A busy few days in London.

21st October 2013

This is my 100th post and I can't believe it.

I was very apprehensive about writing a blog but I love it!!

I arrived in London on Friday and on Saturday braved the crowds in Oxford Street-so many people, nationalities and languages!

My sister was looking for some special fabric to make a very special cushion for a colleague who is retiring but more about that in another post!

We went to an amazing fabric shop in Soho called Cloth House www.clothhouse.com where my sister managed to purchase just what she needed for her project. Then it was off to John Lewis where I bought some more threads!
We met up with family, had a late lunch and a good time was had by all.
Saturday evening was food, wine and Strictly, Just a great end to the day

Yesterday it was a beautiful morning and I went for my favourite walk into Richmond.

Walked up the hill...

...a lovely flowering hedge..

beautiful leaves on the wet pavement...

..the top of the hill, what a view and in a few weeks it will be completely different!

I meandered through the park which is so well cared for....

so beautiful..

The Thames is in the centre....

Shame about the graffiti! Quite unusual in this park.

I arrive for my walk along the Thames. It is bustling with cyclists, joggers, dog walkers and families enjoying the views and autumn sunshine...

I arrived at an Artisan Market and bought some delicious olives for lunch, then on to the new Wholefoods shop for more interesting foods and managed to arrive home before the rain started!!

My lovely daughter and niece arrived, a little damp, and we enjoyed lunch and a catch up and watched a film as the rain was really heavy at this point.

 Another brilliant day enjoying simple pleasures and catching up with family.

Off to see the Klee Exhibition in Tate Modern tomorrow, looking for inspiration for my course!!

Playing!!

17th October 2013

Another busy day, Pilates, washing, ironing, shopping and best of all playing!!

I used my soldering iron to make some Christmas Trees, probably for cards, and making a decoration for my Unit 4 sketchbook.

Middle tree using polyester lining, 3 layers, outer trees have organza over the lining. I quite like the effect of the organza, it looks frosty.

My Unit 4 sketch book needed a tie so I made one using braided organza with tassels on the end!

Also from the same organza made the flower decoration using Bondaweb to attach.

Next I wanted to do something with my 'raspberry ripple' silk creation (can't really call it paper!)

I had some thin pelmet vilene in my stash and cut 2 squares and ironed onto the silk, one on each side.

I made 3 braids with the Throwsters Waste silk and stitched onto the square, then decorated with programmed stitches.

Thought it might look good on the cover of  a drawing book.

No blog tomorrow as I am travelling down to London to visit my lovely family!!

The Finished Assessment Cushion!!

16th October 2013

Busy day today, gardening with 'The Friends' in my local park then taking Jack for a walk and getting soaked!
After a mug of hot chocolate I decided to try and finish my cushion.

Stitched the leaves which were two layers of sponge painted cotton scrim bonded and cut into a leaf shape resembling my clematis.

I used satin stitch around the edge and free machined the veins... 

..then pinned the petals and leaves in place and stitched the petals and leaves but leaving them unattached half way.

I made an envelope cushion and used the double needle for the border...

The centre of the flower was made using organza, 6 layers of purple and black and the very centre pleated black organza, these were free machined in place.

I am quite pleased with the result, just hope Anne thinks it fulfils all the criteria!!!

I estimate this project took about 8 hours from planning to finish but if I made another similar cushion it wouldn't take as long as I wouldn't need to experiment quite as much.

Yesterdays silk experiment worked better than I thought as it was much firmer when dry but the strands of Throwsters Waste still didn't adhere but I have an idea for this sample!

The two sides begging to be stitched.

No Throwsters in this sample

This is the side with the Mawata silk hankie.

Quite a productive day, just need to do a couple more soluble fabric samples then Unit 4 will be complete.

Silk Paper or Not!!

15th October 2013

I wanted to make silk paper today using the wet method.

It didn't quite work out because I should have used silk tops not noils!!

Having said that, I am sure I will be able to use the result and I now know the procedure involved.

A J cloth is placed on the bottom of a shallow tray and silk is layered from top to bottom and left to right.

The cloth was folded over and nearly boiling water was poured over this.....

..this was then rubbed with a spoon...

rolled up to remove the water then placed in a medium of PVA and water...

... squeezed ...

and left to dry..

...lovely texture and colour but definitely not paper!!

I also tried with 'silk hankies'

this looks like raspberry ripple ice cream!! I also used silk throwsters waste but this wasn't successful either. I think I may 'sandwich' this between organza or soluble fabric and stitched. 

Onward and upward, I finished stitching my petals...

...and stitched the front of the cushion cover using my twin needle and was quite pleased with the subtle textured effect....

...lastly I cut out some sponge printed scrim to form leaves. These will be stitched for detail and to give  more texture

I am now going to order some silk tops for a second attempt at wet silk paper making!!

One of those days!!

14th October 2013

What a day!!

On a Monday mornings I meet up with a group of lovely ladies who lend a listening ear, a smile and a food bag to those in need. We work from a spare room in the Church building. I am one of  the' back room girls' who make up the bags and sorts donated clothes.

We have been inundated with Harvest Festival gifts from churches and schools in the local area that want to support our work.

 This morning I started on the Christmas bags, which contain twice as much, as well as our basic bag, and must have made 60 bags in total today. Enough for next week when I am away visiting my lovely family.

The other ladies had left but I still had work to do, sorting clothes and a general tidy up. I picked up my bags and left only to find I couldn't get in my car because my keys weren't in my handbag. Tried knocking on the door but no answer! Managed to catch the bus home and my lovely son gave me a lift back with my spare car key. Had a much needed cup of coffee then....

Now comes the exciting part!!

Yesterday I said we met some lovely people and one of them suggested we set up a shop on fb.

My friend and partner in all things crafty has opened a Facebook shop page today

thoughtfulthreadsbyjo.

and so have I!    ID designs, all very exciting but worth a try and the 2 hours it took for me to do it-I have said before that my computer skills need developing!
Anyway am hoping for some feedback.

Meeting up with Jo tomorrow for more creating so watch this space.....

Craft Fair!!!!

13th October 2013

I am sitting in my kitchen with a lovely glass of red!!

I was at the craft Fair venue this morning at 8.50 waiting for the doors to open.

I left at 3.30 and just took enough money to pay for my stall!!

However I met some lovely people, Rebecca makes fantastic 'cup cake' candles that smell wonderful and Martina, who knits lovely toys and Mollie who makes jewellery from crystal beads. The quiet day allowed for lots of chat, so much talent in such a small place and all working for less than £1 hour!! We must be mad but we are all passionate about our crafts.

I used my time well, finishing my 'logo' for the cover on my sample book by sewing beads onto the grey letters......

and making a little robin with Merino Fleece for the Christmas Tree....

I had wanted to needle felt in 3D for a while, so today gave me the time, and visitors to the fair were really interested  especially the children. I enjoyed this new experience but had to really concentrate or I missed the fleece and stabbed myself!!

The result, a tiny robin with googly bead eyes!!

Believe it or not this took one and a half hours!! but I enjoyed it. 

Tomorrow back to Unit 4!

Decorating Totes and Bottle Bags for Craft Fair!

12th October 2013

HAPPY WEEKEND TO YOU ALL!!

3rd load of washing done in my new machine, it is great, so quiet and energy efficient.

Woke early again and started printing some cotton tote bags, larger canvas shoppers and bottle bags.

I love this wooden stamp and printed on my own handmade paper ready for my Christmas cards...

then onto bottle bags...

I also love these stamps (bought from Colouricious)...

I think I like these because the shape brings coffee to mind!

..but this is my favourite made using my own dyed fabrics...

..not for Christmas, of course, but it will cheer up a gloomy day....

That's it for today as I have to get organised for the Craft Fair tomorrow.