Kantha workshop

Libby, a member of East, was our tutor today, and soon had us stitching Kantha patterns. The hall was so quiet you could here a pin drop- I have never been in a room with fifteen ladies this quiet before!

Libby was very generous in letting us take photos of her work, and came round constantly to keep us on track, when we had problems with lik stitch.Libby (those of you who went to K& S will have seen her wonderful little books on the East stand) also demonstrated how to attach a shisha mirror.

Below are a few samples of her work

I love this little sewing caddy.

When I got home, I had a few bits to organise ready for Zac's birthday party tomorrow. Sam came round with the cake she had made for him as she need some black food colouring for George's eyes.

I have now applied Treasure gold ( stopped off on the way home from work yesterday and got some from Craft Arena) to my textured totem. I used pewter.

I heard last night that the screen printing course I was hoping to do in January, wont be running as there are not enough people booked on the course to make it viable.:0(
A busy weekend ahead of me, cantha workshop tomorrow, then on Sunday, Christmas shopping and youngest GS's birthday party and then cooking a meal for one of Alan's friends. They are off to the NEC for a model railway exhibition.

Mistletoe and (mulled) wine

As I don't have a TA of my own, and was getting behind with my displays, I bought the children's Brusho pictures home to mount. They just loved watching the ink explode over the paper! Tonight the Church Hall smelt of mulled wine. Everyone worked hard to get their stalls to look inviting. Jane bought her hand made wooden Christmas decorations.

Joan bought home made jam, marmalade, cards and jewellery.

Liz bought her home made Christmas table decorations and other essential bits for decorating a home. There was also handmade cupcakes, soap in fact too much to list.

I didn't get to spend much money (but the shoppers did) as I was in the kitchen making mulled wine two huge pots of it!

I was lucky enough to win a six week drama course for Kezzy in the raffle.

Well done Donna and Sam, you worked hard to make it a successful evening.

Smoke without fire

The reports are going well, and I hope they will be finished soon.
We had a bit of drama today at work, when smoke was spotted in our old gym. 999 was called and the firemen arrived (they looked nothing like the ones you see on the calendars). Luckily no damage done and school soon returned back to normal.
Tomorrow night I am making gallons( well quite a lot) of mulled wine for my daughters fund raising night- a shopping night with some hand crafted items. It is held in the local Church Hall and is a lovely start to the Christmas season.

Nothing to show textile wise, as I have spent this evening starting to write my school reports.:0(
The quicker I get them done the sooner I can play!

Jacky Russell

Wow!!!What an excellent evening we had. Jacky Russell came to our Guild tonight with her slides and an enormous amount of her work. Nickie and I first saw her work at Windsor in 2006, and were enthralled by it. It was through this exhibition that we learnt about a product called Lutrador, and did we have a job to obtain some! Jacky's work is based on rust and decay. She is coming back to our Branch in February to do a workshop, fingers crossed that I can get on it!

Before going out to visit Alan's relatives in Kent today, I managed to get two more coats of paint on the 'totem'. Second coat of paint applied

Third coat of paint applied.
Now I just need to highlight the textured areas, one night this week I hope.

I had a lovely day with Albert and Ann, I ate so much I feel like a weeble!

Tomorrow night it is Embroiderers' Guild and we have Jacky Russel coming to share her work with us. Nickie and I first saw her work when we went to the exhibition at Windsor College a few years ago. It should be a good night!

Beatles to Bowie and more.

I have been a bit busy since I last blogged.
On Thursday, my brother came to collect my Smart car, it was sad to see it go, as I have had lots of fun driving it.
I was told to hang fire on my reports by one person at school and told to get them done asap by another. Too many chiefs I think!
It was school speech night yesterday, Diversity were hoping to come to officially open our new sports hall, but work commitments meant they couldn't make it.
Yesterday when I got home from school, this..... was waiting for me. My prize from Carolyn's blog give away. Soooooo generous, I couldn't believe my eyes. Three packages were inside the postbag which contained..........

This beautiful card AND

this lovely textured heart AND

a brooch to wear at work AND

papers, fabric, threads, stamps, shells, beads (some made by Carolyn as well) AND

some more AND

some more, this package also contained some decorated labels.

Thank you so much Carolyn, a truly wonderful package. The photo's do not do it justice.

Today I went up to London with Di to the National Portrait Gallery to see the exhibition 'Beatles to Bowie'. Lots of photo's that bought back many memories of my childhood and made me feel quite old. We also went to see the Twiggy exhibition celebrating her 60th birthday-she wears very well! A quick cup of coffee and the onto the V&A to see the 'Maharaja: The Splendour of India's Royal Courts' Lots of paintings and jewellery, not many textiles, but a great insight to the life of the Maharaja's. I am so glad that we went to see it.

Tonight I have finished constructing my 'Textured Totem' inspired by the work Roy Ray. It has had one coat of paint so far, more to follow to get a depth of colour. More photo's when complete.

AAAAAAGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

My school reports have just been emailed to me to start writing, so I wont be posting as often until they are finished:0(