So that was April!

Armed with my second coffee of the morning, and in an attempt to dry out after our wet and windy walk on the cliff, I thought it time that I sat down and wrote something on my blog!!

A friend mentioned yesterday 'I am not sure where that month went'........well I'll second that!  I can't believe that the last time I put fingers to the keyboard was 2nd April!! It feels like only yesterday that we were getting ready for visitors over the Easter break!!  

One of our trips over Easter, was a lovely day at Lanhydrock, wandering around the gardens, with the Grandchildren.  

A little early for Bluebells and Magnolias but beautiful nonetheless.  If you have never been; Lanhydrock has the most amazing kitchens.  A wonderful place to mooch around in and soak up the atmosphere!

Another adventure was a quick trip to Dartmoor.  Day One was gorgeous but.........Day Two.....that was quite another matter.   (No photos of Day Two)

 Dartmoor is always fantastic whatever the weather and so good for the soul.  The trip was a real walk down memory lane, as we have returned to this spot, on our own and with the children several times over the years!!

It is amazing to think that Sir Francis Drake had the foresight to create this Leat for the the people of Plymouth all those years ago.  

 The next adventure was Day One of the new Collage Workshop at 
St Eval. 

 It was a super day, lots of laughs, chatter, paint and some hand-stitching!! 

I am very much looking forward to Day Two next Thursday (Catalina Room).  Each workshop is designed to explore different media and techniques that will add colour and texture to fabric.  

They can be done as a set of 3 or as individual days.  

Day Two will explore amongst other things, making fabric paper, which once it is dry can be stitched into and use as any other fabric.
  
The only difference is that it is truly unique and made by you! 

A couple days after the workshop I popped down to our local Village Hall for the Plant & Produce Sale.  It was a great couple of days meeting lots of interesting folks.  'Thank you' to everyone that took the time to pop in and see us. 

 One lucky lady won a voucher for a Younique Textiles Day Workshop in the Sunday raffle.  

Now to the Challenge 2018............I have to admit at this point, that I have been a tad busy with workshop samples and 'life' but saying that I have pieces to show. 

Week 14 - Weave

 I have decided though, that these last 3 are not finished pieces but in fact techniques only. 

Week 15 - Fabric Paper

I am still working on this weeks Challenge, but it will be ready shortly.  

Week 16 - Transfer Dyes

Well that is it for today, can't say that my second coffee helped to warm me up on this Super Sunny Spring Day, (please can someone tell the weather it is Spring and it would be rather lovely if it was a little bit warmer!!).........but at least the Gorgeous Girl and I are dry now.

Thank you again for popping by, 

Carolyn



   

Making a mark!!

Since my last blog we have had a whirlwind trip to Cheltenham and also a visit to family in Salisbury.  

While we were at Cheltenham, we got to see a beautiful collection of tapestry panels created by ladies of the Royal Air Force Association Gloucester Branch in celebration of RAF100.  

Sadly, I didn't/couldn't take any photos but if you click on this link it should take you to their page.  The work that has gone into them is incredible as I am sure you will agree. I think my favourite one is panel number 2; the detail is so amazing it looks just like a sepia photo. 

So from experienced Stitchers, to the next generation!

Recently on one of the blogs that I follow, I saw a collection of work that was created with a theme of 'crosses'.  The crosses came in all shapes and sizes, with one common denominator, the size of the cloth. Sadly, for 2 minutes I can't remember the name of the lady who created this lovely work, but as soon as I do I will add a link. 

Anyway, the reason for my rambling, is that I showed this blog page to my daughter who was wanting to make something for Easter, with the children in her school.  

Close up of Cross

The children; Reception age to Year 6, were asked to make a small cross on a piece of fabric, which would then be put together to make one large cross.  They chose the colour, the size and the place their cross was going to be.  Even the teachers added their cross.  It was a fabulous day and I am very proud of my daughter for organising this and delighted to have been part of it.  I too left a sneaky cross on the fabric!!

Close up of stitches

 Inspired by the children's stitching, my piece for this weeks Challenge 2018 is just simple stitches on handmade felt.  I think it looks a little like fireworks!  

Week 13 - 26 March 18

This week has also seen me been busy making outfits for a fancy dress party.  You will be pleased to note that I don't have any photos of this either (you really wouldn't want to see my version of a 1970's punk!!), but it was great fun getting carried away with the extreme numbers of press studs I stitched to my skirt! 

 And so back to my Challenge which I may be a little late with this week, as we have a couple of little distractions staying (namely two of our Grandchildren), but I am sure I can be excused on this occasion!!  Then again I may get them to help me!!

 

Thank you again for popping by.

Carolyn

A little 'winter' walk!!

Well, here we are almost at the end of another week!  

The super weekend we spent walking a small section of the North Cornwall coast around Zennor, with our youngest son and daughter-in-law, is now a distant memory! 

The Gurnards Head

 We were indeed lucky with the weather, as the snow didn't arrive until  Sunday.  It did mean though that Sunday Lunch was a rushed affair, so that they could get on their way again before the roads became too bad.  A little local knowledge and a 4x4 helped in that respect!!

On the way to Zennor!

But, what a lot of water.......the small streams were bursting and reminded me of Scotland,  A lovely sight to see.  The dogs of course had a great time charging around.  I have to say they both slept well that night!

These couple photos are courtesy of my son!  

Back to my Challenge 2018.  Week 12, started as a small piece of painted fabric.........

How it all starts!

.......which I decided to weave (as I have mentioned before, I do like a little bit of weaving).........  

A little weaving!

......onto the weave I added a stencil from last weeks play and free machine and hand quilting.  

Hmm, I seem to be back to Blue and a sea theme!!  

Week 12 - 19 March 18

This week I have also been busy getting ready for my workshops at St Eval. 

Workshop play!

 It is only a month now and I am really looking forward to starting.  

Some workshop goodies

If you have a minute, please don't forget that you can also find me on Instagram, Twitter, Flickr & Facebook.   

 Thank you for popping by
Carolyn

OK so its blue!!!

I thought I would sit and quickly do my Blog for this week.  I should be doing the housework in readiness for the arrival of our Son & Daughter-in-Law this weekend, but for some strange reason I keep getting diverted!! 

 I met up with some old friends yesterday for a coffee (and lunch!!) and a good old chin-wag.  It has left me with lots of thoughts and ideas..........hence not being able to settle into housework today!

Promised colours

The days are rushing by and soon it will be April and the first of my workshops at St Eval.  I am really looking forward to doing them and spent a lovely afternoon on Wednesday with my paints out.  

I had promised a little colour this week, and did mention that it would probably be blue........what can I say; it is my favourite!!  

I am looking forward to transforming these pieces of new fabric, but for 2 minutes I am not sure which way to go.

Week 11 - 12 March 18

But, in the meantime I did have an idea for this weeks Challenge piece.  

I really liked the paint effect that was created from my stencilling and so encased the paper inside a small laminating pouch.  Trimming away the excess and using extra large Seed Stitches, I appliqued it onto a piece of hand-dyed scrim and 'Colour Catcher'.  

It is very simple but I like and sometimes less is more!  

Sadly, I can hear the call and it must be time now to go back to the housework!!!! 

This is for you Moira!!

Someone is already sat waiting for her mate to arrive!!  So why, I ask, am I worried about the house when it will be mayhem later!!

Keep warm this weekend if the promised forecast of snow happens!!  Perfect for stitching if you ask me!!

Thank you for popping by........Carolyn

Adding a bit of Colour

Well here we are almost in the middle of March and thankfully the snow and Arctic conditions have left us.  Sadly with rain and gales today, but hey, beggars can't be chooser can they!  

 

Felted Colours

To add a little colour into these grey days I have been working on a felt piece that I started last year with my Granddaughters.  At the ages of 10 & 8, they too have inherited my love of fabric and we are usually to be found stitching, painting or felting when they are here.  Their pieces are always beautiful and I am always more than happy to show them off to anyone who is interested!  No photos this time, but no doubt there will be in the future!

Felted Colours & Stitch

I am not the greatest 'Felter', but I love having a play, and always have to join in with the girls. I think I may have to do a small felted piece one week for my Challenge 2018.  

Talking about my Challenge, you may have noticed that I don't really have a theme for each week  It is just a case of seeing what I feel like at the time!  

Mostly I am re-visiting techniques in an attempt to re-fresh myself and re-connect with ideas.  I think it may have been easier to give myself a theme, but there you go, you live and learn!!  

Week 10 - Early Stages

The other day while I had the paints out, I transferred some of the excess onto this piece of tea-dyed calico.  I love the effect and decided to use it for last weeks Challenge.  

Week 10 - 5 March 18

A bit of couching, beads, seed stitching and long stitch later this is the end result!  I think I need more colour for this weeks challenge!  So I guess it will be back to blue for me!!  

Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to have a read, and if you fancy I am often popping bits on Instagram Facebook & Twitter so please feel free to have a little look.

Carolyn

Challenging Week 9!!

Well...I found Week 9 of my Challenge 2018, very much a challenge and a half.

  

Up until now I have used hand-dyed fabrics as the basis of each weekly piece, with a selection of mixture of media techniques thrown in!  So last week I decided that I would only use purchased fabrics!!!  

A good idea I thought; keep it simple I also thought! Hmm!

It was quite a busy week, spent mainly waiting for the promised snow to arrive!!  I think we were very lucky because although it was bitterly cold, the snow when it came only lasted a day or so. 

Frosty Morning 

On one of our morning walks to the beach we saw beautiful icicles clinging to the cliffs.  A very strange sight to see, on our normal mild coast line.  

Icicles 

So in an effort to keep warm I thought it would be a good idea to finally finish quilting the mystery quilt (sorry no photo) that I have been making at my monthly sewing group; Sew u Think, a strange name I agree.  

Its called that because we not only sew, we do a bit of knitting; have ventured into weaving and most importantly started meeting up for lunch and a natter!  

I am also trying to finish my Hexi Challenge that I started in 2016.  

Hexi Challenge 2016

The idea was that I made 2 x 3/4inch hexagons each day for the whole of 2016.  This I duly did ending up with 12 blocks of either 56, 60 or 62 hexagons. 

No two hexagons are the same and each block is surrounded by a variety of white hexagons.  I am pleased to say the above photo is a little out of date, and it is, in fact, looking more like a quilt top now.  But to get anywhere near finishing, I do need more white hexagons, so my poor Mum was commissioned to make as many as possible while we waited for the snow.  What we call in our family a ' Visiting Tax'!! 

So now I have no excuse to get on with it, Thank you Mum. 

Anyway, I digress.........Week 9 Challenge 2018!  I love the colours of the purchased fabric, very Spring/Easter like, but that is where it ends as I think I did lose my way a little on this one.  

Week 9 - 26 Feb 18

The technique I used was cut and stitch (a favourite one, to be honest).  I didn't want to alter the surface with mixed media and so kept it very simple.  I like lines, so couching was a good idea.  It will make it into the book, just because it must, but not as a favourite!  

Hopefully I am back on track with this weeks........time will tell!

Thank you again for popping by....Carolyn

Textile Workshops at St Eval!

As I mentioned last week, I have secured a room at my local and very modern Community Centre at St Eval, to run a selection of TEXTILE ART workshops .  I am really looking forward to getting started with them and as you can probably imagine my head is buzzing with ideas!!  I have though, already decided on the subject for this first set of workshops and so I am now busy making all the samples!  

I have made the workshops to come together as a short course of 3 days.  However, there will be some people interested that might not be able to do all the days of the course.  With that in mind, I have made each day to be stand-alone so that those interested can 'Cherry Pick' the days that suit them best.  

Day 1 & 2 will cover different techniques each day which will add colour and texture to fabric.  I want to make the workshops accessible to all levels and ability and most importantly FUN, so as well as demonstrations and guidance notes; there will be lost of opportunity to experiment and make samples, without any pressure to produce a masterpiece! 

 Any paint/dye used will be provided by Younique Textiles

A Fabric Collage Wall-hanging will be made on Day 3, using the samples made/techniques learnt on Days 1 & 2 or a selection of fabric and findings. 

Should this sound interesting and you fancy coming along please bear in mind that places being limited, so please contact me for more information. 

I am looking at adding more workshops over the coming months, covering different aspects of TEXTILE ART  and will post here as soon as I have dates.