Block Print & Stitch

...with my gorgeous Colouricious print blocks!!

I've been stitching and beading like crazy this last week...

...getting even more samples done for my workshop with the ladies of Bath EG on Wednesday...

...and then to put up on my stand at the NEC next week.

I'll be sorting out details...

...for new small-panel workshops...

...and if anyone is interested...

...then talk to me at the show! :-)

As with ALL of my workshops...

...I always bring loads and loads of Colouricious print blocks...

...plus pots of paint...

...beads, sequins, bits of fabric, threads,  bits of wadding-stuff, colouring pens, etc, etc, etc

...so participants don't have to carry too much.

Enjoy the piccies!!

Happy Monday

x C

Brilliant time at Exeter!!

We're both very tired...

...but happy that the show went so well for us.

My workshops were full...

...my talks went without hitch...

...and I met a lot of lovely people!

Here are some piccies of my stand...

My Medieval theme seems to spark a LOT of interest! :-)

We got packed down and back to Rosa by 5.15...

...and today we've treated ourselves to lunch here again...

Hanger steak for me...cooked rare...

Pork chop & spare rib for him...with pickled cabbage and beans...

A Mezze platter between us...

...and pudding ...

...of course!!

We're hooking up and heading north again tomorrow...

...and have a delivery to make for a certain event...

More later....

x C

Collage & Stitch panel #1

I've been beavering away on some more small medieval tile print panels...

...intending to do "something" with them.

They became more and more intricate...

...and grew a few more layers in the making too.

Here's #1 finished and mounted onto a collaged background...

...on an 20cm x 20cm canvas...

Canvas panel is covered with crumpled tissue that has then been sprayed...

...stenciled.....

....had more embellished tissue applied...

.....and finally given a polish!

I'm very pleased with the outcome and have another three to finish for Exeter...

...where they will be up on my stand...

...and for sale.

x C

Exeter Workshops.....now back on!!

I'd originally been scheduled to do talk and workshops at the ICHF show at Exeter...

...but then things changed with workshop space and it was down to talk only.

As of this morning...

...workshops are back ON.

They will be on my stand G32, and will be hand stitching Medieval Tile panels to use as needle-cases or notebook covers.

Just mosey-up to my stand and (except when I'm away doing my talk) you can sit awhile and enjoy some stitching with me! :-)

It's all free-of-charge - including materials/kit ...

...so NO EXCUSES!!

See you there.

x C

Back from Birmingham - Tired but Happy!!

Well!!

i had the most wonderful time at ICHF in Birmingham...

...meeting lots and lots of lovely people....

...and talking my head off! :-D

I got myself pitched on Tuesday ready for set-up on Wednesday.

This was the first time my new "Medieval Mysteries" have seen a wall...

...so I was just a little apprehensive about how it would all look.

After a couple of hours of climbing ladders...

...it ended up like this.....

Looking from the seating area...

Some closer shots of...

...beakheads...

...Medieval tiles...

...sketchbook pages...

...moths and mushrooms (medieval of course!!)

...and a bit of background info...

Overall I was very pleased with the way it looked...

....and it got a LOT of attention and many, many positive comments!

Even though it was a trek...and a few days of intense activity...

...I got back late yesterday feeling that it had been an extremely worthwhile trip.

So, all of you wonderful people that came to talk to me on my stand...

THANK YOU VERY MUCH INDEED!!!

You made my show!! x x x x x x

x C

Majestic Meeces!!

Whew!

Finished....with 2 days to spare!!

Meet Melisant, Metylda and Maudeleyn.

They will be greeting folk on my stand N14 at the NEC next week!!

I love them already! :-)


Hope to see you there...

x C

Tile Books

I've made a little stash of these...

...ready for the show at the NEC.

Hand stamped tiles...

...hand tinted and embellished...

.....on handmade leather paper....

...then machine stitched....

.....finished off with my own "Lava Beads" made with Butterfly Softspun!!

These will be for sale on my stand N14 in Fashion & Embroidery...

...where rolls of "Butterfy SoftSpun" will be available too.

Hope to see some of you at the show!!

x C

A tiled masterpiece!!

Ok....so it's fairly obvious that I'm very, VERY happy with this finished piece :-o

...so much so that I'm allowing myself to refer to it as a "masterpiece" !!

It took a LOT of hours to get it all done...

...making the "Leather Paper"....

...printing the tiles...

....hand-colouring each one...

....painting the background fabric...

....positioning the tiles in a pleasing manner (not that easy to do believe me!!)...

...then stitching the tiles in place and finally stitching on the "grout" lines.

The result...

Sorry about the lighting problems...

...it's dark and grey here again today...

...but those of you coming to ICHF next month will see it in all it's glory!

Three blind mice!!

Well!

Where has January nearly all gone?!

I've been so tied up with building works and decorating etc...

...that this poor little blog has suffered greatly.

I do apologize.

It's only over the last couple of days that I've managed to get some quality time in the workroom...

...and produce SOMETHING!

The ICHF show in March is beginning to loom and stuff must be done...

...so here's a beginning....

...my three blind mice :-)

Yes...I know that they may look a bit more like moles (apart from the colour)...

...but I promise you that they WILL be mice....and not blind by the time I've done with them.

Fabric printing and stitching now...

...hopefully not such a gap between posts next time.

x C

Letters from the North #3

That's the title of the cross stitch piece I've been working on over the last couple of weeks...

...and have now finished.

I got the pdf pattern from Modern Folk on Etsy....

...and I have several more to amuse myself with!!

Don't know which one I'll start next, but I'm not too worried about that right now...

...as I need to get out my water-soluble pencils and watercolour paints to work in my "Medieval Inspirations" sketchbook.

The ICHF show in March where I will be having a demo stand will be around very, VERY soon...

...and I don't want to put myself in the position of scrabbling around like crazy at the last minute.

So....

...new (and for me very exciting) work will now get under way. :-)

x C

...decisions and plans...

I had such a wonderful time at Fashion, Embroidery & Stitch!!!

......and met so many lovely people that either know me from my blog...

...or through Facebook.

Other folk too.....met for the very first time....

...but I'm sure it won't be the last :-)

I felt very lucky this year. Being on a Demo stand...

...and having a loan of a Pfaff Creative 3.0 to play with during the 4 days.

What a dream machine! Mostly the same as my own Creative 2.0, but with even more built in stitches and a touchscreen control panel.

If you're thinking of treating yourselves...

...this is THE machine to have!!

Of course, there were, as always, the lovely folk on stands selling beautiful bits and bobs...

...that one simply HAS to indulge in....

Gorgeous silks from The Silk Route...

...and little beauties from 21st Century Yarns.

Projects in mind for ALL of these....of course!! :-o

The show also provided the opportunity to meet up with much loved friends who cheerfully bump into each other at each one.....

Laura & Mike at Colourcraft;    Claire at Thermofax;   Hilary and Man at The Silk Route;

Jean & Walter at Oliver Twists;  Michael Powell;  Kim Thittichai;  Christine Plummer;  Angie Hughes;   .....

...and many, many more......

A joy as always. Thanks ICHF!!

I have been doing a bit of thinking over the last couple of weeks.....

....about what to do....and which way to go with things now.

I've never done very big items, simply because of the amount of embellishment I tend to put on my stuff....

....but after having done some book forms in recent times I feel that I'd like to keep working that way....

...certainly for a while.

So.....

...small it is......and more mixed media as opposed to all stitch.

This will allow me to explore current interests and do small projects that don't take up too much time.

Thus I can flit from one thing to another while still carrying on with my writing and sample-making without tying myself to the chair for too long.

Well.....I am a Textile Butterfly after all aren't I?!

I have sooooooooooooooooo many bits and pieces to use....

...and new ideas in mind.

I shall be happy to share my progress with you all.....

x C