Next piece on the conveyor belt of felt.

Continuing with my exhibition work in my usual bungling style I began stitching on this piece of felt I put together at the felt group. 

I'd used pre-felts : pieces of wool felted together lightly and then 'collaged ' onto a background and re felted.

It was a bit of a strange composition and took quite some bringing together.

I think I probably took this idea a bit too seriously as it has been stitched to within an inch of it life.

In fact I might have stitched it to death.

I got carried away especially at the start with the machining.

when I was making it I added a piece with 'pebble' which are little woolly bobbles, and they made lovely textured leaves when I stitched around them.

French knot alert to the Northwest.

 Here is the whole piece on a piece of calico which will be its eventual mount .

Just need to think of a title with the word 'bough' in it.

Onwards and upwards.

More felt to stitch this week.

Thank you for all the lovely comments on my last post. It gave me the oomph I needed to get on with this.

I am going to experiment with replies...if I can't reply to you via email I'll reply here. So check back for an answer.

Adventures in Embroidery

Here is the reason I was making little pieces of embroidery.

Fear of failing in felt.  I have a number of pieces of felt made specifically to embroider for our upcoming exhibition.

This..before I embroidered it...is one of them.

I was terrified to make a start and ruin it.

But over the last few days, instead of standing over it and wringing my hands I got to work.

I started with machine embroidery and have spent many hours on it doing hand stitch.

I will just say this..overall I'm pleased with the outcome. 

I wish I'd left enough time to 'design' but as everything, the exhibition has been a 'distant elephant'. Very small from a long way off but large and scary as it gets close..and its close. 

And I have more pieces to do. 

Although I think this is finished now, its just a start. 

Enjoy the pictures.

End of an Era

 For the last time I trawled my wares to Millbarn, Samlesbury Bottoms, for Art and Garden. 

It was the last one sadly, and I've done every one.12 or 13 I can't remember.

 I've posted about it before. Its a beautiful event. Artists and crafts people selling in a beautiful garden by the River Darwen, with Follies and flowerbeds.

 I set up in the usual place.

 Next to the refreshments!

 Opposite Diana and Joanne

 I had my friend with me this year. For the most part extremely well behaved.

 Can you see her little friend Missy behind the plantpots?

 There she is with her 'Auntie'

 I tied Hetty up and she was the cause of much oohing and aahing.

 These dear sweet little sisters used her to help them over their fear of 'Barky' dogs. (although she did make them jump when Mika trotted past , the organisers little cute westie) Almost every bit of her was examined by them...even the insides of her ears. The notepad was used to make a superbly observed drawing of her.

 So here are some views around the event at the end of the second day, not the best time for photos as people were packing up. (I hope it wasn't you Shan who asked me not to put you on the blog. I've left the person I thought it was, off .)

 Tea on the lawn.

 Down the tunnels.

 To the back of the house.

 To the big tent.

 The roof of the 'temple'

 The summer house.

 The pond and the river.

 The nurseryman packing up.

 The refreshment centre...they did work hard. Again.

 A new flowerbed.

Bliss. 

More pictures here