More super star creations

Wednesday saw my second patchwork star workshop at 'Sew Patchwork' in Thame. What a lovely group of ladies had signed up, including one who had made a cushion with me and had come back for more stitchy fun and creativeness.
Patchwork stars are the perfect one day project and and they cover several key skills for patchworking in general so great for novice stitchers.

Here are some pics.

Delighted with her festive star, one happy student

A stack of sampler stars

The full galaxy of today's creations

R E A L L Y exciting news!!!!

And this really is exciting!
I have been invited by the lovely Katie from 'Les Souers Anglaises' to run a five day patchwork course at her beautiful French home - so excited!
We met up last week over a coffee in the delightful V&A cafe - what a perfect location for a meeting - and chatted about many textiley things as well as children, education, films and... and... and....
So I am all of a buzz with ideas and excitement and here's what she put on their blog at the weekend

http://lessoeursanglaises.blogspot.co.uk/

So spread the word to any one and everyone you know who might enjoy 5 days of creative marvellousness, in good company with some fabulous food.

More fabulous paper cuts!

Yesterday's workshop at Fibreworks on the Cowley Road was great fun. It's the sister shop to the one in Chipping Norton and is equally delightful. Full of beautiful yarns and an array of wooden knitting needles that look like a display in Olivanders wand shop (check your Harry Pottter books for reference!), I never cease to be amazed and thrilled by what my students produce and they are all first timers when it comes to paper cutting, and I often hear '..but I'm not creative..' and then they make the most marvellous things and leave so pleased with themselves.

Beautiful sewing machine and yes! it works

Bonkers crocheted cactus - a must have!

Lovely array of braids, pompoms and velvet ribbons

Beautiful leaf cut

Charming Christmas panel with doll I found
in one of Cowley Road's many charity shops

So bright and lively

Another fabulous first time cutter

Work in progress

Super stars of the patchwork variety!

A productive fun day had by all at Sew Patchwork in Thame yesterday where we made festive patchwork stars.
This was the first time that I had run this particular workshop but having made several samples and worked out the logistics it all went very smoothly with everyone saying hat they would be making more as gifts and decorations, so I was really pleased.
And the day was definitely enhanced (and my waistline!) by a contribution of wonderful home made chocolate muffins, freshly baked by one of my lovely ladies - thank you!!

Will be running this workshop next Wednesday 27th November, same place, same time 9.30 - 4, do let me know if you'd like to grab the last place.

Adding the finishing touches

Joining up the two sides ready for turning right sides out

First finished star, love the gingham bow

A galaxy of festive stars,
perfect for your tree or a gift

Paper cutting in Chipping Norton

It was a very small but bijou workshop on Saturday, three including me, but non the less highly enjoyable and rewarding. 'Fibreworks' is a gorgeous gem of a shop on the main street of Chipping Norton, stuffed to the gunnels with colour and texture and all round touchy feely loveliness of the yarn type.The proprietor said that when she set it up she wanted it to be like a sweet shop, but for adults, adults who like their colours and textures that is! Coincidently it was a sweet shop in a previous incarnation.
Two best friends attended, one had bought the other the workshop as a present, and neither had paper cut before but it wasn't long before they had designed and made two beautiful pieces of the festive variety and they were so chuffed with themselves.

It goes with out saying so was I!

'Fibreworks' is the white bay window with woollen clad dummy

My sort of room!

Even the bath is full of yarn

Busy ladies getting very creative in lovely studio

Even the bike is tastefully yarn bombed

My Paper Cutting Queens!

What a productive bunch of lovely ladies I had at the WI's Denman this week. I don't think I've ever had so many designs hatched and cut out by students and I'm pretty sure that they loved it! I really can't ask for more when I'm teaching.
And what added to their enthusiasm was when we had visitors to the studio, other students and tutors and a few of the staff from the college, who were totally bowled over by what they saw and wanted to know when the next courses were being held.

And here's a sample of what they made - so very proud of them all.

Marvellous Map

I can't resist sharing this gorgeous map of London - I have a love of maps particularly quirky ones and this is a gem with it's crazy typography

http://store.greatlittleplace.com/collections/all/products/beautiful-typographical-map-of-london-blue-river

Paper cutting in Henley

Way back in the summer I met a lady who had watched me teach. She liked my approach and enthusiasm and asked if I would be interested in running a workshop for the Henley Guild of Arts and Crafts.  I agreed and a few emails and phone calls later the day arrived and here are the results.

So chuffed with them and I think that they were quite chuffed with me as they asked if I would be their after Christmas dinner speaker!

Highly intricate trumpeting angel -
the student arrived with the design drawn out ready to cut

Another extraordinarily complex design based on a swan

This just makes me smile - so sunny!

A festive bell

Dramatic Christmas bauble

Working on beautiful heart design

A multi layered wreath, complete with reindeer
trees and sky

A delicate Christmas tree
with personal message

Typographic Christmas wreath  with
charming apple

I love teaching paper cutting, students are always amazed at what they can achieve in a short space of time and many tell me that they are going to continue with it and develop their own style - what's not to love?
If you know of group who would enjoy learning this highly creative/low cost craft do let me!

Crafting at Cottage goes down under

Exciting news today as Crafting at the Cottage goes international with the publication of a tutorial that I have written for an online crafting/life style magazine in New Zealand. Really pleased with how it looks:
http://www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz/diy-patchwork-ball/

Hope you enjoy making this ball - why not use red, greens and whites for a Christmassy look.

And here are a couple of pics to whet your creative appetite!

Template cutting - available to print out with the tutorial  

Choosing fabrics

Nearly done!!