Nuno felting with Julie James Turner

Seven members of Parbold Embroiderers Guild including me attended a Nuno felting workshop with Julie James Turner on 20th June.

It was a lovely relaxing workshop where we learnt how to trap small items eg leaves, buttons etc into nuno felting.

We all did an sample piece first- mine did not felt very well as I am impatient, and then after lunch we all made an item- with most of us making a little bag.

It was quite strenuous work & it does not help when you have arthritis in your hands etc- however I think we were all very pleased with the results.

I am putting my bag into the exhibition 'Art & Soul' as I am quite chuffed with it. I am hoping to make a few smaller bags for the Skirmish Craft fair at Samlesbury Hall at end of August.

Tracey is also putting her bag in.

Here are some photos that Pat bean took on the day.

Tracey's bag

Mel's vessel

Caroline's bag

pats experiment

My bag before hand-stitching etc

                                     

Samples of Julie James Turner's bags

Helena's bag

Batik workshop

I have re-arranged the Batik By-Pass workshop for Tuesday 7th July -same details as before- lets hope this one gets booked up!

getting ready for the exhibition & woolfest

Phew!!! this is exhausting & after help set up many exhibitions, I should find it a doddle??/

I spent all of yesterday trapped in my house, printing off catalogues (the printer kept playing up!!), making labels & attaching them to my work, and two other members of the group pieces of work.

Why is it that staples are so particular & only choose to go into very soft wood??? Hopefully the masking tape will work & not peel off in the heatwave we are expecting.

However going by the pieces of art I have seen, the exhibition should look stunning,- so it will all have been worth it.

The extremely good thing about this textile lark is going to shows etc with like minded friends,
I went with Caroline on Friday to visit the Woolfest in Cockermouth, brilliant, even though I did not make an idiot of myself as usual!!! Long story????

We went around all the stalls & bought stuff we did not intend to buy, but thats the fun of it!

The rare breed sheep & the Alpacas were entrancing & I did manage to take some photos.

I also bought an Ashford Rigid Heddle weaving loom, something I have always wanted & of cousre I used my Birthday money!!! Does that justify the purchase??

I now need some lessons on how to use it & that is in hand-more money, but I will be able to make a pea green suit for John (just like the one in The Good Life!!!)

I will add some photos of the sheep & post more about the exhibition asap.

2 little sweeties!

All in order

Look at me!

Dougle!!!

A roll in the hay!

Looking a little pastie today

so beautiful

German Holiday!!!

Hi all sorry for delay in posting news regarding our holiday-

Well the news is John only experienced 2 days & myself only 4 days, as John contracted pneumonia & ended up in a German Cardiology Hospital at Coswig for 11 days.

I left the riverboat at Dresden, to spend 2 nights in a hotel in Wittenburg. As the taxi journey cost 80 euros per day and John was struggling with the language barrier etc in hospital, it was decided that I joined him & stayed in the hospital.

It was a beautiful place, brilliant building & facilities, and excellent grounds.

When I finally conquered the German dinner menu, thanks to my trusty German/English dictionary, we settled into hospital life, with our diet including fresh fruit along with the bread, cheese & sausage. I had previously yearned for bread & cheese, but being on a perpetual diet could not partake, and now thanks to the German breakfast & tea I don't think I can look those delicacies in the eye for quite a while. maybe I will at last loose some weight!!!

I did manage to read 7 books on my kindle, but thankfully as I had taken a sketch book, paints & aqua brushes, I managed to paint some of the glorious wild flowers surrounding the hospital. Another bonus was seeing atleast two pairs of nesting Red Kites, and a stork flying directly overhead.

Our room was opposite the helicopter pad, and although it was sad that heart patients were being flown in, it was very exciting to see the landings- on one hot Saturday we saw 3 helicoptors landing, with 2 of them landing at the same time. Apparently the hot weather creates more heart attacks.

The few days of our holiday were very enjoyable, Berlin is a treasure & well worth another visit. We were both surprised at how Berlin & Potsdam were so well forested, with beautiful deep woods.

We had a few lovely visits to Palaces, gardens & towns- not bad for a few days holiday!!!

Berlin

Berlin

John standing against not sure where??? could be Check Point Charlie -Potsdam???

Typical German building!!!

Sanssouci Palace I think?

Worlitz 

on lake at Worlitz Park

Wittenberg

View from my room at Wittenberg

View from out hospital room of Helicopter pad

Woods surrounding the hospital-Coswig

My bed in the hospital- note the snazzy wardrobe & bedside table

Not sure of most of the photos -unfortunately the holiday seemed a long time ago & was before Hospital Gate.