Marmalade Time

About time I posted something – it’s 10 days or so since the last one – I’d like to say 10 productive days but I thought I hadn’t much to write about.   Now that I really come to think of it, I’ve done lots of little bits and pieces and it all adds up!

As it’s January, and the Seville oranges have just reached our shores, I’ve been making batches of marmalade.   There is absolutely no comparison between the taste of what you buy in the supermarket and a homemade marmalade.   Mine, without wishing to boast, is

delicious.   I’ve almost run out of jars now so I’ll have to slow down a bit.

In between batches I’ve been making Christmas cards!   I try to recycle as many cards as I can and, rather than having a mad panic in November, I try to get them all made and put away in the loft with all the Christmas decorations – last year it took till mid February but I finished this year’s yesterday and have just climbed the ladder and put them away.  Hooray!

Waistcoat nearing its final stages

Over the course of the last couple of weeks, Liz and I have made a felt waistcoat for her – I’m hoping she’ll let me take a photo of her wearing it for next time.   We made it in two parts – one piece for the back and one piece to cut out the two fronts.   I used an old paper pattern to adapt to make a ‘prototype’ from some old upholstery fabric and we cut it out from that!    I think we’re both quite pleased with it but it did shrink a bit more than we’d hoped in the final stages so, next time (if there is a next time), we’ll be a bit more generous – and we might felt it onto some fabric for extra strength – watch this space.

The woven scarf is now finished and will become a ‘shrug’ – a bit like the turquoise waistcoat I made a few months ago.    The embroidered strip picture is still not finished – I stitched it more densely than I’d originally planned and the one bit that needs further stitching is proving a bit difficult to put the final touches to.   

  Another project finished was the recycled jeans tote bag as in Ineke Beryln’s https://www.facebook.com/ineke.berlyn?fref=ts book the Patchwork Object – I think I misread the instructions somewhere along the line and it turned out to be a monster.    It was a beast to quilt, heavy and  unwieldy, and it is so huge that it will actually hold everything including the kitchen sink!     Having said that, it was the first time I’ve attended Friday Felters carrying only one bag!   

There is a different picture on each of the four sides

At the meeting of Friday Felters, this month, we had a workshop, run by Helen Melvin https://www.facebook.com/helen.melvin.31?fref=ts  who is a great teacher and good fun.   We made asymmetrical bags – very unusual and all so different.   She brought some kits for those who needed them, the colours of the wool, which she’d dyed using natural dyes, were wonderful.   Unfortunately,  I didn’t finish mine, but it is a work in progress.

On Saturday last, we went to Manchester to see our grandson play in a brass and percussion concert.   At one stage, there were five xylophonists playing together and he was one of them – amazing - there’s nothing like a group of young, enthusiastic, talented young people making music together!  

Happy 2014

I can’t believe that we’re already over a week into 2014 and I haven’t posted since Christmas Eve – I suppose it has been a rather busy time though but I did have time to photograph some of the things I mentioned in the last blog.

Turquoise, woven scarf

These are the magnetic scarf fasteners I mentioned as well - two made of felt and one of silk fabric - I hope they'll prove popular.

 

 

 

 

Christmas was the usual happy blend of family, overeating and general indolence and there didn’t seem any point hurrying the getting down to work again as we were going away for New Year.    So, until then, I read the craft book which I’d been given as a present, spent many happy hours on craft websites and Pinterest and generally indulged myself. 

New Year was spent in Llandudno, which, apart from it being rather wet and cold, was lovely.  In fact we did have a nice day on New Year’s Eve and spent most of it outside walking.    We stayed until 2^nd January and, on the way home, as a final treat we went to Abakhan at Mostyn – it doesn’t take much to please me!     I spent a couple of hours there, browsing through the craft, yarns and fabrics and then, after a pleasant lunch we came home.   Needless to say I couldn’t leave without spending some money although most of it was on mundane stuff like interfacing, elastic, felt,  and wadding. However, I did treat myself to some plain white cotton so that I can experiment with dyeing and some craft cotton for patchwork.    I also bought 3 balls of novelty yarn in shades of red so that I can start weaving the scarf/shrug which, after several false starts,  Liz and I set up on the loom  - we will get better!!! 

Since we got home I’ve almost completed a strip patchwork/embroidered picture – it isn’t quite what I set out to make – it’s far more densely stitched that I first envisaged – and just needs a bit more hand embroidery and mounting or framing, or both.

 I’ve actually nearly finished weaving the scarf/shrug now – I find it almost addictive and it’s easy to complete about a foot or so each evening.    I’ve so enjoyed it that I’m planning my next project already!

End of the Year

This will, I imagine, be my last post of 2013 – in some ways it seems only a few months ago since we started the year but, in others it seems decades ago!  When I look back though, I seem to have attempted a lot of new techniques in my textiles – spinning, weaving, mask making, felt pictures, garments,  etc. as well as extending some of my felting techniques so,  in  retrospect, I’ve actually achieved more than I realised.    

The last ten days or so have been a bit of a whirlwind.  I needed to make some more stock to replace what I’d sold at the Winter Arts Market, so was in the middle of making some felt when I went to fetch some scissors and, as usual, in my haste, wasn’t looking what I was doing and fell over a cardboard box and my session ended in the local Minor Injuries unit.   It was suspected that I’d broken my big toe, so that stopped my gallop for a few days.  I rather think it isn’t broken as it has been a lot more comfortable over the last few days so I’ve been able to carry on almost as normal.  The felt was finished eventually, three book covers, a bowl and several maple leaf brooches.  

I finished the scarf I had begun weaving and that is very successful, it’s in my favourite turquoise and purples, I can’t seem to get away from them, but the next one will probably be reds.  I’ve also finished some felt scarf fasteners – they’re magnetic and I call them ‘Felt Attractive ‘  they will hold a scarf in place without putting a pin or scarf ring on it – it’s quite a novel idea and I’m hoping, if they are at all popular, to make some more, probably with silk decoration.

Today was the last Calidad Craft Fair of the year at Lark Lane – it was, as usual, a pleasant day; there is always a happy, friendly atmosphere and although, it was fairly quiet, it was very enjoyable.  Now that’s all over, I’m about to attack my Christmas cards, I know the Royal Mail won’t guarantee their delivery before Christmas if I don’t post them till Monday, but I’ve every confidence that they will arrive just in time.  I hope so!

Well, this was supposed to be posted on my site on Sunday, after I’d photographed the bowl, book, maple leaves, magnetic fasteners and the woven scarf – it didn’t happen!   So, rather than leave it until the New Year, I’ll post this tonight (Christmas Eve) and post the photos in the New Year.     Happy Christmas to everyone.

Winter Arts Market

What a marvellous weekend – St. George's Hall, Liverpool, is the most beautiful building and it was a real privilege to have a stall at their Winter Arts Market www.winterartsmarket.com run by Open Culture www.culture.org.uk

On Saturday, we were in the Main Hall which was really bustling – so many people, so many wonderful stalls with original craftwork from so many talented people.   We had some lovely customers, some who bought from us in the Summer came back to see us again, which was very rewarding.   We sold three mounted prints, my felted fish picture, various notebooks and brooches and a variety of other things.    After a busy day, we had to move our stall into one of the side rooms where we had been allocated a space for Sunday – that was a bit of a mad half hour or so but we managed it before we had to let the exhausted organisers go home.   

Although not quite as bustling as the Main Hall, we like the side rooms, they are so light and airy and a little bit less hectic.    Again, we had a really enjoyable, slightly more relaxed day, and sold lots of different things, a couple of felt bowls, and notebooks, another felt picture and the mask I made a couple of months ago.   All the poppies I made last week were sold, as were lots of brooches and little bags, a couple of knitted scarves and cowls.   A nice gentleman, who had worked as a stonemason on the Metropolitan Cathedral, bought a mounted print showing the beautiful carving on the front, a carving he had actually worked on – I love it when someone buys a print because it actually has a meaning for them, personally.

By the end of Sunday, we were absolutely exhausted but happy and we are already looking forward to the Summer Arts Market there in July – that is, of course, if our application is successful – fingers crossed!

This week, we’v

e already had a hospital visit and are looking forward to a dental appointment on Thursday, Ugh!    Today we’ve been to two concerts – one lunchtime concert at Chethams College of Music in Manchester, www.chethams.com in which our grandson played, and one Christmas Concert by Maghull Wind Band in Maghull in which his Mum and Dad played.

So tomorrow, I’m going to have to play ‘catch up’.     I’m intending to make some felt to replenish stock for the last two events I have planned before Christmas – the Networking Mums event www.facebook.com/networkingmums at the Marriott Hotel, Liverpool, on 16^th   and the final Calidad Gift and Craft Fair www.facebook.com/calidadeventsartand of the year at Lark Lane on 21^st.

Whoosh, where did November go?

Whoosh, where did November go?

All that time spent getting clothes listed on E-bay was wasted really, I sold four items for a total profit of £6.76 and that’s before the Ebay and Paypal fees – not a very good use of my time – I should have just taken them  to the Charity Shop.

On Saturday, 23^rd, we went off to our regular Calidad Event in Lark Lane, it was, as usual, a happy occasion and all seemed to enjoy the day.   My woven waistcoat went down very well, lots of interest and compliments – I’ll definitely be making some more of them.   In fact, I’ve started to warp up the loom already.   Previously, Liz and I had done it together, but I decided that I should  make an attempt on my own.    Mistake!   After 3 hours, one afternoon, I took it all out and started again.   The next day, I more or less repeated the process.   By now I was getting to the point where it had become a challenge!   I was determined to do it and, eventually, I did.    However, there wasn’t enough warping thread to make a waistcoat so I’ve had to settle for a scarf, and the realisation that I need help next time.

The glittery scarf I mentioned in my last post sold on its first outing at the Mansion House, St. Helens on the Sunday.   It was quite a busy weekend, followed by another busy week involving both Photography Clubs we’re members of.   I managed to make a few new felt notebook covers and 12 pairs of earrings!

Last weekend saw us at the Chapel Gallery, Ormskirk, for their two day event which coincided with the switching on of the Christmas light in the town.    Friday was quiet until late afternoon and then, in the evening it really got quite busy with families who had been to see the ‘switch on’.   During the quiet time, I started to knit a pair of wrist warmers – I’m hoping to get them finished soon. Saturday was another good day, cards sold well as did brooches and so I spent the evening reprinting ready for St. Georges Hall next weekend.   On Sunday, we went with some of our family to see Fascinating Aida at the Philharmonic Hall, what a brilliant trio they are, we were sore with laughing, a really good end to a busy weekend.

We’re really looking forward to the Winter Arts Market at St. George’s Hall on Saturday and Sunday, it’s the highlight of our Craft Fair Year – it is such a lovely building, the organisation is great and there are so many stalls selling such a variety of crafts – the whole atmosphere is ‘buzzing’.   In anticipation, I’ve made some new brooches, a felt bowl and four lovely poppy corsages which just need the brooch pins adding – if I don’t sell them, I’ll post photos next blog.