Crafts Show at Event City Manchester

Creative Stitches & Hobbycrafts
We had a super day out at the show in Manchester and, if you fancy a trip, it's still on until Saturday. 

There's a mixed bag of crafty treats to see and to buy, and I did quite a bit of both.

I really enjoyed the exhibition of creative work by the Quilters Guild

I'm entering this post into Annie's Friday smile as I really did have a great day, yesterday, and as I look at my bargain fat quarters and think of what I might make with them, I am still smiling. 

To top it all, my neighbour has just brought me a parcel, which is from super generous Jo Twiglet, which came in yesterday's post whilst we were out. It contains the Katie Morag doll (which you can see in Jo's last post) and fabric for a Katie Morag skirt for our little fraulein, who adores the books and will be thrilled. Now I'm beaming and a huge thanks to Jo. 

You can share more smiles over at Annie's blog here.

Displays of large quilts ....

and so many mini treasures of embroidered and quilted art exhibited by the Contemporary Quilt Group.

I met up with blogging buddies Chris (pearshapedcrafter) and Anne (Redanne) and we had fun showing all we had bought then we each rushed back to buy some of the things we'd missed that the others had bought! Couldn't find that cotton coated printable card, Anne, but I hope you tracked down the big butterfly beads!!!

Chris, Anne, Jo

Here's my gorgeous stash of fabrics (24 fat quarters!), lace, 12x12 storage boxes and those big butterfly beads. 

The 6 wood mounted stamps were a bargain and a gift for a special friend.

I'd love to have a try knitting with these big needles on Rachel John's inspiring creative stand.

I wondered who was in this comfy chair......

and as I ,moved to the front  I wondered again just who had knitted a whole mum and baby and book and mug and rug and tablecloth?

If you are wondering what to do with your knitted squares, here's a dragon of an idea....

It was lovely to catch up and have a chat to the lovely talented Tracey Spurgin, of Craftworx. I won a silver clay course with her a couple of years ago and she is fantastic. Check out her work and courses here I plan to take another as she 

comes now and again to a local venue.

The costume exhibition for this show was from Les Miserables.

There was an exhibition of period handbags and millinery, mostly originals but with some excellent reproductions

So much work went into them and many were completely hand made.

This 1920s cloche was my favourite hat...

and I love this quirky handbag

There were very few exhibits in the Madeira competition but I think this Highly Comended embroidery by Annette Beattie, of Wales, stole the show. Part of it was beautifully hand painted with stunningly detailed free machine embroidery.

Here's my last laugh!

WOYWW 244 & Friendship Blocks

Our world famous leader, Julia, over at the Stamping Ground invites us all to show and tell about our crafty spaces and the things we are creating within them. Why not go round for a snoop, it's good fun and it is the 244th time it has happened.
Lots of friendships have evolved thanks to Julia's brainchild and so I am adding an invite to any WOYWWers to join those of us who will attend 
the Creative Crafts show at Event City in Manchester. 
It is open this week, Thurs 6th, 7th and 8th Feb and so far I know of 3 people already who will be there on Thursday. Email me if you too would like to meet up with some Northern WOYWWers and we can set a time for a cuppa and a chat ... I'll be wearing my badge!

This week I have been stitching, planning my "Block of the Month" for the friendship quilts we are making in my quilting group and here is my desk with it almost prepped ready to go tomorrow. 

I'm staying nice and warm working on the breakfast table and the good thing is that it then gets tidied away and left clear after I've finished crafting.

Each month, one of us demonstrates a patchwork block and selects the colours to be used. Then all of the others go off and make it and bring it back the next month. This month it is my turn and I chose a block, I have never before tried, called "Card Trick" so I've prepared packs of instruction sheets and the background fabric pieces and next month all the finished blocks will be amazingly given to ME to sew together as a friendship quilt! I'm so thrilled it's my turn at last. I have really enjoyed participating each month, learning new blocks and giving them to the other lovely quilters but this time they are mine all mine and I treasure the quilt I will soon make from them.

"Card Trick"

The colours are much nicer for real as the bottom left one is a pinky cerise not red.

Here you can see last month's block ready for me to take in.

The choice was Japanese folded patchwork in red fabrics (we were all given the white inserts) which I really enjoyed making. It is all hand stitched and is lightly padded so there is no need to use wadding or batting when the blocks are sewn  together and the quilt is made.

Japanese Folded Patchwork

Here's a post from a couple of Winters ago which I'd really love to try and this is my DD's creation, however, in our area we haven't had weather cold enough (YET) to freeze anything. I know many of you, especially in other countries, are experiencing severe cold and snow etc., so I thought maybe you'd like a reminder to try this frozen art.

My DD in Germany made this novel piece of ice art for her garden, from an idea she saw in pinterest. Simple to make, it is so effective. Greenery, berries, leaves and a string (for hanging it) were added to water in a large plant pot saucer. It was then just left to freeze before hanging it up in view from the window. No doubt it will last a long time as the temperature is consistently much colder there than it is has been here in England. 

Mind you from all reports it looks like we'll soon be having a spell cold enough for me to try this out!

Stay warm!

Crochet Necklace/Collars & Friday Smile 54

I thought I'd experiment with this idea but I really don't know what to call them. 

They aren't really collars and they aren't necklaces but they will add interest to a plain sweater in the Winter or would look effective with a Summer Dress on a bare neckline.

I'd welcome any suggestions for naming them!

 Before Christmas I made lots and lots of   friendship bracelets for my grand daughters' school craft sale, which were a success, proving very popular  with children and adults and these neck decorations are simply a progression from that idea.

Bracelets

The neck "thingys" fasten with a button and I added two buttons or two loops to allow for size adjustment.

 They are quick to make and I managed 3 in an evening whilst watching TV.

 Still experimenting with stitch combinations, shapes and colours

 Zig Zags and points here....

It's Friday and time for a smile or two which Annie Wipso helps to provide each week courtesy of her Friday Smile Post.

Pop over here to see some more!

 My friend in Australia sent me some funnies this week and the following two gave me such a chuckle but I really do think that this recipe holder made from a hanger is an excellent idea that I will use. 

It's such a good idea and with a sheet of acetate in front it would be wipe clean  or the recipe page could be slid into a clear file pocket.

 and this is just my kind of exercise ......

Have a great weekend and I hope it's not to wet or too cold.... Oh, well, and I suppose I'd better say, or too hot for those down under!

WOYWW 243

This is my first post of the year, bringing me back into the fold and I hope our headmistress won't discipline me for being away so long without a note from a parent or guardian. Miss Julia makes us show and tell all about our desks each week and she shows the whole world whether we've been naughty or nice. 

For the full register of evidence you should go over to the Stamping Ground and you'll see for yourself.

I've been away visiting family in Brighton then shortly after my return the German branch of my family came to visit bringing our new 4 month old little grandson here for his first visit to England along with his lovely 4 year old sister. We had a lovely time with them all but now I'm back in blogland to show my work desk and something of what I've been up to.

We celebrated DD2's 40th birthday whilst she was here and instead of a card I made her this heart, which includes vintage fabrics and buttons and a tiny bit of lace from my wedding dress circa 1966. 

It certainly wasn't made on my workroom desk which hasn't been used for months.... here's how it looked after my last show and tell....

but I did tidy it up especially for the New Year for a fresh start and it has remained this way for a while, totally unused. Maybe I should rent it out!!!

I have totally moved away from paper, inks and stamps and I really enjoy using fabric and threads again.

A mass of dangling ribbons and charms

 There's room on the linen at the back to write a message.

I hope I can manage to visit as many of you as possible and look forward to catching up.

Derwent Pencil Museum, Keswick

We visited the Derwent Pencil Museum in Keswick during our recent trip to the Lake District.

Whilst it was far smaller than I anticipated, it was really interesting, especially as I have always had a passion for crayons, pencils and pens. It was a very reasonable entrance fee and the staff were really friendly and informative. The factory moved some time ago but the old one is next to the museum only a 5 minute walk from Keswick town centre.

Who wouldn't love to have this amazing special presentation box but I must admit I wouldn't ever want to use any as they look so pristine.

The old delivery van, at the museum entrance, is amazing.

Up above the glass case, across the two photos, is the biggest pencil in the world!

I recognised many of these old boxes from my childhood days.

It was interesting to see the clay and the stages to blend in the pigment before it is pressed into canes to be inserted into the pencils.

I wish I still had my old tins like these below.

Whilst the museum shop was stocked with a mouthwatering full range of pencils, crayons, and related products, they also sold jewellery made from the off cuts and stumps of the crayons. A fabulous, unusual, idea made by Zinc White and there are some fabulous pieces at reasonable prices. I bought a ring some time ago at a craft fair which is always admired when I wear it. I love it. Now they ship anywhere in the world at no extra charge than the price of the item, so check them out here at Zinc White.

There were bargain offers on most of the pencil and crayon boxes so I just had to treat myself and I am still excited and thrilled every time I look at them and my beautiful new pencil box made from Cedar wood.

It was a super enjoyable break before Christmas and whilst we travelled around and saw so many interesting places it was so lovely to relax in the spacious but cosy log cabin so close to the lake.

Friday Smiles No 49

Every Friday, Annie asks us to show something that has made us smile and this week I've had so much to smile about.  

Here's a little Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer made by my neighbours grand daughter. I love him, he's so cute, and I want to make lots more so I'd better get opening some wine. (Must make sure they are not screw tops!)

We got a "new to us" car and I love that too.

I saw this and thought of a lovely blogging buddy....LLJ aka Lunch Lady Jan!! 

Last but certainly not least, I'm sneaking in these little treasures that popped through the post, courtesy of our own dear Annie who certainly brings lots of smiles to so many people. They sold PDQ at my Quilters Christmas party and made lots of money for Christmas treats for the children who are going through treatments for cancer. Huge THANKS to Friday Smile hostess Super Star Annie!

If you pop over to Annie's blog you are sure to end up smiling too!