I was taking a look around Artfire this morning (online marketplace for handmade goodies) and came across these two bag makers Joyce Pleasant and Janine King. What struck me about both of these was the lovely fabrics they’ve used.
Janine makes some really useful bags, often padded, for the transportation of all kinds of technology. The camera bags really took my eye, they’re so much nicer than the plain black ones. I’m just not sure my husband would be keen. Maybe when I get my own camera …
I may be busy but at least there’s never a dull moment. After weeks of not finding the time, I have at last finished all my commissions which is a lovely feeling as I was beginning to fret about them. Yesterday I was teaching the Textile Art Pool to make seamless handbags. They’re a nice group of ladies who made me very welcome, provied a great lunch and made some lovely bags.
Tomorrow is the start of the Knitting & Stitching Show at Harrogate where I and others will be at the International Feltmakers stand (A110) in Hall A to talk about and demonstrate feltmaking. I’ll be there on Thursday and Friday mornings so if you’re around do stop by and say hello. The stand will feature 25 of the mini dresses made by regional members and there’ll be clothing items for sale. For the first time the show will feature a swishing salon. Swishing is the free exchange of good quality clothes and accessories and you can find out more about it from the show link above.
On Saturday I’ll be teaching felt making in Kirby Lonsdale on behalf of Sedbergh Community Development Council. They also run courses in Kendal and Sedbergh and you can see the full list of what’s available on their website. Next week I hope to get some playtime as I fancy doing some more work with dyes.
I spent yesterday teaching a lovely group of people to make nuno felt scarves and we had a brilliant day together.We began by dyeing the silk chiffon for the scarves, which challenged us as we dragged colour mixing from our memories and set about the task.
After dyeing we set about sampling the nuno technique using cotton muslin and a synthetic material, You can see some examples above. We had two synthetic fabrics, one of which felted very well, the second wasn’t very successful. Lunch gave us the opportunity to reflect on the samples and decide on a design for the finished scarf. As you can see below, the results were stunning.
It constantly amazes me that we begin with the same resources but produce such very different and unique results. I really do think that this was a particularly successful workshop and the people involved were very creative. If only I got to keep what they created. I think they had as much fun as I did and I also have to thank them for leaving me some cake.
For the felting and other crafting addicts out there I’d like to bring a new site to your attention. I found feltingcraftgossip which has links to lots of great sites, tutorials and competitions.
There are sections for other crafts such as crochet, glass art and recycled crafts. Something for everyone. Take a look and let me know what took your eye.
On Saturday afternoon I left myself a little short of time to make a grim reaper cloak for my daughter to go and demand sweets with menaces. Otherwise known as trick or treating. In one hour I made a full length cloak with hood, no pattern,no previous experience. It’s not haute couture but it looked most effective, especially when you think it’s black and she’d be wearing it in the dark. My husband did a sterling job on the scythe as well. It was a really simple outfit with a big impact. No need for face paint or fangs. She wore black trousers, her school shoes and my fleece. Cheap as well as effective as the fabric was on sale at £1 per yard and the scythe was made from a bamboo garden stick and cardboard.
It was important that her face couldn’t be seen and we pondered how the hood could be made to stand away from and conceal her face. Then my daughter had a brainwave, use a baseball cap and the peak would keep the hood in shape. It worked a treat.
When she returned it was with the largest stash of sweets I’ve ever seen anywhere that isn’t a sweet shop! Some people had made up little bags for the children and some had even given money. It made our offering to the local kids look mean. And yet, is it right that they be given so much? I really don’t think it is. The main fun is in carving the pumpkin, dressing up and having fun with your friends. Not collecting such vast amounts of sweets and chocolate. My daughter doesn’t eat a lot of sweets, I bet there’s lots left at Christmas.
I have two pleas. Firstly for the kids and adult chaperones. Please only visit houses where a halloween light is shown. Masked figures on mass, in the dark, can be intimidating. Secondly – please only give a small treat, the kids really don’t need more. I really am turning into a grumpy old woman aren’t I?
As I finished that bag earlier in the week it inspired me to get on and do something else which I’ve been putting off or ages – make a draught excluder. Every time I feed the cats I notice how cold it is near the back door and think I must make a draught excluder. Then I go off and do something else.
I had a look around the internet at patterns for excluders in the shape of dogs and snales and then thought what am I doing? I don’t want an animal shape! So I went a found a piece of fabric from my stash and made a cylinder. Then I realised it needed stuffing, what to use? I was pleased with my next idea which was to stuff it with some fleece which I’ve had for 3 years (another project!!!) which used it up and has left me room to buy more 
The whole thing only took me 15 minutes why did I put it off for so long?
