Well, I think this must be the longest time ever that I’ve gone without blogging – but I’m back now and raring to go. Loads to show but will keep it fairly short for this week :)

I went to Ally Pally last month but only managed to make the one day in the end so I missed a big chunk of it which was a bit disappointing. Got a few supplies on my list though (and a few extra of course). Picked up some interesting bits too.
These Creative Colour Sprays from Crafty Notions. Just love the Scarab Beetle – beautiful emerald green with a metallic sheen to it.Also picked this up from the same stand – Moulding Mesh. Look forward to having a play with this one.Grabbed a couple of bags full of bits – carrier bags that is – from the Crazy Wire Company, some of it at crazy prices too, plus the very nice man gave me a free gift, probably because I spent so much. Amongst other things picked up a few bags of this Lametta Hair, they are coloured copper wire strands in loads of different colours.The Graduate Exhibitions were fabulous. All excellent, but my absolute favourites are these two.
Jackie Langfeld with her ‘Straw Dogs, Paper Warriors’. Had quite a chat with Jackie, was entranced with her work. Very interesting story to tell.And Sally Patons’ work, this piece in particular, ‘Ruins’.If you are going to the Knitting and Stitch at Harrogate then don’t miss this exhibition.
Managed to have a few words with Maggie and a very quick hello to Dale, whose stands were heaving as usual. Met up with Pat for a break at lunchtime, and she presented me with this truly amazing gift.And? You might be thinking, – it’s just another padfolio - but you’d be very wrong.
Open it up once and this is what you see:And again:Once more:And yet again – complete with embroidery threads!Evidently these are/were carried by Japanese ladies with all their silk threads and notions stored away inside the 15 boxes that this little booklet contains – Origami at its best. Everyone I show it to wants to play with it forever, keep opening and shutting the little boxes. (Amendment: Should be Chinese ladies - Sorry Pat, I had Japanese silk embroidery in my head - lets hope Neki hasn't spotted the deliberate mistake *LOL*)
Have also been sent a couple of gifts through the post.
This from Neki, handmade Jute paper ‘Made by Moi’ the note said :)I went through a stage of making all my own paper with different materials, haven’t done so for ages now but this has got me itching to have a go again, wrong time of year though as for me it’s definitely an outdoor activity. Same as the Indigo dyeing kit I purchased at AP from Jane Callender. Always in awe of the pieces Neki produces, decided to have a go with the real thing myself but will have to wait until the spring now.
Also received this handmade paper book from Jacqueline.A brilliant idea from Jacqueline. Photographs have been machine stitched to the pages – a permanent record of all her wonderful work. Simple, but very effective.
Slipped in at the last minute with the Calendar Girls postcard for October – well, just a day late really. Had finished it on the 31st October but having trouble taking photographs at the moment, dark when I go to work and dark when I come home so that only leaves the weekend. Bought some daylight bulbs thinking that might help, but it didn’t.
Anyway, this was the card I sent to Sharon, read the full story on the Calendar Girls 2008 blog.Close up: Remember the frames I covered with dyed fabric a few weeks back?Well, this is what happened to a couple of them.
Painted this one with Quin. NAG and Quin.BO. Following the line of the dye pattern I applied some Garnet Gel which was then coloured with Paynes Grey. The Garnet Gel sparkles when the light catches it. I then outlined it with Teal acrylic.
I really don’t know what was going on inside my head with this one. I cut the centre out (mistake 1), pulled threads from a spare piece of the same fabric and threaded them back through. Gave the surface a couple of coats of Polymer Medium.Then decided to paint it Quinacridone Crimson (mistake 2)The top threads were used to make French Knots (mistake 3) which I then had to paint over as you could still see the plain fabric underneath. And black beads were going to be threaded on the bottom threads. Something, I don't know quite what, would have been placed at the back making it visible through the threads. But it's another one of those things where you just know you are wasting your time because its not going to work. That will teach me not to think it all through first :)
The third one has been waxed and is just waiting for me to hot torch it. I’ll then ‘draw’ a pattern in the wax with a soldering iron and fill it with colour – possibly Indigo Procion.
Have been following with interest the Yahoo group and free lessons that Maggie Grey has offered with her latest book ‘Textile Translations’ – more details on the D4Daisy website.
Decided to have a go yesterday but the Gesso I have is the Golden brand and I think must be too runny so I just went off and did my own thing until I can get hold of a thicker gesso.
Although I have used a few different bits and pieces I can’t really go into detail about them as some of the technique is pretty similar, so will leave you with a few of the pieces and some close ups. Enjoy!P.S. Just need to ask this really silly question. Do you do the main part of your creative work standing up or sitting down?
I tend to stand up for almost everything except of course, machining. If I sit down for hand stitching or beading it has to be on a hard backed chair, no way could I sit in a comfy armchair – that’s for reading or watching TV :)
My Needlework teacher used to say I would get varicose veins if I kept standing for too long – well, that was several years ago now.
Just wondering.