Worden Park in Leyland Lancashire

After visiting Worden Park with my friend Nicky & seen the vast improvements made, I decided to visit again with John on Sunday.

It was a themed Pirate weekend, with a scary pirate, ie for a small boy, floating around the Park, and more in the cafe. We did not dress up, as we are scary enough!

I especially wanted John to see the walled garden. It looked stunning, such a lot of work had gone into making raised beds for vegetables, little paths, flower beds, grassed areas, rebuilt glass houses, wooden seating & sculptures etc etc.

They now sell some of the produce, vegetables, plants & cut flowers. So obviously John & I bought some plants & a bunch of cut flowers. You just have to!

They also have a small area (possibly an old potting shed) dedicated to small animals, brightly coloured birds, rabbits & guinea pigs, a corn snake, lizards etc etc. All well kept & happy. They bring out the rabbits etc to show to children on good days.

I took some photos with my new phone- it actually takes good quality pictures & gets emails etc- its John's cast off as usual but far superior to my old phone that had everyone falling over with mirth!

Here are some photos taken on the day;

what a sweet couple?

one little ball of fluff

Not quite sure what these two are doing??

Mulberry tree- no silk worms!

Can't remember what this is called, but I bought a plant for my little garden.

These plants were growing wild in the park- can't find out what they are???

After visiting the walled garden, we popped into the cafe, but only for tea & coffee- no cake-am I sickening for something???

The park is the jewel in Leyland's crown & was gifted to the people of Leyland from the Farrington family. It is well worth a visit, with beautiful extensive grounds, wildflower meadows, a conservation pond, a soon to be re-jigged duck pond, recreation area, craft workshops, walks along the stream, follies & the best of all the steam trains which run every weekend, bank holiday & on Tuesdays during the Summer Holidays.

The pull of the train ride nearly got to me, but as John was feeling tired we had to make tracks home.

There's always another DAY!!!

Batik By-Pass workshop

Hi I am suffering at the moment -just had a biopsy in my mouth- quite sore at the moment, but at least it's stopped me talking for a while!!!.

We had a great day yesterday at the Batik By-Pass workshop in Avant garden Centre, I had six students in the end- just the right number! It was the first time I had run this workshop- so it was a learning curve for me as well as the students- NB I must put the wax pots on earlier as they take quite a while to warm up- also don't bother taking sewing machines etc as not nearly enough time to get that far in one day.

However, it was a relaxing and stimulating day, with the students firstly making small samples really to get used to wielding the tjantings. Not an easy task!

We used Inktense Blocks, Koh-n-Noor & Dy-na-Flow to colour the fabric after or in fact before applying the wax with tjantings or brushes. This eliminates the use of dye vats, which makes it a very lengthy process. The colours achieved are beautiful, with Inktense being especially vivid, & Dye-na-Flow being more subdued.

I did muck up a wooden stamp trying to experiment, however the whole idea was to play & try ideas out- which in part was achieved. I also managed to get additional painted finger marks on Lyn's scarf & by putting Margaret's large silk piece on a very flimsy airer outside, which due to the strong wind  proceeded to fall gracefully into a bird bath with greenish water in. Luckily her scarf was mainly green- so she was not too bothered- added to the whole feel of the piece!!!

Two of the students started to make batik silk scarves, with varying results- as you can see below;

I cannot remember who made what, but you can see we produced some lovely pieces and the best part was everyone had fun!!!

Marguerita 

Ladies at play

Not sure what Margaret is doing?

silk scarf waxed & partially painted

 

Part of silk scarf with wax removed

Lyn's silk scarf painted with Dye-na-flow- very subtle in pale grey/mauve

looking very proud!

Art & Soul

Hi well the exhibition went up without too much bother, apart from the fact we had to reassemble the hanging mechanisms as the gallery had been repainted, due to a small fire in the hall.

After that was well organised & dealt with by Nicky, Tracey & Anne, the hangings went up very well.

I had got on with the six window cabinets, and as I had colour co-ordinated the items, the hangings were put up to compliment the windows.

We had a good turnout for the preview, and loads of great comments.

I really think we as a group have improved vastly, with the standard of work and the diversity of content. Roll on the next exhibition-- The Big one at Museum of Lancashire!!!

Here are some photos of work in the exhibition:

Mine-Dream Timing

Caroline's Rabbit

Eileen's 'Issett Kandinsky?'

One area of the window display

Another area including one of our props

Suzanne's 'Ever Decreasing Circles'

Tracey's 'Spirit of the Night' I think?

Mine 'Leaf on Leaf'

Pat's 'Still Life'

Barbara's ' Winter Day on the Hills'

Nicky's 'Hockney Hill'

Another window

Anne's 'Highlights'

Quick glimpse of the gallery

Another glimpse of the gallery

I apologise if I have given any of the pieces the wrong title as I am working from memory & there are over 100 items in the exhibition with most of them for sale- Not bad for a group of 9.

If you haven't yet paid a visit to Samlesbury Hall I would recommend you do not delay in visiting the exhibition.
 

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