Sketchbook Phobia

I have owned a sketchbook and a pack of drawing pencils for the last year and neither have seen the light of day since I brought them home.

I am always thinking about things I might draw/paint in the sketchbook but never seem able to actually do it. So the pages have remained blank.

It just looks so daunting but tonight I have been inspired by a website called The Sketchbook Challenge. Every month there is a new challenge set to encourage you to open your sketchbook and draw/paint/explore in whatever medium you choose. The website is very encouraging and reminds you that your sketch book is an expression of you and no one has to see it if you don't want them to however, if you upload pictures to the sketchbook challenge group Flickr account you stand a chance of winning a prize. The challenge this month is Up Close - first take a photo or find an image, now focus on one small area of the image and sketch that. It is incredible how much perspectives change when you go from landscape to closeup. See here for a full explanation of the challenge.

I am very tempted to have a go at this and if I feel brave enough I may post what I create but no promises! If you are brave enough to have a go let me know.

Creative Stitches and Hobbycraft Show - Glow, Bluewater, Kent

I am off to the Creative Stitches show at the new events hall, Glow at Bluewater on Saturday and I can't wait. The rest of my family think I am somewhat unhinged but at least I have my Mum for support!

This promises to be the show for inspiration and education for anyone with an interest in handmade craft. There are free make and take workshops, demonstrators, mini workshops, artists in action and a programme of talks as well as a lot more.

The programme of talks is as follows:
 

with Kim Thittichai

Kim will be talking about her new book. Come and hear about how to

layer for strength, how to recycle layers and discover layers of texture

and colour.

12.00 CREATIVE STITCHED TEXTILES

with Wendy Dolan

Exploring the exciting world of stitched textiles, combining hand and

machine embroidery with layered and painted fabrics, ranging from

small pictures and wedding embellishments, to large commissioned

stage curtains.

13.00 DYEING NEED NOT BE COMPLICATED OR MESSY!

with Helen Deighan

Find out the easy way to create your own colours and patterns through

dyeing. Cotton and wool use different techniques, but both are simple

to do.

14.00 WORKING WITH UNCONVENTIONAL MATERIALS

with Isobel Hall

In this presentation on experimental mixed media techniques, Isobel

takes a look at working in new ways with bubble wrap, garden weed

suppressant and baby wipes. She will also explore different ways for

working with scrim and making paste fabric from light molding paste.

15.00 WHAT IS LACE?

with Sue Dane, Chairman of the Lace Guild

A short introduction to hand made lace in Britain, discussing the

evolution of lace from a cottage industry to a modern textile art.

With all these talks and more I just know there won't be enough time - I should have bought a 2 day ticket!
 

LAYERED TEXTILES

Hometown Quilting and Fabric Shop - Rochester, Kent

I really spoiled myself on Wednesday evening and went down to my favourite shop, Hometown, for their January Sale. 

Hometown is much more than a fabric and haberdashery store. It’s a paradise for fabric lovers, quilters and patchworkers or anyone who shares a passion for making things. The shop not only stocks an eclectic selection of books and hands-on creative kits; but also a range of contemporary home accessories, including Pantone colour mugs, and stylish British handmade textile gifts and accessories.

The owner, Marion Haslam, has been a keen quilt maker and quilt teacher for more than 20 years and has published four books.

Hometown has now been open since 2008 and is a wonderful little shop. I think the sale is on until Saturday 28th January so I may be able to squeeze in another visit between now and then!

Belated Happy New Year!

We are still here, we haven't disappeared but we have been taking a bit of a break after a very busy Christmas season. October, November, and December were extremely busy with paint your own pottery events and it has taken a little while to recover.

Anyway we wish you a belated Happy New Year for 2012 and look forward to sharing many more pottery and craft ideas with you in future.

I am very excited to share my most recent news which is a new addition to my family - yes! that's right - a brand new sewing machine - a Janome CXL301. It is computerised and so simple and easy to use. It has 30 built in stitches and one step button holes. It is truly amazing.

 I am so excited. I have never owned one before and I am really looking forward to trying out lots of different projects, especially machine embroidery which looks quite tricky. However, I am armed with a darning foot and I know how to drop the feed dog now so I have no excuse but to get going.

My first two projects were fixing my son's school trousers and mending my cushions in the living room so let's hope it gets better than that!

So many things left to do......

Doodlebugs Pottery has been really busy for the last 6 weeks or so with Christmas markets and lights festivals which have been great fun  but all of a sudden there are only 2 days left and still so many projects I want to do.....

I love these button Christmas cards, so simple but so effective ....

I am also making a little scottie dog which I first saw here. This is him so far...

 

Mine is a teal colour with red blanket stitch so a slight variation but would look great as part of a rag wreath or hanging garland or like this one from Elizabeth at Creative Breathing. So cute.

and this is my Scottie dog finished (apologies for the poor lighting!)

Crochet Update

There are so many great projects I want to do and so little time to do them all! Every time I go onto the computer I find another pattern I love and want to try and now I have got the basics of crochet that's another craft I can add to my long list.

After my lesson in half term I have got the crochet bug, I love it. So relaxing and more satisfying than knitting, with just the one stitch to worry about!

I have started to crochet this in  a lovely chunky yarn (Sirdar Connemara 359) which is a pretty brown, yellow, orange and pink mix.

The pattern is American so watch out for the differences between double crochet and treble. I also added a few stitches to the foundation chain to start with so instead of 37 stitches I did 57 but apart from that it is a great pattern for a beginner. I will post a photo of the finished cowl as soon as I finish it which at the moment won't be any time soon. I do hope to finish it by Christmas though!

Here are some pictures of other things I want to try...... I particulary like this floral baby blanket but it looks like an awful lot of work! I don't know if the original pattern is available for there is a free download for something similar here

This looks more achievable (pattern here) and if you don't fancy crochet there is also a tutorial for a knitted star. 



These would look so pretty hanging on a garland or on your Christmas tree

I also love these snowmen from mochimochiland (they are knitted rather than crocheted), you have to buy the pattern but it is only $2.00, how could you resist?



Crochet Lesson

I am so proud! Today I created this........

I know you are thinking 'What on earth is that?' but this is my first attempt at crochet. I had a lesson with a lovely lady at Sew a Good Yarn in Maidstone (very reasonable at £11 for an hour's tuition) and within the hour I had learnt how to do a chain, double crochet and treble crochet. I have even bought the wool to attempt this. If I get into trouble I can always go back for help (which I am sure I will need to do)! I will let you into a secret - my teacher started me off with the chain so I know that bit is right! Watch this space........
(If you want to attempt making this cowl and you are a beginner like me just bear in mind that this is an American pattern and single/double/treble have different meanings to the English. English double crochet is the same as American single crochet and English treble crochet is the same as American double crochet) Hope that makes sense!