christmas is coming

We went off to Inglenook farm with high hopes that people would be starting their Christmas shopping and that they’d be spending some money!   There was no shortage of people looking and admiring but, unfortunately, at our stall, not many people were actually buying.   There were more than 60 stalls, lots of activities and music and a great atmosphere and it wasn’t too cold – in fact the weather was really lovely and some stallholders actually moved outside (not us).

I haven’t done a lot of crafty things this week, except finish a glittery scarf, as I’ve been busy with other boring household things!  Ugh.   I finally psyched myself up enough to go through my wardrobe and get out all the things that don’t fit anymore – I’ve finally come to terms with the fact that I’ll never be a size 8 again, or a 10 and probably not a 12!    I’ve actually listed some things on ebay – it takes ages, by the time everything’s been photographed, measured and listed.   So far there are lots of ‘watchers’ but only 2 bids –perhaps there’ll be a flurry towards the end!   If they don’t sell the  Jospice shop will be getting a bag full.  

I finished weaving my ‘shrug’ on Wednesday, cut it off the loom and hemmed it.  On Thursday, having discovered it was quite a bit shorter than I’d planned, I made it into a waistcoat.   It was pretty scary cutting the slits for the armholes but I managed to persuade myself to put the scissors into it.   I’m absolutely delighted with the results – I’ve worn it 3 times since and had more than a few compliments on it.    I may even wear it for the Craft Fair at Lark Lane on Saturday http://www.calidadevents.co.uk I   can’t wait to start another one – I will need to set aside a full day to get the warping done, hopefully all in one go.









 

At my felting group this week, we made a doll using merino wool and 2 car sponges to form the body and the limbs.    It was an interesting technique and it worked pretty well, but I don’t really think it’s something I shall be repeating – I haven’t got much use for dolls anymore.

On Saturday, we were at a Craft Fair at Ullet Road Unitarian Church, a listed building which is really beautiful.   We went there last year and really enjoyed it and it didn’t disappoint.   We had a really good day, there were lots of people about and many of them were so enthusiastic and complimentary  about our work – it was so encouraging.    As well as the usual photograph cards we sold some bags, brooches, my woven scarf, a felt bowl and one of the patchwork pictures which I’d had framed. 

We met a ceramic artist there, Louise Waller, who was selling the most exquisite ceramic art – I bought three pieces from her – they are gorgeous.     One of her students, who dropped in,  wanted a cobweb scarf in the same colours as the bag she’d just bought from Liz and so I made that yesterday afternoon – it’s dried, pressed and ready to go.

wool ready for felting

bag and completed scarf

Next weekend we have two fairs so I’d better get on with making something to sell .    On Saturday we’ll be at The Old Police Station, Lark Lane http://www.calidadevents.co.uk and The Mansion House, St. Helens on Sunday http://www.themansionhouse.org.uk/upcoming-events

Finished!!!

At last, I’ve finished picking over all the alpaca fleece which I was given.   I said at the start that picking the fleece was quite therapeutic, and so it was, sitting in the garden in the sun.   It begins to pall a bit when you’re in the garden shed, it’s raining, and you’re wearing all the clothes you can lay hands to.   However, it’s done now and only needs to be carded (only?) before I can begin spinning it into yarn.  I can’t wait until I’ve knitted or woven it into something lovely.    

 

I’ve been quite busy and productive this week, two whole afternoons felting which was very self-indulgent.   As well as  two lovely ruffles with brooch fastenings, I've completed  four really Autumnal maple leaf brooches and a piece of flat felt which will probably end up as book covers - I actually liked it better before it was felted but I'll do some stitching on it and see what happens

 

 

 I’ve also started weaving - Liz and I warped the loom ages ago and I’ve been waiting for inspiration before I started.   I try to do a couple of inches in the evening and it is coming along quite nicely.  I’ll tell you what it is if it’s successful, and  if not,  it will be another beautiful scarf.

detail of weaving

detail of weaving

Last weekend, we went to a Fair at Scorton, always a treat to go there – very lively.   We met up again with Silvana http://www.jewellerybysilvana.co.uk/ and the ladies from Knott End Quilters who make a wonderful array of quilts, bags etc. which they sell to raise funds for Trinity Hospice.   Their stall is always busy, deservedly so.   We also met, for the first time, Shelley from Preesall Preserves http://www.preesallpreserves.co.uk/ who make a variety of unusual and interesting preserves – they seemed to be very popular as well.

Tomorrow we’re off to Inglenook Farm http://www.inglenook-farm.co.uk/text-artisan-market-page-2454.html so we’re hoping the weather will be kind and there’ll be lots of people – it’s usually very busy.  There’ll be lots of food, crafts, gifts, music and all sorts of interesting things to look at and enjoy.

Back to work

Once again, the  couple of weeks since my last post have just flown by.   At the felting group, this month, we didn’t actually make anything other than samples using the nuno technique - where wool is felted onto fabric.   It is very rewarding when it works – the wool shrinks, but the fabric doesn’t, and the effect is that the fabric gathers and puckers making a lovely textured surface.   I made two samples – one on scrim which is now waiting to be made into something arty – perhaps with stitching added.   For the other one I used a piece of the  most gaudy, unattractive, synthetic fabric which has worked wonderfully well – it has a gorgeous texture and looks like something from under the sea – so that’s destined, in the fullness of time, to be something ‘watery’.

We’ve taken some of our felt to a gallery in Warrington  (we exhibited there last year)https://www.facebook.com/BestofNorthernArt - Joanna and Marje do a wonderful job making it look really attractive – I hope this new exhibition is the success it deserves to be – it’s well worth a visit.   On 20^th, we went to a Fibre Fest at the Grove Centre in Burscough – it was quieter than we’d expected but it was lovely to meet up with some old friends – Lazy Kate https://www.facebook.com/Lazykate-Handspun-Yarn/150686551664405, Myra https://www.facebook.com/KnitWise  and Tamsin http://www.wickerwool.co.uk/index.html#&panel1-2,   who fell in love with a beautiful yellow and green  ‘ruffle’,  the first of those I’ve sold.    I do like making them so I’ve made a red one today and it’s drying as I write.

I had a little go at making some paper weights using stones  over which I felted mostly white merino wool with little strands of black/grey wool to look like veins in the rock – they are very tactile.  I’ve made a couple more bags as well, some people use them as knitting caddies.  The alpaca preparation still goes on each time there is some decent (warmish) weather – I’ve actually finished picking over all the brown wool now – only the white to go – I wonder if the weather will be kind and let me finish before the Autumn is over.

The reason I haven’t been very productive is that I had to have a massive tidy and put a lot of my equipment away so that the house was safe for two of my grandchildren who came to stay.   It was lovely to see them and we had quite a busy time.    I’ve promised myself that I won’t get everything out again, but will try to be strict with myself and finish off some things before starting on new ones!!!

On Saturday, we went to Lark Lane, it was busier than it has been lately  and, once again, it was a great atmosphere and, among other things, I sold one of the little purses I’ve been knitting - it was a beautiful variegated mohair yarn – I can’t believe I didn’t photograph it!. Also, and here’s a sobering thought, I made my first Christmas card sale of this year.     Before we came home, we went along to Arts Hub 47 https://www.facebook.com/artshub47communitycooperative to see the exhibition of felt work by Nic of Feltipedia https://www.facebook.com/#!/Feltipedia.uk - it was really good, I particularly liked some of the hangings made from Norwegian wool.    

We’re looking forward to going to Scorton http://www.britevents.com/whats-on/lancashire/preston/scorton-christmas-market/508492/, one of our favourite venues, on Sunday – Joanne and Nick make us so welcome.   We’re also looking forward to a return visit to Inglenook Farm, (the Lavender Farm) http://www.inglenook-farm.co.uk/e-craft-farmer-s-market-details-2544.html for their Craft Fair and Farmers' Market, on 10th November  but the really, really exciting news is that our application for a stall at the Winter Arts Market  at St. Georges Hall on Sunday, 8^th December, has been accepted – back to  work now to get ready for that.

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!