felting group and photography club seasons and the resumption of rehearsals for 'The Mikado' which we will be performing, in March, at the Epstein Theatre, Liverpool.  Liz and I  visited a craft and hobby exhibition in Manchester on 12th September and were, once again, inspired by the creativity on show.    

In mid-September, my husband and I joined two friends for a short break near Kidderminster.   The weather was kind to us (it didn't rain) and we were able to visit the Black Country Museum which was fascinating.    We also visited Berrington Hall which had a special exhibition of costumes from the t.v. series 'Pride and Prejudice' as well as their permanent exhibition of textiles.   I was in heaven!  On our last day, we went into Worcester - what a lovely city, one day wasn't enough, we'll have to go back for another visit.

At the end of the month Liz and I visited Yarndale, near Skipton, a really exciting show celebrating all sorts of yarns, spinning, weaving, dyeing, felting etc.   Once again, we spent a whole day oohing and aahing over  all the lovely things we saw.   That sort of day always sends us home with new enthusiasm and inspiration.

As well as the feltmaking group, I've also joined a group of weavers - I've only been to one meeting but it was so informative and the people there were so ready to give advice and encouragement.  Owing to the helpful advice of one of them, I can now warp my loom, on my own, in about 2  hours - a vast improvement on the 2 or 3 days it used to take me (not to mention the swearing that accompanied it).  The result is that, since the meeting, I've made 2 scarves and am halfway through another.

At October's felting group meeting we made bangles - I'm not sure I'll ever wear mine (I don't ever wear bracelets) so I'm not sure I'll make any more, but the technique could easily be adapted to make wrist warmers - I'll have to think about that!  The lattice scarf I made there last month is now among the goods I take to craft fairs - hopefully someone will like it enough to buy it soon.

As anyone who knows me is aware, I find it difficult to waste anything textile related!  I hoard all sorts of scraps of fabric, yarn, buttons etc. because I'm sure they'll come in useful one day!   I finally decided that I must actually reduce the amount of  'stuff' in my stash of bits and so I've  made some of them into cot/lap quilts (seven so far)  and I must say that I really enjoyed the process and love the results.   The size of my stash, however, seems to be just as big - explain that!

Finally, we've been to a couple of  Maghull Wind Orchestera concerts during last month, - the first one was in aid of Liverpool Chest and Heart Hospital and was given  in conjunction with a Welsh choir, the Sirenian Singers.   It was one of the best concerts I've been to in a long time - the joint finale was an absolute triumph.    For Halloween, the Wind Orchestra gave a concert in aid of the Mayor of Maghull's Charity . Our grandson, home for half term,  guested on  percussion - proud grandparents!