London Baby!!

There were some interesting characters wandering around the halls at Olympia last week

After some investigation I discovered that they were part of The Garden of England showcase, highlighting new work from Alice Kettle.

I would loved to have sat down and crocheted  flowers made from recycled plastic bags with these ladies!

Now I am taking a bit of time to rest and recuperate. I had forgotten how wonderful and exhausting London is. After the first morning of experiencing the rush hour tube crush again, I took to the car and impressed my 18 year old with my London driving skills. Some things you never lose!

Done!

All packed and ready for Knitting and Stitching show with two days to spare!

Marjorie won the tickets and has gifted them to her sister in law who lives in London.

Hapus Dydd Gŵyl Dewi and a Giveaway!

or Happy Saint David's Day, if you are a non Welsh speaking girl from Cardiff!

Showing an older piece today as it is nose to the grindstone here as I prepare for The Spring Knitting and Stitching Show. I have no idea what to expect from this show but I do know that the (new) powers that be at Twisted Thread are giving this one a bit of a revamp and a boost. Still taking place in Olympia. London, but in a different more modern hall and with lots of new features. Including a Quilters in Action (where I will be) and quilts just like at the Festival of Quilts.

Would you like to attend? I would love to see you there.

I have got six tickets to giveaway and I have been giving some thought to how to do this. My first thought was three pairs of two, but then I know that so many of you belong to groups and guilds and would love to go as a group. I have decided that first name out of the hat gets offered all six, but if they only need/want a pair then the next name out of the hat gets offered the remaining ticket. Sound okay? 

Obviously this giveaway is restricted to those of you who are able to get to London around 14th -17th March, so I am thinking mainly U.K. readers, but some of you international readers out there might have a private jet you can utilize, or more realistically you may coincidentally be in the U.K. on those dates!!

Anyway all welcome. Just leave a comment to enter.

Winners announced Tuesday 5th March.

Update: I know I have readers who don't blog etc, if you send me an email I will also put your name into the hat!

Leave Well Alone...

..is not a phrase I can get my head around very easily.
What you see here is a piece that I have never been happy with. I have blogged about it here and here.
While I am happy with the other fences, this one wasn't right.
First the green and the binding had to go. This was done by covering in scrim. Still not happy :(

So working on my theory that everything gets better if you throw lots of stitching at it, that is what I have done. I have also cropped some off the top.

And because I really do believe that everything looks better if you put a bird on it...

Now....LEAVE WELL ALONE!!

P.S. As you may observe I am also having issues with the whole watermark thing!
Would love to hear your thoughts on it plus any tips on how to speed up the process.

I surprised myself...

...by managing to turn these, began earlier in the week, into decorative cushions.

After free motion stitching in a spiral from the centre, I felt it needed a bit more so I added some flowers to each block.

 

The stitching can be seen better from the back.

 The finished cushion has added tassels and painted flowers.

I practiced stitching in circles on this one.

The process for painting these began here.

Linking up with Nina-Marie's Off the Wall Friday!

...and more

More Playing!

Stamping on some blocks that have been hanging around here for far too long.

The stamp was made from a Styrofoam pizza base. Not a lover of Styrofoam as a concept but when it can be put to a use such as this....

This block had one layer done in a pale grey, before adding a bold stamp of dark.

I am planning to turn these into some small cushions.

Well that is the plan...don't hold your breathe...
At the moment I am finding the painting fast and enjoyable ...not so much the stitching ...family life creates far too many interruptions ...not complaining ...just saying :)

One of those interruptions was my baby girl turning 18 last Friday!!!
Note to self....wait for the cake to cool before adding the chocolate cream filling!!!
I can normally make a mean sponge cake so why when it counts did this one turn out so bad?
It tasted okay though and as I  explained to the birthday girl, it was made with love:)