Adventures in Thread

TAST week 4: creating Cretan - and some questions

2012-01-27T12:31:00.000Z

I had real trouble with Cretan stitch, we just didn't seem to be getting along at all, but I finally came up with this little boat bobbing on the blue Agean Sea. I'm not thrilled.

So I decided to try something different. It's been grey, cold and hailstorming, but finally we had some frost and brightness this morning, so I made some silvery, icicle adorned, frosted Cretan leaves, stitched on to cosy warm grey felt. A bit better, I think.

Now, can anyone please help - I'm feeling a bit lost. I'm wondering where I'm going with this blog, and with things in general. I thought I had a clear idea, but I seem to keep wandering. It has become more embroidery/hand stitching biased, but because I enjoy so many different styles, from fine embroidery to much more simple contemporary styles, I wonder if it's just becoming too diverse? I am just not sure if I should go down one specific route or continue to dot around. I feel that most of the stitching blogs I read are much more focussed!

I also wonder if most of the tutorials are really appropriate to my readers (and thank you so much to all the very kind people who regularly brighten my day by dropping in, commenting and e-mailing) I really started doing them for people new to stitching and sewing. But it seems to me that most of my readers are highly skilled anyway!

Any thoughts or constructive criticism would be really welcome. This is one of those times when creating feels an extremely lonely and isolating thing. Thank you!

Topiary Tree Needlecase: How to create a slip for raised embroidery

2012-01-24T15:10:00.000Z

After my bout of poorliness - I'm taking some time off, which is a novelty for me!

But - feeling a bit more perky for the last few days - I have been pootling about having fun.

I decided to play about with some pretty variegated thread and practise some stitches. This little button was the result. It was made as a slip and then stitched on to a wool felt backing with a buttonhole bar 'shank'.

Making the button slip gave me the idea to make myself a topiary tree needle case.One of the things I wanted to do this year was make myself a new needle case that held and marked all my needles - plus I've always wanted a bay tree in a huge earthenware pot!

I used some 1970s Laura Ashley fabrics from my very small stash, which seemed to fit in with my design idea.

To make a slip - this is all you do -

First of all mark a circle (mine was around 1 1/4" or 3.5 cm diameter ) or your shape on to your slip fabric. This is just a piece of old sheeting, patchwork weight cotton is fine.

Place the fabric in a hoop and split back stitch all the way around your shape, to define it clearly.

Then comes the fun part! For my topiary I chose a variety of green threads and filled in my shape with a mixture of Bullion , Chinese and Ghiordes knots and laid picot leaves, just making an arrangement of texture which pleased my eye.

When you've filled the shape, make a running stitch about 1/8 inch all the way around it, leaving the long end of thread.

Carefully cut around the running stitch leaving about 1/8 inch ( and not cutting off the long tail!)

Pull up the thread, so your slip fabric is hidden and fasten off securely, hiding the tail of thread.

Position your slip onto your main fabric and secure with pins. Then carefully slip stitch it to the main fabric.

Leave an opening and gently push in some stuffing ( polyester toy stuffing seems to work best).

Pad out the stuffing and slip stitch it closed. To make my tree, I left it open so I could apply the stem.

To finish my needle case embroidery I made a wire bound stem using some pretty brown textured yarns, and a felt, stuffed 'pot'*. I applied them to the main fabric to make up my tree.

The needle case is just a really simple 'book' design, main fabric and lining placed right sides together and stitched round, leaving a gap for turning. Turn right way out and press in half. Position the felt centrally and stitch the centre line to make your 'pages'.

Using a favourite font, I printed out a list of each type of needle/size on to a silk sheet using my laser printer, and then fused the labels to my felt 'pages' with Mistyfuse.

*Finally, my 'pot' doubles as a mini pincushion!

If you haven't tried making a slip before, you might want to have a go. It's a fun way to practise texture stitches and you could make a little button or a brooch; add beads or buttons, ribbon embroidery or couching.... the list goes on. Endless possibilities, and also a nice little carry along project if you like to have something in your bag to embroider.

It's also handy for using up spare bits of thread that are not long enough for a project, and too long for your Orts jar!

Whew! That's it , I'm off now to try and get inspired with Cretan Stitch!
Enjoy your stitching.x

TAST Week 3: Just feathers

2012-01-18T13:10:00.004Z

Thank you so much all those who left me such kind comments and good wishes, I really do appreciate it. I was determined to do this week's challenge, but It was difficult to get inspiration. My brain is very foggy . So it's a bit of a cheat as I am nowhere up to speed, and again sorry the stitching is not great. This is my homage to Durer's 'Patch of Weeds'. Feather stitch, double feather, knotted feather, chain feather, Maidenhair stitch and Spanish knotted feather stitch.

Now it's off to the Chiropractor again, and hopefully it will be less painful this week. She won't let me do any thing after the appointment, hence my frantic needle work this morning!

On a much happier note - if you haven't already seen it , do visit my friend Elizabeth's blog Sew in Love, for a really excellent tutorial on assembling a stumpwork flower. There's a previous one too, on creating wired needlelace elements for stumpwork which has just been featured by Sharon on Pintangle today! Hooray!

TAST week 2 Buttoned up at last

2012-01-15T14:46:00.000Z

Finally, I have finished. I woke in agony last weekend , I've twisted my pelvis, so that, plus vertigo and extreme tiredness has rendered me rather useless all week. Apologies for the poor stitching! Sorry I haven't been able to visit anyone this week, I'll try and catch up as soon as I'm able.

I did some stitches on Aida 14 count which I found really hard, it's years since I have used any sort of even weave fabric.

Buttonhole said owl to me. In my head this was going to look a lot more detailed but time and pain have said no! So he's turned out a sort of 70s retro owl, with a mini sampler chest.

Happy stitching!

Knit one, Backstitch two.....

2012-01-06T14:39:00.001Z

A little while ago I promised to show the gifts I'd made for Christmas presents.

I think it's always nice to have pretty tools and storage for needle crafts, and most of us never have the resources or inclination to buy them for ourselves. ( Plus it's usually quite expensive!)

My eldest niece has begun to knit for her first baby, due next month, and has been trying to keep everything in a pretty Cath Kidston knitting needle case she was given for a present - as you might imagine this was not working too well!

I decided to create her a special knitting bag and added pretty stitch markers and other knitting accessories in the pocket. Yellow is her favourite colour (which is also very useful at the moment as we don't know if it's a boy or a girl!) There had to be some embroidery of course. I designed a knitted yellow baby bootee as the motif, as a reminder of this special time.

The design needed to be very Retro/homemade looking to tie in with the choice of fabric

(Tanya Whelan). I used some lovely old fashioned handles, and lined it with the smaller rose print fabric you can see on the pocket.

The handles are attached with Cotton Perle chain stitched for extra strength, and to add to the retro look. I re-inforced the side seam openings too!

Then I found out my sister- in- law did not have a proper knitting bag either! I liked the design of Katherine's so much I created another for her mum, using her favourite colours and preferred style. This bag is in a pretty 'mock Elizabethan embroidery' print, lined with a toning cream sprig fabric, and slightly different the embroidery design.

I'm very pleased to say they were both delighted!

And, finally I actually managed to make myself something, - which almost never happens! A smart, padded case for my lovely new Kindle to sleep snugly in.

What did you make? or what are you planning to create this year? I'd love to know.

TAST Begins! 'I Wish I could Fly'

2012-01-04T20:44:00.002Z

Here we go with TAST 2012!

Week 1 is Fly stitch. I decided to do a bit of freehand doodling first using some pretty variegated stranded cotton and cotton perle to get me in the mood and see what fun was to be had experimenting.

I liked the idea of creating a picture with just one stitch, so I've decided I am going to try and make some kind of pictorial representation each time. It remains to be seen how possible that is!

I think it may be a bit of a challenge!

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T12:24:00.000Z

Onslow and Ethel Bunkery would like to send you a snowball of joy and wish you a very...........

Thank you for all your kind comments, support and friendship. I wish you all a very happy, peaceful and creative 2012.

I don't make resolutions, but I would like to share my mission statement for Adventures in Thread for 2012:

"To help, encourage and support others to create, so that they can share the fun, enjoyment and satisfaction of 'doing it themselves'!"

I'm hoping Onslow and Ethel will be helping me spread the love of embroidery this year, (if I can get them to sit still long enough). You'll be meeting them again later.....

So, enjoy your celebrations to welcome in 2012, but please don't forget it is still not too late to join us on TAST! (Click the link for all the information.) At the last count 500 stitchers and embroiderers have signed up on-line plus at least 200 more without an on-line identity. You can join the fun through Stitchin Fingers, there is a Flikr group and a Facebook group too, so there are lots of ways to connect.
You don't have to be experienced, there are lots of new stitchers taking part, and there will be plenty of help and support available.

See you in 2012!

Wishing you a Very Happy and Peaceful Christmas

2011-12-24T19:13:00.000Z

Eddi, priest of St. Wilfrid
   In his chapel at Manhood End,
Ordered a midnight service
   For such as cared to attend.

But the Saxons were keeping Christmas,
   And the night was stormy as well.
Nobody came to service,
   Though Eddi rang the bell.

"'Wicked weather for walking,"
   Said Eddi of Manhood End.
"But I must go on with the service
   For such as care to attend."

The altar-lamps were lighted, --
   An old marsh-donkey came,
Bold as a guest invited,
   And stared at the guttering flame.

The storm beat on at the windows,
   The water splashed on the floor,
And a wet, yoke-weary bullock
   Pushed in through the open door.

"How do I know what is greatest,
   How do I know what is least?
That is My Father's business,"
   Said Eddi, Wilfrid's priest.

"But -- three are gathered together --
   Listen to me and attend.
I bring good news, my brethren!"
   Said Eddi of Manhood End.

And he told the Ox of a Manger
   And a Stall in Bethlehem,
And he spoke to the Ass of a Rider,
   That rode to Jerusalem.

They steamed and dripped in the chancel,
   They listened and never stirred,
While, just as though they were Bishops,
   Eddi preached them The World,

Till the gale blew off on the marshes
   And the windows showed the day,
And the Ox and the Ass together
   Wheeled and clattered away.

And when the Saxons mocked him,
   Said Eddi of Manhood End,
"I dare not shut His chapel
   On such as care to attend."

Rudyard Kipling

Mini reindeer design to share

2011-12-14T17:02:00.000Z

I've been awol as I've been a bit under the weather for the last week or so and have been taking things easy (for me!) Does anyone else have trouble relaxing?I've never really understood how you do it - but I'd love any tips to stop me running about and fidgeting - incurring the wrath of Himself - who is always trying to get me to take it easy, bless him!

Anyway, I did have a really lovely birthday on Monday, and Himself bought me a Kindle - which is so, so wonderful - I love it! Secretly, I think it's his sneaky way to get me to sit down and rest! It's working - in a couple of hours yesterday I had downloaded and read my first digital book, which was actually a freebie, 'Clover', the fourth book in Susan Coolidge's 'Katy' series (which I loved as a child, and still adore) and the fifth book is lined up ready to start this evening- whoo hoo! Anyone got any recommendations for good books? I'm normally a fan of science fiction/fantasy, historical and crime - but I love a good classic family story too!

Stitching has progressed slowly and I've been making lots of things - none of which I can share just yet, as they are all for Christmas presents.

I did plan to do something inspiring for the blog for Christmas, but time's against me. So I drew this little mini reindeer design, which I hope to stitch onto some napkins for the Christmas table.
It stitches up really quickly so you could use it for a last minute project. Sorry about the poor quality of the photos, which I must blame on a really murky December afternoon in the UK.
.

( This is a 5 inch hoop)

I used a red pearl cotton, on some 100% cotton patchwork weight fabric with a size 4 embroidery needle. (I'm a recent convert to pearl cotton and I just love using it, it feels so nice and that pretty shine......oooooh!)

As it's rather a Scandinavian style, I simply outlined it in back stitch. To finish it off I used stranded cotton ( 2 threads) and a size 7 needle in the same red for the decorations, which are just back stitch and lazy daisy flowers . It would look sweet stitched up as a tree decoration, on a stocking, or even as a Christmas card.

(Hmmm I may do that myself.......).

Here's the design..

To print actual size:
Right click
View image
File
Print

Happy Christmas stitching and creating! ( and reading, hee hee!)

New embroidery design - Don't mess with Miss M!

2011-12-04T16:21:00.001Z

Remember the sneaky peak of a few weeks ago? Here's the finished picture.

This Little Miss Muffett

has a big spoon - and intends to use it - however she needs to.......

No matter how hard mischievous Mr Spider tries to charm her.

She's holding on to her curds and whey for dear life -

and she does not want to get her new pink shoes dirty!

This is the first of my new 'Nursery CRimes' designs, which I've just finished stitching. I've used a variety of stitches including bullion knots, coral stitch, Portuguese knotted stem stitch and turkey work - but I think it would also work up well in just simple back stitch, which I may try - when I get time....

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Jules x

'Nursery CRimes -Embroidery Designs' Copyright Julie Woolford December 2011

Vintage embroidery -Feathers from Dorset

2011-12-01T11:22:00.001Z

Ok, back to real embroidery! Yesterday I treated myself. Our local Oxfam shop had been donated a load of old embroidery books and I couldn't resist this one,' Dorset Feather Stitchery'. The book was written in 1957 for the Dorset Women's Institutes as 'a revival of some old stitches in modern form'. The cover alone had me hooked, and inside was treasure!

No dust jacket, but isn't this pretty?


What a great inscription!

Inside were the original loose pattern sheets

and lots of old transfers for the designs - this is a pattern for a 16 inch doll's apron! How could I resist?

These are some of the stitches used, the paisley like shapes are called pine cones.

Pattern for a child's Balkan cap, this is the only item I have the 'whole story' for.

Here's the finished item. What a labour of love.Makes you think about all those fleecy mass produced pull on hats of today!

More wonderfully embroidered projects, there are aprons, bags, tea cosies, even a 6 gored ladies skirt!

Instructions for stitching Dorset Buttons

Little girls dresses

Tray cloths and bags


Sorry the quality is not brilliant, but the original photos are a bit fuzzy. Still, it's wonderful stuff.

The book is full of wonderful writing and even has a chapter on home dyeing threads, fabric and ric rac braid. The author says she's an amateur, but she has a wonderful chapter on how to run a class in feather stitchery -

'Keep your class under control, curb the fast or careless ones and take your timing from the medium group before continuing to the next stitch. Late comers and slow workers must, alas, follow as best they can'

( I don't think I'll be curbing anyone in my classes though!)

I would love to know if anyone reading this knows more about the subject?

Meanwhile, don't forget you can still sign up to TAST. There is now an official logo. Thanks to Annet for allowing us to use this. At the last count over 300 people have signed up - which is terrific. Sharonb is an amazing lady, working really hard to put the 2012 challenge together.

If you are interested in hand embroidery come and join us, learn some new stitches, have fun and maybe make new stitching friends!

Now I really must go and do some stitching myself...ahem....

Ted Astaire and Ginger Pattern

2011-11-28T18:47:00.001Z

Run, run, run as fast as you can....... You can't catch me I'm the Gingerbread ~~Man~~ Bear?

A bit of fun for you - more felt frivolity. There are loads of great Christmas decorations ideas around - so here's my contribution. A rather well dressed Gingerbread Man - or a Gingerbread Ted! Two for the price of one ( Buy One Get One Free or BOGOF as we charmingly say in the UK).

Add ears and a bow tie to create a little bear.

For two gingerbread/teds I used:

a 9 inch square of felt in gingery brown, I used a wool/ acrylic blend
scraps of red felt
stranded cotton in cream, black, blue, brown and orange
pearl cotton in cream and green
embroidery needles in size 7 for stranded cotton and 4 for pearl cotton
tiny beads, a star button and a star sequin
black pearl beads for faces 4 4mm and one 3mm
ribbon or cord for hanging loops
toy stuffing
regular hand sewing kit
pencil/pen for marking designs on to the felt
cardboard for pattern pieces

It's easiest if you transfer the pattern to card and draw around this, directly onto the felt. The pattern is on the free projects tab here.

If you want to embroider the waistcoat, stitch it first using green pearl cotton for the tree. Add a tiny trunk using one strand of brown thread in straight stitches, finally use a few tiny beads for baubles. I added a star sequin. The snowman is stitched in straight stitch with cream pearl cotton, and his hat is straight stitch in one strand of blue stranded cotton. I made a tiny face with black Chinese knots for coal eyes and a carrot mouth - but you may think this is overkill! Here is the placement of the wee designs.

I back stitched around the vest in cream and whip stitched in green to add to the festive feel.

I attached the vest to the top body piece with 4 French knots in green pearl cotton, (one in each corner) before stitching the two body pieces together.

To make up: button hole stitch around the two body pieces using one strand of cream thread. Don't forget to leave an opening for stuffing! Stuff lightly, it doesn't take much.

Cut pieces of ribbon or cord twice the length you want to make a hanging loop. Fold in half and pop the two cut ends into the top oof the head. Enclose securely by stitching through the ribbon. I just buttonholed through the lot.

To add Ted's ears, position them on the head between the 2 body pieces and stitch through all three layers. This will make them nice and secure.

Place the eyes as on the pattern diagram. I'm just showing Ted's face here as it has more 'bits'. Ted's eyes are a bit closer together to give a more 'beary' look. Stitch through each eye about three times.

Then add his nose and complete his mouth using 2 strands of black stranded cotton.

I back stitched around his bow tie and added some bling so he didn't feel left out.

Here they are - (Ginger looks a bit smug.)

Ted's more soberly dressed - but he could have a glam waistcoat too if you like! Meanwhile he is making do with his starry bow tie. I didn't have a sparkly button so I just painted this one gold and he doesn't seem to mind.

They don't take long to make, you could dispense with the embroidery if it's too much faff; just do running stitich round the shapes for a more folksy look, or even machine stitch and stick on some embellishments.

So there you are - Ted and Ginger - Putting on the Ritz.....

Attitude Fairies

2011-11-24T17:48:00.001Z

'Here I come! Where's the nearest Christmas Tree?'

'I just live to sparkle....'

'Can my bow get any bigger?'

'Rear elevation - I'm cute from the back too!'

'I love my wings!'

'Check out my teeny tiny boots!'

'Thank You!'

'Whew, I'm tired after all that. I'll just have a little rest'

'Hey lazybones!'

'What are you sitting around for?'

'Check out my super sparkly wand -and my sooo cute dress!'

'My flower is much prettier than your bow!'

'But does my bum look big in this?!'

'Boots? Got them too!

' Do you want to come and play?

'Let's be BFF!'

Pattern available soon.........

Some wonderful first dolls from my class - and TAST news!

2011-11-22T17:27:00.001Z

Two of my students have been really busy! Today I received this lovely photo of Chris and Lesley's angel dolls from my class on Friday. Didn't they do well? Fantastic first dolls, I hope they will go on and make some more!

Lesley's is the sweet and pretty girl on the left and Chris made the exotic beauty on the right.

Meanwhile, in embroidery news, Sharonb of Stitchin Fingers and Pintangle fame has kindly agreed to run TAST ( Take A Stitch Tuesday) again in the new year. This is a great way to learn new stitches - and fun ways to use them. Hop over to Pintangle to find out how to join in. I'm going to make a big effort next year.

A visit to the past

2011-11-19T18:35:00.001Z

This week has been sooo busy. I had a great time teaching Evangeline, my Renaissance Angel on Friday.

The first class for a new design is always a bit fraught for me, worrying that I have got everything right. But everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves and they worked so hard - they didn't even stop for a cup of tea in the afternoon - there's dedication for you! I'm hoping to have pictures of some of the dolls when they have been completed.

Now it's back to working up my new designs - and hopefully I will have another little project to share soon.

Meanwhile I would like to show you some textile tools that are a bit 'different'. At this time of year when we are thinking about Remembrance, I unpacked yet more of my needlework treasures.

Doesn't look much does it? A rather shabby, grubby old cotton pouch in a bag; the ties have come off and been replaced with cord, just tied on. Any ideas? Well, the old card of thread may give a you a clue.

This was my dad's army 'housewife', from the Second World War, which was issued as standard kit for repairing uniforms. He was in the Royal Signals Corp,who provided important communications services and this travelled with him from Catterick Camp in Yorkshire, to India, where he was stationed for much of the war. My parents were married in 1943, and how they met really is a beautiful story - it was 'love at first sight'.

Inside the pouch it's exactly as it was when he finally returned home. You don't get reels of thread like that any more!

I had a big lump in my throat when I saw this again. It reminds me of my beloved dad, and also makes me think about soldiers of all races and creeds, sitting on their bunks mending a tear or darning a sock, wondering if they would see their loved ones again; and dreaming of home.......

Latest Design:Sneak Preview

2011-11-14T18:34:00.001Z

Thank you to everyone who commented on the needle keeper tutorial. I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

I thought I'd pose a bit of a teaser today. I apologise about the shadow on the photos.As you probably know, we Brits just love to talk about our weather. A rainy day brings the chance of an interesting conversation with a complete stranger....

Well, after an unseasonably sunny weekend, today brought a serious case of 'bad light stopped play'. In our other national game, cricket, there is actually an official minimum light level, which the referees (umpires) monitor using a photographer’s light meter. Once the light goes below it, then they stop playing (yes, it's sad I know this, sorry, but I grew up with a cricket mad elder brother....).

Trying to stitch today has been challenging to say the least - and trying to take a half decent photo, hmm, well, best not mentioned!

So, under the beam of my trusty desk lamp - here is a peek at my latest design in progress. I wonder if anyone can guess what it's going to be? It's not my 'normal' type of subject, but I'm having great fun with it!

Any guesses?

Ladybird Needle Keeper Project and Tutorial

2011-11-10T18:41:00.002Z

I did not plan to do another tute so quickly, it just sort of happened....and this idea came to me.

I used to lose my embroidery needles all the time, I'd put one down to re-thread it, and then get side tracked. Consequence: another needle down the side of the sofa and a cross husband saying 'That's dangerous, someone could sit on that, etc etc!'.

To aid my plight a kind friend sent me a needle keeper which had a magnet stuck on the top. I can't tell you how useful this has been over the years - plus saving me a fortune in new needles.

I was racking my brain for a gift to give a stitching friend and this idea popped into my head. Like most of my ideas it arrived just before I went to sleep, so I spent the next half hour making notes and then couldn't nod off 'cos my head was buzzing!

Well, here's my prototype, which I thought I'd share. Instead of a magnet on the top, the whole thing is magnetic. You can pop your needle down on it anywhere and know it will stick.

I created the little ladybird design so she could keep watch over the needles for me. Felt padding has been used to make her more three dimensional, but you can just stitch her with satin stitch if you don't want to do this. You'll find the design on the 'free' page tab if you want to use it.

For the magnetised base you'll need:

a small piece of cotton fabric to fit a 5 inch embroidery hoop

a thin magnetic, self adhesive card

a small piece of mat board*

a piece of felt

all approx 3.5"x 2" or 9cm x 5cm (depending where you are in the world)

Strong thread for lacing or glue

For the embroidery:

stranded cotton in bright red, green and blue (or your own colour choice)

black Perle/Pearl Cotton

a small piece of felt

paper to make a template

Begin by cutting your mat board to fit the size of the magnetic sheet. It's easiest to do this on a cutting board with a scalpel/craft knife and ruler.

Then carefully peel off the backing and firmly stick the magnetic sheet to the mat board, and place to one side.

Prepare your embroidery fabric to fit a 5 inch hoop.

Now you are ready to begin the design.

Mark out the template for the ladybird's body padding on some paper.

Pin onto your felt

Cut out with small sharp scissors

Attach the smallest piece of felt to the centre of the ladybird's body with small stab stitches

Then apply the middle sized layer of felt the same way

Finally add the top layer, now you should have a nice rounded, padded shape.

Neatly cover the felt body with Satin stitch*

Use black Perle/Pearl cotton to make one long stitch to divide the 'wings'.

Make 3 French or Chinese Knots* on each wing, as indicated on the pattern. Finally, make a couple of straight stitches for the head and two more knot type stitches for the eyes.

Complete the embroidery using Back stitch and/or Stem stitch* for the lines and lettering, and Satin stitch for the leaves.

When you've finished the embroidery, trim the fabric around the design leaving enough to wrap around to fix it to the magnetic base.

You can stick the fabric to the base with good quality glue if you're more dexterous than me, or if time is really short! I wanted a secure finish, and lacing something this small takes literally minutes to do - but it's up to you.

Using strong thread (I used crochet cotton) make a good knot and then lace the fabric vertically, in a 'ladder'style, pulling it taut and flat. Don't pull so hard that you break through the fabric, just a nice even tension. It is quite easy and I find it therapeutic! Check your design is positioned correctly before you begin, and also periodically so you can adjust it if you need to!

Tuck in and neaten/mitre the corners, making sure you take the thread through each one so they are nice and tidy, and lie flat.

When you 've finished, repeat the lacing horizontally so your embroidery is secure and fasten off by taking a few small stitches in the fabric and making sure all the thread is taut.

Finally, using good quality glue, carefully stick felt over the lacing to present a nice neat 'bottom'! I just used some red acrylic craft felt I had in my stash. Let it dry and you are done.

That's it! Needles enjoying their resting place, and a happy relaxed embroiderer/hand stitcher!

If you have a friendly local picture framer, you may be able to get some free offcuts of mat board, as the amount you need is so small. If you can't find it then using mount board or very strong card for the base would work too. For those in the UK - I got my magnetic card in a pack of 6 for under £3.00 at Hobbycraft.

Just a final plea. It's been great to welcome so many new visitors through Craft Gossip and other sites.Thanks so much to all of you who've left a comment, I do appreciate it.

Please let me know if you found this project helpful - I shall be ever grateful, as it gives me an idea where I should be steering this blog.

Thank you, and have a lovely weekend!

PS (*see Autumn card tutorial for these stitches)

The Little Girl's Fancy Work

2011-11-06T16:10:00.002Z

Sorting out my studio space, I 've been able to unpack lots of my old books and thought it would be fun to share this one with you.

I love old needlework books, and this is one of my treasured possessions. It was given to me when I was about 6 by a very kind neighbour, when she found out about my love of embroidery and making things. The 'Little Girl's Fancy Work', edited by Flora Klickmann.

It's inscribed to Dorothy Williams, Christmas 1924, almost 80 years ago.

How times have changed! Have a look at this note at the beginning of the book....

Wonderful stuff! It might be old fashioned, but I can't help thinking that we'd all be a bit better off if these skills were valued as much today.

The illustrations are just lovely - and look at these fabulous advertisements for threads on the endpapers. I remember Peri-Lusta from when I was small, but sadly all my supplies are long used.

The detail and projects are really charming and so well written, they cover cross stitch on hardanger fabric, drawn thread work, freestyle embroidery, crochet and knitting - everything a little girl could possibly want to learn to become a well rounded young lady!

(Underneath the sampler it says 'Whenever you learn a new fancy stitch, work a little piece on a sampler in coloured thread, then you will not forget it!)

The book helped me to make my first embroidered needle case! If anyone would like to see one of the projects, let me know and I will post some more pictures.

Tutorial: Embroidered Autumn Card

2011-11-03T11:22:00.000Z

Lots of people have a Freebie Friday, so I thought I'd do something a bit different and do a 'Complimentary Thursday' tutorial.

We have a lot of autumn family birthdays, and hand stitching lots of cards can be very time consuming. Here's a quick way to make a hand embroidered card with an autumn theme, using my design on the freebies page. It uses simple stitches - plus you get to do colouring in!

You'll need:

A piece of cotton fabric, which will take crayon/pencil without 'bobbling'. I'd suggest you try your crayons on a scrap first to make sure you're happy.

Crayons*: bright red, pale brown and green. (If you have youngsters you can use theirs!)

Oil based coloured pencils work well too.

*If you want to use the design on something which will wash then use commercial fabric crayons and follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Embroidery needles size 7 and 8

Threads: Stranded cotton in bright red, dark brown, cream/ecru, white, grass green and various autumn shades for the leaves.

A 5 inch embroidery hoop

Transfer the design onto your fabric ( see the freebies page for ideas how to do this).
Colour in the toadstool cap in red, leaving some light areas so it looks like light is falling on it.

Colour in the stem in pale brown using a darker tone under the cap and ring to suggest shadow.

Add some green for the grass.

Place in your hoop and begin stitching,

Here's a very quick stitching guide.

Stem Stitch
I outlined the cap in one strand of red, with a size 8 needle.
Make a knot in your thread and bring up the needle up through the fabric.

Make a small stitch ( about a couple of millimetres) by putting your needle through the fabric, using the outline as your guide.

Bring up the needle half way alongside the original stitch like so...
.

Re-insert the needle along the outline the same distance as your first stitch. This completes your second stitch.

Keep repeating this process and continue all around the outline of the cap.

The gills are also stitched in dark brown stem stitch using one thread.

Back stitch
The stem is back stitched in one strand of cream/ecru with a size 8 needle.

Make a knot in your thread and bring the needle up through the fabric a little in front of your starting point.

Make a straight stitch backwards.

Bring up your needle a little in front of your first stitch.

Re-insert your needle on the outline exactly where you completed the last stitch.

Continue round the outline of the stem. Add one or two lines on the stem for texture ( as shown)

Chinese Knots
The white dots on the cap are Chinese Knots, which I like to do, but you can use French Knots, or even little straight stitches.

Make a knot in your thread and bring the needle up through the fabric.

Make a small loop in the thread, crossing it over.

This bit is important. Holding the loop in place with your thumb ( sorry I couldn't show this whilst taking the photo - not enough hands!) gently take the needle back down through the loop and bring out at the back of the fabric.

As the thread pulls through and gathers up it makes a knot.
Use 2 threads and a size 7 needle for larger dots and one thread and a size 8 needle for the smaller ones.

Scatter the dots across the cap, to make a pattern that pleases you.

Satin Stitch
The leaves are stitched with 2 threads. You can mix up a selection of autumn colours for these.
I'd advise starting in the middle of the leaf, as it's easier to make the bigger stitches first and work your way down to the small ones

Make a knot in your thread and bring up the needle up through the fabric on the outside of the leaf.

Re-insert it on the 'petiole' opposite( it's the middle leaf stem bit, I had to look that up!)

Pull the thread through to make a long stitch across the shape. Bring up the needle up again on the outline, at the place you began stitching. (Satin stitch should look the same on the back of the work as it does on the front).

Pull the thread through to make your second stitch. Repeat to fill in the shape, making the stitches smaller as you need to.

The grass is just created in straight stitches of various lengths using two strands of green thread.

If you want to mount your picture in a card aperture, it's nice to put some wadding behind it to give extra support.

I hope you found this tutorial useful - any comments /feedback would be really helpful, so please let me know as it will really help me plan the next one!

Something a bit different

2011-10-30T16:46:00.001Z

Do you remember these little designs from almost 2 years ago? Some of them have crept onto various blog headers....

Finally, after being scrumpled and distressed, all the pieces have been 'pasted' into my 'Edwardian Nature Scrapbook Page'.

(Sorry about the the poor quality photos, but I completely forgot to take a picture before it was framed - duh! More haste, less speed should be my mantra...)

I wanted to achieve something completely different from my 'normal' stitching style, and mix up techniques. Inspiration came from journalling and some of the amazing mixed media work on the net.

It was great fun creating this, although initially, distressing and chopping /pulling threads felt odd, I found stepping out of my comfort zone very liberating!.

What risks have you taken with your art or stitching, and how did you feel? Or maybe you are thinking of doing something radically different? I would love to know.x

The Fair City of Edinburgh

2011-10-20T12:14:00.002+01:00

We had a lovely weekend in beautiful Edinburgh, visiting my oldest friend for a special birthday party, to add the the excitement, she and her partner have just got engaged and while we were there grandchild no 1 arrived! Talk about a hat trick! I created this October embroidery to mark her big birthday, ' S for Sarah'.

close up of detail

I had great fun showing himself around, here are a few shots of the City showing a few places we visited:

looking towards the Castle

John Knox' House in the Royal Mile

St Giles' Cathederal

Princes' Street Gardens with the Sir Walter Scott Memorial

Now it's back down to earth and to work.x

Back in the saddle

2011-10-11T12:50:00.002+01:00

How are you all? Sorry I vanished again, but I have been working hard for the past couple of months, planning how I am going to operate my new business, now I have finally left my job and am out in the big wide world alone. There have been so many things to do.

I have done 2 more exhibitions which have been tremendous fun, and one or two interesting opportunities may be coming up, which I'll tell you about later. I have been returning to my 'roots' and hand embroidery, I should have some pictures soon.
To show I have not been lying on the couch, eating choccies for all of my absence from the web here are some piccies.

Evangeline, Renaissance Angel stump doll I am teaching at a November workshop in Bristol
I was asked if I would design an angel, and here she is. She's special to me as the jewellery pieces I've used are all odds and ends from my dear Auntie Nell, who we sadly lost 2 years ago. The lovely fabric of her dress is designed by the incredibly talented illustrator, Valerie Greeley, who has a wonderful blog at Acorn Moon

Tilly the flapper( 9 inch doll) She started out as a 1960's retro doll ( a la Jean Shrimpton) but quickly made up her own mind that was not where she was coming from....

I finally got some of my embroideries framed - Well, I only did the first one 20 year ago! A framing frenzy is happening at the mo!

And a little R&R! My first free machine quilting,

a bag I made at a fun workshop with Karen Phiminster.

After much thought I've decided that 'Adventures in Thread' will change, so watch this space. Enjoy your autumn wherever you are x

Rather an unusual nature post....

2011-08-11T13:45:00.015+01:00

During the last few months I've been drawing and painting every day, and have begun to keep an artist's journal, something I've always wanted to do for years - well, since Edith Holden's wonderful 'Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady', but never seem to have had the time.

I've received much inspiration from Cathy Johnson's fabulous new book 'Artist's Journal Workshop', and the excellent and highly talented members of the Facebook group she's set up. I never normally sign up to groups on Facebook, but made an exception in this case! There is some fantastic and inspiring work in the book from many well known artists/journal keepers, and it's a wonderful book simply to look at if you have any interest in art.

I've decided to use my journal to primarily, record the local wildlife and natural history where I live. I know some readers have their homes in amazingly beautiful and remote places, and I'd so love to be in that situation. I realised, though, while walking at the weekend that there's an incredible diversity of life around me, despite living practically next door to a major British motorway! We have a huge area of scrub land/wetland behind our garden, which is choc a bloc full of plant life, birds and animals - and at the top of the hill opposite us we have some wonderful woodland/parkland, as regular visitors will know.

Ten minutes walk away from my home is Lawrence Weston Moor, which is a nature reserve and a remnant of the Somerset Levels - who would have though so much beauty could be found next to the busy M5! Local people don't tend to go there, so the wildlife knows it is safe - it doesn't care about the roar of traffic.

A busy Friday afternoon - I am standing on the motorway bridge over the M5.

Just beyond the hedge is all that traffic, but looking at this tranquil scene you'd never know!
The old willow trees have left strange and interesting shapes.

Bees are everywhere!

I came upon this spot with the sunlight playing through the leaves of this lovely oak tree, and it was just magical! The stream here is crystal clear, which seems amazing when you think I am only 7 miles from the centre of Bristol! Noted this spot for future sketching.
The area is a mass of flowers; I love these thistles!

Another tranquil view, with some splendid teasels taking centre stage.
I've put a link to my Flikr webstream in the sidebar iso you can see my journaling progress. I love the way there is always something new to learn, and journaling is helping me to view my world differently! x

Exciting times- My First Exhibition

2011-07-27T11:10:00.008+01:00

Here I am at my first exhibition at Stoke Lodge, Bristol City Council Adult Learning Centre Summer Exhibition at the weekend; I had a lovely and exhausting 2 days demonstrating and drumming up business for my ‘Fabric Figures’ classes this Autumn and next Spring.

About 700 people came along . Classes run include, art, crafts, languages, computers, health and well being, cookery, music and more, so there's lots to see and something for everyone. I was in a lovely spot in the textiles room.

The girls and I met lots of lovely people and they had a wonderful time, although I suspect there was some showing off. The Mayor and Mayoress of Bristol visited on Saturday morning and the lady Mayoress was much taken with Poppy!

Due to the fact I was demonstrating during the 2 days my little Manga fairy is dressed at last, thank goodness. I've named her Akira.

Below are some of the lovely quilts and garments made by students in some of this year’s classes at the Adult Learning centre. The quilts and bags were all made by friends in my patchwork class, who were all beginners last autumn. Fantastic work. My quilt is not here - but the top is complete and I will get it finished!

Most important when you are standing and talking to people all day are - the refreshments. Here's me enjoying my tea in a brief quiet moment (and delicious cake, but I'd scoffed that already).

Hope you are all having a good summer so far.x

A bit of history.....

2011-07-17T11:45:00.008+01:00

Last Sunday, before the rainy season hit the UK ; Andy and I took a trip to Tintern, (just over the Severn Bridge and into Wales) and spent a wonderful couple of hours at Tintern Abbey (Welsh - Abaty Tyndyrn). The Abbey was founded by Walter de Clare, Lord of Chepstow on 9 May 1131.

The Abbey is on on the Welsh bank of the River Wye in Monmouthshire. It was only the second Cistercian monastery in Britain. Cistercian monks ( or White Monks) followed the Rule of St Benedict. The Carta Caritatis (Charter of Love) laid out their basic principles, of obedience, poverty, chastity, silence, prayer, and work. The monastery existed until the early 15th century, when it was destroyed by the Welsh rebels.

However, in the mid eighteenth century it has a 'rebirth', when it became fashionable to visit 'wilder' parts of Britain. The Reverend William Gilpin, one of the originators of the idea of the 'picturesque', wrote a book called Observations on the River Wye. Suddenly, well to do tourists began to visit the site in droves. The Wye Valley became well known for its romantic qualities and the ivy clad Abbey was a huge draw.

Wordsworth wrote the poem, 'Lines composed a few miles above Tintern Abbey'; Tennyson wrote 'Tears, Idle Tears'; and it was the muse for more than one painting by JMW Turner! It's now in the care of CADW, the historic environment service of the Welsh Government, and continues to attract many visitors.

It's easy to imagine the monks at prayer in the remains of the abbey church.

Engraved on an old tile, I guess an early Christian in symbol? Although I've never seen three fishes together before.

Now only the swallows live here in Summer, busy feeding their youngsters. The nests were just a little to high to get a photo!
Although I've lived so close for many years I've never been inside before, and it was amazing. The grey clouds gave a real air of mystery to the place, and it was so quiet and peaceful, with only one or two other visitors in the late afternoon. Hope you enjoyed the tour. x

Dolls and Dolls and Dolls

2011-06-30T18:54:00.010+01:00

This is a real doll -filled post. They are not all complete, but I thought you might like to see what I've been up to.

I had a really wonderful time at my first workshop last week. I had seven wonderful ladies who all worked so hard making Abigail, and it was such fun to teach. Unfortunately I was so pre-occupied with workshop stuff that I forgot to take my camera. I'll be more prepared next time.

So, onto the dolls:

Here is Poppy, the cloth doll mascot for Poppy Patchwork, she's very relaxed and is positioned to welcome customers to the shop. ( She puts me in mind of the actress, Alex Kingston.)

Here's the almost finished Lei Mi, double Cinderella (still no shoes). But she's dressed - at last. All the silk used was dyed or hand painted. The Obi and flower fabric was made on the embellishing machine. The Obi is beaded and the tiny roses are made with silk ribbon I hand dyed.

She is a real labour of love and only gives me more respect for the wonderful Patti Culea for devising and creating the original masterpiece! I must make her some shoes, sometime.

Now for something a bit different. Remember these two from earlier in the year?

This strange unidentifiable object has become......

Boxing Granny!

She's my homage to 'When I am old, I will wear purple, with a red hat' and those wonderful 'I don't care anymore', standing up for themselves, no-nonsense elderly ladies. No one is going to mess with her, and she's doing just what she wants.

I especially liked making the little handbag.

Baggy stockings, de rigeur ( Anyone remember Norah Batty?)

Her jewellery and handbag clasp was created from some of my lovely Auntie Nell's dress jewellery pieces. I think Auntie Nell would have approved. They were real fun, but the leather boxing gloves were a nightmare to turn. Her box has yet to be completed....

Finally, here's that tiny doll, who's now had three heads.

Big headed......

has finally turned into a little Manga fairy! Just waiting for her costume now.

I hope the girls like their new friends - I think the jury is out at present. x

Hello, Hello...

2011-05-23T17:51:00.011+01:00

At last- a return to the Blogsphere! I've missed it dreadfully, and all its wonderful inhabitants. I hope that this post finds you all well and happy

Our Singapore trip was wonderful, it seems an age ago now.

We visited sumptuous temples and high tech shopping malls; roamed places teeming with exquisite exotic flora and fauna; meandered around the Ethnic quarters soaking up atmosphere and inspiration; met wonderful warm and friendly Singaporeans; and ate so many delicious Asian cuisines. I'm afraid I took about 600 photos of this wonderful country of contrasts.

Here's a small selection for your delectation and delight.

The Merlion, emblem of Singapore. This one is on Sentosa Island. If you look hard you can see the people on the top!

Amazing dragonflies in exotic colours inhabit the pools in the Botanic Gardens.

The Iconic Raffles Hotel! The famous Sikh doorman is behind the car!

Kampong Glang, the Malay quarter, with wonderful textile shops....

From the high tech glamour of the many shopping malls on Orchard Road, (this is the ION Centre)......

To a 'wet market' in Little India... Almost worlds apart.

Stunning blooms in the Botanic Gardens.

The Sri Veramakkalian Hindu temple in Little India

Yes, this is a liner, built on top of 3 skyscrapers! There is a pool and a casino up there too. Unbelievable.

The beautiful Thiang Hock Keng Temple in Chinatown, is just stunning.

And just to prove I was industrious, I made a watercolour journal to take with me and bravely went out doing plein air sketches . Here are a few pages showing my beloved Botanical Gardens, and a few scribbles from my daily drawing book.

On the home front, I returned to such exciting news. I now have 5 participants for my first workshop in June. I was accepted by and will be running a class for the Bristol City Council Adult Learning Dept next term, and will be registered as an Adult Education Tutor with them. As part of that process I'll be attending their annual summer exhibition in July, which gives me a wonderful chance to display my dolls and talk about them to prospective attendees. Then, as a huge bonus, a very special lady has commissioned me to do a painting, which was a wonderful surprise.

As if this wasn't enough, four of my bag pattern/kits have sold already through my friend's shop - I am so delighted! And to cap it all, my Poppy Patchwork logo is now proudly emblazoned on the front of Jayne's new shop in Westbury on Trym, where she moved last week. Many congratulations to Jayne! Having helped her move twice I can say I am now an expert at lugging bolts of fabric!

The new shop venue is great - with a free car park opposite, and there will be space to run workshops upstairs, so it's a great opportunity for all the fabric lovers and quilters of Bristol. Incidentally, if any of you have local connections in the Bristol area, it would be wonderful if you could spread the word about the shop.

So, there is tons going on, and in between I've finally done a class and conquered my machine quilting embroidery phobia! I'm now addicted and cannot stop - typical of me. I still need so much practice, but at last I 'got it'.

The only slight drawback is that I used a new Bernina machine on the course, and naturally, I fell in love. My new baby arrives on Friday and I'm feeling very guilty about my little old Janome. When I bought it 3 years ago I told the salesman I just wanted a straightforward , reliable machine without any fancy things as 'I'd never use them'. Yes, I know, never say never.
All you experienced stitchers and quilters are smiling and nodding sagely, saying 'I told you so'.

It's good to be back.x

A quick post

2011-04-15T10:17:00.003+01:00

The whirlwind of life has continued during April! I am thrilled to say that I now have 4 participants booked for my 'Abigail' doll class in June. I also did a brave thing and made a (really, really, simple) tote with pattern and instructions to promote these lovely, summery, fabrics for my friend Jayne's shop, Poppy Patchwork.

We're finally off to Singapore on Saturday for 2 weeks. I'm getting so excited! This is a return trip, although not city people at all, we fell in love with Singapore when we had a short visit on our way back from our wonderful trip to NZ. It's such an amazing place with a unique mix of cultures. My sketching bag and camera are packed already and I hope to have lots of things to share, and photos to post soon. x

Lots of sewing ......

2011-03-27T13:08:00.002+01:00

It has certainly been a mad month of March for me, with so much going on, I don't know if I am coming or going, and on many days I have not even had time to log on the computer at all!

My friend Jayne opened her shop Poppy Patchwork on Wednesday, and I spent all day Monday helping her to get set up, which was great fun, but really exhausting. You don't realise how heavy fabric bolts are until you have to move 250 of them quickly! However, it was all worth it, and the shop is looking great.

I just wanted to share the doll I have designed and will be teaching in June. (As long as enough students register!) She has now gone on display in 'Abigail Crafts*' so fingers crossed...

Abigail is very much a cloth/sewn doll as the audience will be primarily quilters and stitchers. Her face is much more simple than normal, as I have tried hard to do something which will be easy for first time dollmakers to follow. Making her so others can create her has been a real challenge for someone who can't follow instructions herself- and the teaching notes very hard to do - but it's been fun.

She is off to quilting class with her little bag and quilt top ready for completion.

Hope everyone is having a great spring so far.x

* The shop website is being updated so I don't show up yet!

Thank You!

2011-03-27T12:29:00.004+01:00

Here is another lovely gift I received through OWOH, this sweet little bird from Norma, The Fairy Yellow Bug Queen.

What an amazing blog name that is too!

Isn't it sweet, a dear little bird to herald the Spring.

Thank you so much Norma!

A special post - Wishing you a wonderful birthday Shell

2011-03-27T12:24:00.001+01:00

A special post - Wishing you a wonderful birthday Shell

Excerpt from "The Velveteen Rabbit"
By Margery Williams

"What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"

"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but Really loves you, then you become Real."

"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.

"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."

"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"

"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get all loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

Signs of Spring

2011-03-06T18:33:00.009Z

There should be a sub heading for this post, 'How not to sketch out doors'.

I've been getting back into sketching every where I can to get loads of practice and build up my confidence. I also thought it would be fun to try and capture nature through the year on my 'patch'.

As it was such a beautiful afternoon I headed off with my sketching kit and camera; and my trusty flask of tea, as it's rather chilly! I had, however, forgotten one thing. I have a small, (rather uncomfortable) fold up, three legged sketching stool. Unfortunately, one of the leg caps has come off, and we have had an awful lot of rain. When I settled down to sketch a lovely old tree, I sat on my stool - but the world went up, and I went down! I sank right into the soft earth!

Luckily no one was there to see. I pulled the legs out and tried to re - position the stool, but the only 'safe' place was perched precariously on the side of the hill. So, after about 10 minutes, shifting about and making some rather odd marks, I decided to cut my losses, have a cup of tea and finish off at home. I think I may be investing in a new stool or a proper sketching chair.....

Anyway, here are a few photos, of what are, seemingly, rather ordinary things, but when you look more closely, how beautiful and fascinating they become....

The buds are breaking. They look wonderful outlined against the blue spring sky.

Just a patch of arum lily leaves ( one of my most favourite plants), but what a beautiful shape they are; the patterns of light playing across them really caught my attention. That wealth of green shades and tones surrounding them is amazing.

A few early celandines are peeping through last year's dried and crumpled leaves, like little stars in the evening sky.
This wood pigeon was happily eating his supper and let me get quite close.

At the edge of the wood, hundreds of daffodils are just beginning to open and will look spectacular in a week or so.

Tiny violets are scattered in drifts alongside the path.

Here is the tree I was attempting to sketch! It's a lovely old woodpecker haunt, and covered in bracket fungi. I'll try again when I have a new seat, but at least I have a good reference photo.

I hope you enjoyed looking at my signs of spring, but if you would like to see some really stunning pictures of nature, then do visit the blog of the amazingly talented Tammie Lee 'Spirithelpers'. Exquisite photography and poetry (and she paints too!)

Finally, some art. Not my usual style at all, but I had great fun with it. This is a watercolour I designed for a birthday card for my friend Helen, who is a wonderful quilter and dressmaker. It's an 'homage' to those stunning Vogue patterns/models of the 1950's.

Have a wonderful week.x

Lucky me!

2011-03-06T18:00:00.002Z

I was the winner of Petra's beautiful OWOH gift from from Kunterbunt Cottage. I received this lovely heart, exquisitely wrapped, and a Configurations box to decorate myself, which I'm sure will be wonderful fun to do.
Thank you so much Petra!

And I also won this beautiful print from Annie at Must Love Paint.

Bertram Bear came all the way from Australia. He is based on Annie's own bear, and has such a beautiful expression. Bertram is proudly sitting on my desk, overseeing my typing, and fits in beautifully with my collection of old teddies. Thank you so much Annie!

OWOH Winner - Please meet Emily Claire

2011-02-17T19:45:00.007Z

Thank you so much to everyone who so kindly participated in OWOH this year. It's lovely to 'meet' so many of you, and I apologise to those who left a comment in the last week or so, as due to a domestic issue, I have just not been able to say thank you by leaving a reciprocal comment, or coming to visit your blog. I hope you have all enjoyed your flight and hope to get round to visiting everyone very soon.

Now, on to the exciting news. The winner of my surprise gift is Annie from Must Love Paint.

Congratulations Annie!I would like to introduce you to little Emily Claire.

She is 6.5 inches tall, with button jointed, poseable arms and mitt hands. She is weighted with glass pellets so she can sit down more comfortably. Emily Claire's cotton dress has a blue silky sash (of which she is very proud) and vintage lace sleeves.

( Showing off her sash - again!)

Her hair is hand dyed Wensleydale fleece.

She is very excited about going on such a long journey to Australia and her new home. Unfortunately, she is rather a chatterbox and can't stop asking me questions about it, but I know you will be very understanding. She is only six and three quarters after all!

This little doll is a new departure for me, but I enjoyed making her so much, I think there may be some more of this type on the way. x

The poppies are singing?

2011-02-13T12:02:00.000Z

I went down with a horrible virus last week and ended up in bed. So I'm behind again, and frantically trying to catch up with myself as usual, as I keep sleeping really late. I suppose it's an after effect. (Ha! or a good excuse for being lazy!).

So - enough of all that, and on to important things! Mainly a big Thank You to all the lovely people I have met on OWOH, who have decided my ramblings and art might keep them amused and are following me. It's lovely to welcome you here.

In the latest twist on my creative journey, here's something a little different. I'm singing again. I have joined Rock Choir.

Many years ago I sang and acted regularly on stage but due to my personal circumstances. I had to give up, and the only singing I have done since is around the house. (Well, at least Andy always know where I am......)

It's great being able to sing properly again, and it's such fun. In May, about 8,000 of us, from all over the UK are going to Wembley Stadium in London to perform a huge concert, which should be amazing. It's another area of creativity that was closed off to me, but is now re-opening again.

I did some small watercolour paintings today as a friend who is starting a business wanted a logo and asked me if I could design something. It had to be a single stemmed poppy. So I put off finishing the dolls, and tried to come up with some very different styles/ideas for her that could be worked up into a design. The photos are not great, it's so dull and overcast here again; but I thought I 'd show the pictures.

This one is more 'Naturalistic' I think.

This is a little more stylised.

This one is sort of 'after Mucha', but more painterly? Shirley Trevena? ( I wish - I'm such a fan!)

I'd forgotten how much fun it is to just paint something simple. x

One World One Heart 2011

2011-01-31T17:30:00.001Z

Welcome! If you've never visited before, I am delighted to meet you. Whether an old friend or a potential new one, it's great that you have dropped by.

Hooray for the Internet and for OWOH, allowing us to make new contacts and expand our horizons through the joys of blogging!

I'm Jules, artist, doll maker and creator. I am passionate about art and the world of craft and handmade items, and I'm never happier than when I'm creating - except maybe whenI'm admiring other people's work! I love to try new media and new methods of working.

Whether it is doll making;

or embroidery design;

painting and drawing;
needle felting;

or anything else!

Usually, when not doing my day job, I'm in my studio, running between projects - or if the weather's fine, I can be found outside, in our wildlife /veggie garden;

or walking through our local woods and wonderful historic places - with my trusty camera to hand.

I love to travel and visit new places, and I'm always looking for the interesting and unusual in the world around us, camera and sketch book at the ready.

You will probably notice a few themes running through these pictures! I'm constantly inspired by the natural world, culture, history, and the world of faerie.

I'm joining in with OWOH again this year, because it's such an amazing concept. It was was such fun last time and I met some wonderful people from all around the world who have since become great blogging friends. I hope to connect with more like minded people this year.

My art is primarily based around face and form, so for my door prize I am going to offer one of my 'girls', in some format or other - she may be a painting similar to this one;

or perhaps a very simple doll, or possibly appear as an image on another item. It's going to be a surprise!

If you would like to own one of my creations then all you need is to have a current and active blog. Just leave me a comment on this post. I will pick a winner using a random generator, and that name will be announced in a post on 17th February. I will also e-mail them to let them know they have won!

Good Luck and thank you for participating!

I hope you'll visit again, I am looking forward to meeting lots of new friends on this exciting and inspiring journey. x

Wurbling......

2011-01-27T18:34:00.010Z

Well, I have taken the big life altering decision, and am now awaiting the outcome of my application for voluntary redundancy.

In all of the confusion about my organisation being downsized, our office location moved last week, so I'm having to adapt to a long commute into the City centre, and a new working environment, which seems odd. I feel strangely disengaged from the process. I plan and ponder my future in the 'real' world. I know what I really want to do is to concentrate all my efforts on my art.

The exciting news is things are moving forward. I have been asked to run a simple doll making workshop at my quilting teacher's shop, and the Bristol City Council Local Education Authority course planner is interested in me having a slot to run something too. I'd never thought about teaching, but a couple of people suggested it, and I'd forgotten that I used to run craft workshops for children, and have done loads of work based training over the years. I like people and I'm interested in them. I found it very rewarding helping them to gain new skills, albeit in a work situation. So, I'm going for it, - well nothing ventured, as they say.

I hope it will be a great learning experience for me in creating and developing the events, and fun too. I know it will be a challenge, but it's one I'm looking forward to.

I'm working hard on my art, and getting the latest batch of dolls completed, and I have so many ideas for new pieces. I really feel more creative and more positive than for a long time, despite the 'blips' of concern I still have about the day I do not have a 'proper' job and a monthly pay cheque any more. Thirty years plus in the Civil Service - am I institutionalised or what? (You used to get a medal for long service at 25 years. I kid you not....)

Life is too short to be unhappy when you don't have to be. So things are changing, and I think this blog will be a little different to reflect that!

Ok, here's a few of my recent drawings and some of my nightly sketches. Patty Culea told me to draw a face a day, and so, since last October I've been doing that, in a tiny book, each night before I go to sleep. I apologise for the picture quality but it was hard trying to get any sort of decent shot, the book really is small, and the light is poor.

The only stipulation for the faces is that they must come out of my head - absolutely no reference, and I can't use an eraser. The early ones are awful, ( I mean really bad!) but these days I am improving, and branching out into some new directions. I hope some of these will eventually become figures in cloth and clay.....

Jane- I had in mind an Austen heroine... think Lizzie Bennet....

Mandy ( she looks like a girl I work with.. don't tell her!)

I don't know where she came from, except, I want to be more whimsical and do some naive pieces. This little girl is 'Visions of Sugar Plums'. I feel I'd like to work this up into a painting?

And here are the boys from the world of faerie:

Gordon, I think is a bit of a 'Del Boy'. (USA readers, check out 'Only Fools and Horses'; classic British comedy.)

I rather liked this quirky creature with his bush baby eyes, and slightly malevolent expression.

And, finally, this is my pencil interpretation of Linda Ravenscroft's painting 'Rosebud Fairy'. I had all Linda's books for Christmas and they have been a terrific source of inspiration. As I am completely hopeless at copying pictures, I wanted to see if I could achieve a likeness, and I really had fun attempting her.

Note to self - I use the word 'really' too much, I had to take it out three times in this post
( yes, really.) xxx

For me? Thank you ! And many WIPS.....

2011-01-09T15:43:00.013Z

I received a Christmas surprise in the post, but I've not been able to take a picture until today as the light has been so dreadful. Today we saw the sun - at long last. It's not brilliant for pictures so I apologise for the poor quality, but it is a big improvement.

Isn't this ornament pretty and really charming?

Soooo pretty!

It was made by my dear friend Michelle May's (over at the Raspberry Rabbits) clever husband David, and sent to me along with a beautiful handmade card and some of her signature raspberry dark chocolate yummy treats (Yes, ok, I admit it, I ate them, immediately - and scrumptious they were too.)

The lace is captured inside the glass, I have no idea how - and I don't care, I just like to admire it! It's much too nice to keep just for Christmas and my niece had bought me the cute jewellery tree, which has instead become a place to hang my favourite handmade trinkets. Thank you so much Shell,( and David of course) for this great surprise.

I had a crafting frenzy two days before Christmas and made lingerie bags, sock bags, pincushions, paperweights and two sets of patchwork table mats and coasters for the family. Phew! Dunno what came over me! Oh yes I do, panic. I felt very fulfilled though.

I also had a day getting on with Li Mei, the doll I began in Patti Culea's workshop in October. I am determined to finish her in the next couple of weeks. Remember I said that please. I actually silk painted the crepe de chine for the jacket twice as I was not happy with what I did on the course, and that took a while. I shall show you in the finished pic.

'Well at least she had the decency to put the dress on before she took my picture, I've been freezing for 3 months. '

I have made her clothes but have all the embellishing to do, most of which has to be done by hand. Trying to sew and iron the silk charmeuse dress is not something I feel I can ever repeat! Here she is waiting for her obi to be put on (and her hair!) We used Markal paintsticks to do the face, which were great fun and a new departure for me. She is supposed to be a sort of Tibetan Chinese girl, hence the slight slant to her eyes.

Do you remember this little doll with the eyes too big for her head? Well, I realised the tiny, fairy, paperclay head I had, for some bizarre reason, begun to sculpt, was exactly the right size, so it was 'off with her head' and work out a way to get the clay one on!

'What are you doing with those scissors? Aaaaargghhhh! Help! Noooooooo..........................'

I put the cotton reel in the photo for scale, the face is just over half an inch (about 2cm). I think it's going to work a lot better than the cloth idea, but I still have to paint it - hmm yes, well....

'Ello, I'm Fairy 'Ardknutt... where's me steel toecapped boots gorn?....'

And this odd looking creature is something I have been working on, using up some old jewellery wire and foil under papier mache. I know what it will be, but not exactly how I will get it there, as it is growing in a very, shall we say, organic way!

Not a lot you can say about this really?

I have so many ideas buzzing around at the moment for new dolls and figurative items, but today I have spent the day drawing, using some of the great art books I received for my birthday and Christmas, as I am determined to improve my skills. I must re start my OCA course before March too!

The cardigan is progressing well. Just need to complete the right front, and then the sleeves and it will be done! Thanks for all the knitting support from those who do and those who don't! I must say I am hooked now, and excited at the prospect of having a garment where the sleeves are not too long, because I said so!

Finally, I would just like to tell you this bit of impressive news, and in the spirit of blogging do a bit of promotion for Rachel Cotterill (who is a human dynamo, with such a varied and interesting blog; and she is so young!) Rachel has written and self published her first novel (a historical fantasy adventure) and it's getting great reviews on Amazon.

I love this type of book and am enjoying reading it very much, so if any of you, or friends and family like this genre, do check out Rachel's blog here.

Happy creating.x

Happy Blogversary dear Jules.....

2011-01-01T20:00:00.006Z

I hope everyone is enjoying their New Year celebrations!

To add to the occasion, I am celebrating two years of blogging today. I will be doing something to mark the event - but, for my first post this year - as I like to be diverse and because I'm so excited and pleased, I just have to share this amazing fact.

I am knitting.

Really, actually knitting - and (even more amazing,) actually understanding it! I am even enjoying myself.

Why on earth am I posting about this, you ask? Well, dear friends, this is a major turning point for me - after about 45 years I have finally beaten my evil nemesis, and broken the taboo of 'one needle good - two needles bad'.

I know I am a late starter, I didn't drive until 38, taught myself to swim at 45, conquered the fear of sewing machines at 46..... so I thought, ' Good grief, you're 50 woman, pull yourself together, how hard can it be'?

I mean, I was taught as a child, I knew the principles, but I could never understand what to do when I went wrong, and couldn't be bothered to wait around and find out. Unless my mum or auntie was there to sort it out and pacify me, my reaction would inevitably involve my throwing wool and needles on the floor and stamping on it - hard. Do not try this at home.

But, at long last, the Internet has triumphed again, as within 2 minutes of watching a video tutorial, a really helpful American lady had solved all my problems. I bought wool (chunky) and needles (huge) and I'm making a very simple cardigan - Me! Ms 'I can't knit and am actually quite proud of the fact'.

The evidence: 'Confessions of a novice knitter'

Chuffed to mintballs I am.

That's All Folks..... x

For Auld Lang's Syne.... A little reflection...

2010-12-31T18:18:00.011Z

New Year's Eve. Tomorrow will be my second Blogversary. I can hardly believe it is two years since I took my first tentative steps in blogland. In that time I've made connections with some wonderful people and found real friends.

Like many other people, the coming year is going to be a challenging one for me, it will probably mean changes in my life, and quite a bit of 'Carpe Diem', I expect!

This Christmas, as usual, I watched one of my favourite films, Frank Capra's 'It's a Wonderful Life'. At the end of the film there is a quote which always makes me cry, and which seems appropriate for this post. George Bailey (James Stewart) reads out the inscription written in the copy of 'Tom Sawyer', given to him by Clarence, his guardian Angel -

'Dear George, remember, no man is a failure who has friends. Thanks for the wings, Love Clarence.'

Last Christmas I was sent this list. I liked it so much I posted it and had some very positive feedback. So, I make no apologies for reiterating these wise words, as they helped me a lot during the past year.

1: When in doubt - just take the next small step.
2: Life is too short to waste hating anyone.
3: Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
4: Make peace with your past so it won't screw-up the present.
5: Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
6: Children get only one childhood.
7: Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
8: Be eccentric now - Don't wait for old age to wear purple! (Yay!)
9: No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
10: Frame every so-called disaster with these words. 'In five years, will this matter?'
11: Forgive everyone everything.
12: The best is yet to come.

I wish you all peace, joy and contentment in 2011. May it be a magical and creative year for you. x

Festival of the Trees

2010-12-30T16:31:00.005Z

Being a very tree-ey kind of a person I realised so many of my photos are tree related, so I though I would put some pictures together to demonstrate the beauty and diversity of these amazing creations. Trees are wonderful......

Blimey, it's almost Christmas.....

2010-12-21T16:49:00.004Z

Hello all in blogland!
I won't bore you about all the stuff I've been doing these past few weeks with regard to sorting out "what on earth am I going to do with the rest of my life"; or being ill with "the cold to make up for years of never getting a cold"; or the heating breaking down (and it's really, really cold here again, we are deep in ice and snow and sub zero temperatures -11 degrees tonight) . What happened to those famous UK mild, wet winters, when we longed to see a snowflake, huh?

But I digress, as usual. You'll notice a few changes here and there, like the different name! This is my maiden name which I'm beginning to use again - all part of the life changing stuff, and getting back to 'me' again. I have been busy with lots of creative ideas and I'm looking forward to sharing them in the New Year. The blog may be changing a wee bit in 2011, hope you like the new approach!

Last week it was my 50th birthday ( no no, you cry, it can't be, she's so youthful, a mere babe... yeah, right....). Seriously, I am now 50 years young, and I had a magical day, celebrating with my family. I was so lucky and had some wonderful gifts, but I want to share this one, because I was so thrilled with it.

Andy asked what I would like for my special birthday and I told him I would love a necklace designed by the talented Joanne May (not actually thinking he would remember, but bless him, he did). Lovely Jo designed me this beautiful golden hare necklace, and then added the gorgeous bag charm as a gift from herself.

Thank you Jo, I love this so much, it's the perfect present, and the charm was such a sweet and kind thought.

I had so many craft books I shall definitely have to buy a new bookcase for my room! Oh, the wonderful ideas and inspiration....

So, finally I just want to say thank you to all my blogging friends for their wonderful posts, which by turn make me:

laugh (often)
cry (sometimes)
be inspired (regularly)

I hope that you all ( for those who celebrate) have a very Happy Christmas, and wish everyone peace, joy, contentment and creativity in 2011. See you in the New Year. xxx

Breeze

2010-11-21T12:42:00.006Z

Breeze is a Sprite from the Tail End of Autumn. This is a time of year that can be a little sad and gloomy, but, unbeknownst to us humans, the world of faerie is busy ensuring there are some spashes of light and colour amidst the grey to cheer us on the gloomy, overcast days at the end of November........

Breeze works hard to pull out all those final bits of colour; the flower heads that just escaped the frost, and the last red and gold crinkled autumn leaves. Then she places them strategically, so we see them on our hurried trips into the garden; or whilst we are huddling into our coats and scarves on a chilly walk out in the woods, and so, quite unaware, we are reminded of all the colour and light we have seen and which is yet to come.

She's a pensive little soul with a tendency to sit amongst the leaves and daydream.

Breeze's shift is woven of cobwebs, moonbeams, and the last flower petals touched by the November frosts. Her boots are fashioned from lambs wool gathered in the spring, which she felted in an acorn cup, and then painted with fallen stardust, adding dewdrops to make them sparkle.

Breeze has been created from my own pattern. Like my other dolls she has her own special written story, and, she may be looking for a new home.....we shall see! x

Some creativity at last...

2010-11-21T11:52:00.004Z

Just to prove I have been going to classes I thought I'd show you some of my blocks - so real quilters out there please look away now.

Actually I am really pleased at what I have achieved in class. I have deliberately chosen blocks I would not normally have dreamed of attempting, as they looked really complicated and have avoided any hand sewing or applique so far as that's where I feel safe and confident.

But of all the blocks I've done Rail Fence is my favourite, as it's really easy to do but looks so effective. I could probably manage a quilt in this one!

I managed to get the piecing reasonably accurate for this one, and was really proud.

Managed Wild Goose Chase at home by myself. (Smarty pants)

My nemesis - Mariner's Compass, please don't look too closely. But, I did it; (never again though) and I am pleased as no one else in the class has tried. Hmmm, I wonder why.....

I can't see me doing these types of block ever again, but it's fun going to the class and I've enjoyed the discipline. It has given me even more respect for quilters and their neatness and accuracy.

So, to dolls - and first, here is what happens when you attempt to make a tiny doll and cannot then gauge how to do the face properly! She's 10 inches long, but her arms and legs are about 1/3 inch wide. Many, many bad words were spoken during the turning process!
Button jointing her took longer and was more difficult than any other doll I've made.

This is the third teeny head I've needle sculpted/painted so far. I may have to call her Alice as it's certainly a case of "Off with her Head!" Ah well, practice makes perfect, I shall keep trying.

If the light is good I will post her big sis later today. x

Oops...

2010-11-14T18:18:00.005Z

Where is the time going?
I can hardly believe I have not posted for so long. I haven't been lying on my chaise longue eating choccies - honest! Although that sounds really good....

I have been really busy, quilting, embroidering and doll making, and there will be a new doll to share with you- very shortly I hope, she is almost complete. I've also been doing a lot of art work, but I'm not quite ready to show it just yet. Last week I did my first life coaching session - scary looking at yourself in such depth, but fun, and -I have lost just over half a stone so far - hooray!

So there is still a lot happening, and I just don't seem to have had time to get on line much. Anyway, here here are some pictures I took on a walk in the beautiful Forest of Dean ( the leaves are going now, sadly), but this was a magical autumn day a couple of weeks ago.

Thank you for all your lovely comments, and I will get round to visiting everyone soon I promise. x

Where is the time going?

2010-10-17T15:10:00.009+01:00

I am just so busy at the moment. It's great, but my blog is suffering.

All my activities are going really well and I have lost 4lb in the last 2 weeks, which I'm delighted about. I feel I have more energy and vitality than for a very long time. The weather has been lovelyfor the last few days, so we have been catching up outside, clearing the veggie garden and preparing for the autumn, and then we had a beautiful walk in the Forest of Dean ( just across the River Severn) yesterday, of which more later.

Now - I promised holiday pics of the gorgeous English Lake district so here are some - at last!
We only scratched the surface, I can't wait to return. Do click on the links to find out more as there are more stunning pictures on many of the linked sites.

The Lakes have everything for me, and are the perfect autumn place. The quality of the light is wonderful, the scenery incredible, wildlife and plant life are in abundance, and there is historical and cultural reference everywhere. So many writers and artists have loved and been inspired by the area, from Wordsworth to John Ruskin, and of course Beatrix Potter!

This was the view from the top of the hill behind our cottage, beautiful Tarn Hows.

Two of the amazing ( life size) sculptures which take you by surprise in the Grizedale Forest!

The Steam Yacht "Gondola" on Coniston, sadly we didn't get a chance to take a trip!

Medieval wall painitings in the Church at Hawkshead, our nearest village ( and one of the prettiest places ever!)
The view from the churchyard - stunning!

This is now the Beatrix Potter Gallery, housing wonderful original works, but was originally the offices of her husband, William Heelis', solicitors firm.

This was so pretty, we had tea here.
Waiting excitedly to get into Beatrix Potter's Hill Top ( me not Andy, he was very good about it though!) You must go in by timed ticket as it's so small.....
Part of the wonderful stone circle at Castlerigg, which I managed to take without anyone in shot ( no mean feat!)
The view from Castlerigg.
I will not bore you with the many, many pictures I took of fungi and lichens, but these stood out. This log looked like something out of a fairy tale -

The fairies held a feast, and left their goblets behind in their haste to get away...

And this is more to do with giants. That's Andy's hand and believe me, he's not small - this monster was enormous, more like a tray then a dinner plate!

I will try and do a crafty post this week, and to catch up with everyone's blogs in between finishing Patti's doll, and doing my patchwork and embroidery class homework, oh and going to work and fitness classes. What has happened to my world?

My Horn sewing cabinet comes tomorrow. Sew excited (sorry)!

Have a wonderful week.x

Finally I have time to post....

2010-10-07T10:33:00.004+01:00

What a busy few weeks I've had. All good though. The holiday was wonderful and I did not want to come home! I will do a post about it separately as so much has happened since I returned home.

On the following Monday I went to see Jan, who is my new "Life Coach", and who I hope will be helping me make some sense about what I am going to do with the rest of my life! I really enjoyed the introductory session and I'm looking forward to working with her. I did do some coaching a few years ago which was wonderful and was all ready to start my own business. after it seemed we would all be made redundant, but then I got offered a better job at work, so it all fizzled out. Got to get some of that confidence back!

I was back to work on Tuesday and Wednesday morning, then in the afternoon I did an extra P&Q session as our lovely tutor Gail kindly let me come to her other class, as I would miss the Friday one. On Thursday I was packing supplies and equipment before driving Helen and myself to Babbacombe, Torquay on the English Riviera for my three day doll workshop with Patti Culea!

What a wonderful time I had, I really cannot believe it, the venue, Beads for Beauty was lovely, Sylvia the owner is great, so friendly and helpful; and the ladies taking part were a terrific bunch! Patti is just terrific, so talented, and a lovely lady, and also really funny with some wonderful stories to tell. It was a privilege to learn from her, but did we work hard! We did not finish until almost 6 each night plus doing some "homework", and then we only scratched the surface.

Our naked ladies drying in the sun - we don't know what the postman thought!

Unfortunately, as I had so much to pack with 2 of us travelling in my little car, I forgot my camera, so have had to crib some pictures for you from Patti's blog! Here we all are, I am next to Patti - feeling very tall ( as I am only 5 foot myself!) she is such a petite lady.

Li Mei is stunning and pictures do not do her justice. Patti had brought several of her dolls and when you actually see them in reality they are breath taking.

Here is Patti's Li Mei. What a beauty! But lots and lots of work still to be done to my girl......

I still have much to tell, about our amazing 1920's hotel, an experience in itself, which I'll post another day as I still need to catch up with everyone's blogs!

This evening I start embroidery group and I have also begun Pilates and Aqua aerobics on a Tuesday. I can feel my stomach muscles for the first time in two years! I have taken the plunge and joined Weightwatchers this week. Change is going to happen, and my bad habits will go! I am determined.

I'm so looking forward to finding out what all my blogging friends have been up to, and will be visiting you all over the next week. I hope everyone is well and happy. x

Taking just a few moments...

2010-09-17T18:57:00.005+01:00

I'm madly packing for my holiday, but I have news! I entered Lady Isabella ( remember her, my snooty young lady with her nose in the air ) in our local show last Saturday and got second prize!

( Here she is showing off!)

She was competing across a range of different crafts and media, so I'm really delighted. However, I feel she is becoming a little too big headed and may have to be spoken to severely!

Have a wonderful week and I hope to have lots of photos of the beautiful English Lake District to show you very soon. x

Climb aboard the bus......to Gloucester

2010-09-08T15:57:00.010+01:00

I thought for a change I would take you on a journey. So, climb on board - be careful if you're going 'up-top'. Mind the doors. Ding ding, off we go........ Hold very tight please!

Our first stop in this ancient Roman city (pronounced Gloster) is an Anglo-Saxon alleyway next to a medieval stone arch, where we find 9 College Court, a tiny C18th house.

The house and the alleyway - which leads to the magnificent Gloucester Cathedral - are just as depicted in Beatrix Potter's illustrations for "The Tailor of Gloucester" published in 1903.

(Harry Potter fans may recognise these last 2 shots, the gardens and cloisters were used extensively in the films as Hogwarts)

At the far end of the alley is Westgate Street, where half timbered houses and ancient churches abound. Here lived the real Tailor of Gloucester, John Pritchard.

College Street off Westgate Street

In 1897 Beatrix came to stay with her cousin, Caroline Hutton at Harescombe Grange near Gloucester, and was told the story of tailor Pritchard who had been commissioned to make a suit for the new Mayor of Gloucester. He left the work unfinished and returned to find the suit beautifully completed, but for one buttonhole to which was attached a little note that read, "no more twist". The tailor put a sign in his window: "Come to Pritchard's where the waistcoats are made at night by the fairies". A wise entrepreneur indeed!

The truth was that two of his employees, too drunk to get home, had let themselves into the shop to sleep. To pass the time they worked on the mayor's suit - until they ran out of thread. Beatrix Potter turned the employees/fairies into mice and the tailor into a poor man who lived with his cat in the kitchen of the little house. I prefer her version!

So, let us continue through this city where I was born and where I've lived in and around for the last 40 or so years, until I moved to Bristol. My maternal family have lived In Gloucester for generations and our roots have been traced back to about 1520.

Having refreshed ourselves with a delightful cream tea at one of the 'olde worlde' establishment in Westgate Street, we move on, ladies and gentlemen, to view even more ancient historical delights.

In AD49 the Romans built a fort at the first point where the river Severn can easily be crossed. Then they built a bigger one, and they liked it so much it became the town of 'Glevum' or, more formally, Colonia Nervia Glevensium ( what a mouthful)! It became a retirement town for ex Roman soldiers! Roman villas abound here, every time there is excavation work for a new building, Roman remains will be unearthed.

A view of the old city walls

Gloucester played a pivotal role in the English Civil War, led to the fall of the king and changed history. The city was also an important port. Here we are at the famous Victorian docks. The "Tall Ships" still visit today.

National Waterways Museum, Gloucester Docks

St Oswald's Priory

And finally, another ecclesiatical gem. Even before the Norman Conquest and the foundation of the Cathedral ( St Peter's Abbey) St Oswald's Priory was a mecca for pilgrims coming to the city. It was built around 849BC - not bad, heh? If it hadn't been for those Civil War cannons it would still be complete today.

So, that concludes our trip. I hope you enjoyed your whirlwind tour of this historic city, and that those up top didn't find it too shaky.

Please mind the step as you leave, we hope to see you again soon.

Have a wonderful week. x

And the other doll..

2010-08-24T18:14:00.005+01:00

....arrived on Saturday too, and is also settling in very well to life in the States with my friend Melissa at Ardea's Nest. I was so busy getting ready for the Festival of Quilts that I didn't log on and only discovered she had also arrived at her destination yesterday.

This is Evie, the Quilting Witch:

She's all cloth (well she does love to quilt, so it seemed only right.)
Evie is a sunny soul, who loves stitching and flowers, and lots of bright, cheerful colours! No dull black for her. She's also very environmentally aware, hence her green outfit. She'll be perfectly at home creating lots of different fabric projects with Melissa, who is always coming up with wonderful and practical stitching ideas. I hope Evie makes herself useful!

So there we have two very different dolls, for two very special and talented ladies!

Now the show - well, it was a great day, and as it was the final day of the four it was relatively quiet, pleasant and easy to walk around. Having said that, it's so huge, that we did not see even half of what was on show, and I'm afraid we had to spend a large proportion of time looking around the marketplace, ahem. I bought lots of pretty fabric, some silks and embellishment for my doll course, and this book, which is a advance copy signed for me by the author, Lisa Lam of U - handbag.

She has some great pictures of the show over at U- handblog. It was great to meet Lisa, I've found her tutorials so useful. She's lovely, and great fun. The book is excellent, rather than the usual idea of several easy projects to follow it's a really useful guide to creating bags, and making them look professional. It's like having all your tutes in one place and being able to carry it around. There are lots of tips and tricks and it's written in a user friendly and fun style, with really good photo references. A winner!

My friend Helen bought Kafe Fassett's new book and he signed it, but he was rather quiet. We got the feeling he would rather not have been there..... It was great seeing his quilt designs 'for real' thoug,h and also those of Jane Brockett, I'm going to try one of her quilts for my patchwork class. Sadly we missed seeing Amy Butler, maybe next time. There were no dolls or doll related items which I could see, nor hand any embroidery, I probably need the Knitting and Stitching Show for that........ x

Lots of crafty news

2010-08-21T15:48:00.005+01:00

Hooray, I'm off to the Festival of Quilts tomorrow, to look at beautiful textiles and do lots of shopping - I hope! But first of all, I can finally show one of the latest dolls, as I heard this morning that The Bunny Herder has now arrived at her new home in the USA!

She is a cloth and clay doll created for my dear friend Shell at The Raspberry Rabbits. The BH is made in the style of a Dresden shepherdess, and she is supposed to have an angelic and calm demeanour- but is a thing possessed if someone threatens her furry friends! She is carrying one of her charges. She needs the shorter skirts and big suede boots as you have to wade through a lot of mud looking after bunnies, and silk shoes simply would not cut it!

Her liccle bunny:

Do please hop over to say hello to Shell, I can guarantee you'll enjoy her wonderful blog, fabulous quilting, and her amazing sense of humour!

I've had a lovely week of exciting things coming in the mail. Best of all were these beautiful, tiny fairy shoes, which were a gift from Jill at Bois-fleurie ( isn't that a wonderful blog name!)

Aren't they exquisite? Jill is based in France and she creates the most gorgeous dolls and other items which are just so pretty, charming and stylish. Please go and visit her!

I have several lovely new books including the delightful, The Gentle Art of Quiltmaking - ready for my course in September, and this one, Omiyage by Komiko Sudo. Omiyage is Japanese for 'gift'. This book is simply scrummy and contains many different hand stitched projects, which would make wonderful gifts. My mouth has been watering!

The instructions arrived for the doll I'll be making at Patti Culea's class - wow, the supplies list is huge! I also think I must practice free machine embroidery over the next few weeks! I'll also be re-starting my drawing course in a few weeks and I'm planning a new character, although he may have to take a back seat until the pre-lim work for Patti's doll gets done ( Aha - you know it's going to be male now....)

I'll let you know what I end up buying tomorrow! x

Bit of news and - do you remember?....

2010-08-12T16:54:00.009+01:00

I have been enjoying catching up with my favourite blogs!
The last few weeks have been busy, but art and craft have had to take a back seat. I'm pondering what to do with the rest of my life. My organisation is in a state of flux ( those of you in the UK will know all about the current issues with government cuts, and the civil service is very severely affected). There's a possibility of voluntary redundancy at work, and I'm not sure quite what to do! I'm not really satisfied with what I'm doing any more ( 20 years working in the environmental sector mean I've seen a lot of changes, and I don't think the latest ones bode well for the UK). I've got an idea about what I could do, but I'm lacking in the confidence I need.
So there is lots to think about, and I'm considering going to see a life coach to help me get my ideas in perspective.

Meanwhile, although I haven't been posting I have been doing quite a lot. I have signed up to do a patchwork and quilting class at the local college (for improvers - the tutor said I didn't need beginners after we'd chatted, I felt really proud!) It's starting in September and will be a real challenge for me!

I've joined a local embroidery group which meets up one evening a week and I've volunteered to help out at our local village show, as well as entering some of the classes. Plus I have to re-start my Open College of the Arts course, and I'm looking forward to doing that.

Last weekend was taken up with sorting out the spare room ready for me to have a space for both my sewing and art/craft. I now have all my supplies and fabric stash sorted out, and loads of extra cupboard space - now to get rid of the bed and get the new furniture. I'm looking at something like this for my machine.

We also booked a holiday in the Lake District, which I'm excited about as it's somewhere I love dearly and haven't been back to for a few years, so look out for some Beatrix Potter posts soon!
I still can't show the new dolls - but should be able to very soon......

Now back, back in the mists of time.....(cue dry ice machine and lots of swirly fog....) to last November and the new kitchen being put in. I promised I'd post about it when it was completed, as as regular readers will know, that has not been quite as straightforward as I hoped! But, in the last couple of weeks we have finally got the bottom plinths sealed and at last I can present the 'before' and 'after' pictures to you.

I have put in more 'before' to try and show you how bad it was - and although these were taken just prior to the builders coming in, I promise we had removed no doors etc, it's exactly as it was when I arrived here. I scrubbed regularly to within it to an inch of it's life, but it was simply - horrible. I remember my first sight of it - total shock! Provided Andy could heat up his ready meal, sleep and play with his computers, life was fine - then he met me!

So here we are:

In all its glory!

Note the delightful central focus point of the large blue plastic bin in the space where the cooker should have been. ( They wired it in on the opposite wall - I never understood that!)

Close up of the cracked tiles and attractive ( peeling) 70's wallpaper.

The old boiler, oh, the pain of remembering......

And now, at long last.... Ta da!!!

Our lovely new beech kitchen - not counting the beautiful new walls, floor and ceiling. Bliss. Now you can see how happy I am, only another three rooms to go........ x

At last.....

2010-07-25T12:37:00.007+01:00

Hello everyone and thanks so much for bearing with me.

I am feeling much better, and just want to thank you all again for your lovely messages of cheer and support. I will be contacting you all soon. I am so looking forward to catching up with all of my favourite blogs and finding out what you have all been doing.

I am so pleased to be feeling better and to have more energy again. I had such a happy beginning to June but after the wedding I seemed to slump and just felt very low and really quite exhausted; everything seemed to be a major effort and I seemed to have had no energy or ability to do it. Between the continual problems with our renovation work, a bad time at work with lots of uncertainty about what will happen, two more bouts of urticaria and feeling very down, I decided it was to to switch off for a bit, try to sort myself out and try to get things back in perspective. I realised that I was starting to panic about everything, even not doing my blog on time, and trying to impose too many things to do and too many restrictions on myself.

So I've had a time out and feel better than I have for a long while. There are still a lot of things going on, but that's life. I decided that I won't stick to a weekly post any more, but will be more spontaneous!

Once I started to feel better, I began to do some creative things. I've actually almost finished 2 very different dolls. I can't show you either just yet, for reasons which will become apparent but I should be able to very soon.

I've been completing my Spring embroidery; and inspired by Melissa I have been making lots of hexagon flowers. I have found this a great pastime while watching a film or DVD, in the evening! I also had a lovely day with some great company at Wendy's box making workshop. Here we all are in her living room having great fun sticking and folding fabric.

I had no idea this was being taken!
Some of us made Victorian Etui boxes and other boxes with drawers. Here is my Etui box. I finally got a special use for the beautiful vintage daisy button on the top sent to me by my kind friend Rosemary in Australia. It looks just right.

And here is the box open.

Enjoying the sun in Wendy's garden with our finished works!

The other ladies are all local patchwork and quilters and have inspired me to perhaps have a go at quilting again this autumn. We all enjoyed ourselves so much we have arranged to meet up again for a craft session in September. Wendy also put me in touch with a lady who runs a local embroidery group and I have been invited to join them on a Thursday evening in the autumn, which will be lovely. It's so nice to make new links with other creative people.

I've been asked if I am going to enter some of the handicraft classes in our local show, so I thought I might enter one of my embroideries and maybe one of my dolls? I don't know which ones though. Any thoughts?

With all this new energy I have been getting up and going for a walk every day, and this morning I managed to take some quite decent photos of some of our summer flowers and butterflies.

Here is the view from the top of the hill, I thought it looked quite pretty through the trees. You would not guess the City of Bristol is over the horizon.

There is a grassland common at the top of the hill beloved butterflies, and I managed to take this marbled white enjoying a sunbathe.

All the hedgerows are full of this wild clematis which we call "Travellers Joy". The fluffy seed heads of this plant are called "Old Man's Beard", but I prefer the more picturesque name!

This doesn't look like much, but it is the site of an iron age hill fort (about 8th century BC), where there was once a thriving community, now it is covered in plants and trees and a haven for wildlfe.

One of the tiny blue butterflies that love the grasslands, they are so delicate and pretty.

This almost looks like an autumn scene already, there are so many blackberries this year.

Now I'm off to enjoy the sunshine for the rest of the day. Hope it is shining on you wherever you are. x

I'll be back soon...

2010-07-17T16:59:00.002+01:00

Thank you everyone for your lovely comments, e-mails and cards, what a super bunch you are. I really appreciate all the kind words and thoughts. I will be posting properly very soon, but just wanted to let you know how grateful I am. x

I hope to be back soon

2010-06-25T21:10:00.003+01:00

Sorry I have not been able to catch up with all my blogging friends for a couple of weeks. I've not been not feeling quite myself, so I'm just taking a bit of time out.

I'm thinking of you all, and hoping you are having a happy summer (or winter if you are in the Southern hemisphere) so far.

I hope to be back to normal soon, and look forward to reading what everyone has been doing. x

Bags, of gardening

2010-06-14T20:11:00.004+01:00

I am so excited! I can hardly believe this, but I am going on one of Patti Culea’s cloth doll making workshops! It has all happened so fast it hasn’t really sunk in yet, but in October my friend Helen and I are off to sunny Torquay for a 3 day class. I’m such a huge fan of Patti’s work, and her books were a revelation to me when I began to make dolls. It will also be a chance to meet some other doll makers from around the UK, which is a pretty rare thing!

I’ve been trying to cut out a new doll all weekend, but have been side tracked by bags. And now for another life changing admission (ahem, embarrassed cough and much shuffling of feet) Ok, I’ll admit it, I’m so proud of myself. I designed a bag for my niece’s birthday, and for the first time ever, ever - I put in a zip, and to cap it all, not just a zip, but a zippered inside pocket!

Now, you must understand, I’m completely terrified of sewing zips; I’ve done anything and everything to avoid using them, but with the aid of this terrific tutorial from Lisa at U-handblog I have achieved the impossible, and it was actually, fine. I’m going to do it again. Whoo hoo!

Here is the bag, in lovely Amy Butler fabrics:

And here is another for Andy’s niece Sally, inspired by this pretty oriental fabric:

Sorry about the poor picture quality. There is a tiny bit of beading on this bag, if you look very hard, just to accentuate it a little.

I’m fast developing a fabric addiction I would not previously have thought possible!

On the home front, more excitement, our wildlife garden is really taking off this year and we were thrilled when female red mason bees moved in to lay their eggs in our newly put up nest site this week. My sugar snap peas have set their first pods, and I pulled the first radishes yesterday, which went into last night’s stir fry.

On Saturday we had a great time visiting Jekka MacVicker’s Herb Farm, which is only a short distance away but only opens to the public 4 times a year. Jekka is the doyenne of British herbs, and has written some fantastic books too. Of course I just had to buy some more herbs... so we have increased our bee friendly plants, and I bought a horseradish for Andy, which I have had trouble wrenching from his grasp to plant. He keeps asking how I will make the horseradish sauce, and appears not to listen when I tell him the plant will have to get established before we can dig up some of the roots,....hmmm, not sure he believes me......x

PS Sorry about the strange changing font, Blogger is very unhappy today and after the 4th failed attempt to re-do the post I'd had enough.....!

Katherine and Todd's Wedding Day!

2010-06-06T18:27:00.009+01:00

I'm begging your indulgence this post, as I'm such a proud auntie this week, I want to share my happiness with you! I've had such a busy week but it was worth it. What a wonderful day, full of joy, laughter and love!

We helped out all day Friday with decorating, flowers, transporting the cake etc (quite a challenge that one!), and were worn out from all that - so I don't know how my family have coped over the last few months. It was all worth it though. The wedding was at St Mary's Church in Lydney and the couple were married by Jonathan, the vicar, who is also their close friend, which made it even more special.

The reception was held in the beautiful Wye Valley, opposite wonderful Tintern Abbey!

I thought you would like to see the wonderful effort Katherine (and Todd!) had put into making everything look beautiful so here is a view of the table decorations.

The Wye Valley is known as the birthplace of British Tourism, after the Reverend William Gilpin, who coined the term "Picturesque", in the C18th. He saw the landscape as

"expressive of that peculiar beauty which is agreeable in a picture."

His writings influenced the remarkable popularity of English landscape painting during the last decade of the 18th Century, and inspired the Romantic poets. In honour of this tradition, each table was named after a different poet, with an appropriate verse of their creation.

Katherine had baked and decorated these gorgeous heart shaped biscuits for each guest, and the little (home made) envelopes contained packets of seeds for every one to take home and plant. I'm so proud of how beautifully she did all this ( plus making all the invitations and Order of Services!) All the children had special place settings (according to their ages) with bumblebee toys, bubbles and colouring books etc.

My brother made such a great speech, and when Todd spoke, Andy said he was almost moved to tears ( wow, praise indeed!) I was happily dabbing my eyes!

So, here we are, scrubbed up - in our wedding finery, and me in hat No 2.

Here is my happy family, my brother John, sister- in- law Rosemary, my younger niece Lizzie, who was bridesmaid, and of course the beautiful bride!

And here's the happy couple! My lovely new nephew Todd couldn't stop smiling all day.

I am in this one, can you spot me? You'll have to look hard, I was hiding , I really prefer to be on the other side of the camera!

A very proud Auntie Julie with my lovely niece!

So, after a wonderful day they can open their presents and then go on an amazing honeymoon, to Borneo, hopefully to see and give support to endangered Orang Utans.

Thanks for letting me share with you all. x

Lots to do with Weddings

2010-06-02T10:23:00.005+01:00

Just a quick post this week, I'm already late, but there has just been so much to do.

So, here we are at Jessamy and Douglas's wedding last Saturday! It was such a lovely day, sharing in their happiness and seeing all my family. Here are a couple of photos for you, and you can see me in my wedding finery Mark1.

Here's the happy couple in the grounds of Chavenage House, which was just stunning. A fantastic Tudor house, I really need to go back and see it properly, as there were 120 guests!

Here they are with part of the house as a backdrop.

A very unusual occurrence to see me out of my jeans! Congratulations to the happy couple, who I'm looking forward to seeing again at Katherine and Todd's wedding this week.

We'll be busy on Friday with pre-wedding duties and then enjoying ourselves again on Saturday!

I've bought Todd and Katherine a special good luck mascot from Wendy Morri. Wendy is a local lady who I've just met and is incredibly talented. She does beautiful patchwork and quilting and makes pretty much everything fabric based, but her love and speciality are stunning 5 inch high mohair teddies. They are wonderful, and quite adorable. I chose this little poppet:

Teddy has suede paws, and his eyes are made of agate. He is fully jointed with tiny cotter pins and and he's filled with steel shot and polyfill, so he will stand up by himself.
Wendy also makes these beautiful boxes and kindly made me a special one in yellow. I want to keep him!

Right, back to bag making and buying wrapping paper! x

Cards and Chickens?

2010-05-23T16:48:00.012+01:00

Never say that I am not diverse!

I have been panicking all week. Presents and cards to finish, gardening to do, clothes for wedding to get. Well, I'm part way there, on Thursday we went serious wedding outfit shopping. Andy was a doddle, I sorted him out easily, and he looks really smart in his new outfit. But moi - Aaarggghhh! Clothes shopping I always find a complete nightmare, especially for an event - the shops are full of completely unsuitable things for small, dumpy people - grrr, I do not like fashion! I have got something to wear for one wedding, but the other is still questionable. I even contemplated getting a pattern and making something (yes, I know, Jules making clothes - frightening. I scared myself, believe me.....). The only redeeming thing is I am going to hire hats this week (I love, love, love hats and never get to wear them!)

I finished the wedding cards today. I opted not to stitch, and did something very simple. I used 2 pieces of text I particularly like and thought would be appropriate, then printed them on to silk. I chose two of my floral photos to complement them (the orchids were taken in the Botanical Gardens in Singapore and seemed perfect for the I Ching). This card is for Jessamy, my cousin's daughter, and her fiance Douglas.

The Iris card is for Katherine and Todd, it had to be yellow, as it's Katherine's favourite colour- I wanted something different, and roses seemed too overblown for this poem. I took this picture in Scotland last June and it brought back many happy memories ( except of the midges biting!)

I hope they like them!

I feel mean that I haven't stitched anything for Jess, but I'm not sure of her taste and colour scheme preference, so I'm going to ask her and make something after the wedding. I also need to make something for Katherine's younger sister as it's her birthday in 3 weeks. I have some funky Amy Butler fabric I bought last week, which will make a lovely bag. New doll notes are still sitting on the craft table, plus another gift... Oh well, it will all get done eventually!

Ok, that's cards, now for the chookies! Now, this isn't a joke - I would like to get on my soap -box for a bit. Andy's mum and some of her friends are knitting jackets to help rescued ex- battery hens recover and get a new and happier life, see here! Chickens need friends too, especially these poor little creatures who are so abused as a commodity. I think it's a brilliant idea, and can really help to save their lives. It's so sad that life appears to be cheap for many. I know several people who've rescued battery hens and they usually turn out to be the most lovely , friendly little creatures - and great layers too. I'm going to help Little Hen Rescue now as there is a new design for a fleece jacket - hooray - for us non-knitters. Jackets can make all the difference to a recovering bird, usually all is needed is time, warmth and tlc to go from this:

To this happy ending:

If any of you in the UK have a bored knitter in the family, please consider asking them if they would be willing to do this, and please pass it on! Thank you so much.

That's it, Sunday almost over - have a brilliant week, and I hope the sun is shining on you ! x

The lack of young stitchers?

2010-05-16T17:51:00.007+01:00

We had such a great day at the quilt show, the sun shone and it was glorious weather. Unfortunately, I do not have any pictures of quilts to show. This was (ahem, embarrassed cough) because we spent most of our time buying wonderful fabric, ribbons, goodies etc. It was great! It was such fun to browse and I was very good and only bought things which I had a project planned for, so it wasn't too bad really. Honest...

There was a great atmosphere and everyone was so friendly. The only sad thing, as Helen remarked when we had our mid afternoon cuppa, was how sad that there weren't any young people. We actually felt like some of the youngest there, most of the ladies were obviously retirement age, despite it being a Saturday, and not a working day. This led us to discuss all the younger people we knew who don't sew, knit etc, which was all of them - except one! What are your experiences? - I know there are always exceptions, but despite a whole range of sewing and knitting magazines on the market over here, none of my friends my age or younger have yet to show any interest in making anything. Perhaps it's the UK dragging it's heels again, and it's different in the US and Australia?

When we finally arrived home Helen made me a gift of this beautiful faux chenille bag she had made, isn't it lovely? I was so thrilled. She's going to teach me how to do it!

So, talking of young people who don't sew, one of the items on my niece's wedding list was a sewing box ( for general use). Currently my sister in law has to take round all her equipment every time stitching needs to be done at Katherine's, as there is nary a needle and thread in the house.

To continue - 'aha', thinks doting auntie, 'I'll get that as a little extra personal gift for her'. Then I saw it in John Lewis. Wooden "hand carved"! ( hmmmm) box, painted pink with a dodgy "hand embroidered" needle case and pincushion, and a cheap tape measure wrapped around a fancy card. That was it, and they wanted £40.00! I was horrified, it was very poorly made and quite impractical.

So, flushed with my bag success last week, I decided to make a sewing bag like mine for her, in her favourite colours. I got some lovely material yesterday, and sewed like crazy today. I'm really proud of myself as I was given my original bag by my friend's mum, who is professional. She actually teaches textiles, patchwork and quilting, and made it as a gift for me. It's been so useful, and looks cute too! I managed to work out how it was put together, and voila!

Three pictures - you can tell I am proud!

This is my original bag and the "copy" I made!
Those who know my practical abilities are not great will appreciate what a big deal this was! It's not perfect but it was made with love. Now - to make the wedding cards and finish the other gift I am making, then I can start that next doll.

Have a happy, creative week x

Holiday heritage...

2010-05-08T20:49:00.016+01:00

So, here's a whistle stop tour of my week in Warwickshire, visiting some marvellous historic places. I wish so much I could show you the wonderful treasures inside too, but the National Trust's wonderful conservation work and their efforts ensuring people don't take photos, mean that these treasures can be preserved for future generations.

Here we go then - first the amazing Upton House, where your visit is set in a 1938 house party! Wonderful terraced garden too.

Upton was owned by the CEO of Shell Oil who was a great philanthropist and art collector. We had fun looking at the painting collection.
As we walked along the drive, this little poppet was happily nibbling his lunch, quite oblivious to human feet; the baby bunnies here are on to a good thing here!

This is Charlecote, a beautiful Tudor House and Parkland -where Shakespeare is reputed to have been hauled up before the magistrate for poaching the fallow deer that roam in the park!

This tiny little cottage was a play house or summerhouse.

Packwood House is another Tudor property with beautiful gardens, and take a look at that shadow clock on the first picture!

There is a bluebell walk around the lake which was enchanting.

Some of the wonderful garden vistas....

Snowshill Manor is incredible. Charles Wade's family made their money from sugar plantations. Young Charles wanted to travel the world and he became a passionate collector of handcrafted items - clocks, bicycles, costumes, samurai armour - you name it, he collected it. He bought the beautiful old house just to house his collection, while he and his wife lived in a modest cottage adjacent! The house is amazing, and the garden is one of my all time favourites.

Another fantastic clock!
Baddesley Clinton is a Tudor moated manor. This is the central courtyard.

The old medieval stew ponds ( where carp were kept for a ready supply of fish) are now a wonderful natural area. Andy is trying to explain to this youngster that there is a pile of grain on the bank, but to no avail. Andy's swan speak was just not up to it - he has better luck with ducks!

And finally, I had a really great day with my friend Helen on Friday, we talked dolls and fabric and quilting and lots of other things. Helen is a very keen patchworker and quilter and she helped me out with my machine embroidery phobia - so watch this space! Inspired by a lovely quilt she is making I decided to bite the bullet. So I bought some gorgeous , bright and cheerful Amy Butler fabric yesterday and made myself a new bag ( hooray! yes, just for me) for carrying my craft projects.

Here's a close up of the fabrics. Hey, I made something which is not a doll - and on the machine! is there hope for me yet? I am planning the next doll though...something I've wanted to try for ages.....

Next Saturday Helen and I are going to Quilts UK at Malvern! I'm so excited.

Have a brilliant week. x

The time has come, the walrus said....

2010-05-05T21:19:00.004+01:00

To talk of many things...
Back at last after my break. Well, I have so much to post I'm going to have to do it in chunks, or it will be like writing War and Peace! I was so busy with the garden at the weekend and then frantic at work, so this is my first opportunity to post for ages - although I am busily trying to catch up with all my reading of what everyone else has been up to.

I had an absolutely fabulous holiday and there will be many photos to bore you with later, but, today's post is to say an official "Thank You" to several people.

Firstly, to all my kind friends overseas who offered to purchase Paperclay for me and send it over here, after my rant in the last post. You are all complete stars!

Secondly, to Jo May for creating this beautiful bracelet for my friend Helen ( about which I posted aeons ago and which she has finally received!) She was so delighted with it. Thank you again Jo!

Thirdly to kind and generous Melissa for sending me the doll patterns which I was lucky enough to win in her giveaway. I love those witches! I definitely have a plan to use one of the patterns very soon!

And lastly to my lovely friend Sandy in Adelaide, an extra special thank you. I had a wonderful surprise when I got home on Friday. A parcel from Australia, containing paperclay and some of Sandy's own clay masks (of my favourite doll of hers, "Myfanwy") plus the fabric for me to try the cloth over clay technique! She even included a beautiful little face for me to see the finished result, and added some gorgeous embroidery threads. Sandy is an absolutely fantastic dollmaker with masses of experience, and she has been incredibly supportive of my efforts and so kind and helpful with giving me advice. She's also a really lovely person and great fun!

Do have a look at her picture trail and see her wonderful dolls. I hope that I can make something like them one day! Thanks again Sandy, you have been a real inspiration to me.

I'll be back soon with the rest of the news, meanwhile I hope you are all having a great week! x