Weird Week!

Hi yes what a weird week!!! euphoria to smack in the face back to euphoria! The best laid plans & all that???

Well I can't say too much about the smack in the face, but it was not literal. I will only post about that problem when its been solved.

Back to nicer things---- I have put up exhibition 'Art & Soul' at Avant Garden Centre- please look at Natural Progression Textile Group blog attached for photos.

It looks great, so hopefully we may sell some items as near Christmas.

I have been sorting out stuff for Craft fair at Chapel Gallery, and will post some photos etc. It is running from today until Sunday- but we are only doing Saturday and Sunday. I am doing demos of needle felting on Sunday & giving the public a chance to have a go them selves.

The photos below show the state of my guest bedroom, which hopefully will look more like its self after the event. 'Oh no it won't' as I am also doing a solo craft fair in Adlington Saturday week, which is a new venture for the organisers, so may go pear shaped!!!

New Position

HI as usual I am taking on something new- I have recently been elected on then NorthWest Embroiderers Region committee, and have unofficially taken over the roll of Summer School organiser.

Due to recent problems with Alston Hall confirming they are closing down as an education centre, we have had to source an alternative venue. Luckily I had heard about Waddow Hall near Clitheroe, Lancashire which is a Girl Guiding Centre, but has a beautiful 17c House & provides full bed and board. It also has 3 lovely rooms that can be used as workrooms, so ideal.

I know have the problem of booking 2 tutors, but have already hit lucky hopefully with one- so onwards & upwards.

I am not sure how I get so involved, but I do like to keep busy and do my bit.

I will keep you all posted.


Here are some photos to wet your appetites- please ignore the very dull Lancashire weather, look past it and imagine how it will look in the Summer.

one of the lounges-check out the fire

a further lounge

view of the dining room to be redecorated after Christmas

beautiful fire surround

view of the River Ribble in full spate

front of the house

house & wood walk

picnic area

stormy view of Ribble

house

side elevation and two of the outbuildings

latest work

Hi its quite a time since I posted so I will try to make up for it now.

I have been very busy either at workshops, having weaving lessons(my latest obsession) and attending meetings for Embroiderers Guild.

I attended a Shelley Rhodes workshop which I had organised through Natural Progression Textile Group. It was called 'Fragmentation' and works beautifully with next years Parbold Embroiderers Guild Exhibition 'Fragments of the Past'.

I am not used to working with small random items and in fact working on a small scale. However as I still am attempting to make a book containing my late Dad's war history in Burma and his courting my late Mum, I decided to use that as my theme.

My dad was only 17 years old when he was enlisted, and ended up extremely ill in hospitals in Burma and India, after making Acting Corporal at the age of 18 as all his officers had been killed.

Luckily I had already photocopied many of the documents such as poems, letters and war records, and some photos. I also used some of my stash of naturally dyed fabrics etc.

We had to paint papers with emulsion, and randomly write buzz words applicable to our personal themes on some of the papers.

I have made a folding book, using some of the fabrics and papers, and incorporating lace, photos and words.

Dad peeping out and his young brother Barry's amusing cartoon drawings.

snippets of letters

embellished pages

Embellished front of book

I also attended an Embroiderers Guild workshop with Gillian Travers, which was to be based on 1950's flowers. I picked blue- green fabrics for the patchwork ground, and decided to use orange & yellow for the flowers, which are contemporary and not at all realistic!.

This with some lateral thought met the theme for the Capability Brown exhibition which is being held at Samlesbury Hall next year, Parbold, Blackpool and Lytham EG branches are joining together to exhibit there.

We will have to think laterally as Samlesbury Hall gardens are not  Capability Brown designed. However wild flowers must have encroached on his big sweeping landscapes???.

We have to mount the piece of work on a canvas, which should be neutrally painted. I had to add hand- made stenciling, which reflects the shapes of my weird leaves, to balance the canvas. Best to by the canvas first and then make the piece of work.

 My efforts are below-

View of the piece showing stenciling to balance the work

Close up showing patched background and appliqued flowers.

Close up of flowers and leaves along with machine embroidery.

I have appliqued cut out fabric, using bond-a-web to secure, machine embroidery and beading to embellish.

I will post more about my weaving etc when I actually find time to progress with it.

cancelled workshops

Hi not had a good month so far in respect of workshops- my workshop Magical Molding Paste which should have been held at Alston Hall has been cancelled due to lack of bookings. This does not surprise me as Alston Hall has been sold and will not continue on the same basis from the New Year- an era gone!

Also needlefelting workshop at Samlesbury Hall is looking doubtful, as again lack of bookings. I am either out of favour or people are counting their pennies. I am off to the hall today, really in the respect of the Capability Brown project that is being run through the Embroiderers Guild, but armed with some posters & flyers for my workshop.

I am meeting up with a couple of members from Blackpool EG and a member of Lytham St Annes group to view the hall and discuss the 2016 joint exhibition with Parbold Branch. More to follow on this.........

I will post some photos and an up date of my work for Parbold Embroiderers Guild 'Fragments from the Past' later.