Raggety Wreaths and Calico Decs

So my festive season got off the ground this week with a fun course at the Mill, in Banbury. Raggety wreaths and calico decorations is exactly that. Ripped and slashed fabric knotted on to a wreath former make fabulous and highly individual door decorations. And hand stitched calico stars, trees and hearts make perfect gifts.

Fancy having a go? Drop me a line

Tables of goodies

Busy ripping and knotting

Lovely mix of textures on this richly coloured wreath

The finished wreaths

Love this tree with it's buttons

Lovely selection of calico decs

Paper cut lamp shades

A few months ago, the lovely Faith at Ardington School of Craft suggested a new course, paper cut lampshades, which would run across two days; day one paper cutting with me and day two lamp shade making with Elizabeth Cake.
And today I dropped into one of Elizabeth's courses to learn the basic techniques and discuss variables and possibilities - so exciting! Such a treat to be on a course rather than teaching it.
So after a bit of head scratching and puzzlement, I produced my first lampshade and am pretty chuffed. I used a heavy velvety paper that was remaindered from my college days, qualifying it as vintage, and brown wrapping paper. When the lamp is off you aren't aware of the cut out design but as soon as it lights up its secret is revealed!

If you fancy having a go at this March 16th and 17th are the dates. Great fun and I shall be making some more samples to inspire would be students.

Inside the lampshade showing the paper cut

All lit up and looking lovely - rather pleased!!

Paper cutting in ancient surroundings

I have had a long standing assignation with the WI ladies of Knowle and surrounding area, and yesterday was the big day. I drove up the night before and did a bit of a recce so that Tuesday would start smoothly and it did. Our location was the beautiful ancient building that now houses Knowle library. It dates back to the 1400's  making my cottage seem rather modern with it's 1610 date tag. We were upstairs surrounded in what felt like the heart of the building with many a sweeping beam and leaded windows - a truly special place. We had a busy day of designing and cutting and everyone departed with a completed piece of work - smiles all round.

Love this pink themed window on Knowle High Street

The back of the library - new beams integrated with
original ancient timbers

The front of the library

Our work space, steeped in history and full of
activity

Some Christmas themed cuts

An intricate wedding cake cut

A family heart

Teddy for a grand child

Balloons for a new baby

Patchwork success!

Have just got back from a very busy morning at Denman College with eleven lovely ladies from the Glamorgan WI Federation - all signed up for a two hour patchworking work shop with yours truly.
I was a little nervous about my new crazy patchwork super fast glasses case project but I needn't have worried. Everyone finished and some added buttons and beaded seams and ribbon and the resulting cases looked great. So I now have a new swift intro in patchwork - always useful when time is of the essence!

Lovely array of glasses cases

Beaded seam on this case made from shirts and
a scrap of liberty tana lawn

Love the bead and button embellishments

Super fast Patch Working

 I have a two hour patch-working workshop on Monday with the ladies of the WI's Glamorgan group. Two hours is not very long to make and finish something in, by the time I've said hello, introduced the project and got them all up and running..... So I have been busy making some new samples - a glasses case made using a crazy patch-working technique that can be either machine or hand stitched. And it really is quick and easy and effective and with a bit of detailing and embellishing the end product is well worth the effort, I think.
And if they master this then they can easily go on to cushion covers and quilts and bags...the sky and their fabric stashes are the limit!

Fabulous stash of proper vintage off cuts, denoted by a friend,
they are an inspirational mix

Two finished glasses cases, the pinkish one has some
button detailing, the blue one a beaded seam,
and the green panel is unfinished to show construction

Glass beads run along the seam and add an
attractive detail

Lucy in amongst the fabrics - not impressed!

Dustin keen to start - just look at those tootsies!

Larger panel to show next possible project

Finished panel - complete with some crushed velvet -
always add a certain bling, in the best possible taste!

Strip Patchwork

Strip patchwork is quick and easy and a great way to use up odd lengths of fabric. I had a lovely group of ladies at Denman College this week and despite the pouring rain outside, in the textiles room it was all smiles and jolliness. And everyone went away happy.
And just look at the variety of their makes.

Working on a Sunday!

If you are working on a Sunday it should be somewhere special, and Compton Verney ticks the 'special' box and some. Stunning location, complete with grounds by Capability Brown, a thatched ice house, sweeping gravel drive, bridges, a lake and a beautifully appointed education block. Two two hour paper cutting classes, both sold out, produced some great results.