Lovely wool

Well, the wool did arrive, lots of it, reds, greens and blues - where to start?Actually, it wasn't too hard to decide - I had been commissioned to make a red scarf so I got to work.   I'm really happy with the result - a longish (56" x 10") scarf in scarlet with touches of orange, green and burgundy and inclusions of silky yarn and scraps of silk and silk fibres.    I hope the lady who ordered it likes it.

Inspired by Sheila Smith's talk last week I also made a red felt bowl - I've not been too successful with bowls in the past, but this one is looking good - I'm embellishing it with some french knots - perhaps I'll have a photo of  it next time!   I think I'll try making some smaller ones too if I get time.  

Apart from making some more brooches by needle felting and re-felting some pieces  of pre-felt I had lurking in a bag of 'bits', I haven't done anything else creative this week - although, looking back, that's not a bad week's work, is it?

Felt

It's been a bit of a busy week - I worked for two and a half days.   I had set aside Friday to do some felting with the wool I'd ordered last weekend.   Unfortunately, it didn't arrive - I know why now - I had entered the wrong credit card number!   What an idiot.  Instead ,I made some Christmas cards so the time wasn't wasted.

On Saturday, I went to Parbold Embroiderers Guiled to hear a talk by Sheila Smith (the author of Felt to Stitch and other books) it was inspirational.   She bought lots of samples of her work and passed them round so that everyone could have a good look at them.   They ranged from delicate silk chiffon nuno to sturdier 3D objects and all were exquisite.  She often embellishes the felt with stitch and beading.

I came home fired up and ready to go - hope the wool arrives this week.

Where did September go?

Can't believe it's October already - September just whizzed by - it could be something to do with going back to work a couple of days a week!   

We went to Lark Lane on the last Saturday of the month and, unfortunately, there were not a lot of people about - it all seemed very quiet.  Those people who did come along were very interested in the new bags but nobody bought one - it's probably a bit too early to be thinking of party dresses and accessories yet.  I did sell a couple of photographic prints though which was nice.  There were some new stall holders there and we met a couple of old friends as well.

Since then, I have been making covers for A5 2011 diaries, (and also some smaller ones) which were much admired at the sale at the Floral Pavilion, New Brighton, last Saturday .   What a lovely venue!

Last week, I made some felt using Autumn colours - it reminded me so much of maple leaves (I love maple tees) that I cut it into leaf shapes, machine embroidered it and made it into brooches - I'm quite pleased with them.   See what you think!

I also experimented with making silk 'paper' - I'm not sure that I've quite got it right yet but I'm going to have another go - the colours and lustre of the silk are wonderful.     I've just ordered a selection of wool tops as I've been commissioned to make a long scarf like one I sold earlier in the year so I'm looking forward to making some more lovely felt.  All I need is time!

The Promised Photo

A few weeks ago I promised I'd post a photo of the 'treasure bag' I was so pleased with - so here it is in all its glory.    I was so enthusiastic about it that I made another one - this time with a cord handle so that it can be worn as a shoulder bag.   This time, I used reds with gold stitching and beads making it suitable for use as an evening bag.    You could easily carry your phone, keys and a lipstick in it - and cash if you are thinking of paying for anything!

Tomorrow, we're off to the Old Police Station in  Lark Lane, Liverpool, to a Craft Fair.   Hopefully, people will be thinking ahead to Christmas and parties - evening bags, cold weather - felt scarves and diaries.

Hope Street Feast

Today we were at Blackburne House as part of the Hope Street Feast.   What a day - it poured with rain all day.  What a shame for all the people who had stalls outside and for those people who came to take part.  We, at least, were dry.   There were lots of people browsing and sheltering from the rain but not a lot of people buying - I think most came along for the food not the crafts.   It was still an enjoyable day, met some old friends and some new!

I have been busy again this week -as well as some Christmas cards, I've completed some more diary and address book covers and started a new "treasure bag" - this one in red and gold and, although it is not nearly finished, it is looking good.  

My friends and I from my textile group have been experimenting with foils, embossing powder, tyvek on fabrics and distressing the resultant pieces by heating them.    It is quite exciting - you never quite know what the results will be but I've ended up with one or two pieces which I hope to develop further by stitching into them.

I've also begun the task of hand embroidering a machine embroidered a piece I've had ready for a while - I intend to do quite a lot of hand stitching and then apply a piece of gossamer felt which is all ready and waiting and stretch the finished piece over a canvas.   I don't think that will be ready for Christmas though.

As you can see I have not been idle between posts and I'm hoping to push on with all these things and make some felt by the weekend for someone who particularly wanted a felt book cover.  Wish me luck - and a couple of 36 hour days!

Back to work

Had a lovely weekend away and now I'm back I'm really going to get down to some serious 'work'.   Of course that means some playing about with textiles.   I've got so many ideas buzzing round my brain that I'm not sure where to start.    I went to a craft fair at Liverpool Cricket Club this afternoon, and sold some cards and felt brooches.   As usual, I met some really interesting people and saw some lovely work - it's very difficult not to buy other people's creations but I try very hard to resist.  

I need to replenish my stock of brooches before next week's visit to the craft fair at the Chapel Gallery in Ormskirk - a new venue for me and, I hope, a successful one.   I'm also working myself up to producing some Christmas cards (yes already!) and have already made covers for some 2011 diaries.    I'm pleased with the diaries they are really attractive.   

The 'treasure' bag I made a few weeks ago was admired by quite a few people today and, although it didn't sell, I'm thinking of making some more - this time with handles so that it may be used as an evening bag.    When I learn to do so, I'll post a photo of it.

My first blog

This is my first post.   I'm new to this business so please be patient with me.   I'll post something more interesting when I get my head round the whole thing.