Lynda Monk workshop +

Here are some finished postcards from the Lynda Monk workshop. What a lovely, generous lady she is! It was by far and away the best workshop I had ever been on, even surpassing the brilliant day we had with Yvonne Brown (can't wait to finish the stuff we made that day either).

This one is my favourite

These next two are sample pieces that Lynda had made up just for us to practise our painting on, all 15 of us! We also had a vessel gessoed and made up for us to complete (pic to follow, when varnished) two sheets of tyvek, plus several bits already zapped, a sheet of writing on dressmaking paper, two pieces of watercolour paper (for the postcard backs), another larger 'quiltlet' ready for painting (picture to follow when finished), a cd of the complete workshop. Plus other bits and bobs - all for £6!!! The cost of the workshop was taken from our subs. As I say, the bestest workshop ever!

 The next picture is a dear little box we made the other week at 4S, under Shirley's instruction. This was really fun to do, took forever, and used loads of thread, but really sweet. Think I will keep this for myself!

More from Patricia's Patchers

The ladies at the Thursday group have been busy again
Here is a picture of some of the Japanese bags, we tried getting all of them on one photo, but it wasn't to be, couldn't get everybody to show up, on the same day, with their bags...
so there will be another picture sometime...

This is a picture of Marion's plain fabric scrap quilt, made just to use it all up, now she will have to buy some more

Here is Margaret's Christmas banner, made for the church in Luton, which she attended when she lived that way

I have also been working on the projects I started at a fantastic workshop last Saturday, with Lynda Monk, pics to follow

Fireworks parties

We have had two fireworks parties this weekend. The first one yesterday, Saturday, was hosted by ourselves, and included Stephen, who loves being able to light the fireworks, supervised, and Harvey, whose first time it was for fireworks. He didn't seem to mind them too much, jumped a bit when the noisy rockets went up, but never cried once.

Then tonight we went to Jan and John's, a lovely time was had by all. Especially Harvey, being centre of attention, shared with Harley, their new dog, who DID NOT like the fireworks.
It was good to see Ollie and Carolyn, and Kate and Robert, their children again.

Charlotte was very pleased to be asked to be Harvey's godmother.

Chilford

Went to Chilford Quilt Show on Friday, most enjoyable. Saw lots of people, spent most of the time chatting, well there's a surprise...
Had seen quite a lot of the quilts before, at Sandown and other venues. Gail Lawther's New Zealand quilts I think I have seen at least 3 times, but I don't mind, because they are very good.
Here are some pics of my faves.

No pictures of my 4S project yet, have decided I don't like it, and am going to start again tomorrow!

4S piece

Here is a picture of the piece we started on Monday at 4S.
First of all we ironed a transfer onto lutrador, then painted it with watercolours (from a child's paintbox). When I got home I stitched round the outlines with black thread. This evening I have been filling in the coloured parts with stitch, ordinary free motion embroidery and cable stitch. I'm really quite chuffed with it, no idea what to do with it now, or how to finish it off!!

We also had a kit given to us, with a photo printed on calico, and lots of pieces of lutrador to colour, which I have done, in preparation for stitching and burning with a soldering iron next Monday. Pics to follow, next week...

Weekend away in October

Had a lovely weekend away, went to sunny Bromsgrove, the well-known must go to holiday destination this year (not). Still, the Travelodge was fairly new, therefore quite clean and with new decor, Kidderminster had good shops, more than I expected as well, and we went to a craft centre on Sunday before coming home. We also went to Hanbury Hall, completely forgetting we had been there once before...

We had the guided tour this time, don't think we did before, therefore getting all the goss on the previous occupants, ooh they were naughty.

Then sunday lunch in a pub somewhere on the way home, which was delicious, pity I can't remember the pubs name, nor where it was!
We also went to the Severn Railway Steam Museum, and Bill went to an Aircraft museum.

Quilters Guild Regional Day

Had a lovely day out at the Quilters Guild Regional Day, at Gt Blakenham. We had two very good speakers, Gail Lawther in the morning, showing her lovely New Zealand quilts, have seen these at lease twice before, (also have the book) but still a treat, and Sheila Cetti in the afternoon. Both ladies gave humorous talks, which is always nice. Took Carol, I think she enjoyed it. Ended up shopping in Stowmarket, at last got the trousers I have been trying to get for several months, in fact bought two pairs!

Ally Pally

Had a really lovely day out yesterday at Ally Pally. Took two other ladies, one a first-timer and they both enjoyed themselves also. Bought lots of lovely threads, a Rowandean kit, some fabric, some felt, necklace findings, knitting wool for Alice snr for Christmas, but not the Anchor threads I was particularly looking for! Still, ordered them online last night, Paypal up and running beautifully. The weather was the warmest ever for that weekend, maybe I will start to believe in 'Global Warming'. My new route worked a treat, didn't get lost once! Saw several people I knew, so was doing quite a bit of chatting...
No photos - lots of signs up saying 'No Photography' which seems a shame, but never mind.
Particularly liked the Small Chat and Wessex Embroiderers' Exhibitions, lots of inspiration there. Was it my imagination but did it seem more crowded than last year? Hope so, it would be a shame to lose these shows.

Harvey's first drink from a cup

Alice, Harvey and I have had a lovely day out. I'm now totally exhausted, and my back aches from pushing an extremely heavy and weighed down buggy. We had afternoon tea in Costa and Harvey was thirsty, but Alice hadn't packed a sipper cup, so she gave him some milk from a paper cup - most of it ended up down his face and cover cloth!!

He was a very good boy all day, he obviously likes shopping - at the moment anyway!

Maldon and Braintree Exhibitions

Bill and I have had a lovely day out, we first of all went to Maldon, what a lovely little town. The weather was good this morning so we went for a stroll in a park, had an ice cream and wandered down to the river to see the old Thames sailing barges, by 'eck the mud is deep there!! I wouldn't fancy falling into that...
We then went to a lovely textile art exhibition staged by Fen Edge Textile group - here are photos of some of the best:

After lunch we went on to Braintree Museum where there was another textile exhibition, this one was by EAST. Here are some of my favourites:

The last two in particular were very interesting, I had seen them before they were finished, the lady who had made them, Margaret Talbot, had given us a wonderful talk at Material Girls last year, I think, and she had brought lots of her work with her, and these two were WIP's.

'nother finished project

Here is a piccy of the landscape started at Material Girls last week, it has turned out well.

I have also been working on the stumpwork brooch, the beads arrived at last! Must get round to opening my own Paypal account. Alice says it's easy! Have got stuck again, the lady who was helping me is on holiday for another week, and she has the making up instructions!

Have also been painting some more of the Lutrador and Lace project.

I'm hoping to go to the Fen Edge exhibition, at Maldon, tomorrow, looking forward to that. Bill is coming with me.

Have been getting my shopping list ready for Ally Pally, that seems to have come round quick. Perhaps because I didn't get to FOC at Birmingham this year.



Finished!

Carol has finished her latest quilt.

and I have finished Harvey's toy. It was made more complicated by the fact that the diagram from the Dutch instructions wasn't correct!

Unfortunately my beads STILL haven't arrived, so I can't finish the stumpwork brooch. Bill was supposed to have ordered them for me via Paypal, but forgot to hit confirm! This was last Wednesday. It was Monday before I realised, so sent a cheque (for some reason it wouldn't let me use my debit card). They are supposed to be next day delivery...

Oh well, I will have a go at the landscape later, see if I can get the gold thread to work.

Also started another new project on Monday afternoon, at 4S. This was less than successful on the day, but have 'modified' it now. We were supposed to be using transfer paints onto sheer/polyester fabric, but for some reason (possibly my old iron not being hot enough) the colour wouldn't transfer. This was then being bonded onto felt, and machine and hand stitched for a book cover. When I got home I painted the felt with silk paints and sprayed with water, then patted the poly fabric on top, so now have two pieces of 'coloured', may make two book covers!

Carluccio's

We went to Carluccio's last night, the new Italian restaurant in the arc. It was quite good, but boy was my tummy full last night! Why did I let Bill persuade me to have Tiramasu, as well, even though I was already full up. It was a joint meal for my birthday (last month) and our wedding anniversary (today)

Harvey and Me

Here is a picture of my gorgeous grandson, Harvey, and me

Thursday Group (Patricia's Patchers)

Just a few photos of my Thursday ladies. They are hard at work on their Japanese bags.

this week

This week I have started FOUR new projects.

A toy for Harvey, Cindy at the Tuesday group started one and we couldn't work it out, but I shall persevere...

A Lutrador and Lace project I found online

A stumpwork name brooch, have wanted a name brooch for a long time, Noreen at 4S (Linda's new group at Chevington} started me off
and a landscape wallhanging that I crazed Jean to show us how to do, at Material Girls (not worth a picture yet)
This is without all the other UFO's I have
Last week I did finish the cushion I started at Summer School, and my Convict Women bonnet