Winter Craft Fayre

So this is what I've been busying myself with at the moment... Alongside tackling knitted sock patterns and watching Adventure Time!

Baskets

I'm completely in love with willow basketry and have mainly been working with green willow (which is really flexible) and buff willow (which doesn't take too long to soak). Brown willow is extremely flexible and black willow is really slick-looking.

Natural Colour Willow Selection from World of Willow 

Although I primarily went on a course at Martineau Gardens, I have now made a few different types of baskets! I've learnt to make some hedgerow baskets and flat-bottom baskets. I even made some from de-thorned brambles, ivy, ash and willow...

Today I received my natural colour selection from World of Willow! I've just set up the paddling pool with warm water so I can soak it for a few days - The bath gets a bit grubby so this should work better for soaking dried willow (maybe with a tarp over it). 

I also received this infosheet which is really helpful and tells me all about the different varieties.

Fab fat quarters!

Fab fat quarters from the festival of quilts. I'm still pondering a little project for these 100% cotton beauties!

Autumn sewing events

Well, it's getting to that time of year when the nights are drawing in and I'm thinking of ways to get out there and get out of the house before it's gloomy and all that you can do to keep your spirits up is to drink hot chocolate under a cosy quilt, in front of a log fire and get ready for Christmas!

Here's an event that I'm particularly excited about for Crafter/Bloggers in Birmingham (UK) ...

Sew Brum Blogger Meet Up - Saturday 31st October 2015

http://englishgirlathome.com/sewbrum/ 

St Clements quilt

I completely re-did the wadding because I got some brilliant Doughty's wadding at The Festival of Quilts, which is only 1mm thick and doesn't break my sewing machine on a walking foot!

I've sewn the chevrons and the edges so now all that it needs is for me to find the bias binding I bought months ago (or did I just imagine buying it? - probably a good excuse to sort out my craft shelves either way!).

Fair Isle kids hat project

Seems like most of my projects get finished deep into the night so I'm off to sleepy town now.

I'm happy to say I pretty much finished a little fair isle knit hat in a day! So excited as it looks pretty finished. The pattern matches all around, just as I planned and the little hearts are just lovely. I think the next one I do will be more contrasting... Like yellow and a shade of dark blue; or mulberry and yellow; or orange and green, as it's nearly October!

And pompoms... Many pompoms...

It even got my niece's approval

Festival of Quilts

I went to the Festival of Quilts this year and barely managed not to touch the quilts: The textures were so exciting, though!

Here are some images from the competition they ran. I'll also upload a blog about my chevron quilt. Only the bias binding to go and I got some great wadding tips from the festival too. Thank goodness for Doughty's!

Look closely at this image of a bicycle. It's a lovely example of strip quilting and what you can do with quilts when a group of people comes together!

Fair isle knitting workshop

I'm running 2 fair isle knitting workshops at Martineau Gardens as part of TSOS.

They are in August.

Come and check them out! I have some exciting patterns and colours for you to try! Coffee, tea & biscuits included.

Avoncroft museum of buildings

I took some wonderful photos at Avoncroft Museum of Buildings in Bromsgrove because the light was brilliant. It was possibly one of the hottest days of the year so far but with so many buildings and shady areas to shelter in it was not an issue at this beautiful open-air museum site.

 

After exploring the site I even cooled down in the café with a Septimus Spyder Anglo-Saxon ale, some strawberries and had a nice chat about re-enactment with the friendly café staff!

 

Woodshop where a Victorian Period Interpreter was chopping wood during the day. 

 

 The Tudor Merchant's House - The house of a Dyer where I chatted to the ladies about their Tudor linen shutters and dinner.

 

The Toll House - As a Period Interpreter on a busman's holiday, I obviously had a very long discussion with the Period Interpreters inside about bread ovens, Ruth Goodman, rice pudding and how they tend their garden. They were excited to show me their garden and the magical tin sprinklers, which were suspended from the tree, filled with water and left to sprinkle through the holes in the bottom of the tins.

 

   

The Tithe Barn was brilliant with the light shining through the woven frame. What a great effect, I felt a bit like I was in an alien movie! The amazing craftsmanship that goes into a beautiful thing like this makes me realise why conservation is so important - a bit of awe is good for the soul.

 

Avoncroft runs Blacksmithing courses from the Old Forge and Chain workshop. Forging iron with fire, what a wicked and enchanting skill to learn. Some of the bellows were even bigger than me!

 

I am not sure what they were doing with this recycled greenhouse as there wasn't anyone around to talk to. The site is so massive it must be tricky to populate, but I'm assuming it's a recycled greenhouse as it was in a garden full of strawberries: They sell jam and other products made at the museum, like pickles and Avoncroft-stamped bricks, which are so cool.

 

I spent three hours there without even watching the time and I only got to see half the site so it's definitely worth a revisit!

Reenactment at Forge Mill and Needle Museum

Fun for all the family in Redditch! Even the kids got involved in the re-enactment as Roman soldiers; with foam swords and light shields, they were brought onto the battlefield to take on the Brit chieftain from The Vicus re-enactment group.

The Brit chieftain cooking dinner for his troops at the Iron Age encampment

 

 Roman Invasion flyer

 

Beautiful basketry filled with delectable treats 

 

 With plenty of meadow land we went tramping off to explore Bordesley Abbey ruins

 

 Roman Invasion was a brilliant, free event for children. If you're on the lookout for things to do with your toddler, check out the Little Explorers offer at Forge Mill! Loads of activities for under-5s and a lovely little playground!

 

Quilt exhibition at Forge Mill

Last weekend I visited Forge Mill and Needle Museum in Redditch. It was mainly to support some friends who were doing an excellent Roman re-enactment demonstration - which takes up most of their spare time I think!

 

We also came across a lovely little quilting exhibition. These photos show the brilliant patchwork pieces on display. I would love to assimilate some of these styles into my own work. I've been inspired to try some new designs and techniques, so maybe I'll do some gold Turkish style quilts in future; so lavish and luxurious.

    

           

 

Patchwork quilt

 

 

Funky machine-quilted spiral patchwork quilt

 

Here's a crazy book cover which would be brilliant! Very Paperchase. The work that goes into it is astounding and I love those bright colours!

 

 

I also love the idea of tracing around a child's hand to commemorate their life as part of a lifetime quilt, as pictured below.

 

Can you tell that I can't wait for the Festival of Quilts!? 

New craft workshops

I'm excited to say that I'm using the studio at Martineau Gardens, as part of Tiger Skins of Sunlight, to hold knitting and craft workshops. All the information is on my Events page.

To book a place, please email: alexlaight@hotmail.co.uk

/// Mixed media bug-making 10:00 - 12:00 (with TSOS) /// Wed 15 July /// £3 

Art studio at Martineau Gardens, B5 7UG

/// Drop-in knitting 13:00 - 15:00 (with TSOS) /// Wed 15 July /// £2

It's a bit early but I have green wool so I will be focusing on "Knitivity" - Community project to make some simple knitted squares for a knitted Christmas Tree 2015. 

Come. I have spare knitting needles and wool!

Art studio at Martineau Gardens, B5 7UG

/// Knitting on 4 needles: Making tubes 10:00 - 12:00 (with TSOS) /// Thu 16 July /// £6

Art studio at Martineau Gardens, B5 7UG

/// Fair Isle Knitting workshop: Learn to make your own Fair Isle designs for a mug warmer 10:00 - 12:00 (with TSOS) Tue 25 August /// 5 places @£10 per session

Art studio at Martineau Gardens, B5 7UG

/// Fair Isle Knitting workshop: Make a Fair Isle mug warmer (potentially with your own designs) 10:00 - 12:00 (with TSOS) Thu 27 August /// 5 places @£10 per session

Art studio at Martineau Gardens, B5 7UG

Canada Day!

And, as it's Canada Day today, why not...

Copyright

'Canada Day (French: Fête du Canada) is the national day of Canada, a federal statutory holiday celebrating the anniversary of the July 1, 1867, enactment of the British North America Act, 1867 (today called the Constitution Act, 1867), which united three colonies into a single country called Canada within the British Empire'

 - Thank you Wikipedia!

Copyright

Copyright

Fair isle knitting

So this afternoon I started a new fair isle knitting pattern I made up with some lovely grey and mustard yellow wool. Just simple fingerless gloves, but I love playing with fair isle patterns so I might try and make some more exciting designs to play about with this week!

Juggling ball sewing workshop!

/// Learn to make a juggling ball! /// Wed 17 June 2015 /// Price: £4 
(with some funds going towards the Gardens and TSOS, who are brilliant!) ///

Learn some basic sewing skills and have fun! I will provide needles, thread, material etc. and you can take your juggling ball home with you!

I'm running these 2 crafty Juggling Ball-making workshops at Martineau Gardens next Wednesday in the Tiger Skins of Sunlight Art studio.

11:00am - 12:30am /// Juggling ball session
13:00pm - 14:30pm /// Juggling ball session

It'll be an informal and fun session.
Materials include ladybirds & bright colours!

Last night I dreamt I went to The REP again

Written 28 April 2015 **Spoilers**

What an exhilarating Knee High production of Rebecca, (based on Daphne du Maurier's novel)!
You HAVE to go and see this. It reminded me of the James plays that went from The REP to Edinburgh last year in the way the actors worked with the music, and danced, was brilliant.

The depth of the bass draws us in and the whole cast plays to its tune – the dirge of life. Their singing is part of a story that will continue even after all the characters are taken over by their flaws; power, lust, desire to know, desire to come of age, jealousy, fear, vanity… The all-engulfing sea and drowning bass are a dangerous siren that crashes men against the rocks, manipulating man’s desire to its own ends. The raw drama and bare emotion called the audience to follow the plot to journey’s end having felt with the characters, learnt and grown with them. The play is raw, bare and gripping: A true romance where love and death are truly mutually exclusive.

The play felt like a big screen event with the voice-over at the opening, the boat coming down and an epic column of cigarette smoke. The eerie cinematic silver screen smoke column envelops us disconcertedly and unknowingly into Mrs. de Winter’s dream - “Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.” We aren’t sure what will happen but we are about to be taken on a nostalgic journey… There was a definite resonance of the Hitchcock film not only through the play’s use of music but also in the way the actors walk in slow motion off the set: you feel like you’re in a cinema. The projection of shadows and silhouettes onto the walls of the house also added so much mystery to the plot.

The live music is a thread throughout the play which goes from being epic to sinister to comic to romantic: Songs such as One more day Johnny give an almost sea shanty-esque feel to the play with There may be trouble ahead adding a more 1940s dance room element to the piece whilst emphasising the play’s dark comedy.

Representing the fashion of the time was Maxim de Winter’s little sister. She was vivacious, and her Arabian fancy dress costume was decadent and fabulous; that velvet red dress as well! To. Die. For. The set, as always, was brilliant. The REP really “brings it” in terms of filling the space. The atmosphere was dark and brooding reflecting the black humour throughout the play. I think you know there is a good audience in when you are aware of laughing uproariously but think, “oh, it’s ok. Everyone is laughing too.” Especially when Maxim’s sister’s skirt fell off as she was walking down the stairs. I’m not sure it was part of the script but it could’ve been, the way she dealt with it. The actress completely went with it, got her skirt fixed by the actor playing her husband and then said, “I need a drink!” which was completely her character and was absolutely amazing! For what is quite a dark plot, I left the theatre feeling that I had laughed loads and had a cathartic experience.

Random offshoot but the play made me contemplate what a man would want from a woman in those times and contemporary times. When the innocence disappears from Mrs de Winter’s eyes, so does Maxim’s love for her. It was so sad that, as this woman grew in confidence, and finally learnt her place in the treacherous world she had become embroiled within, her lover turned from her because she had lost the innocence he first fell for – she was no longer unknowing. The power of Maxim’s previous wife, even, rots her and leads her to her death.

I’ll definitely be on the look-out for Knee High again and can only hope they might do a soundtrack. There’s always a sense of trepidation for me when going to the theatre because you want to experience something that will live up to your expectations. You’re taking a chance. I always hope the piece will make me feel and think about the play and the issues/themes within it and have writing, directing and a cast that makes me care about the characters and believe in them. Rebecca really stepped up to the plate and the folky music was right up my street. More excellent collaborations between different artforms please! Totally worth the money. I wanted to see the play again by the time I’d stepped into the dusky air outside of the theatre!

Juggling pyramids and other things

Well the weather outside is frightful but the fire is so delightful... Sorry! With this weather, though, it feels like it's nearly Christmas!

I've been catching up with a bunch of UFOs (unfinished objects) and I think it's going well.

 

- I've been sewing up a tote bag with a Hot Hot Heat (videos) gig shirt logo I've had since 2004. I added fringing I bought last year and it makes it look quite BoHo.

 

 

- Yesterday I prepared a square of camp blanket to show my Scouts how to sew their names, sew on a badge, do blanket stitch, and maybe how to do a surgical suture on some wool cloth (if we have time!). I had thought of doing it with real pig flesh but then my common sense kicked in saying, "that's horrendous."

 

- I also (wow) found the foot for my sewing machine, FINALLY! My sewing room is so much like a lumber room, 'thing wanted always buried.'

 

- I am so excited to be using my Tweed, which was destined to be a quilt (but hey, destinies change), which I've sewn into some pyramid-shaped juggling balls and they look fab!

 

 

 

- Check out this knife sheath I have made too! My first foray into leatherwork but I think it's quite snazzy. It's great for my antler-handled work knife from Big Beynon's Blacksmithing 

 

 

Tonight I'm going to give my waistcoat a go and see if I can't finish that then sew up some mini wallhangings to paint, for work. I'm still working on some slings but I'm not too sure about how the pouches will work: Sigh. Woven or just sewing plaits together or maybe leather? So that's a good challenge and I'll figure it out! 

 

At least I have ticked quite a lot off the to-do list; I even managed to go to the cinema this week. Check me out!

 

Enjoy your projects whatever they may be! Always excited to hear what you are all working on too :)

Quilting clouds step-by-step

Turn your hand to quilting! These simple hand-quilted clouds are really fun to make! They could even make up part of a lovely Weather Mobile...

Step 1: take a rectangle of polyester wadding (5-7mm) and 2 cotton rectangles of the same size.

Step 2: With a pencil, draw your cloud pattern on paper and pin it to all the cotton and wadding (stacked up).

Step 3: Cut out the pattern shape.

Step 3: Sew around the edge neatly. You may want to overstitch the edges too.

Step 4: Sew some fun patterns into your cloud. Or even embroider on some eyes!