City and Guilds

Yesterday we had a meeting for the course I am doing. I had a really good day and managed to get all five samples completed during the day. Shame it doesn't mean I haven't got any homework.

These two samples are free machined fringes. The one on the left I made using a cotton thread and the one on the right is made in cable stitch. I like both samples and can see myself using these methods some time in the future.

This one is made using one of the utility stitches on the machine. It was stitched onto water soluble fabric.

This one I'm not keen on. It was also stitched on water soluble fabric and is free machined.

This one is a piped finish. The cord is covered with a piece of fabric that I embroidered first. I'm reserving opinion on this one.

We all had a lovely time yesterday and there was a lot of frivolity and sillyness going on. I'm not quite sure how it happened but I got sent to the naughty step by teacher and when she realised there wasn't a step to send me to I got sent to the naughty chair. Then Gill (another student) said I should go and stand in the corner. I thought I had been a good girl - I did all my work, it is possible that I might have been a little cheeky but only in good humour.

Ruth's Workshop

Wow this is a picture-heavy post. Ruth Issett was at the shop for a two day workshop over the weekend and it was wonderful.

Ruth was very generous with her information she is such a calm matter-of-fact teacher.

Every one produced beautiful work, so colourful and vibrant.

I wouldn't be able to pick a favourite - I liked them all.

Just look at those trees!

Just thought I'd show you this. It's the carrier bag and paper bags that my goodies came home in from Easton Walled Gardens. The gardens are so beautiful you will definitely be seeing them again.

This is as far as I have got with my hanging - not very. There is a reason for that though, the first set of leaves I made looked awful when I laid them on the felt so I threw them in the bin and started again!

This time I used Lutradur, something of a conversion for me. You may remember I have a problem with this product I think it is the way it feels that puts me off. How ever I got stuck in and I'm glad I did because these leaves look so much better and as you can see that's what I'm going with. Slowly but surely.

Easton Walled Gardens

There hasn't been any craftiness going on here at all. I have been poorly and so has Pam. We have both had the Winter Sickness Bug. It's not at all nice, we both went down with it Wednesday evening. We couldn't open the shop on Thursday; we came in on Friday and I'm not quite sure how we got through the day. Thankfully we are now over it and things are back to normal.

On Sunday Neil and I went to Easton Walled Gardens to see the Snowdrops. Because of the bad weather they weren't in full bloom but they were still beautiful.

It made a lovely start to Valentines Day which was made even nicer when I received these. The Tulips are gorgeous.

The card says it all. Neil looked after me so well when I was poorly I don't know what I would have done without him.

We have got a nice week ahead of us in the shop. Ruth Issett will be here for a two day workshop and I am really looking forward to it.

Another photo

Isn't she gorgeous! I know she's my daughter but she is beautiful and she was an angel on the day, even when I got hand cream on her dress!

The big day

What a perfect day, this snap gives you a flavour - much more to follow!

Plans That Don't work

Well I hope you all had a good weekend - mine didn't go according to plan, more fool me for thinking it would.

I had set Saturday evening aside to make Steph's wrap but before I started I thought I would give her a call just to see how she was and I'm so glad I did. The little madam doesn't want one now. Aaaargh !

I did manage to start experimenting with poppies, and that didn't go according to plan either.

This is the poppy stitched straight onto the embellishing. It didn't work, because they are made from paper the stitching is splitting it. I'm sure that if I backed with some iron on interfacing it would work better but you would see it. I did think about painting the interfacing but the colour would need to be exact, and how long would it take to find the right colour? I am running short of patience at the moment so it is onto plan B. It does look pretty though.

Remember this little book? I didn't like the binding so I have re-bound it and added some felt balls.

I have started to fill the pages with my chosen shape. Hopefully soon this will be a finished piece of homework.

I thought you might like to see these they came into the shop today. I think they are fantastic.

Not sure if I will get the chance to post again this week. Steph is coming home tomorrow so I could end up in the looney bin ! I'm sure once Saturday is here she will have calmed down.

Hope you all have a good weekend.