RRC and KISS

It is time we all swapped our fabric in the RRC but as Margaret and Diane are off on holiday we wont be having a get together like we did last month. I have been trying to pluck up courage to cut Nickie's fabric all evening- but I will postpone that until tomorrow when I am bright eyed and bushy tailed! I am passing it on to Deb on Thursday so no more time to dally.
I popped into Craft Arena this afternoon to get the new issue of QA and also got Sew Somerset, I have never had this magazine before but I have seen adverts for it and it looks good-I will let you know if it meets up to my expectations. Nickie and I are off to Missenden at the weekend for another workshop with Hilary Bower, so I am saving them for our bedtime reading.
It has rained all day today and I have found out that Dijanne wants a photo of my KISS project so I hope that it is sunny tomorrow.

KISS project completed

I have been up very late all this week so that I could finish my piece for the KISS project by the end of April. A photo of the completed piece as promised. I have really enjoyed stitching it, I have stitched it at my mothers, on the train, at the counsellors, at school, at the hospital, at Barleylands where I bumped into Nickie and persuaded her to part with more money than she had intended!) and of course at home. I am not sure what happens next-still waiting to hear.

This is the box of threads I have used on the project, I used two different coloured threads in the needle for stitching the sky.

Today, I have sorted out my play room looking for a pattern for Nickie, I couldn't find it, but at least I now have a few feet of clear space for an hour or so. My Grandsons called in just as I was straight, and played with a fishing game I bought them yesterday-£2 well spent and lots of fun(and it didn't break!). As it was pouring with rain, we put a bowl on the kitchen floor, the weather wasn't going to put a dampener on our Bank holiday!

Then Nickie popped in to show me her wonderful piece of work that she has just finished and framed-looks fab!

It was then time to visit my friend as it is her birthday today and I had to take her pressies down to her, lovely to see her and have a natter.

I need to sort out some hand stitching for tonight as Lewis is on again, one of the very few programs I watch!

A bit puzzled.

I have finished my KISS project but I don't know what I have to do next. I will post a photo tomorrow and catch up on all those blogs I haven't read this week. I will now continue to play with my sheers again if I can remember what I was up to- I shall miss having hand stitching-maybe I could start my ALQS4 piece!

Tomorrow.

My first job this evening, or what is left of it, is to pack my bags for the Embroiderers' Guild workshop that I am going on tomorrow. It is called Plastic Fantastic with Elisabeth Rutt. I am not sure what we are doing as we have not had a talk from her. One of the requirements is colourful printed carrier bags, with everyone going green, these have been quite hard to acquire.
All being well, I hope to start quilting my RRC fabric from Debbie when I get home.

KISS and E Art course

I am spending nearly all my spare moments stitching the background of my KISS project. On Sunday, I was even stitching it on the train to London while Nickie had her knitting needles out and was experimenting with wire. I am nearly half way there, I have to finish it by the end of the month. Below is a close up of the background stitching.

Last month I enrolled on Amelia's art course thinking it would be something to do in the Easter holiday, it started Monday as I went back to work. Serves me right, in my excitement to sign up I didn't read the date properly. The first exercise is to make marks in boxes using different mediums and tools.

I have completed another eight samples since I took this photo. Onto exercise two tomorrow night.

And yet another one.

I just couldn't stop myself. My first whole day at home this holiday,(well apart from visiting my elderly neighbour for coffee this afternoon) was too good a chance to miss, and I have been in my playroom nearly all day;0) . I wanted to make a bigger sample, so that I could do the complimentary stitching all over- I needed to see if it looked very 60's or a mess. I have been surprised at how long this piece has taken to do, as it's not that big(12"x16 approx."). I am now waiting for it to dry before attacking with my scissors. I have also been thinking about the RRC. I have to quilt Deb's piece which is based on Africa. I have done a bit of surfing and now need to put pen to paper.

Off to do some hand stitching on my KISS piece now.

KISS challenge

When hubby came to see what I had been doing yesterday with my sampling, he thought that the word 'love' didn't show up enough. So, in between trying to help Kezzy with her Shakespeare homework, I doodled on some paper to try and get clearer words. Hence sample number 5, just waiting for his comments. I shall stop work on this for a few days so that I can get on with........... My piece I am making for the KISS challenge. I have got a lot of stitching still to do, but I am really enjoying having some hand stitching on the 'go'.

I painted the base fabric with Procion dye and used a commercial black fabric. Though I put Bondaweb on the tree, I only lightly ironed it in place just enough to hold it, for me to hand stitch in place. I am now busy hand stitching the 'sky' with random straight stitch, this has to be finished by the end of this month.

Regional Day

Nickie picked me up bright and early for her talk at Marks Tey. Nickie set up her lap top and projector while I got on with the job of hanging some of the work on quilt frames.

Setting up went smoothly and we had a chance to have a quick chat to some of the many friends we have made since we started our journey into textiles.

Nickie's talk went well and some of my work was included as well. You can see the quilt I made to celebrate Ashleigh's life in the photo above. Lunch was provided for us, and for dessert, these delicious cakes!! As the weather was so good we were able to eat 'al fresco.'

Just had to get this picture of Nickie.

After lunch, Lynne Edwards gave a very entertaining talk on her collection of textile art that she has collected over the years- lots of lovely work to drool over.

Then guess what? Yet more cake, before we made our way home. We had such a lovely day.

I have managed to finish machine stitching flower sample number 3 and washed out the Romeo. When it is dry, I will start cutting it out, in the meantime, its back to the KISS challenge.

Kezzy's op to have three teeth removed, went well, her mouth is a bit sore and her face is slightly swollen- to be expected really. The staff were very good, nothing was too much trouble.
I was able to spend my time at the hospital doing a bit of hand stitching. I am taking part in the KISS challenge organised by Dijanne, just hope that I get it finished in time, as due to a misunderstanding, I hadn't realised it had actually started. It needs to be finished by the end of the month!!!!!!!!!!
Tomorrow I am out with Nickie, she is giving a talk at the Quilters Area Day at Marks Tey.
I hope to do some work on the flower power panel tomorrow night all being well.