Papers

I have been playing with colouring papers today; trying to work on some ideas for a workshop. I used a variety of paper, including brown paper and greaseproof. The thick watercolour was the most successful and the greaseproof had a nice feel.
I will probably stitch into the handmade paper which feels just like material.
It’s a while since I did this and I think there will be a few more stages before they are finished.

Thank you for the kind comments about the felt bag; it was particularly nice to get a comment all the way from Italy.

Felt bag

I decided to make a felt bag last weekend; to see if I still could and also to use some dyed wool which I bought at The Knitting and Stitching Show in the autumn. I thought you might like to see some of the stages. Starting to lay out the wool over a cardboard template. I have used warm water and soap to ‘glue’ the fibres together for the first stage. I washed it out with diluted white vinegar at the end.

I am so pleased with my charity shop find, a rigid plastic CD stand. Just the thing for throwing the wool onto for the final felting stage.Below is the bag without its final decorations.Making felt balls using a felting needle and the rolled cords for the finishingsI made an insert to give the bag a firmer base. I am pleased with the end result, but my stern critic, you know who, says I should spend more time on the design stage, which is why I am thinking of taking an Access to Art and Design Course next autumn.

Rock Fall

I've been working on the piece of shaped felt, trying to get it finished and framed for an exhibition in the local library, only to find that the organiser has left without letting anyone know. At least it gave me a push to get it completed. You can click for a closer look.

The stitching is mainly piles of Bullion Knots, French Knots, and picots of Buttonhole Stitch.

Etsy

I have been working on some items to put on my Etsy shop; above are the results so far. Two small zipped pouches. I have lined them in a commercial, but I think appropriate fabric, which has a gold print pattern.
Even the labels took some time, as I found I couldn’t stitch the lettering
on a single layer of tape. I have used the same process as for the covered books, procion dyed, printed and stitched brushed cotton.
For me it was challenging to work out how to set up the shop, and I am still working on getting the photos right. I like the banner but my son says I should do better. They are hard critics, aren’t they?

New start.

This is the start not only of a New Year but something of a new life for me, having given up full time work as a social worker in a Mental Health Team at the end of December. This is my desk at home where I hope to extend and pursue my creative interests. I’m planning my Etsy shop at the moment. Here is a fascinating site on-my-desk showing the desks of people who mainly work from home in creative areas. Another surprising recommendation is ‘How to Clean Your House’ by Kim Woodburn & Aggie Mackenzie – hundreds of handy tips to make your home sparkle. Mine certainly needs some help; so far this seems to have involved spraying lots of diluted white vinegar and scrubbing!

2007