This and that.

Hello again!  It's been a couple of weeks since my last post - sorry about that! I've not been shirking, honestly!  I've been sanding our bedroom furniture before painting it.  We've been doing the bedroom up bit by bit, and had decided to change the whole look by painting the drawers.  However, when I'd ordered the new carpet, I suddenly realised time was running out to get the painting done.  Cue frantic sanding and painting.  I'll post a photo when I get it all done.

We went to London for a weekend break.  It's always exciting, and now the train can get you from Carlisle to Euston in just over 3 hours!  We had a night tour on an open top bus, which was really interesting, and also went to the Cutty Sark in Greenwich.  We saw the Painted Chapel at the Naval College, which was beautiful.  It's classed as the British Sistine Chapel, quite rightly.  We also went to the Tower of London, which is always a good day out. There was an exhibition of wire animal sculptures, which were stunning.

This elephant was so realistic, and is actually made from chicken wire.

Well you can't go to London and not have a photo of a handsome guard!

This dragon sculpture in the White Tower (at the Tower of London) is made from all sorts of weapons - fantastic!

I couldn't resist taking a photo of the detail on this beautiful helmet.

I also had a wildlife "emergency" the other day.  We have a housemartins' nest in the eaves of the house, above the bedroom window.  When I went to hang some washing on the line, I spotted a chick just sitting on the lawn - obviously not right for a housemartin.  Now, I know you're not supposed to interfere, but there are a lot of cats round here, and I was worried that our dog, Daisy would get out and upset things.  So, I gently picked it up and put it into the borders in the front garden.  Silly thing kept coming to sit on the path by the front door.  I decided to ring the RSPB for advice.  They said to put it outside on our bedroom window ledge, near the nest.  I was really worried as it was SUCH a windy day.  However, the RSPB man obviously knows his stuff, and after the parents realised it was there, and fed it, it soon took off.  I thought you might like some of the photos I took - 

It was absolutely gorgeous, but clearly camera shy, as it kept putting its head under its wing!

I bought some gorgeous wool the other day and crocheted this cushion panel.  I'm quite pleased with it.  What do you think?

Apart from the cushion panel, I've not done anything crafty (unless you count the painting!), so I thought I'd show you some of the lovely things the very clever ladies from my class have made. (The class is now on summer break, so I hope they're all getting inspiration for next term - no pressure, Ladies!)

Kath made this beautiful cushion in autumn colours.  I think she's done it really well.

Linda bead embroidered this gorgeous panel which she's planning on turning into a bag.  Stunning!

Dilys took inspiration from a greetings card to make this wall hanging for her new grandson.  The detail in it is amazing.  

Well, it's now very late, and I really need to get to bed - just as well you can't see me yawning!.  I've got loads of ideas fizzing around in my head at present, so hopefully, some of them will make it into reality and I can show you.  

Nighty night,  see you soon,

Love,

Gill x

Pigs and Hares and a purse too.

Hello there, nice to see you again!

 

A strange title, I hear you say?  Well, last year at the Woolfest, I bought a fantastic book from the very talented Jenny Barnett,( www.jennybarnett.co.uk).  She makes the cutest needlefelted animals.  I decided to have a go at the hare from the instructions in the book (VERY clear instructions, by the way!).  Here's the result:

Those ears are like Dumbo's

 

A very coy looking hare.

 

 

I showed my friend the hare.  She asked if I could do her a pig, so I thought I'd have a go.  I used Merino wool that I'd already dyed with Landscape dyes (from Wingham Woolwork) and added very small wisps of beige for mud splatters, and darker pink for nostrils.  See what you think...

 

A little curly tail

 

A curious angle to the head.

 

Ears nearly as big as the Hare's

 

 

 

I only stabbed my fingers twice, which I thought was pretty good going, given how vicious the felting needles are!  If you fancy having a go at needlefelting, I'd recommend Jenny Barnett's book "Needle Felting Workshops With Jenny Barnett"

 

 

Last week I promised a mini tutorial on purse making, so here goes - bear with me, it's quite long!

 

Fabric requirements: Outer fabric - 1 fat quarter

                                   Lining fabric - 1 fat quarter

fusible fleece to fit pattern ( this will depend on your bag frame).

Metal purse frame.  

Strong glue - I use Guttermann HT2

 

 

1.  I used a 6" frame.  Draw round the inside of the purse frame, marking the centre point at the top.

 

 

2.Pivot the frame from the corner out, in this case about 2". This will vary with the size of your bag - a smaller frame needs less pivoting - a larger one needs more!  Mark the bottom of the hinge.

 

3.                           Add 3/8" to the line.

 

 

4.    Draw the side seam line straight down.  In this case I used 6". 

 

 

5.   Fold your pattern on that centre mark you made earlier, and cut the pattern out.  Using the pattern, cut out two pieces of fusible fleece.

 

 

6.     You can see the two different sides of the fusible fleece.  The dotty side is the adhesive side.

 

 

7.     Put the fleece adhesive side UP and the wrong side of the outer fabric on top of it.  Iron the right side of the outer fabric to fuse the fleece to it. *****NEVER iron the dotty side of the fleece or you'll ruin your iron  (and yes, I've done it!)

 

 

8.                                                                                

 Cut out two purse pieces from your lining fabric

 

 

9.    Pin the outer / fleece combo pieces   RIGHT SIDES together.

 

 

 

10.  Stitch together round the 3 sides as shown.  Use a 1/4" seam

 

 

11.Trim the corners.

 

 

12.Push the corners out flat by matching up the side seam with the bottom seam.  Mark a 1" line in from the edge.  Do this on both sides.  A permanent marker works well, as does a pencil.

 

 

13. Pin so the seams don't go walkabout! (yes, I've done that too, and ended up with a wonky purse!)

 

 

14.Stitch on the lines you've drawn.

 

 

For the uninitiated, this is called sugar bagging, and allows the purse to have some depth and to sit flat.  So now you know!

 

 

15 It sometimes helps to match the base and side seams together by putting a pin through one seam then into the other.

 

 

16.   Repeat steps 9- 14 with the lining fabric.

 

 

17.   Turn the lining the right way out.  Leave the outer purse inside out.  Put the lining into the outer purse as shown.  the right side of the lining will be up against the right side of the outer purse.

 

 

18. Pin together round the top.  Put a pin in horizontally to show where you'll leave a gap.

 

 

19.Sew round the top edge of the purse with a 1/4" seam.  Leave a gap of about 2".  Do a small reverse stitch at the beginning and the end to stop it coming undone in the next step.

 

 

20.Turn the purse right sides out through the gap.  CAREFULLY !

 

 

21.If it's really creased, you can carefully press each side by putting a towel into the purse and pressing the iron over it gently.

 

 

22. Fold the open edges in, taking care to keep the edge straight.  Stitch close to the edge so that it will be hidden in the frame.

 

 

23.Put a piece of tape round both top edges of the frame and mark the centre point on them.

 

 

 

 

24. Put a pin in both sides of the purse to show the centre point too.  This pin is a bit camouflaged, but has an orange tip, if you look carefully!

 

 

25. Now comes the messy bit.  Firstly, a warning - no, not Health & Safety, just common sense, thank you very much!  This glue is VERY smelly, so follow the instructions and get your windows open.  Yes, really!  Obviously don't leave it where your little darlings can reach or you'll have a very messy house and probably very sickly kids.  Work quickly.

Run a bead of glue round the inside of both halves of the frame and also the top and sides of the fabric purse (the opening).  I use more on the frame and less on the fabric, but that's probably me being miserly!

 

Leave to go tacky - about 5 - 10 mins depending on how warm your room is. 

 

 

26. Now, working on the top first, push the fabric firmly into the frame, matching up your centre point marks.  Repeat on both sections on the frame.  Next, work on the sides of the purse.  Really push firmly.  I find it useful to have an old spoon handle or such to help with the pushing.  Currently, I'm using a plant label!  You might have to keep pushing, particularly when you get to the hinge area.  Excess glue can be scratched off with a fingernail.

 

 

 

27.  Now, congratulations are due! 

 

 

 

BUT leave the purse alone now, for the glue to set.  I tend to leave it overnight, but I'm probably  being over cautious. 

 

You should be really proud of yourself!  Go and get a cuppa!

 

 

 

Off to make tea now.  Shepherd's pie, carrots and caramelised home grown kale.  Yum!

 

See you soon,

 

Love  Gill