Friday 27 March 2009

14 days till tomorrow!


It's been a long time since I last blogged, life just seems to have got in the way.
This post is all about the other workshops I did in Jersey, which seems like a life-time ago.

This is a beaded cuff which I made with Gina. It was a lovely workshop and I did as I was told (unlike the sock monsters workshop) which meant I finished the cuff. I would like to make more strips like this then sew them together to make a small bag.


This was a workshop with Cas Holmes. She is a very enthusiastic lady and is generous with her knowledge. She has got a book coming out next year (late summer I think) and it's on my wish list!









Last but not least an afternoon spent with Ruth Issett. A fun afternoon playing around with fabric paint, finishing with Ruth showing us some of her work, very interesting.



I enjoyed my week in Jersey very much. If you get the chance to go I would definitely recommend it.

Wednesday 11 March 2009

Say Hello To Spot

Yesterday I attended my first workshop here in Jersey - Little Bonded Books with Gina Ferrari. I have done this workshop before but I wasn't entirely happy with my efforts so I decided to give it another go. I'm glad I did because I like this one much more than my first attempt.




Today I had two workshops booked.

The first one was with Christine Witham. When assembled all the pieces in the picture below will make a corsage. This was a thoroughly enjoyable workshop and I learnt a new technique that can be used for many decorative purposes.


This afternoon however was a different story all together. Again it was spent in the company of Gina. The result (below) was Spot. Not quite what I had imagined but that was my fault.
We were all enjoying ourselves so much that I stitched the arms where the ears should be and the ears where the arms should be.

The workshop was held in the Parish Hall. There was four workshops going on at the same time and ours was the noisiest. We all had a great time and couldn't stop laughing.


This evening we are going to a lecture by Gina - more of that tomorrow.

Sunday 8 March 2009

This Week

This is Pam at her sewing machine looking rather pleased with herself.



For a few weeks now she has been making a bag from hexagons. These hexagons haven't been playing ball though and she has on occassions got a little cross with them.


Perseverance has won the day though. Pam has managed to work out a way of sewing them on the machine.


I love the fabrics she is using they are so cheerful.




Last weekend Pam had a much better time. She went on a quilting weekend with some friends, and this is what she came back with.


Isn't it gorgeous!





This week I have made Neil a new waistcoat. We have a Gala Dinner to go to this week and he is presenting some awards. He asked if I would make him a new, bright waistcoat. I think I have but you will have to wait for a picture. It is some where in a suitcase. At the moment we are in the Radisson SAS Hotel at Manchester Airport overnight waiting to fly to Jersey tomorrow.


I have also been knitting this week, I have brought it with me. I am making the hat first and it is nearly finished. The wool is 50% Alpaca so it is very soft.


Sunday 1 March 2009

Goings On In The Kitchen

Here are the chocolates I mentioned earlier in the week. Don't they look good enough to eat? We have a workshop at Art and Stitch next month to learn how to make them.




On Thursday evening Steph and I made some Lemon & Lime Curd. Today I made tarts and no I didn't make the pastry. That came from Tesco or Sainsbury's- one of them. They don't look too bad do they? But now to some more unusual goings-on in the kitchen.


I needed some algae for my texture board. I've got some green felt which would be perfect for representing algae. At the last meeting of my C&G course I was discussing how I was going to recreate the effect of algae with my tutor and I said I was going to use a cheese grater. But some how during the conversation we started talking about kitchen appliances.

Well! what else do you use a food processor for?


And that is how you end up with a soft pile of fuzz.