Finding what you like

Sometimes it can take a while to realise what it is about a style that really gets your enthusiasm. I've realised that over the top decoration is not for me but a judicious use of materials and embellishment is my preference. Here are some of the things that caught my eye on a recent trip out.

A sunny day at Blickling Hall

Just a peaceful stroll in the gardens at Blickling Hall, Norfolk

 

The Silk Route

You can see my handpainted silks at the Hobart Gallery, Blickling Hall, Aylsham, Norfolk from May 25th to June 5th every day from 10.30 am to 5 pm. I will be exhibiting with other members of the Norfolk Craft Guild so you will be able to see crafts in ceramics, marquetry, hand smocking, knitwear, raffia hats and bags, jewellery, wood turning and wooden toy making, fused glass, embroidered textiles, linocut prints, cross stitched pictures, beadwork, bronze resin sculptures and hand made cards. Something for everybody!

Sheena's scarf

I can put the progress pics on the blog now that Sheena has received her scarf from Sarah!

The warp tied and spaced.

Beginning the weave with the weft yarn of alpaca and cotton.

Adding the inlay yarn, a hand dyed pure wool.

The inlay yarn was added along the length at random intervals.

The finished scarf off the loom.

Work in progress

Still playing about with different yarns, I chose a plain tweed for the warp and variegated pure wool for the weft with hand dyed pure wool used for the inlays. I decided to space the warp threads but in the finished piece the definition was lost in the variegated yarn. The second pic shows the finished scarf.

It's amazing what you find!

Last year I visited the Knitting and Stitching show at Alexandra Palace, London. Before we even got inside I thought that the Rose window looked a good source of inspiration so I took a pic. Once inside it still looked amazing! The show had loads to look at but one yarn that caught my eye was from the House of Hemp. I didn't buy any on the day but sent for some by mail order.

I decided to use it for a weaving project and wanted to do a check design so I warped the loom using the three colours.

Here's the finished result!

I like the colours together but wasn't happy with the edges of the weaving, not tidy enough for me. I might have to cut it up and use it for another project!

Looming ahead

Decided to warp up the loom and get weaving! I'm using a 2 shaft rigid heddle loom and sampling with various yarns before deciding on a project.

Norfolk Craft Guild

We have now completed our second week of our autumn exhibition at the Loft Gallery, Blickling Hall, Aylsham, Norfolk, only one more week to go. We have had lots of interested visitors and lots of lovely comments about the work on display. I thought that I'd share some of the photos that I took of the displays, so here they are. If you haven't been yet it's well worth the visit!

Festival of Quilts 2010

I have just spent a wonderful Sunday at the NEC in Birmingham at the Festival of Quilts. This is the major quilt event in Europe and has an international flavour. Lots to see, lots to buy, enthusiastic demonstrators and fantastic workmanship in the quilts on display made it thoroughly enjoyable, even to a non-quilter like me! The following pics are just a few that caught my eye as we were walking around, so feast your eyes!