Screen printing

Hello all. 

Hope you're well and have enjoyed the lovely weather we've had this weekend. 

I thought you might like to see the results of my screen printing at Bramble Patch yesterday. 

As you see I've used some of the fabrics I dyed at the last class. Some of the results are a little too subtle but I do have some ideas how to use them - and they will be used. I can see I've veered towards more subdued colours and not the bright ones I was aiming for - but luckily I can screen print at the next class too so I can put that right. But I'm pleased with the technique and am looking forward to the next class.

Hope you're all well and hope to hear from you.

Dyed fabrics

Hello all.

 I thought you might like to see the fabrics I've dyed before I screen print them on Saturday at my class with Bren. You'll have to wait and see what they look like then.

Trentham (well Uttoxeter really) 2010

Well, I've just had a great day out at the Trentham Quilt Show (although it was held at Uttoxeter Racecourse as the marque at Trentham collapsed under the weight of snow in February).

So I've taken lots of photos and posted them below for you all to have a look at. It's a great show - not too big - with lots of traders (yes I bought lots) - well worth the effort of visiting if you're local. 

So here are the photos. 

What do you think?

I've been busy - honest.

So - just to prove I do sew, here's the quilt I'm entering at Trentham - that's not at Trentham now. Unfortunately the snow fall earlier in the year resulted in the roof collapsing on the building used - so Margaret has been an absolute star and has managed to find a new location - very near to the original. Please look at her website for full details.

And here is my entry for Malvern - like the previous quilt I've got to sort out a sleeve and a label.

And to prove what a great day I had on Saturday at the Bramble Patch dyeing fabric with Bren - here's whet I ended up with. I'm rather pleased and have a cunning plan to do some more.

And I can't tell you how excited I've been with this edition of The Quilter ( you get this when you're a member of the Quilter Guild). It's got soooo many great artists in it and articles too. So we've got Edwina Mackinnon, Ineke Berlyn, Laura Kemshall and Sheena Norquay.

And I'm hoping this edition of Selvedge will be just as exciting.

Run for Life

Hello all,

Hope you're all well and enjoying the beautiful sunshine today. It's so nice to see it at last.

Just wanted to let you all know that on 13th June I'll be doing the Race for Life and wondered if some of you might like to sponsor me or perhaps you'd like to give it a go yourself.  

Promise I'll have some photos for you next week.

Take care

Goals and stuff...

I don't know about you but I can't believe it's already the last day in February. Where is the year going?

So I thought it might be a good time to review some goals and stuff with you all.I have a lovely card from a very dear friend recently and she was kind enough to agree I could share her 'rules for the year':

to stop writing things off so quickly
to take 10 minutes everyday to benefit me
to be outrageous
to be creative
to let people know how I feel
to smile more

And her motto is:

If you don't like the way things are going, change the way you're thinking.

I'm really impressed with these and I wholeheartedly agree wit the idea of if you don't like how things are - change something, take action. Otherwise they won't change.

Have you got any goals or motto you try yo live by?

This year I'm trying to spend time each day on my creativity, to look after myself and to be a good friend. What about you?

Lots more snow...

Thought you might like to see a few photos from our morning stroll around the village in the snow this morning. How are things where you are?

More snow...

Well - I can't believe it but we've had more snow. I'm not impressed. Thursday night we had lots and lots and these photos are from Friday morning. This morning there is still all the snow and we've had a really good frost too. I really hoped we'd seen the last of this - but never mind.

Hope you all have a good weekend. I'm hoping to get lots of sewing done - how about you?

Work In Progress

Hello all. How are you? I'm great thanks.

I had a great day at the Bramble Patch yesterday - it was great to just get on and and do something different. You can see where I got to below. The Kingfisher was printed onto Lutrdor and then I free machined the colours in. As we looked at composition and I decided I hadn't made anything that was diagonal - so this is very obviously diagonal.  I also included some texture, with torn edges and lots of different types of material. I also used a mixture of stitches and threads. There is still some way to go - but our homework is to finish this piece before next week. So over the next weeks I'll show you how I get on.

And how funny is this. Both DH and me bought each other exactly the same Valentines cards. Shows what great taste we both have.

'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement: nothing can be done without hope'

Helen Keller

Books and stuff

Hello all. How are you? I'm really good. I'm certainly enjoying the gradually improving weather. 

One of the challenges Bren set us was to stock take our books and magazines. Hmm Can't give you the results (as DH reads this sometimes) but there's alot. And one thing we were also asked was to pick the one book we'd take to a desert island. Well my selection is the one below;  'An illustrated Life' by Danny Gregory. I often pick it up and can always find something interesting to read. 

What book you you take?

One of the many books by my bed at the moment (there's always a pile) is this one 'The 12 secrets of Highly Creative Women' by Gail McKeen. I'm so enjoying this so much. The women interviewed are so generous with their ideas - it's a really encouraging book to read.

When I went to the November Rocheberie Schoolhouse Quilters one lovely lady was demonstrating making Christmas Puddings - they looked so cute I couldn't resist - so here are my two.

And finally here are my completed strawberries. Another bit of fun. I got the kit for these from The Bramble Patch some time ago and have finally stuck on the stalks.

I'm off to spend more time tidying up - have a good weekend.
'The mere sense of living is joy enough' Emily Dickinson