Moving On

We’re getting back onto a more even keel now so I have made some progress this week.

 

The workshop with Helen Melvin was very interesting – she showed us how she makes vessels (bowls, bags, vases, etc.) using fine layers of merino wool which she surface decorates with silk caps and silk chiffon, gauze, etc.  It’s amazing how many different items were made using the same basic method and materials –  there were probably about 2 dozen of us and everyone’s finished item  was totally different.   This is a photo of my bowl.

 

 

At the weekend, I spent some time making a collection of gift tags using all sorts of bits and pieces I had collected over the last couple of months.   Again, each one is totally different and I thought, in my innocence, that having used up so many scraps, I would have more room and a tidier workroom – dream on!

 

 

 

During the week I’ve also been working on some photographs – one’s already gone into a competition and a couple of others are nearly ready for printing – there’s a competition night at my camera club next week so perhaps I’ll enter one of them.

 

 

 

 

Finally, I made a felt picture of an Autumn scene which I then machine embroidered into and finished off with some hand embroidery.  It’s now mounted and framed and I’ll be taking it, with the bowl, to a craft fair at the weekend.

 

 

Creativity curtailed

It’s been a busy 10 days – my husband was in hospital for a couple of days and so I wasn’t in the mood for anything creative.   Although he’s home now convalescing, our routine is disrupted and I haven’t really been able to settle down to anything too complex.  However, on the bright side, I haven’t been able to sit still either,  so a few UFO’s (that’s unfinished objects to the uninitiated) have found their way to completion (or nearly).   One of them was some batiked tissue which I’d been meaning to do something with for ages.   I made a background of some cotton, layered with strips of cream  silk, organza and other fabrics, free machine embroidered it in vague leaf shapes and then appliqued cut out leaves of tissue onto it.  I am fairly pleased with it and I plan to develop the ideas further in the fullness of time!    I have mounted it and put it in a frame but I think the frame needs a bit of a makeover so I’ll think about it a bit more before I put it up for sale.

I’ve been doing a bit practice on the spinning wheel and I think I’m getting the hang of it – I still need to get some further b advice from Kathy of  lazykate handspun yarn who actually taught me though.   I hope, as things settle down to get down work again and I’m hoping to go to a workshop on Friday with Helen Melvin – I’m really looking forward to it.

Fibres, felt and fairs

It was a busy week and I have got quite a bit to show for it but it seems to have flown by – why is it that I never seem to accomplish everything I intended?     I did photograph the flowers and  book covers  I made last week, though.



Large flowers
 

 

So what have I been doing since I last posted?   Mostly catching up with the web-site – I had been very remiss at keeping it up to date but now, thanks to a lot of hard work by Liz, I think it is bang up to date.   Note to self – keep on top of it!

The felt flowers are now finished, as you can see – I really like them.    I also made a felt picture – taking inspiration from Moy MacKay’s book  and a picture I had of some standing stones.    I felted merino wool and silk and then machine embroidered the details and finished it off with some hand embroidery in my favourite French knots.   The results were very pleasing and I’ve framed and mounted it.  I did debate whether or not to frame it or just attach in to a board backing but I think the mount and frame suit it; I did, however, take the glass out of the frame – it didn’t do justice to the texture of the whole thing – I know it makes it more vulnerable to dust etc. but I’ll have to risk that!

On Friday, we went to the Brindley Theatre, Runcorn, where they were running a craft fair.   As usual, we met some lovely people and it was good to be next to our old friend Silvana who makes lovely jewellery, www.jewellerybysilvana.co.uk.   Unfortunately, there were fewer people about than expected but we made some useful contact and Louise, who was in charge, was really helpful and welcoming.

Saturday was the day when Wingham Wool came to Friday Felters at Frodsham – they brought literally tons of fibres (merino, silk, cashmere, alpaca, angora, camel, bamboo etc.)  felting, spinning and weaving accessories and books.   It was like an Aladdin’s cave.    It was really great to see the enthusiasm of all the people who came along to browse (and buy).  It’s really very useful to be able to see and handle the fibres rather than just seeing them on the internet.   I stocked up on merino wool tops and bought some silk and bamboo as well – I can’t wait to get started using it.  I had hoped to find some warping thread for the loom but although they don’t supply that they suggested somewhere I might find it – that’ll be another day out for Liz and I then.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter

 

Well, it was a Happy Easter, I spent Friday morning arranging flowers for church and Saturday doing not a lot, other than putting a lot of items on my website.   On Sunday, after making up for the lost hour’s sleep, we went for a walk with family and then had a lovely, celebratory meal together.   

My brother returned my spinning wheel this week, he had taken it to see if he could make it a bit easier to treadle and to get rid of the ‘clunk’ – it now purrs like a Rolls Royce.  I hope I can do it justice.   I did have a bit of a practice one evening and the results weren’t half bad so, hopefully, I will start to improve.  

Because quite a lot of time was taken up with preparations for Easter flower arranging, etc. I haven’t done much creating except for some experiments making felt flowers.   The results look quite promising and I’m hoping to get them finished this week. 

Today, I’ve had a lovely time, I’ve completed two more needle-felted book covers and felted a couple of experimental, large, really flamboyant flowers and made some large felt beads to form their centres.   Hopefully, if they are a success, I’ll have pictures of the finished items next time.  

Snow joke

Snow joke!

What have I done since I last posted?    Apart from grouse about the weather, not a lot!     Because of the weather conditions, Saturday’s Craft Fair at Lark Lane was cancelled and so, unexpectedly, I had a whole day to be creative.   Some hopes, it just seemed to disappear in a puff of smoke.   I got some photos ready for a competition at the Camera Club and,  in the evening, we went to see our grandson playing percussion with a local Symphony orchestra.   A lovely concert, all Russian music with a Tchaikovskyi cello piece (Rococo Variations)  which was absolutely beautiful.  

Yesterday, we went to the Palm House in Sefton Park to hear our our daughter,son  in law and grandson playing  with Maghull Wind Orchestra.   Again a wonderful concert, they’re getting better and better  -I loved the selection from Les Miserables and the Percy French Londonderry Air.  Taking photos of the daffodils  was, unfortunately, out of the question – that easterly wind, even if I’d been brave enough to linger outside, scuppered any hopes of sharp pictures.

During the week,  I spent a lot of time finishing off ‘picking’ the fleece I was given, and I’ve actually started carding it now.   That’s going to take a long time, especially as I have a sore shoulder at the moment so I can only do it in sharp bursts with my left hand.    I found a little time, though, to make a couple of A5 needle-felted book covers.   I’m planning to make some more when I get time!

Relaxed and raring to go

Oh dear, it has been a long time since I posted anything – no excuses – I’ve been on a very relaxing, warm, self-indulgent holiday.   I came home on Wednesday evening and now it’s time to get down to work again.

I’d barely had time to unpack and get the washing on when I was off to Friday Felters @ Frodsham.   We will be hosting a visit from Wingham Wool on Saturday, 6^th April and we decided to make a bunting banner to decorate the hall we’ll be using.   Each of us made a rectangular piece of brightly coloured felt with a letter on it and a piece of felt rope which we intend to join up so that we can spell ‘Friday Felters @ Frodsham’.    At the end of the morning we had finished the individual letters and the rope was well on its way to completion as you can see from my photo.  

I forgot to mention that, before we went away, I’d bought a spinning wheel on Ebay and, as it needed to be collected from a village near York, we spent a couple of days there.   On our last morning we visited the Quilt Museum there.     What a brilliant place – the quilts were stunning – some very old and a couple of exhibitions of contemporary work.   It was well worth a visit and I’d certainly go again – I came away feeling awed and inspired to get quilting again– I need more time!

As for the spinning wheel, it is, for the moment, residing in my lounge.   The couple we bought it from kindly gave me a bag full of raw fleece – it had been cleaned so I have been picking it over prior to carding it.    I have had a little go at spinning it and, although I’m anything but proficient, the results are very promising.   I’ll need lots of practice though.

Immediately before I jetted off, Liz and I were at a very successful Craft Fair in Formby.   As well as some cards and a couple of sketchbooks, I sold the lovely nuno scarf in rusty colours and my last ‘treasure bag’.  I need to get making some more ‘stuff’ before we go to the fair at the Old Police Station, Lark Lane, Liverpool, on 23^rd March.   I’m quite looking forward to that – the daffodils should be out in Sefton Park by then and I’m hoping that we’ll get some photos of them on the way there.

Final Curtain

My progress with the mini iPad continues.   I love it, it’s easy to use and so small and light – I try not to be separated from it.  




covered sketchbook

Having been out every evening this week, I haven’t achieved a great deal on the craft front  – the New England album has not moved on much at all,  but I have finished the sketchbook cover I started last week.   






woven s



cobweb felt scarf

On Saturday, we went to Calidad Events Craft Fair at Lark Lane.  The footfall is increasing and we had a very good day.   The picture of the Tulips which I made a couple of weeks ago didn’t sit on the table for long – one of the other stallholders loved it as soon as she set eyes on it and it has gone home with her.  The woven scarf was also much admired but it didn’t sell –I’m secretly glad  to keep hold of   it  for a little while longer.                    

Headdress for bridesmaid

posy for bridesmaid

The final curtain came down on our  performance of ‘The Sorcerer’, yesterday evening and after we’d cleared the theatre, we went to an after-show party – a bit tired today.   The week went very well and it was lovely to be back at the Epstein Theatre.   All the costumes have now been returned to Betty at Charades,  who did us proud www.charadessthelens.co.uk and I can begin to get back to ‘normal’ – whatever that is!

Not many plans for the coming week – I’ve some photos to sort out for a couple of competitions so I won’t exactly be idle but perhaps I’ll get round to making something, who knows?