Diana's ATC

Look what was in the post when I got home! a Cream on Cream ATC from Diana in New Zealand.

Vintage Japanese silk, cotton and paper. This is then stitched with Antique thread.

A real treasure!

Thank you Diana.

Craft Tidy's

Spent Monday morning making some more Craft Tidy's, so I can take them to the Gallery. In the end I hope each place will have there own. This will cut down the trips to the bin, hopefully and be really nifty!
In the afternoon Jo came over to see if we could work her laptop and my projector so that she could give a powerpoint presentation to Alveva Quilt Group next month. A little pushing of buttons and hey presto it worked. Looks like we are in for an interesting evening.
It was nice to catch up.

The Scissor Cases

The pattern for the Scissor Case looks very Japanese, I just had to photograph them in a fan shape.

All they need now are their buttons to secure the tab and keep the scissors and Rotary Cutter in place. I love the triple pockets!

Thank you again Pat! and everyone who made our workshop day such a success.

My Sewing Tidy and Case

I am so pleased with my Tidy and Case it's already in use.

Thank you Pat for such a lovely day.

Finished Sewing Tidy's

These are our finished Sewing Tidy's and Scissor Cases.

It made us all feel very happy seeing all of them lined up. They are all so different!

Thank you Pat for being such a wonderful teacher.

Workshop Day with Pat

Today we had a wonderful Alveva workshop day with Pat and were joined by some of Rainbow Quilters too! We made a sewing tidy in the morning and in the afternoon we made a scissor case.

Sewing, chatting and lots of giggles especially from Beryl!

Through The Arches

This is looking through the archway, from what I call my 'Monks Secret Garden' to the top of the vegetable garden. Secret because it is enclosed and there is a seat in a rose arbour where I like to hide and read! Monks because it is full of herbs, a wooden lecturn and a pew seat. I based it on the herb and vegetable gardens on the terraces of St Mount Michelle in France.
In the vegetable garden beyond this gate there are onions,celery,peas,cabbages and early potatoes. As you are starting to see Quilters Cottage Garden is split up into smaller gardens. This encourages us to try different garden ideas and it's easier to garden!
I love the Spring as everything wakes up and we can get outside.
I have also managed an hour of freemotion quilting on the Red Quilt today and had a lovely lunch with the family.
Out tonight at The Embroidery Guild.

Out in the Garden

This is near the top of Quilters Cottage garden. The greenhouse, polytunnel and working area is beyond this. Today we weeded and prepared the soil for late potatoes and red onions. The long bed is asphagus and will be starting to come up soon. I just love asphagus! there is also a raspberry bed, trimmed and tied up in hopeful expectation!
The metal sculpture in the foreground is one of mine and based on Crewel Embroidery and Border patterns. The paths are all gravel now to stop weeds and to make the areas easier to look after.

A Page from Pat's Altered Book.

These are the first pages inside Pat's altered book. As you can see she has used many creative mixed media techniques. Pat's page on the left are inspired by Japenese Silks and Brocades.

Just beautiful.

For more details about the sessions at The Gallery visit http://www.thegallerydereham.co.uk/

and for more inspiration of the work I share and teach visit my website

http://www.art2inspire.co.uk/

Pat's Altered Book Cover

Pat had begun her altered book ideas with Marion, the artist who takes the evening session on a Tuesday evening at The Gallery. During a morning session Pat discussed ways in which to finish the front of her book cover and how she could use ribbon and organzer. We looked at some of the inspiration I had brought with me and Pat then went away and attached her front cover,making and attaching the flowers, which as you can see are just beautiful. This book is now complete and the pages are all creative and inspirational inside. This is Pat's second altered book.

See more journals and sketchbooks on my website http://www.art2inspire.co.uk/

Pat Embellished Brooch

Pat had a go on the Embellisher last week and took her sample home, embroidered and beaded it. She then added a backing and a brooch pin. It's fantastic so well done Pat!

See more embellishing on my website http://www.art2inspire.co.uk/

Carol Machine Piecing

Carol is working hard machine piecing her Quilt. She has learnt so much about cutting using a rotary cutter,ruler and mat. Cutting squares, triangles, measuring and piecing. Carol has gone away each week and diligently done homework so the quilt strips can grow. Next week the centre panel will come together and borders pieced. Well done Carol!

To also see more of the workshops click on the label ' workshops' below this post.

See what else is happening at The Gallery http://www.thegallerydereham.co.uk/

Gallery Day 22nd March 2010

Jeannie had an Embellisher taster session last week with me at The Gallery and today she returned to start to embellish landscapes for cards. This is the start of one and there will be a running hare and further embellishment added later.

Jeannie has been making puppets with The Splat Art Club which meets at The Gallery on a Saturday.

See http://www.thegallerydereham.co.uk/

Spring Weeding!

This is half of the long flower bed and a small section of the lawn which we weeded and mulched today.The lawn was trimmed and cut today too! I will shown you more of Quilters Cottage garden as we move round the areas in our Spring cleaning over the next couple of weeks. I like the planting and the lounging but really hate weeding but it's got to be done!

We live next to a field and you can see the open Norfolk Sky!

Springs Here!

Well, Springs here and Stewart and I just had to get out in the garden with the sunshine. We've got three quarters of an acre to garden! This seat area is opposite my studio and part of the large lawned area with a large long and I mean long! flower bed. We weeded it and mulched this area before lunch today.