New Embroidery Foot on my Elna

My new embroidery foot for my Elna 2600 has arrived! It is fantastic! Just been messing around seeing how it works. Writing my name, things like that. :)

Getting back up to speed - Workshops and Blogs

I have to say I have been a little slack in the blog world of late and am trying to make ammends. Which means several blog posts on the same day. So much to tell.

The Christmas Felt workshops went really really well. Here are a couple of pics:

I have been checking out some interesting blogs recently too and came across this exciting Sewing Circle called 'I've Been Thinking of You' who are organising a world wide sewing circle day on the 13th Jan 2010, anyone can take part anywhere, check out the rules and more info on their blog. I will definately be joining in:

Wise Words to bring in 2010

I have just been reading some of the blogs I follow and have found a post with the wisest words you are going to hear all year. Elizabeth's blog 'Studiofelter' is one I regularly read and thoroughly enjoy seeing her work, it is, as I am sure you will agree, amazing work. Her post reminded me that its ok to feel stuck when in the studio, but the trick is to 'just start'! And its the advice I needed to stop myself from worrying about getting it all wrong and making a mess of things. Thank you Elizabeth.

So now here are some images of some work I started on News Years Day:

I took an piece of abandoned knitting I did ages ago and added some orange embroidery thread, I just wanted to see what happened, and if I could reserect something that was long forgotten.

This piece is a new beginning. I took a piece of felt I had made a few months ago while demonstrating the technique in a workshop and cut it into a long thin strip. I played around with different bits and in the end added a strip of an old painting with machine stitching on, I secured this with a piece of scrim and some orange zig zag stitching. The green circle is yet to be attached. It is another piece of handmade felt cut into a circle, and although I think the colour works really well, I am unsure of the placement. Something to work on.

I hope everyone can benefit from Elizabeths wise words of advice. The need to make is there in all of us. Just start. Happy making everyone.

Trivets

Not very textiley I know but have been looking at Trivets all day and wanted to share my dilemma with you all. I got a wondeful 'on the hob' kettle for Chrsitmas (see above) and now I am looking for a trivet to rest it on to save the kitchen tops. So many trivets, which one to choose?

This one is a wooden one that doubles up as two. Fantastic from Soulful Toaster.

This one is pretty leaf design from Rockett St George.

This classic style cast iron one is available in Black and White and Powder Blue and is from Robert Welch.

But this one is amazing! Fantastic colours and a wonderful shape. This I found at Red Candy.

Which one do I choose?

Christmas Felting Workshops

Chrsitmas Felting Workshops

Picture above is from the last Fabrications felting workshop.

Come learn how to make a Christmas Felt Stocking or Fun Christmas Decorations with me!

Workshops being held at Fabrications, Broadway Market, Hackney, East London.

To book please contact Barley Massey at Fabrications.

Fabrications: 7 Broadway Market. Hackney. London. E8 4PH. Tel/Fax. +44 (0) 207 2758043E-mail : textiles@fabrications1.co.uk

Felt Stocking Workshop

Saturday 21st November

10.30 - 4.30pm

(with a lunch break!)

A more advanced felt making session in which I will show you how to create 3d shapes and a sandwich resist technique during which you will design and make your own felted Xmas stocking to take home.

The workshop will be run downstairs in the workshop, so max numbers for this session is 6 with a fixed fee of £45 per person (this includes colourful + natural 100% wool tops)

Christmas Decorations Workshop

Saturday 28th November

2 - 4.30pm

Have fun making some festive decorations whilst learning the brief history of felt, basic wet felting techniques and how to create 3d shapes and flat felt sheets.

All materials will be provided as well as take home info sheets. The session costs (£20. materials included. Max of 6)

K&S Show @ Ally Pally 2009

Wow its been a month since my last post!

Knitting & Stitching Show at Ally Pally was great as always, I was very good and didnt spend that much. These are some purchaes I made, cant wait to experiment with the dyes.

Saw some really great work on display too, its always a fantastic place to get inspiration from. I particularly liked the Clay and Thread display: Clay and Thread: Alice Kettle Collaborates with Helen Felcey and Alex McErlain and the wonderful prints onto felt by Dionne: Dionne Swift: New Grounds

http://www.twistedthread.com/pages/exhibitions/viewExhibition.aspx?id=23&view=features

Sketches

Sketches of ideas for felt patchwork pieces.

Tea & Make!

Hi Everyone!

Tea & Make is this Saturday! Its going to so much fun! I and my friend Eva will be running our Fibres to Felt stall all day selling teacosies and felt kits, my teabag sculptures and book packs. Eva will also be selling some of her handprinted fabrics and some other textile bits.

We will be doing a special felting demo at some point during the afternoon so come and have a look! We might even get our feet wet and do a big wet felted rug...... we shall see how it goes.

There will be loads of other fantastic stalls and craft demos and workshops to join in with, as well as a great supply of tea and cakes! What more could you ask for?

Craft + Tea + Cake = One Awesome Day Out

See more info on their website: http://www.teaandmake.co.uk/
and their blog: http://teaandmake.blogspot.com/

[Whats really exciting is that Selvedge will be there, I love, love, love that magazine!]

Successful Felting Workshop

been felting all weekend

Basic Felting Workshop

Come felt with me!

I am teaching a basic beginners day course on Saturday 15th August in Fabrications which is a lovely haberdashery come textile design gallery on Broadway Market in Hackney.

The price is £45 for the full day which includes all materials, tea and my homemade cake!

If you are interested please email or call Barley Massey at Fabrications:

barley@fabrications1.co.uk

If you could pass this on to anyone you think might be interested please do!

Surprise Presents and Japanese Craft Books

Hello everyone.

Its been a manic week ending in the Hackney Wicked Festival and my Open Studios. See my other blog for more on that:

http://abithomas.blogspot.com/

Stitchworks Jackie came to say hi while I had my Open Studios and she gave me this lovely piece of her handmade felt with paper as a little surprise present. I love it! I think I am going to have to get it framed...

These pictures below are from the two Japanese craft books I ordered from YesAsia.com, they arrived on my doorstep the other day and I LOVE them! Gorgeous pictures, just gorgeous.

Felt Brooch Kits

I have finally got around to making up some felting kits. These are cute little kits to make your own brooch with. I love picking out all the fibres and mixing colours and picking and matching buttons to go with the wool!

Each kit comes with enough wool roving to make the brooch, some netting, some decorative bits of yarn and ribbon, buttons and a brooch pin. A little instruction booklet with pictures is also included.

I am going to be selling these at my open studios next week and at Tea & Make's first craft event in August. If they go down well I will start selling them online too.

Teacosies with Heart Buttons

Saturday Morning Parcels

Two parcels came this morning. One pink, one purple. One from Fabric Rehab, one from Paper and String. Made me smile.

Fabric Rehab

http://www.fabricrehab.co.uk/

Awesome.