This and That

A couple of weeks ago I put this painted quilt up for grabs. The response was amazing - 80 names in total! Well, I had the name drawn out of the box last Monday and what a palaver!
David was away for a couple of days, I couldn’t find Steve, so I grabbed Will to do the draw. Because there were so many comments left I had half decided that I would also give away the very first one of these painted quilts I created - the winning name drawn made my mind up for me :)
Take a look at this:

Yes, it was Pat of Altering Thoughts.
Not only is Pat one of the many friends I have made through blogging that I have actually met but I was also meeting up with her again on the Saturday. We were both going to the Embroiderers Guild Regional Day at Essex University – more about that later.
Fate or what?
So I went in search of Steve to draw another name for this painted quiltbut my camera hadn’t got enough memory left to do a second video so I had to be content with just a photo. You can barely see the name on this ticket but it says
Doreen K – who, for some reason I thought came from Oz but is actually from Nevada, USA – quite close then :) So Doreen if you would like to drop me an email with your snail mail addy I will get this in the post to you in a couple of weeks.

So yesterday was spent at Essex University with amongst several exhibitions and trade stands there were two lectures, Diane Bates and Jan & Jean. I have seen Diane at several of the different shows and if you know what she looks and dresses like I think you will agree that she seems to be a very formidable lady. On the contrary, she is one of the nicest, funniest speakers I have had the pleasure of listening to. I could have gone on listening to her for much longer – even though the seats in the lecture hall are not designed for comfort!
If you ever get a chance to meet/listen to this lady then you really must, she was wonderful and her work is exquisite. Jan & Jean were really good as ever and the work they bought along to show is absolutely fantastic. It all looks even better than it does in the books if thats possible.
I also managed to grab a couple of Pat’s ATC’s. The first one as she explains on her blog has been made using techniques described in Maggie G’s latest book ‘From Image to Stitch'.
And the second one is dressmaking tissue, acetate and lace. Both really wonderful cards.
I finally found out who my secret partner was in the ALQS because this arrived in the post recently:
Isn’t it fantastic?
I had said I had a preference for black, white & red and this is what Margaret came up with.
The label says 'Frog in the blender'. I’m going to frame it, to keep the dust off, and hang it in the dining room – will show a photo when it’s in situ as it will fit in a treat. Thank you Margaret. I love it.

For the want of something better to do today - displacement activity I think you call it :) - I was having a sort out and came across a box of samples under the heading 'metallic surfaces'. Although they were made some time ago now some of them still look quite interesting.
I'm going to look out the notes I jotted down when they were made as I thought I would put one or two on each week showing exactly how I created them in the hope they will set me off to develop a few of them further. I'm well known for making loads of samples of different techniques but never actually making a finished item and maybe something will spark my interest enough to follow it through.
These are just a few that were at the top of the pile. Some of them have a close up photo below.















**A message for Wendy Coyne - yes, it is me from Harlow College with Jane & Jane. Would love to hear from you, would be great to catch up - and I've had your blog on my favourites list for yonks too :)