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.

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.

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.

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.

Shopping

I went shopping today at Homebase and bought some shelving (as you would expect) but look what else fell into the trolley! Is the urge to bake infectious? If so will somebody please tell me what the cure is.

Some thing else that takes me out of my comfort zone is this impulse purchase. I didn't intend to buy a new pair of shoes but I couldn't resist. Normally I am a flat heeled person.


This is the latest quilt that Pam is working on. I love the colours they are so cheerful.


And last but by no means least look what was waiting for me when I got home today. What more could you ask for - some chocolate perhaps, more about that later in the week.

Homework

I have been busy with homework this week.

This is my quilting sample. The pink heart is painted Bondaweb. The stitching is Granite stitch worked in free machine embroidery. It took a long time to do and I had an aching neck and shoulders, I won't be rushing to do it again.

The next two samples are all about colour blending in the needle.The first one shows the effect you get when you have different colours on the top and in the bobbin. I like this one best.

This is another sample of colour blending in the same way, but stitching over a hole. I did take a picture of the other side because it shows the other colours used, but it isn't here and I don't know where it's gone. Perhaps blogger ate it!

This little lady is going to Australia. I am sending her to the Toy Society and hopefully she will bring a smile to another little lady's face.

I made a quilt to keep her cosy. It isn't quite finished I just need to sew on the binding.

I hope you all had a good weekend.

Something's Wrong

Something is really wrong when I start cooking. This evening I have made Lemon Curd! It looks, tastes and smells like the real thing and I think it is going to set. Not bad for me. I found the recipe courtesy of Moogs Mum who found it here.





Give it a go as it's really easy and smells gorgeous.

As I type this we have got more of the white stuff falling from the sky. It does look nice but it is becoming a bit of a nuisance.

It's Here

It's here, it's here, it's here!!!!!! The white stuff has finally arrived, we had five inches of snow this morning. I had thought we were going to miss it all together. The dog was very excited and has been out to play. I went for a walk with my dad this morning. It's very hard work walking in deep snow. We were out for two hours my legs ached so much when we got back I had to have a rest. I did get some nice photos while we were out and about.
Just after I took this photo of the bridge we saw a group of people pushing a van over it. It's a Roman single track bridge and isn't particularly easy to get over at the best of times. It makes a nice photo though.

This is the River Welland. Don't the swans look happy. You can just see the snow settling on the river.

This is Priory Church in Deeping St James.

Now for some crafty stuff. This is Hair Pin Lace Crochet. It's easy to do but fiddly while you are trying to get to grips with the Hair Pin tool. It also grows very quickly. When you have more than one row of crochet you can crochet them together to make scarves, shawls and anything else that takes your fancy.

This is my very first attempt at Foundation Piecing Patchwork. Pam is teaching me, it is a little confusing though. You sew the fabric to the paper. Pam assures me that everything will be okay and when it is finished I will have a Needlecase. I will let you know.

It should look something like this when it's finished. This is one that Pam made earlier.

The First Snowdrop Of Spring

As promised here is a picture of Pam's quilt finished, isn't it lovely? She has backed it with fleece fabric so it is very snuggly and warm. Just what you need in this weather. I might have to make one myself.


This Snowdrop is the first one to appear in my front garden. It's reassuring to know that spring is on its way even though it doesn't feel like it. I think it's amazing that anything can grow when it is so cold, nature really is amazing.

I had my tooth out on Monday but I didn't feel a thing I was fast asleep! I did ask the dentist to take them all out but he wouldn't. So I will only have to go through it all again. Now I've got an ear infection...........................

Art and Stitch Open Day

We have had a very successful day today.

Neil was up by 5am producing flyers and we were at the shop before 8am. Our first visitor (some 20 minutes before we officially opened!) was greeted by ribbons, balloons and banners.



Gina Ferrari brought a comprehensive selection of display items and demonstration kit, and demo'd solidly for six hours (I'm not sure if she even managed to eat!). She was a great success with our visitors and we look forward to welcoming her back to tutor two more formal workshops in June.


Gina (left) with a rapt audience

She brought THAT dress with her, and a young lady was duly persuaded to model it!

Anne Stacey was also busy demonstrating her quilting skills and once again we look forward to her workshops over the next few weeks.

I was able to spend time chatting to friends old and new, serving at the counter and generally keeping things ticking over. Thank you to Gina, Anne and all our visitors for making the day go so smoothly.

Tomorrow we are back at the shop as we have our first full-day workshop - it's proving to be quite a weekend!

Creating with water-soluble film

I saw Gina today. She had received her parcel yesterday afternoon so now I can share with you what was in it - chocolate, an Oliver Twists experimental pack, and a 2009 calendar/fridge magnet. I can't wait to see what Gina creates with that! Thank you for entering Gina and I hope you enjoy working with it.



Meanwhile I have been experimenting with water-soluble film. This piece involved stitching on a piece of organza sandwiched between two layers of film, then adding the edge triangles free-hand to link to the first stitching worked. The beads (they are there honestly!) were added by hand, then I washed the film away and pinned the piece out to dry overnight. This could easily be developed into a cuff bracelet.

I will be away from my PC for the next few days preparing for our Open Day at the shop, so don't forget if anyone would like to meet Gina (or me!) you will be very welcome to come along on Saturday between 10 and 4. More details at http://http://www.artandstitch.co.uk/workshops.html and http://www.ginaferrari.blogspot.com.

My First Giveaway- RESULT

No-one came up wth the right answer of a bracelet, but Gina's entry was the nearest so a small package is on the way to her!

Pam's Progress

As promised here are some pictures of Pam's quilt. You can now see how the quilt top will look, and how the stripey fabric fits in with the others.






The squares are laid out in the order that they will be sewn together.


Pam did get half an hour in the shop this afternoon and she has managed to get the bottom row sewn together.

More images will follow as the quilt comes together.