WOOLFEST 2014 @ COCKERMOUTH

Visited the Woolfest on the first day of opening and delighted  I had decided to visit for the first time.  It was the 10th anniversary of the event and well worth staying in the Lake District for the weekend.

An amazing display of stalls selling wool, felt, fleeces(I kept away from these as the smell is not very appealing!!) dyes, plus many varieties of sheep, alpacas and goats.  The president of the Rare Breeds Society gave a very interesting talk on the varieties of sheep in the British Isles and explained their differences keeping us entertained for over an hour.  

I would recommend a visit to this show in future years if you are interested in using wool in your craftwork.  A return visit beckons next year.

A display and talk about rare breeds from the president of he society for Rare Breeds was very interesting.

Two alpacas at the show 

INSPIRATION FOR MY METRE PIECE

At the quilt show in August 2014 I found an item which would inspire me to produce my metre item. Originally I intended to make a scroll wound around a knobby branch but on see the Round Meadow below I changed my ideas.

Elizabeth Brimelow produced this stunning piece, it must be at least ten times longer than the item I am to produce.

My fabric taking shape, staying with the ammonite theme. Must finish in the Easter break.

C & G MY 3D ITEM

I began this piece last summer as an experiment using silk floss I had bought at York Guild, a bag full of reels all of toning shades.  I decided to try using aqua bond after watching a Jan Beaney DVD. My free machine embroidery has improved making the background.

It was going to be my hanging but I decided tto try the effect of draping the fabric over a bowl to see how effective the aqua bond became.

From above with the inserted fossils added.

Displayed on Margaret's burr walnut platter. Really sets off the colours. 

INSPIRATION FOR MY NEXT PIECES

When at the Quilt Festival at the NEC I saw two items which inspired me both very different, the first one will be the inspiration for my hanging but it will be based on ammonites.  The second is for my metre piece again with the same theme.

LIMPET SHELL PHOTOS

Finished panel

Fabric after removing the cow bell

Deciding what to add to enhance the pattern created by the rusting

FIRST ITEM FINISHED FOR CITY & GUILDS DIPLOMA

Hoorah I have finished my first panel for my diploma.  It was a struggle as difficult moving house and packing items, what would I need whilst living with my daughter for who knows how long???
Have I stored the things I will not need or kept the wrong items with me?  I'm glad I have two rooms to use whilst staying with Clair.
Inspiration eluded me in September and it was only the perseverance of Annie which got me inspired after doing a workshop with Alice Fox rusting fabric with unusual results.
I had taken along an old cow bell which had been in the shed for years, therefore quite rusty. I used the bell twice with both vinegar and tea, gaining different results with both acids.
These pieces gave me an ideal design to work with to progress my panel to develop a design using a limpet shell.  Photos to follow as unable to load from iPad.  The finished item has been assessed and meets the required standards!!

BUSY DAY AT THE GUILD

Progressing fossils for my personal theme. Loath to use the top fabric as I loved it from the moment I unfastened the stitches after dying but it had to be done at some point!!!!. Pleased I used this piece as found it to be very effective giving an extra textured look to the development of the design. Not slacking even though half term.