Cotton Reel Wreath

I set a challenge for myself to make a wreath of recycled objects each month. It has been real fun. I have used up all those cottons and cottons that are so frail they break when you try and use them. It looks good on the studio wall. See more of the wreaths HERE

Photo Transfer onto Fabric

We have also transferred photographs onto fabric this month. We have loved hearing the stories behind the photos and the reasons for using them.
The three ladies in the photos above are Laure's Mother, Aunt and Second Cousin. All grew up together and loved hats. The stack of photo transfer at the bottom are Freda's travels around the world.
I will post the makes shortly. See more photo transfer by clicking the written label below.

Keepsake Lace Pockets

I demonstrated how to make The Keepsake Lace Pockets this month and there have been so many variations, it is lovely. Here, Jo wanted to have a special place to keep her Mother and Father's Love letters inside of a box! What a wonderful thing to make to treasure such memories. Jo has been able to share these with her family and they have come to realise that they are more that personal letters they are a family archive of events and what was happening at the time. Jo made her pockets by recycling the lace from a linen table cloth and runner.

This year I am trying to encourage people to look out their treasures and store and archive them in a way to give them meaning. We all store so much bits and pieces and sorting them into a treasure or remaking them into something we can share means so much more.
See more of the pockets by clicking the labels below or visit my portfolio site to se my Lace Pockets and more Vintage Recycling HERE  

Textiles in The Studio

The last Textile Tuesday and Thursday of each month is normally very busy and catch up of all the techniques we have covered over the month. Lots of 'Show and Tell'
Suze brought in her Sampler Quilt which is absolutely beautifull as eac block is an extended technique and complex in piecing. Well done Suze! Just the binding to put on.

Textile in Focus

Textile in Focus at Cottenham near Cambridge is a great Textile Show to go to to pick up all your supplies for creating Mixed Media Textiles. It is a small show relatively but the content is fabulous and I meet up with lots of creative people. This year I took Irene as she hadn't been before and she loved all the displays and threads! Sandra and Mike had a wonderful stall as usual and most of us when we sat down for lunch discovered we had brought from Sandra but in all different colours.
Jamie (photo above) from Colouricious, who took us to India was there demonstrating and wearing a hand blocked printed shirt that she had made while we were there:) See our adventures HERE

Sharon Osbourne was as busy as ever and showing more of her amazing textured books. One day I will have such a collection of mixed media treasure :) Sharon visited us and gave a workshop at our local Embroidery Guild. See Sharon demonstrating how to colour fabric on my tech site HERE

Irene really enjoyed the show here she is talking to Jenny a regular displaying artist at the show. She demonstrates Contemporary Lace Making. She is also a member of my local Embroidery Guild.
See HERE