Something for Nothing!

A few months ago, a friend gave me a pile of fabric samples attached to cards - the sort a salesperson would have to show to store buyers. Amongst them were about five cards of small triangles of tweed style samples, mostly made of wool.  For I while I pondered what I'd do with this 'bits' - in the days of City & Guilds it would have been easy - straight into the folder for fabric types.  I sorted them into colour themes, stripes, checks etc and laid them down onto a large piece of felt. Then I attached them to the felt using the embellisher machine; once secured, I covered the whole lot with machine embroidery.  The whole piece was then cut in half and then stitched back together with zig-zag stitch. I continued to cut the piece in half, horizontally and vertically - stitching them back together each time with zig-zag. The end result.... a small book cover and a few other 'bits' for cards. Sadly it's a dismal day and the photography doesn't do the colours justice.

What an eventful week!

Well this week I've been so busy with everything in general but still have found time to stitch! Monday started with West Country Embroiderers and the tutor didn't arrive - everyone had an email but me, so I duly arrived with all the kit.... and started my own interpretation of manipulated fabric! This is being based on a rather interesting piece of dried, old wood in the hedgerow and is still very much in the early stages - photos will follow and I plan to call it White Wood.

My son came home from France that evening, he's been there working for six weeks ..... so now the tidy home has disappeared again.  And speaking of disappearing..... Moosh decided to take himself for a walkabout on Thursday for five hours! Walking miles searching! Stress and panic! Phone calls to the police, dog warden and local vets!

The picture of innocence!

And then suddenly, he was home!

Yesterday was the 25th Anniversary Garden Party for Blackmore Vale Branch of the Embroiderers' Guild ... and as usual for us, it rained with just a very small pocket of sunshine.  We hold this event annually in the garden of our dear president, an older lady who has had a rough year one way and another but remains determined to give the members a wonderful time.  The following are photos from around the garden!

We did a crossword which had been devised by one of the members - such fun; we all brought some food for a shared lunch and spent the time inbetween stitching.  In the afternoon we had a FREE raffle and 11 lucky people got a prize.  Just before afternoon tea, all the members took part in an embroidery related quiz, set by the same member ..... 30 questions! I won the first prize, told you I was dedicated to the art!

The rest of the time this week has been spent on 'basic' sewing for the village fete!

More Darning and Books, Books, Books

the finished piece of darning

now made into a book

The piece of darning finished, lined and neatened with satin stitch, and made into a book.

another book in the making - machine couched threads

another finished book

hand bound style books

folded pocket wallets

As is obvious, I'm slightly obsessed with making books at the moment - I've used the hand stitched bound style for three. This involves making signatures of the pages and binding them together. The hardback outers are covered with fabric, two here are hand dyed or hand printed and I really liked the little piece of japanese fabric for the small one.  The pages are black and white card, hand made paper and cartridge paper painted with brusho.  The darned cover and machine couched cover books are made with soft outers and the spine is tyvek - a small amount is bonded over the centre of the flat piece of fabric before the lining is added - this spine is pierced from the back, in two places, through the pages and then through the front cover and tied - with beads added. This means that pages can be added or removed and is a very useful way to make books and is so quick!  The pages are plain cartridge paper here because I wanted them to be ready for the Wessex Country Market today.

The two other little gems are folded pocket wallets and have numerous little pockets all over and are very useful - I credit Lynda Monk with the idea!