Plastics and Serendipity

We met on a Saturday for the workshop with Elizabeth 

on 'Exploring With Plastics'

we started with grating crayons in between cling film an

by the end of the day I think we had fused every none plastic to man.

Including shower curtains and plastic swimming rings.

We found out how to collage them together 

and in the afternoon we started to stitch.

So much fun!

Daphne also had her Birthday so we celebrated with cake and candles.

The Red Cross Hall where we met had also opened the

shop so we all went in to buy and recycle!

A fantastic day and you can see we had some fantastic results.

HERE

Embroidery Friend

I met Jamila at The Kings Lynn Embroidery Guild,

last year.

We have become firm friends and meet up every month,

on what we call 'Retreat Friday's'. 

We share life and how we are progressing with out textiles

we have also become critical friends too.

Some one you can discuss those issues of improvement and how to 

move through stitch and life!

We share techniques and exploration all in a lovely haven.

I feel very protective of our time and always come away

ideas buzzing but a sense of calm.

Thank you!

Jamila has a fantastic blog about her development

with her Embroidery Diploma.

Visit HERE

Purple Table Runner

Textile Thursday Classes at The Cancer Care Moving on Project Dereham

have been going really well and the colour of the charity

is mauve and purple.

I think Muriel was inspired and as you can see has made a 

Table Runner and Cushion for a friend.

They are beautifully done and machined embroidered

and quilted.

Quaker Tapestry

At Embroidery Guild Ann Wood came along to give us a slide show 

and talk about the Quaker Tapestries.

seventy seven, in all.

It is a collection of embroideries based on the social history of the Quakers

since 1650.

Ann showed us twenty two slides of the 77 tapestries.

Each slide, she enthralled us with the stories, makers, 

information behind it and the stitches involved.

4000 people were involved and from all round the world.

I had seen the Tapestries in Ely Cathedral, it was beautifully presented

and the atmosphere of Ely Cathedral made the experience.

Hearing the detailed explanation brought the tapestries

even more to life.

We all had a lovely evening and could have listened 

to Ann all evening.

Visit the Tapestry Website to really appreciate

the work and history of such an

exquisite collection.

It is a lovely site to visit and has the atmosphere of the work

Quaker Tapestry Exhibition Centre

Denim Wall Tidy

Sue was inspired and brought in a Denim Tidy she made for her

grand son. She has made a lots of Denim bags 

and had a collection of pocket left over, 

so this was an ideal way of using them up.

Instead of folds for each pocket, Sue explained

you put in two tiny darts, this allows the pockets to stay open

and they are able to hold things.

It was so funny, as she showed us she explained

 she had whipped the tidy off her

grand son's wall and neatly placed all the contents across his 

bed so she could bring it to class to 'Show and Tell'.

Now he is 12,  hopefully there wasn't anything too

embarrassing for a grandma to find!

She assured us not.

When she got back, he was quite ok with her showing us and

they put everything back in.

What a great idea for a tidy! 

Lace Wall Tidy

I was asked by a friend to design a pocket holder based on 

a shoe holder she had been given at Christmas.

She has it by the side of her chair to hold the 

necessities of daily life in. 

It was made of different plastics and soon began

to wear and tear.

I took up the challenge and had seen one on the internet

somewhere? Made of cream material and lace.

I had been given some upholstery fabric and I have

lots of old family lace and I thought this was

the ideal opportunity to use it. 

Mine, would also then hold all the lovely lace 

I wanted to use in the future.

I finished both and delivered them,

she was thrilled and immediately 

reached over and pulled her plastic one off the wall,

contents, nail and all!

Really, some people can't wait!

 I had taken a nail, hook and hammer just in case!

Good job!

After I hung up the tidy we put in all her

goodies and medications into the relevant pockets.

One of her carers came in and was really

inspired. 

What we both like is she is no longer looking at what

medically sustains her but a pretty and inspiring hanging tidy.

I have noticed on my last visit her chair area has really 

changed and she and he carers can find everything.

I am so pleased.

Since showing it at classes, many have taken the pattern.

I drew mine on some lining paper to work out

all the folds and edges.

See more of my lace makes on my portfolio site

Art2Inspire 

Sue's Bags

Sue came back off her travels and showed us the collection

of bags she had made.

We all admired the box bag with all the pockets. 

She has a different coloured lining pocket for all

her sewing stuff so it is

easily identified and can be put back in its place.

See centre picture.

The bag pattern is based on the Windmill Bag.