Birthday wishes

Would like to thank everyone who left a message for me on Facebook for today.

I really must try and get to grips with Facebook, it seems to be the way everyone is going.

I realise that my birth date  is on my profile but how do people know? And why don’t I know when other peoples birthdays are? Is there a box I should tick which would let me know?

And do they all know the year too?

In case you’re wondering I haven’t qualified for a bus pass yet and am a few years away from a state pension thanks to the powers that be that raised the age – just don’t get me started on that, someone who paid their dues for over 30 years and am entitled to zilch compared to these scroungers that get it handed to them on a plate. I surely am turning into a ‘grumpy old woman’. Off the soapbox now for a few minutes.

Went down to the Creative Stitches show in Bluewater on Saturday. Good idea as we were snowed in on Sunday, had it quite bad up this way and living on a hill doesn’t help.  Bit dubious about going out in the snow since we got caught out last year with a 15 minute drive back from daughter No.1 taking us 5 hours!

Some good exhibitions and demonstrators. I know a few people were a bit miffed at the lack of supplies for stitchers but this was a new show and we need to support these shows or they won’t return which will be a shame especially at a venue like this where you have it all. I’m speaking as a purchaser not as someone who has been lucky enough to demonstrate at shows such as this.

Ally Pally wasn’t always as big as it is now and in the very early days when it was all in the one main hall there were some really weird stands there making up the numbers. 

The Hobbycrafts part of the show on the ground floor was really busy. I picked up a couple of things.

I already had some of these book rings in the larger size, didn’t realise they did smaller ones.

I use them to keep my samples together and the smaller ones will be ideal.

I do hate it when I’m demonstrating and the sample I am talking about is buried under a pile of stuff.

Also managed to get hold of these.  

I bought a packet from goodness knows where some time ago and used them a lot – didn’t realise how much until I see there are 99 of them in a packet. Lots of people asked me where I got them from and I couldn’t remember and never did come across them again. Bought these ones from ‘Paperartsy’

In actual fact, I bought two packets and you know what will happen now? I won’t need them for anything. Still, you can never have enough paper fasteners.

Still working on ‘Scrim, Screens & Scrappy Bits’ for Textiles in Focus which starts next Friday – can’t believe how quickly that has come around.

Made a frame up then decided to hang one of the textured pieces inside. (need a smiley face here)

Reminds me of a museum exhibit.

The frames are for something like this:

Unfinished. Beads and cord just to give me an idea of what, or what not, to do.
It’s Lutradur. Painted with Interference Blue which looks a bit bold because of the flash.Its hollow down the middle.And as the Lutradur has been zapped I might drop one of those night lights inside – a battery operated one of course.

The shelf at the bottom will have a small, very small,  handmade heavily embellished book laying on it when I can get around to it.

Also did one in interference green.Again, looks a bit bold because of the flash but I was never too keen on this colour anyway. Maybe it will look better when I drape some danglies over it.

Have another one on the go, slightly different, which will be coloured in my usual rusty, autumnal, muddy colours.

If you hop over to Julies blog Mixed Media just don’t click on play for this video. It’s still in my head even now almost a week later. B****y onions!

But do take a look at her snow dyeing, she has produced some wonderful pieces.

Am off to the Spectrum exhibition ‘Close to Home’  at ArtVanGo on Saturday to have a look at the work on display and also to join in the tea party. Should be fun.