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Monday 30 June 2014

Journal and ideas for park yarn bombing....

30th June 2014

Just do not know where June went!!!

I put all my info from Woolfest in my journal/sketchbook today.....
I have stuck in the cards from the stands with info on one side but any cards with info on both has been attached to the spiral using thread....


......all this info has been placed in 2  cello bags on the page. This idea was from the Anne Brooke Course I attended.


Next I made a quick tour of my local charity shops and bought these crocheted mats.....


.....I can  stitch them together to decorate railings or big tree trunks! I think the people who made these would like to think they are being recycled in a fun way!! 

I also made some small bunting pieces from embellished felt....


...will be useful to wrap around or drape....

....knitted and cut out flowers from felt....


...these will be stitched on netting to decorate railings and mesh...


...this is a photo from Yarndale.

This afternoon took photos of areas I want to add colour to and hopefully make both adults and children smile....


....a lot of fencing around the bowling green...


....a memorial bench for one of our committee members.....



...solar lighting post...



...this is so well used by all ages.....


....new swings, can you imagine pompoms or bunting on this?


Junior swings always in use, poles to be wrapped in stripy knitting!


Our new roundabout that we managed to acquire funds for and is so well used....


....netting around the tennis area...


...these trees are at one entrance to the park and would look good 'dressed' in stripes...



...or decorated with bunting!
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If there is anyone out there who would like to help me with this project please get in touch, 

idonovan60@aol.co.uk

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Myfanwy Hart who organises the on line creative group that I have recently joined is starting a Summer Journal group tomorrow and there will be a daily prompt for July and August. So looking forward to taking part and interacting with others in the group!!

Watch this space.....






Sunday 29 June 2014

Wonderful Woolfest

29th June 2014

I had the most amazing day at Woolfest in Cockermouth yesterday!

View of the hills from the event field 'car park'..


...so beautiful and  fortunately it was dry.


Woolfest was held in a huge cattle market just outside Cockermouth in Cumbria and the scenery on the journey was stunning!

Some of the lovely animals....




...the alpacas had just been shorn, they had such sweet faces!!


The hall was buzzing, the work of the spinners, weavers, dyers and artists was absolutely stunning and the artists were so enthusiastic about their work and willing to demonstrate ....


my friend bought a pair of colourful 'non match' mittens....

...this bunny was felted into a calico base....



...had to buy this, feel a robin coming on!


These were sacks of fleece labelled with the breed of sheep, farm, weight and price, fascinating if a bit smelly!!



This area was for adults and children to create with leaves, twigs, fleece and string....


...such a simple idea but so effective!

Loved this idea for my yarnbombing project, people tassel bunting!


We ate our sandwiches listening to this group, they created a lovely atmosphere with their lively music.


There was quite a long coffee queue, everyone needed their 'caffeine fix'. As we waited we started talking to two lovely ladies who were as excited as us by all the beautiful items in the show and  purchases were compared and admired. During the conversation we found  they lived near us so details were swapped and who knows we might form a little group!!

Now to show my purchases.....

....lovely fleece for felting...


.....hand spun and dyed sock yarn and a pattern...


.....a kit for making a table mat, the lady was working on a piece and was happy to demonstrate and explain. She recycled wool garments found in charity shops, cut these into strips and joined together in a variety of ways with a very long needle. A brilliant recycling idea, I feel a Christmas gift coming on!


Bought silk cocoon strippings for my silk paper making and silk carrier rods for a textured piece.


 free instructions with a clutch bad clasp for just £2....


.... this beautiful book on needle felted animals, I wish I had photographed her stand as the animals were exquisite!



Also watched Jackie Cardie demonstrate wet felting, must try her way. I was so engrossed I forgot to take a photo!

What a wonderful, inspirational day. I came away with so many ideas and will post the results on my blog.

Must record in my journal today.....





Thursday 26 June 2014

Another Postcard!

26th June 2014

I made another postcard today for a swap and remembered to take a photo this time!

I used grey felt as a base for embellishing the background....


....free machining details, then hand embroidery....


...so enjoyed playing!!

Posted it and hope my postcard swap partner likes it!

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Last night at the meeting for our park friends group I was asked to organise the yarn bomb as I was the one who suggested it!!!

I put out a request for help from my Creative group and was thrilled by the response!!

If any reader of this blog would like to contribute I would be delighted!!

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It is the centenary of our park next year and we are working hard to achieve Green Flag Status, all very exciting!!

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I made two pieces of brightly coloured felt today so I can cut out flower shapes, much quicker than knitting!!


...these were both made with oddments...


...will show the cut out flowers next week....

...also this was the remains of the net I used to 'trap the bits of fleece'....


...think I can make white flowers from this instead of binning it!!!

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I am off to Woolfest tomorrow, so excited!!!!





Wednesday 25 June 2014

Felt

25th June 2014

Started the day with a walk along the prom on this cool, breezy and cloudy day....


....I love watching the waves creep in over the sand in their wavy lines....


.....simple fencing has been erected in front of the dunes that were washed away in the storms.
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Home, coffee and gardening in the park, the ground is so dry the weeds aren't growing!!

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Postman delivered a card that had been made by Jane from the Creative Group, the prompt for the postcard was 'House'....


...how cute is this, painted fabric, applique and hand stitching!

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I am trying to reclaim our loft space for my 'studio' so started by having a sort out, didn't get very far as most of the stuff belongs to my children!! Think I won't be moving in any time soon!!

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Then I made two pieces of felt by layering lots of bits of fleece on a piece of pre felt that I found in my stash. No plan, just layered under net and embellished, have I mentioned how much I am enjoying using my new toy??!


Front....


....back, more muted.


Then I used another piece of pre-felt and more oddments of fleece....


...roughly embellished to secure...


...then worked both lengthways and widthways...


...front...


...back....


....not sure what to do with them, maybe I will be inspired at Woolfest in Cockermouth this weekend....








Monday 23 June 2014

Embellished Felt

23rd  June 2014

I intended to have a 'sort out' today and finish a couple of cards but managed to become side tracked!!

Finished two keepsake cards....

I used the embellisher and variegated Merino Fleece for the background, needle felted the poppies, added black beads and hand stitched the stems, birds and edging...



....loved making this piece with a variety of fabrics, beads, lace, machine and hand stitching.



Next I framed my 'Silver Birch at Sunset' machine embroidery on a transfer painted fabric....


......put this transfer painted, stitched 'Winter Tree' in a mount...



...these have been added to my little shop 

https://www.facebook.com/IreneDonovanDesigns

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The baby blanket is progressing slowly but I do like the pattern....


...I have used Rowan DK Cotton which is lovely to work with and feels so soft.

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I did do some sorting until I came across this piece of wet felt that I made last year....


.....and some gorgeous dyed Mulberry Silk...


...pulled off strands and embellished...


...this piece is so soft and I love the vibrant colours, been thinking of making a much larger piece and perhaps making a waistcoat??!! 

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