A Birdie Blouse

Posted on August 27, 2018 by craftycreeky

I decided to make a blouse yesterday, the weather was too inclement for gardening so a sewing day was called for! After a quick perusal through my fabrics I chose a fine cotton with a pretty bird pattern on it. I bought it at Guthrie and Ghani a couple of years ago during one of my trips to Birmingham to see Helen.DSC_0164 (2)

I wanted to make an Aster blouse, which is a pattern by Colette, I’ve had it in my stash for a while now, just waiting for the right time to try it. There are three versions of sleeve, long, short or frilly and a choice of tucked or not on the front. As it’s such a fine cotton (put it this way, it’s much lighter than a Liberty tana lawn!) I decided to do untucked but with frilly sleeves, a bit of a brave choice for me as I’m not usually a frilly person, they tend to annoy me! Luckily they’ve come out more loose than frilly!

The first challenge was deciding what size to do, I always find this a bit difficult with Colette patterns, maybe because I tend to come out at a size 8-10, which just doesn’t seem right! I studies the finished size more than the measurements bit and decided on a size 10 at the top, grading out to a 12 for the waist and hips. I have to admit that size-wise it’s come out pretty well.

The blouse went together pretty easily, I learnt a new way of stitching a yoke in which involved stitching all the shoulder and back seams and then turning it out through the arm, much easier and neater than hand sewing either the back or the shoulder lining.DSC_0145

The neck is bound with bias,I didn’t have any suitable ready made so I cut a length of bias and then, as it was so fine, I folded it it half length ways and stitched it a bit like quilting binding, just turned it all the way it and then edge-stitched it.

The only bit I’m not 100% on is the centre front. At first I thought I’d made a mistake as the two sides didn’t come together with a neat V, however having looked at the picture that is how it’s meant to be, with a little straight in the centre.DSC_0142 (2)

I french seamed where possible and used a very narrow hem for the sleeves and the main hem. I decided to use vintage mother of pearl buttons for the front, so they don’t entirely match, I chose ones which were the same size with four holes. I quite like having a bit of variety.DSC_0148

This blouse has grown on me in the final stages, it’s very easy to wear, it looks OK either in or out, though I think I prefer it in, it also looks like a blouse I can dress up or down. Of course the weather has suddenly turned distinctly autumnal, so it may not get worn til next summer now!DSC_0146 (2)

 

Posted in Dressmaking, Serendipity | Tagged , , | 13 Comments

Hand Quilt-a-long

Posted on August 26, 2018 by craftycreeky

It’s three weeks since I last showed you my Down the Rabbit Hole quilt, I’m hand-quilting it so it’s going to take a while! I started in the middle on the Dresden circle, but mislaid my thread (and it wasn’t an easy place to start!) so I abandoned it for now in favour of the next border out, the round flowers.

Three weeks ago I had just finished the first quarter, having discovered the hard way that quilting in circles isn’t that easy. I was quilting immediately round each circle, then again about 1/2″ away where possible, before echo quilting round the shapes to the edge. This is where I was three weeks ago…Hand quilting my Down the Rabbit Hole Quilt

I’ve only managed a couple of evenings working on my quilt, but I have found a much easier way of quilting it. It’s probably not a good idea to change methods but hopefully it won’t be too noticeable in the grand scheme of things…Hand Quilting Down the Rabbit Hole

I’m still quilting round each circle, however I am then echo quilting down the outside, stitching the whole quarter at once, I can then quilt the inside. It’s so much easier because it’s all in one direction! Where there is plenty of room I’m making the inner and outer quilting lines meet, like a complete circle.

I’ve now quilted nearly three-quarters of the border, so reasonable progress for two evenings! I’m already starting to think about how to quilt the next green border which is about 1″ wide and also the houses, any suggestions welcome!Hand Quilting Down the Rabbit Hole

Hand Quilt Along Links;

This Hand Quilt Along is an opportunity for hand quilters and piecers to share and motivate one another. We post every three weeks, to show our progress and encourage one another.  If you have a hand quilting project and would like to join our group contact Kathy at the link below.

Kathy, Lori, Margaret, Kerry, Emma, Tracy, Deb, Connie, Susan,  Nanette, Sassy , Edith, Sharon, and Karrin

I’m also linking up with Kathy’s Quilts for Slow Stitching Sunday, a celebration of all things hand-stitched.

Posted in Down The Rabbit Hole, Quilt-a-long, Quilting, Serendipity | Tagged , , | 17 Comments

Two Little Finishes

Posted on August 25, 2018 by craftycreeky

I rather enjoy stitching my little cross-stitch smalls, I usually stitch them on the move, ‘borrowed time’ stitching as I call it, waiting for appointments, in a train station or just waiting for the water to boil for the potatoes!

I did manage to stitch July in the appropriate month, I just didn’t manage to finish it! These are designs by Maja Matyas from The Snowflower Diaries, it’s a SAL from 2016 (I think) it’s called The Joyful World, it’s available free through her facebook page now. I’m about half way through August too, so I’ll be late with that one as well!DSC_0137

I found a pretty pink Japanese sort of print which I think goes well with it. I made a cord from a variegated pink thread and the sandy gold used in the design. I stitched it round, making a hanging loop and added two buttons either side of the join to help hide it.DSC_0136

Back in early summer Christina from Petals & Pins stitched a pretty cross-stitch by Lizzie Kate, she kindly offered to send the chart (and teeny buttons to embellish!) to the first name out of the hat…and that was me! I was well chuffed!!

I stitched it last month using my favourite shade of soft green permin, I had most of the threads in already, all except one, which I substituted for it’s neighbour until I bought the real thing, I was just too impatient to wait! So ‘Make it ‘ should have been a shade darker, which would have shown up better but I like it as it is. It’s a very cute design, I love the little bird box!DSC_0130 (2)

Once I had stitched it I had to decide how to make it up, I wanted to do a bit more than just put a back on it and make a mini pillow. I started to play around with fabrics. My favourite bee fabric co-ordinated nicely with it and also continued the theme of bees on the cross-stitch. I also discovered that a length of teal and blue fabric I bought a couple of years ago complimented it perfectly, just picking out the blue of the cross-stitch too. I played with the idea of making a square cushion, but eventually decided on a long thin one.DSC_0138 (2)

I stitched some lace over the bees, added a 1″ folded blue strip and then stitched it to the cross-stitch. I used the blue fabric to back it and added four tiny mother of pearl buttons. I stuffed it, stitched up the end and then made some cord to go around.Lizzie Kate Cross-stitch

I’m really pleased with how it came out, so thanks Christina for a lovely pattern.

 

Posted in Crafts, embroidery, Serendipity | Tagged , , , | 22 Comments

A Productive Walk!

Posted on August 24, 2018 by craftycreeky

Last month the walking group of my WI met down by the river for a walk led by Hazel around the allotments of Otley. It was a hot sunny day and we discovered parts of Otley many of us never knew existed! She led us along old lanes, footpaths, ginnels and snickets.

I’m not sure how widespread the idea of allotments is, so here’s a brief overview; Allotments are on council owned land and can be rented out for a small annual rent (about £30 round here) for growing fruit and vegetables (or flowers!) the idea I think is that one allotment is sufficient to provide for a family. These days many people just have half a plot as a full one is a lot of work, they have to be well maintained or you will lose it. There is a long waiting list for an allotment (about 4 years round here) and also a lot of pressure on councils not to sell them off for building.

We started off by the Archimedes Screw, an amazing piece of engineering which is now part of our flood defenses, it’s only recently been built. An Archimeian Screw is an ancient piece of engineering attributed to Archimedes of Syracuse (287-212 BC) which can draw water upwards in times of flooding, it moves very slowly apparently so it is considered wildlife friendly. It will be interesting to see it in action.DSC_0008

We walked along the riverbank, the River Wharfe runs through the middle of Otley…DSC_0012

…to Gallows Hill nature reserve, passing a few allotments along the way. DSC_0013

There are quite a few allotments in Otley, all beautifully kept. There’s about a 4 year waiting list to get one, you can grow vegetables and fruit…DSC_0018

…or just cutting flowers…DSC_0016

Loved these sunflowers…DSC_0022

As we walked through Otley we called in to a cafe for a well earned ice-cream, we were all looking a bit pink!DSC_0026

After our ice-cream we set off again, walking past the Otley mosiac…DSC_0034

…through Tittybottle Park to the end of our walk. I love that Otley has retained this park’s old name and not bowed to pressure from the PC brigade! The land was apparently acquired by the council in 1909 to make a park which quickly became popular with mothers and  babies, hence the name!DSC_0029

After twenty years of wrangling Leeds City Council finally gave permission to have boats on the river again at Otley this year. It’s great to see them back again, you can just make them out on the bank by the park opposite.

It’s lovely to have a walk around your own town sometimes, how ever long you’ve lived there there’s usually something new to see, we all have our regular routes through town and a walk like this makes you notice different places.

Posted in Garden, Serendipity, Women's Institute | 9 Comments

Friday Photo Challenge

Posted on August 24, 2018 by craftycreeky

Today’s photo challenge from Postcard from Gibraltar is a fairly easy one for me as the theme is stitch. I think choosing which stitch photo is probably more of a challenge, I’ve got a few to choose from…

This is the earliest piece of my stitches I have, I stitched it when I was about 6 years old, I remember entering it in the school handicrafts competition for three years on the trot – at that age you don’t see what the problem is with that! I have it hanging in my sewing room.

The Lyrebird is my oldest UFO! I started it just after I finished the cockerel, so I would have been about 7 years old. I stitched most of it, but it sat unfinished in my workbox for many years, and I mean many!! I eventually decided that I either finish it or throw it…it took me two evenings to finish it, I had prevaricated for 42 years for the sake of two evenings work!!!

This little basket was my first foray into silk ribbon embroidery. I was at a three day workshop at Denman College with Marilyn Pipe, she had me hooked straight away! After the course I went on to stitch the flower lattice.

These little embroideries on the Splendid Sampler quilt are really what persuaded me that actually I could do ‘proper’ embroidery. Up to then I’d mainly done cross-stitch when of course you get the chart to tell you where to stitch and even have the holes already in the fabric to keep it neat!

I love stitching presents for birthdays, Christmas, special occasions such as this wedding sampler or just to say I’m thinking of you…

…I love receiving handmade presents too, this gorgeous embroidery was stitched by my daughter for Mothers Day a couple of years ago.

Finally I couldn’t have a theme of stitch without my stitch sampler, it’s almost finished now, just got to finish the last sample page and sort out the front and back.

 

For more photos on stitch, please follow the link to Postcard from Gibraltar.

Posted in embroidery, Photo Challenge, Serendipity | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

A Sewing Room Clock

Posted on August 22, 2018 by craftycreeky

Do you ever get those days when there’s 101 things you could sew, all those half done projects, but you really don’t fancy sewing those, you want something new you can finish…well that was me on Sunday afternoon!

I decided to make myself a clock for my sewing room, a decision helped by the fact the kit I bought a couple of years ago fell off the shelf and threw itself at me!!

The kit was by Springwood House Designs, I bought it at the Knitting & Stitching Show, it contained all the interfacings, buckram, clock parts, metal ring…all I had to do was choose some fabric! This proved trickier than I thought! I needed twelve segments all together, ideally six of one style and six of a simpler fabric so it wasn’t too fussy. I was tempted to use various bits of haberdashery to make the numbers (I’ve seen one like that on Pinterest) but I realised the hands were too big for that. My first thought was the left overs from my Down the Rabbit Hole quilt, but I didn’t quite have enough of colours that would work. I looked at my sewing themed fabrics, but I didn’t have a plainer one that would really go. In the end I decided to just make a pretty clock that would go with my purple sewing room, with a purple batik and a teal one with pink and purple in it.

I read through the instructions and thought it would be one of those where it all made sense when you got there! They didn’t sound complicated, there was just a lot of steps. I took it steady and worked my way through. Unfortunately I found some instructions imprecise (‘Cut a small hole’, how big is a small hole??) and one bit I completely misunderstood leading to my circle being too small…DSC_0018

The actual Dresden plate design was a lot simpler than I thought as each segment was carefully cut out and bond-a-webbed onto some interfacing on which we had to draw the circle and segments, extending the pattern supplied by 1.5″ all round . The instructions then stitched ribbon down the joins.

The bit where I went wrong was right at the beginning where I had to make a segment pattern, I cut out one of the segments in the half circle pattern provided. I think what I was meant to do was to make a pattern from the extended segments drawn on the interfacing. When I’ve re-read the instructions I would still read it the same way.

The result was my Dresden plate looked beautiful, but it was exactly the size of the ring it had to be gathered over! After much cursing I decided to mount the circle on some spare curtain lining, I zig-zagged round but I still wasn’t happy that it would be strong enough to be gathered round without coming away from the stitching. I even tried an embroidery hoop instead of the metal ring, but that wouldn’t stay on at all!  I decided to ‘quilt’ it, I used a variegated thread and stitched a meander all over the clock face. It holds the segments nice and secure and it looks pretty too. I also stitched circles around the clock to secure the interfacing onto the backing fabric.DSC_0019

A circle of batik was bondawebbed to the middle and blanket stitched round neatening up the centre. With the extra fabric around the circle I could then gather round the circle and attach it to the ring.DSC_0023 (2)

All I had to do now was attach the clock mechanism. There were plenty of written instructions for this but it would have been nice to have a diagram too, I ended up looking on YouTube. However, I eventually managed to fit it, this is the back view, not the prettiest but not usually on display.DSC_0132

I put a battery in, set the time and hung it up…the second hand stopped at quarter-to, it wouldn’t go ‘up hill’!! I fiddled for ages and eventually resorted to google, another YouTube about why a second hand wouldn’t go round suggested that it might be the battery. By this time it was late at night and I couldn’t find a battery that I could confidently say was brand new so I went to bed a little disappointed.DSC_0131

The next day my OH found a new battery…and it works!

I now have a very pretty clock in my sewing room!

With regards to the kit; it’s less than £10, it contains everything you need apart from your choice of fabric, it makes a great clock but the instructions do need sorting out.Sewing Room Clock, Springwood House designs kit.

Posted in Crafts, Home, Quilting, Serendipity | Tagged , | 11 Comments

Silken Strata Cushion

Posted on August 21, 2018 by craftycreeky

I’m a bit behind with my posts at the moment, August seems to have been a lot busier than usual with short trips away, family visiting and days out, there’s no sign of life quietening down until mid September if my diary is anything to go by! So, there may be a few posts late or out of sinc, this is one such post!

A couple of weeks ago I went down to the Festival of Quilts at the NEC in Birmingham, I had a fabulous time, more of that later! As I was down for nearly two days, I had booked myself in to a couple of one hour workshops.

The first one was called Vintage Botanical Embroidery. We used scraps of vintage linens and fabrics, arranged them on iron-on fleece (but no iron, so we pinned!) and then embroidered the outline of a couple of flowers by stitching through a simple design on tracing paper. We then started to use a Kanthe type stitching to bring all the other fabrics together. Whilst I wasn’t keen on my actual piece, I think it will be a useful technique when I start my mums stitched memory book.20180809_145829

The second workshop was by Crazy Mary, it was called Silken Strata, I loved it. She had lots of sari strips which she had ironed and cut into their little pieces. (For those of you not familiar with sari strips, they are obviously the waste product of the sari-making industy, you get a big bundle of narrow strips of all sorts of colours.) We chose four or five strips, laid them in a row over a square of fusible pelmet vilene and ironed them on. She then spread out a wide variety of goodies on the table, embroidery threads, fibres, cords, (all those lovely threads I get in mixed packs at Oliver Twists and then wonder what to do with!) ribbons, beads…and we basically couched rows of threads across the silk in random lines. We didn’t have time to finish it in class so took some extra bits home, finished the couching and then added beads and sparkles.DSC_0009 (2)

I’d bought a picture mount from Mary as they do look nice in a narrow mount, however I had a bit of a light bulb moment when I was thinking of making a cushion for Ilkley Show. The show schedule called for a colourful cushion but no patchwork! I could use my Silken Strata!

I found a lovely rich blue shot taffeta in my stash, it’s quite heavy and textured, so it was perfect for a cushion. I’d just bought a 12″ cushion pad which would be the ideal size for a little design. I trimmed the embroidery to 1/4″ bigger than the pelmet vilene,  I then stitched the taffeta around the embroidery to make a 12.5″ square.DSC_0127 (2)

The cushion needed a little something to bring the wide blue border and the centre together. I chose two perle cotton colours and stitched three rows of running stitch about 1/4″ apart along two sides of the embroidery and extending to the edge. I used a hera marker to draw the lines which worked really well. The running stitch was simple but just enough, so I stitched a back on, I didn’t want to bother with a zip as it isn’t really washable anyway, so I just slip-stitched the edge closed.

It still needed something round the edge and having rummaged in my trims drawers I found a cord which is pink, red and mauve striped but it’s still very narrow. I think I bought it as a possible inside trim when I was making my Chanel jacket. It picked out the pink in the embroidery perfectly. I hand-stitched round and the cushion was finished.DSC_0025DSC_0025

I entered it in Ilkley Show on Saturday and won first prize 🙂

Posted in Crafts, embroidery, Home, Serendipity | Tagged , , | 15 Comments

Monday’s Meander Round the Garden

Posted on August 20, 2018 by craftycreeky

Yesterday I had a good tidy up session in the garden, all the geraniums that I’d been keeping for Ilkley Show could now be cut back and tidied up. Ann Folkard is a big geranium with deep magenta flowers, it must be 2.5 to 3′ tall in places, it was now well and truly flopped with very few flowers, so I cut it right back and there’s a lovely cushion of new leaves already.

My OH did laugh when he looked out to the patio at lunchtime, you could hardly see the stone under a heap of cuttings and that’s despite a huge trug full going on the compost heap! I tend to do a mass tidy up at the end when I’m having a big prune, rather than bagging as I go along!DSC_0010

I’ve also got a geranium with gorgeous clear blue flowers which isn’t very tall but manages to get about! I always struggle to identify the actual plant in the spring until it starts to flower as it looks so insignificant, however it spreads sideways, it’s long stems intertwining with all the plants about 6′ either way. It looks really pretty and it does help to bring all the border together. I love the way it mingles, it’s a very social plant! However it was now time to give it’s neighbours chance to breathe, so I cut it right back. There’s shrubs underneath I’d forgotton about, just sitting there quietly waiting for their moment to shine, such as this eunonymous…DSC_0117

…and this clematis! I planted this quite a few years ago but it’s obelisk finally collapsed last year and I’ve not had chance to make a new one yet. To be honest it’s a bit overgrown down there and I thought I’d lost it, but having cleared away the geraniums I found some gorgeous clematis blooms!DSC_0116

Another plant that is shining at the moment is this Crinum lily, isn’t it gorgeous! The silvery leaves behind are my brunnera, Jack Frost, it’s great ground cover with lovely blue flowers in spring, a bit like long for-get-me-nots.DSC_0114 (2)

I dead-headed the roses about a month ago so they are all having a bit of a flush at the moment, this cluster of Teasing Georgia on the arbour looked particularly pretty.DSC_0118

The AA garden is perking up a bit too after the rain we’ve had, it’s looking quite pretty again, though looking at that bindweed climbing my wobble stick, I think I need to get the spray out again! The veronicas with their intense blue spikes have started seeding themselves around the garden, which is great. The purple sedum is just coming into flower too. It’s looking a bit dark as the rain was just starting to come down heavy!DSC_0123 (2)

From now on it will be a steady stream of cutting back, tidying up and moving plants. It’s a bit earlier than usual but we seem to be heading into an early autumn, the blackbirds are already feasting on the rowan berries and the blackberries on the back lane are starting to ripen. As someone kindly mentioned today, it’s only twenty weeks until Christmas!!DSC_0112 (2)

 

Posted in Garden, Serendipity | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

Tall Year Square Etui

Posted on August 19, 2018 by craftycreeky

It’s three weeks since I showed you my Tall Year Square Etui. This is a design by Betsy Morgan that was in the Classic Inspirations magasine last year. Each side represents a different season. I’m stitching autumn at the moment. Three weeks ago I’d just started the tiny cross-stitches of the centre oak leaves…

Three weeks later and although I’ve not done as much as I would have liked, I’ve stitched a respectable amount!

I completed the oak leaves and also stitched the acorns, these are mainly satin stitch so they were fairly quick to do.DSC_0029 (2)

After another row of long-legged cross-stitch I’m now stitching the alphabet. I’m not sure why the alphabet starts on autumn but it does! I’m using a really autumny thread for this, the same one that the first leaf border is made from. Unfortunately I’m on the last length and I’ve no idea where it came from, so fingers crossed I have enough to complete the row! It’s cross-stitch over one thread again with a single length of floss, so I should be OK.DSC_0027 (2)

Hopefully in three weeks time I will have finished autumn and be stitching winter. This stitch-a-long is organised by Avis from Sewing Beside the Sea, we post every three weeks on our one choice of work, there’s a wonderful variety of hand-stitching it’s a great incentive to keep going with a project. If you would like to join us please contact Avis. In the meantime please follow the links to see what everyone else is stitching.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, LucyAnn, Kate, Jess, Sue, Constanze, Debbierose, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Helen, Steph, Linda, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Hayley, Tony, Megan, Catherine, Deborah, Connie

Linking up with Kathy’s Quilts too for more hand-stitching with Slow Stitching Sunday.

Posted in embroidery, Serendipity, Stitch-a-long | Tagged , , | 24 Comments

A Good Day at the Show.

Posted on August 18, 2018 by craftycreeky

I’ve just had a pretty successful day at Ilkley Flower Show. I only really discovered this show last year through one of our WI members, she mentioned they had a handicraft section and wanted more entries!

From my perspective as a competitor Ilkley is lovely, relaxed, friendly and much less hassle than bigger shows and Ilkley also has with better prizes! Entries are 50p, we have until 11am to drop entries off which is a nice, civilised time, the show is open from 2 til 4pm and then many of the classes are sponsored by a local business so an extra prize is awarded for 1st prize!

After my success last year with the handicrafts, I spread my wings a little this time to flower arranging! Now I’ve never been taught flower arranging,I’ve been to one workshop and a few Christmas demo’s with WI and that’s it, but I noticed last year that quite a few classes only had a few entries,so I may as well give it a go! Altogether I entered 11 different classes!

I dropped my entries off in good time and then walked up to visit my mum as her care home is only about 15 minutes walk from the centre of Ilkley. I joined her for lunch and then took her with me to look round the show, we had a lovely afternoon admiring all the entries.


Silk Ribbon Embroidery

Handicrafts first…I entered my flower lattice and Bertie the Blackbird in the embroidery class. I won first for my flower lattice, but nothing for Bertie!DSC_0008

For the cross-stitch class I entered my Lizzie Stitching Wallet and came third, happy with that as the one that won was a beautiful huge sampler!Lizzie Stitching Wallet

My decorated wooden spoon came first…DSC_0006

…and my vintage silk sari top and skirt came second in the class for something made from another item.DSC_0011

I also made a cushion this week which I haven’t had chance to show you yet. One class was for a colourful cushion but patchwork was not allowed, which excluded my nice colourful Australian cushion. This was made from the embroidery started at a workshop at the Quilt Festival. I’ll write a fuller post about it later this week.DSC_0025

I entered my Kiama Beach sunrise in the photography class entitled ‘On the Edge’. I’m really proud  of that photo and it fitted the title in so many ways…on the edge of the beach, the edge of a new day, spray on the edge of a wave, the edge of the world in Australia…so I have to admit I was a little disappointed that it didn’t even get commended. However I love it so much I’ve had an enlargement made so we can have it framed on the wall.Kiama Beach at dawn

…and now for the flowers, I like flower arranging, but I’ve never been taught so I just sort of do my own thing, I like the more traditional look or a natural look with flowers. I had a practise run a couple of days before, though I had to be careful not to use up all my best flowers from the garden as there’s not that many at the moment! At least it gave me a bit of an idea of what would work and what wouldn’t.

A flower arrangement in a teacup…my first idea was to use a beautiful little coffee cup and saucer I have with violets on and fill it with violas, I had chatted to a WI friend about it who is very high up in the flower arranging world, she advised that the smaller the container the harder it is, I was also a bit concerned that they might get picky over coffee versus tea! I did try it but it didn’t work, so instead I used a pretty Port Merrion cup and saucer which also happens to have violets around the sides. I filled it with violas, erysium, small cotinus leaves, and veronica. I didn’t win anything but I was pleased with this one, it held it’s own in the competition!DSC_0022 (2)

A small jug of herbs, I didn’t expect to win anything here as I could see mine was nothing exciting, mine actually got disqualified for having non schedule items, I took herbs to be in the broad sense of the word, including all the traditional old herbal remedies which are listed in my herbal book, such as geranium, lamium, poppy, whereas I think they meant more culinary herbs, I’ll stick to those next time!20180818_095927.jpg

A Ladies corsage; I really didn’t hold out much hope with this one, I put it together this morning so the flowers would be as fresh as possible. I chose the best Lady Emma Hamilton rose I could find, plus a little bud. These are a lovely rich orange, so I also picked some purple veronica to tuck behind it. For foliage I used the little new leaves from the purple cotinus coggygria and one large leaf at the back. I thought this might be the bit that would mark it  it down as I thought it might go limp before the judging. I bound the stems with florists tape but also covered that with embroidery ribbon. To my amazement I got second prize and a useful tip! The judge advised me to have the flowers in water for 24 hours before to make them more turgid.

Ladies Corsage by The Crafty Creek

Ladies Corsage

Floating Flowers; This is the class that persuaded me last year that I really should try in the flower arranging classes! All I had to do was arrange some flower heads floating in a dish…even I could do that…I had a practice run first though! I found that a round Port Merrion pie dish worked best, if I wet the rim then petals overlapping the ring would stick to it and not float off! I did a circle of pink and purple geranium flowers with a circle of dark purple clematis next. In the middle I put a single beautiful mauve clematis. To make it pop a bit I added the tiny orange erysium flowers. I was pleased with the result and even more pleased when it won first!

Floating Flowers by The Crafty Creek

Floating Flowers

So a successful day at the show…and even better I might have got another member for our Embroiderers Guild! When I went to collect my winning cards from the handicrafts a lady said ‘so you’re Margaret…’ apparently I’d pipped her at the post several times! We got chatting and she asked me if I was in an Embroiderers Guild, she is doing one of their on-line courses and it had been suggested that she may find the support of a EG useful. I told her how good Skipton was so hopefully she will come and join us!

Posted in Crafts, embroidery, Serendipity | Tagged | 19 Comments