Part Time Blogger

I seem to have become a part time blogger! There was a time when I could turn out three or four posts a week no problem but these days it's a struggle to manage once a week, if that. Since I was last here I had a super day at the V & A... Nothing to show for it but I enjoyed learning more about egg tempera... And no, I have not managed any more painting! But I will!

I have been busy finishing off these shoes...

Spectrum, the group that I mentor, were invited to exhibit at Textiles in Focus, a three day show that takes place in  Cottenham each February. As part of the exhibition we have all put in work that came from a joint project called "Thinking outside the Box". Members of the group could start with any type of box they liked but had to create a piece of textile artwork from this. I chose to work with a shoe box and made shoes for Frida Kahlo... Part of an ongoing body of work based on the Mexican artist.

 

I was inspired by a quote from Frida... In 1953 following the amputation of her foot, she wrote in her diary the following words...

So, I made fantasy shoes to be her "Wings to Fly". This is my display at the exhibition which opened today.

 

But this is not all there is to see... There is fabulous wearable art from my friend Gill.

 

Super quilt and panels based on gardens and ironwork from someone else you might know...Jill.

 

Gorgeous colours from Jenny and Margaret.

And these stunning cushions... From Jill again... she's so clever! And that is just a small taster of what's to see at the exhibition.

 

As well as exhibiting I have been teaching at the show too, so spent a whole day this week just putting together kits for stitched needle cases. The first class this afternoon went well and there is another to come on Sunday.

 

We also woke to water pouring down the light fitting into our dining room this morning... but the less said about that the better! (problem now fixed and everything is drying out before the ceiling gets repainted. The entire house smells damp!)

 



But on a cheerier note, as so many of you sent good wishes... I'll finish with a photo of the newly weds... James and Lizzie by the Rialto bridge. I've just realised that I've become a step-mother-in-law!

Have a good weekend!

Since Last Week...

Thank you all kindly for your good wishes and as indeed "all things do pass" there was an improvement as the week went on.

• I managed to finish off several of these embroidered button samples. I hold my hands up and say these are not my own original idea but I have made enough embroidered buttons in the past and have seen enough examples from numerous different people that I felt it would be okay to use them for a class I am teaching at Textiles in Focus in Cottenham on Friday. I would have said hurry up and book your place but fortuantely for me both classes are full. However it is still worth going to this fabulous three day show if you are are within travelling distance so maybe see you there.

• I had a trial run of my next round of the Cambridge Bake Off which is to cook and decorate a chocolate cake of my own choosing in two and half hours in the kitchens of the Cambridge Cookery School. I managed it, just, in my own kitchen and my tasters approved ( I haven't actually tasted it myself) but I was disappointed with certain aspects... like all those darn chocolate ribbons broke! So I do feel I need a couple more trial runs... but I'm not sure I can face it...

• Because after making the cake I came over feeling rather peculiar and then spent the next 48 hours shivering and aching in my bed trying desperately not to panic at the thought of our forthcoming pantomime... no such thing as understudies in AmDram! I was convinced I had flu. Fortunately whatever it was, came as quickly as it went... although it has left me with with no stomach for chocolate!
 
• So although I was still feeling somewhat wobbly yesterday, Gill and I rearranged our trip that we were meant to have last week and we went into London to see the Isabella Blow exhibition which was far better than I had expected and worth seeing for the amazing Philip Treacy hats if nothing else, although being a huge fan of Alexander McQueen I loved the dresses too. I found the exhibition quite a moving tribute to someone who on the surface seemed to be leading a charmed life but in reality was obviously very unhappy

 
• And now the rest of the week which is going to be dominated by our Pantomime with technical and dress rehearsals today and tomorrow and first performance on Thursday. Still feeling a tad wobbly which doesn't bode well for a week spent on these heels... Wish me luck but please don't say "break a leg"

 

I promise more photos later in the week!

Feathers and Finery

Despite the sunshine I'm feeling sad today. As I sat eating my breakfast a dog came tearing into my back garden in hot pursuit of one of my chickens. All I could see was a mass of feathers amidst squeals and a lot of squawking. By the time I had run into the garden there was no sign of the chicken and the dog was circling like a mad thing. I opened the back gate to shoo it out to find the owner strolling along quite oblivious to the mayhem going on. When I told her that I thought her dog had killed one of my chickens her reaction was "Well have you got a gap in your fence?"... Oh... my fault then that your dog is not under control! I'm afraid I was left speechless and slammed the back gate on her while I tried to see if I could find the chicken. But there is no sign of her. Feathers everywhere but no chicken to be found in the garden or down the road. And our one remaining chicken (we lost two last year) is quite distraught! And to think we've been worried about foxes lately!

 

 

So what was meant to be a post to show you some of the brilliant work achieved in just two hours in my workshops at Textiles in Focus on Friday has turned into a bit of a rant... sorry! But back to the workshops... as you can see there were some lovely results to my "Weave it, Wear it" brooch making workshops.

 

There was a touch of scepticism that these would be finished in just two hours but several of the ladies wore their brooches at the end of the class.

 

Not all were finished and not all came out well in the photos but this is a selection from the twenty five brooches that were started.

 

I had four very young attendees too and the pink brooch above was made by one of the young girls... so I'm now thinking this might be a good project for my Young Embroiderers to tackle.

Well done to everyone who came to my workshops, young and old... you did brilliantly!

 

Textiles in Focus was an excellent show as usual with some fabulous exhibitions, displays and shopping opportunities.

 

Although with teaching a class in the morning and another in the afternoon as well as fitting in a quick lunch with friends, I didn't get as much time as I would have liked for looking around.

 

Especially as soon as I finished on Friday afternoon it was a quick dash home before packing a bag and heading off to Dundee. We arrived at 1 am, straight to bed, then spent Saturday celebrating Stewart's Mum's 80th birthday with a super high tea with all the family. Sunday it was back down the A1 and home again... a bit of a whirlwind weekend.

 

Now if you'll excuse me I'm off to see if the chicken can be found anywhere, but I'm not too hopeful.

Textiles in Focus

I have been putting the finishing touches to a bit of hand stitching today. Adding a bit of sparkle to these tiny little squares of needle weaving.

Which have become three little brooches... some samples for a couple of workshops that I will be running in February at Textiles In Focus.

I'm sure many of you will already be familiar with Textiles in Focus, which is a fabulous annual textile event that takes place here in the east of England. Spread over three days on 15th, 16th and 17th February it offers two exhibitions, traders specialising in threads, fabrics, mixed media products, books, a talk, excellent lunches, demonstrations... plus an extensive range of two hour workshops... which is where I come in.

On Friday 15th February I will be running two workshops called "Weave it, Wear it" to create one of these little brooches from scratch... and ready to wear by the end of the workshop. Everything you need is provided - you only have to bring a small pair of scissors (and I even have those to share if you forget!). At just £10 a workshop, this is excellent value. And of course, I'm not the only one offering workshops - there is a fabulous range to choose from and you can download the programme from the website.

If you have never been to Textiles in Focus before, I can definitely recommend it. It has all the appeal of the bigger shows but is much more friendly and intimate. But do hurry if you want to book on a workshop because they fill up fast!