Harmonious Strip Patchwork

On Saturday I took a workshop organised by the Swindon Branch of the embroiderers guild. The tutor was Heather Martin and the title Harmonious Strip patchwork.

The aim was to start making a wall hanging from strips of cold dyed fabrics in our own choice of colour. As always happens when I go to workshops I didn't get very far!

So no hanging to show yet just a file of orange fabrics.

After the morning session of dying most of my afternoon was spend hand stitching some tucks.
The course requirements stated that the work could be done by hand or machine I was feeling too lazy to pack up my machine but to be honest if I had known that this is what we were going to do I would have taken it.

Still overall it was an enjoyable day, and I have a nice bright wall hanging to construct and keep me cheered while the weather outside remains grey!

This could only happen to me

Let me ask you a question dear reader, Have you ever found yourself in your local quilt shop stood in your knickers? Hmm thought not, well this is what happened to me yesterday. Now I know what you are thinking but no I wasn't arrested and stripped searched for trying to smuggle out a few yards of that new scrummy batik that they had. On my way to the shop to take a workshop (more about that later) I was walking innocently along in the rain when a bus went speeding past and managed to drench me in a conveniently located puddle. When I arrived at the shop Jan, the owner, suggested that I should have a go at ironing my trousers dry rather than sit in damp misery all day, so there I was a little before 10am stood in their kitchen in my knickers frantically trying to desaturated my clothes! Ok so I searched around on the web to locate a picture that might represent me at the ironing board but nothing so I thought we'd have a bit of gratuitous fun instead.

Anyway back to the real reason for this post. Yesterday I had the pleasure of taking the most enjoyable workshop I've ever had with the wonderful Janet Bolton. I expect many of you will already be familiar with her amazing work but her website is here. Sadly there aren't many pictures of her lovely work though.

Janet is the most interesting and generous person. I think the thing that I will keep with me forever was her simple urging for us all to make what we like and never to think that what you are making is wrong because it might not match up to someone elses ideal. As long as we make what pleases us it is right.

I had such a fun and absorbing day that I totally forgot to take any pictures, so all I have to share I'm sad to say is my work in progress. Janet does the most amazing work using both vintage and new fabrics, but usually in muted and rustic tones, I just don't really have any fabrics like that so I had to work with what I had and stuck to my usual bright tones. I also could not get the hang of trying to needle turn the tiny shapes that Janet uses so I went with a large design in the end. I'm slightly disappointed with myself that I couldn't get to grips with this as everyone else in the class seemed to manage ok but practise makes perfect so I will keep trying and having the opportunity to hear Janet talk about her life and work made the day.

Ready to Burn

So after waiting for my camera battery to charge and attempting unsuccessfully to get a good picture of my bag in progress I figured out that the piece is just about the right size to fit under the scanner.
I'm now at the stage where I'm supposed to burn holes to create some void spaces in the design. After all time it took to stitch the darn thing I've decided not to dive in and burn straight away without some practise. So today I will be stitching up a basic grid pattern using the same techniques to practise my burning on. Wish me luck!

Stitching again

It's been another tough couple of weeks in Angelcat land. MIL still hasn't made much progress and after a few days at home is back in hospital, so the long days of work and hospital visits continue.

Last week I was knocked out with the flu and a horrible cough which was none too pleasant (and I missed the November GWE meet because of it which I am thoroughly annoyed about), but thankfully the worst of that seems to be gone now.

I really need a break from all the madness and as luck would have it I had signed up for a workshop with the Swindon Embroiderers Guild this last Saturday. The aim of the day was to learn the techniques to make a filigree bag. Everyone seemed to have a really enjoyable day. Here are some of the group hard at work, just look at the concentration, they look totally engrossed don't ya think?
Sadly I didn't get very far with my bag, I was a little disappointed but I think I didn't really get a good grasp on the concept at the beginning and chose a stitching pattern that was way too intricate for my meagre skills. The only picture I have to share of my work in progress is the piece all layered, pinned and ready to stitch. By the end of the day I still hadn't finished stitching, let alone started the burning process. I am happy to say that I spent half hour at my machine this evening and the stitching is almost done, who knows if I get of the computer and back to the machine I may even have a picture of the stitched piece to share tomorrow!

Angels and Fairies

Yippee Blogger seems to have gotten over it's brain-fart yesterday and will let me post pictures today, so here are the snaps that were missing from yesterdays post. I have quite a few to share so I've only uploaded 'small' pics but you should be able to click on them to get the full sized image.

First up a full length shot of my fairy. This is a view of the back showing her wings and the flower detail I added to her dress. A close up shot of her face.

Some shots of all the fairies and angels that were made in the class. Lastly Lois had lots of wonderful dolls for sale, including some wonderful witches and ghosts perfect for this Halloween season. I fell in love with this adorable ghost and he just had to come home with me.

Antique Angels

Well my workshop curse struck again. The Janet Bolton class was supposed to be this last Thursday but sadly Janet was feeling unwell and so it had to be cancelled (well hopefully more postponed than cancelled as they hope to rearrange it for sometime early in the new year, wow talking about the new year already hasn't this last one just flown by!).

It hasn't been all bad news for this week though as yay I finally managed to find a workshop that actually went ahead. The class was called Antique Angels and the tutor was a lovely lady called Lois Brooks. The idea was to use old pieces of lace and antique fabrics to make an angel or fairy. I don't really have much old lace and things so I decided to bend the rules a bit and go modern and (yes you guessed it) orange.

Sadly blogger won't let me put any photis up at the moment so I will just have to keep you in suspense. I will try with the pictures again tomorrow.....

Excited

Yeah, I just got my requirements list in the post today for a workshop with Janet Bolton, which I signed up for at the local quilt store. I'm so excited as I've been admiring Janets work for a long time so it should be a great day.

I've signed up for a few different day workshops coming up over the next few months from creative knitting to felting and I'm looking forward to every one. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they will all have enough participants to go ahead.

Before I sign off here is the hat of the day I love the colours of this one.