Summer stitching.....teddies.....and garden growing

 During the last few weeks I have managed to get quite a few bits done!

Different stitching...

...has given me a new-found enthusiasm for "free-style" embroidery...

 I tried to use as many bits of thread as I could...

...and was very pleased with the results! :-)

Visiting a friend who sadly lost her husband last year...

....I made a couple of cwtchy-teddies out of Peter's tee-shirts...

...so that she can still "hold" him. Xxxxxx

They are sitting in the garden....

...which has come on a treat.

Considering we had nowt but concrete to start with...

...it is now a space to really enjoy! :-)

I do hope that everyone is safe, well...and happy.

x C

The Bacton Alter Cloth ...

....also now known as T"he Lost Dress of Elizabeth 1st".

Ever since seeing a few videos about this....

...I've been itching to see it for myself!

So, yesterday, in between Storm Ciara and Storm Dennis...

...we went up to Bacton (Herefordshire) to have a little looky :-)

St Faith's is a delightful little country church, once the local church of the Parry (ap Harry) family..

...one of whom was Blanche, gentlewoman of Elizabeth 1st.

An altar cloth that had been with the church for hundreds of years is now thought to have been one of the queen's skirts.

There is quite a bit about this online...

Here are a few links...

Hampton Court exhibition - link

Finding the dress Video - link

Reconstruction video - link

Behind the scenes video - link

If you can....go have a look at the exhibition at Hampton Court ....

...or, if it's a bit too far...as it is for us at the minute... (exhibition on until 23rd Feb)

...go visit the Church at Bacton - it's a beautiful part of the world!!

A replica cloth now hangs in the frame at Bacton. A scanned photograph printed onto canvas...but a very good one!

You can see all the designs and stitching....although the glass and the reflections from lights and windows can cause a few problems for photography!

I took many photos...

...here are some that came out sort-of OK.

It was well worth the visit.

Now the pencils and transfer pens are coming out...

...together with some lovely fabric and threads!! :-D

I hope you enjoyed the tour....

...and feel inspired (as I do)

x C

New "Colourful Couching" workshop samples

Here are the new "Colourful Couching" workshop samples for 2018...

...based on a piece of Claude Monet "Giverny" fabric...

...and Japanese themed stencils.

I'm taking these beauties to the NEC with me...

...and the lovely ladies of the Cotswold Branch of the Embroiderers Guild...

...will be working them in July this year.

A few piccies to tempt you...

Hope to see you at the show...

I'm on stand N15 in Fashion & Embroidery.

x C

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

..and the beading has begun...

...stitch...bead...stitch...bead...

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

2017....and back to it!

Well HELLO lovely people!

I hope that you all had a wonderful festive season...

...got through the New Year celebrations...

...and are now back into your respective "grooves"!!

I had a very quiet time as is normal...

...and managed to get some bits during my little escape from "internet-land" :-)

A few more pages in my "Medieval Inspirations" design book (calling it a design book rather than sketchbook - more appropriate methinks)...

Beakheads found at Etton in E.Yorks. last July...

These are fairly new - appearing around the time of the Victorian renovation of the porch area...

...whereas these are 12th century originals from around the tower doorway.

I scanned and enlarged my drawings...

...then draw over the main lines with a Sharpie marker.

I use a lightbox to transfer the design onto fabric to be stitched.

(Fabric has been lightly sprayed with Brusho here..)

This one has been hand-stitched and painted...

...but although it looks ok-ish...it's way to thin and flimsy.

The next ones will have to be done with a more "lofty" wadding!

I cut my hands yesterday evening whilst freeing a roll of square-mesh to use as support.

Damned stuff sprung like a clock spring when it was released!!!!!

Pfffffff!!!!!!

Have a good week ...

x C