Blowing away the cobwebs.

My goodness I've subjected you to an awful a lot of metaphorical navel gazing lately.
So sorry . Here's a bit of sunshine.
I am always amazed at new colour combinations that just seem to happen.
Lime and scarlet make this circle sing.



A long time ago when I was Vice chairman of Preston Branch of the Embroiderers' Guild we were contacted by the relatives of a deceased member and asked to empty out her 'stash' .She had been a teacher and a prolific embroiderer and the stash was immense. We were to remove it, sell it and use the proceeds towards the 'International centre for Embroidery' . This was a great idea but the Embroiderers' Guild bungled the attempt to build ICE . I'll say no more on that.
Sadly also, there was so much stuff that while we did raise quite a considerable amount of money there were a lot of things left.
Now I get to this tin, which was one of her little bits that I bought.


Inside we these tiny beads. Obviously much treasured and prized by her, but never used.

I have been treasuring them too, but have decided to use things.

I have had a big clear out of stuff I will never use and installed an extra surface.
Now I have a place to cut and iron.

A whole new table on which to embellish. (I used to have to put my sewing machine on the floor and pick up the embellisher.)

That big empty pin board is going to have a coat of paint..if I can get it on before it gets filled.
My sewing machine is no longer surrounded by jars of dubious liquids and rusty brushes.

But my shelves are such a mess. The one with the stuff I need the least has been covered with this UFO.
You didn't know I was a patchworker once did you?

Unfortunately my most used shelf is a terrible mess.
My threads are in the drawers and the plastic bags hold velvet, silk and chiffon in almost daily use so I don't want to cover them up.

But what do you do with the products of workshops and classes?

Have you seen 'Field of dreams'?
'If you build it they will come'?
Well, I can tell you that if you stand an empty set of shelves over your work area it will be filled in an instant .
This believe it or not is after a makeover. It was in serious danger of a topple-over prior to this.

Perhaps its as well that its a bit of a blurry picture.

I seem to have bag and basket overload..these are all to do with felt and are the tip of the iceberg.
At the extreme right of the above picture is a hard cover for a Bernina 1008 or 1000 ,which has never been used. If anyone wants to make me an offer.....
(I paid £50 about 10 years ago.)
I have two new little cupboards now full of Harris Tweeds .
A great idea I thought...

...but I wanted to try my felt on a piece and of course have had to pull it all out all over the floor.


I really MUST keep the floor clear.
Thats the killer of creativity..a floor you can't get across.

Finally......my dear wonderful lamp has died. There are no 'ways in' to try and fix it.
Its the best lamp I have ever had. I have been trying to find another for years with no luck.

It has a double length arm and stretches a long way, and when the table is covered in fabric and thread and other stuff, its so useful to have a switch on the business end.

Do you know where I can get another?