Daisy Chain

 

Summer daisies provided the inspiration for a couple of cushions completed a while ago and it was great to experiment with a variety of sewing techniques to to make these two cushions that  linked to the theme in very different ways.

The daisy decorations are made using synthetic fabrics, sewn with cotton metallic thread and then cut out using a soldering iron.....the fabric edges are sealed by the soldering iron so no fraying and just to remind you , make sure you sew with natural threads ( which don't melt or burn ). The possibilities with this technique are really exciting but , like everything, requires experimentation and a bit of practise to get it all working exactly right.

Sometimes it is impossible to find the exact colour organza for your project so try layering different coloured sheer fabrics together to get the colour you want. Also, cutting fabric snippets and sandwiching them between two fabrics give a mottled , and more realistic effect especially for leaves and flowers.

Cushion two involves  fabric manipulation and patch work techniques. Jennie Rayment's book

 ' Creative Tucks and Textures ' is a great book to  have a look at if you want to make anything using this imaginative work . For this cushion it took a fair bit of working out to fit all the pieces together but if you're not to happy working out your own designs the book takes you  through many ideas with clear instructions and measurements.

And for something different why not use your new found techniques to make your own unique buttons for cushions or furniture.

The possibilities are endless...... just need the time to get experimenting !!

Summer's coming

Sunday was a beautiful day in the kent countryside, Riverhill Himalayan gardens to be precise , and for those not in the know its the  house and gardens in Sevenoaks that appeared in the 'Country House Rescue'  program a couple of years ago. Hats off to the family for the work they have done so far in providing a tranquil and safe place for their visitors and also for providing a lovely little cafe with homemade food and lovely coffee ! Works are still in progress with garden developments due to be completed this year and next but it is a great place for craft inspiration, or just a day out in a beautiful place with stunning views of the Kent Weald. Lots planned for the coming season, March - September, with something for everyone so if you're in the area it's well worth a visit.

Couldn't resist taking a picture of this old gate with its tantalising glimpse of the once ,well kept kitchen gardens currently being renovated ..... for me there is always something lovely about old rusty wrough iron gates in their brick work  frame which draws you to take a peek at what lies within.... a sort of secret garden thing ! Looking forward to seeing the finished garden complete with its plants, flowers and water features.

Celebrations

It's been a busy week of presentations, awards ceremonies and celebration with friends.

First off it was down to Morley Gallery for the opening of the wonderful textile exhibition and the presentation of my City and Guilds Gold Medal and WOW was I surprised to  see this ....isn't it lovely !!! Very shiny and very Gold looking, and just in case I forgot it was for me it has my name on the back with details of what it was for and the very important date...... well, it is London 2012 and Olympic year .... there's going to be quite a few gold medals flying around soon and this one is just for me !!!

Must just mention though that I could not have done it without the support of all my friends and class mates at Morley over the last 6 years and , of course, my very special teacher Dani Atkinson. If you want to get sewing and be creative then the Monday class at Morley with Dani is for you !

After presentations , impromptu speeches and chat with some very nice crafty people it was off to celebrate with the girls . A great evening catching up with all the exploits of my very clever and artistic friends was the perfect ending to a happy day.

Next it was off to the City and Guilds Lion Awards where the requirement for the evening was to look glamorous. Nothing for it but to head off to my very talented friend Gina to perform the near impossible .....just one hour later she had performed her magic.... I didn't recognise myself  !!!

It was a lovely evening with Dani and Hubby, with the best food I have ever tasted...now I know what it's  like to be Gregg Wallis and John Torode ! As for the Lion awards....I made it into the top three for ' Craft Person of the Year ' so not bad at all !!!!

A very big THANKYOU to everyone who voted for me in the people's choice award, all your voting efforts on my behalf was greatly appreciated.

Celebrations over it's time to get back to work !

End of the day

It's late as usual.The day has flown by with the normal rush and managed chaos but now all is quiet. Three small people are snoring away in the land of nod , hopefully until tomorrow morning, and taking advantage of the calm I have been getting down to a bit of unfinished business....my first knitting project.

Will reveal my efforts soon and am happy to report that all is well so far which , for me means that I have something on my knitting needles that resembles  the picture in the book, that I have the right number of stitches according to the pattern and most important of all.......no holes !!!

Those who know me will know that I don't do ' big ' on the knitting front so my latest ,on going creation, is something small but rather appealing. Lets hope it still looks that way when finished .... and whilst practising with this little number I am hoping to take my newly learnt skills to another level for future project ideas which have been forming in my head for some time.  Watch this space !!

Now, where would we be without  the Glasgow school and Charles Rennie Mackintosh ?

Thanks to these artists I found the inspiration for my two City and Guilds diploma cushions. Just couldn't resist the black and white theme of the Willow tea rooms against the glorious pink of the Glasgow Rose. Hope you like.....

Time for the land of nod for me now......speak soon !

Getting the Gold

January 2012 was a great month. After studying City and Guilds courses for six years I learned that I had been awarded the Medal of Excellence for my diploma work in design and soft furnishings. Now I find myself in March , about to receive my medal at the Gallery at Morley college, followed by the City and Guilds Lion Awards ceremony next week. All very exciting for me and the culmination of alot of hard work and several years of very late nights.

After the course I took a much needed break but am now feeling the desire to get back to the table and start creating again. I have alot of little projects to get me going but the usual day to day work and needs of the home and family inevitably interupt the creative flow ! It's time to get my head down , ignore the piles of washing and never ending list of things to do and get back to the creative space....at the moment a small dining room table surrounded by everything and everyone else !!


For those interested I will post pictures of my diploma work over the next few weeks with anything else that might be of interest to my fellow crafters out there !!

First off, two pleated lampshades inspired by the blackberry bushes growing through the fence at the local allotments.