Sally's random print. We had the second weekend of Experimental Textiles at The Old Needle Works this weekend. We had a FABULOUS time and the group produced some beautiful work. The homework from the first week-end was to take one of their designs and interpret it in any material as long as it was black and white. Liz's homework - to develop one of their designs.   The design Liz worked from.   Emma's homework.  Part of Sally's home work.   Part of Shaun's home work.   Part of Tracey's homework. Part of Clare's homework   Heidie's homework.   Part of Jo's homework This week-end the students made printing blocks from their designs and experimented using them on different types of paper and fabric. Some of the group working hard. more of the group . . .  Clare applying paint to her block -  Clare printing onto paper with her block and using a 'dry

Layers of various weights of Vilene Spunbond zapped with a heat gun to create lovely lacy edges. Gold embossing powder was added for extra texture and flash! I am very lucky to be able to lecture and deliver workshops on the processes and products I love. I know I get tired dashing about the country, but there are many worse ways to pay your mortgage .   On Friday night I managed to find the hall where I was due to deliver my lecture having left all the paperwork, contact numbers and directions on top of the car and then driving off - aarrggHH!!! Luckily I had tapped the postcode into my Tomtom the day before just to check on the time it would take for me to get there . Phew! It was VERY lucky or I would have been in a pickle!! Two layers of polyester organza that have been backed with Bondaweb, cut with a soldering iron and then ironed one on top of the other.  Simple and beautiful. The Windsor and Maidenhead group were very welcoming and my car was unloaded i

5 layers of the coloured CS500 Vilene Spunbond   (www.nid-noi.com/product ) layered and zapped together to make a fabulous background on which to stitch. This is just a quick catch up - I'm off to to give a lecture for the Windsor and Maidenhead branch of the Embroiderers Guild tomorrow night and then a 'Hot new jewelled surfaces for stitch' workshop on Saturday so there will be lots of scrummy images of distressed and embossed Vilene Spunbond for you to look at next week. I just wanted mention a rather fabulous group that I gave a lecture to on Monday night at Tylers Green Village Hall where they meet once a month. The Chiltern Embroidery and Textiles Group are an independent group and are VERY well organised and friendly. The members are interested in all areas of textiles and stitch from very traditional to coming over to the dark side with me. Everyone seems to get on really well and are very supportive of each other. If you live anywhere near them I would

  A FAB Tyvek sample. I gave a lecture on Friday night in Chiswell Green near St Albans . It almost went like clockwork - I had a problem with my lap top talking to the projector. It is what we all dread and it was the first time it had happened. aaRGGHH!! The lovely ladies of Hertfordshire Guild were very patient while we sorted it. There were lots of familiar faces from workshops I have taught at Art Van Go and several regulars from the shows so the ten minute wait wasn't as excruciating as it might have been.  Painting up the Bondaweb, Tyvek and Vilene Spunbond. The following day we had a workshop in the church hall for sixteen. Gulp! it is always a worry with that many students because of the power supply we need. Added to that the lovely Sue Dunkerley wanted the workshop to include painted Bondaweb and Tyvek AND Spunbond.  As you will see the students worked hard and produced some fabulous samples - it was bit of a rush to get everything done - but we got t

 You might to read this newsletter - I'm going to buy some bricks! http://myemail.constantcontact.com/HANDS-UP-FOR-UGANDA---Kisaabwa-Project---No-5---June-2012.html?soid=1102621924861&aid=vpM-9dT1rAo

 Layered newspaper with sparkly bits and fishy prints. I have just had confirmation of the shows that I will be demonstrating at in the Autumn and Spring - September 6 th – 9 th Creative Stitches & Hobbycrafts GLOW, Bluewater , Kent info@ichf.co.uk  2013 February 7 th – 9 th Creative Stitches & Hobbycrafts Event City , Trafford Centre, Manchester info@ichf.co.uk February 17 th – 19 th Craft, Hobby & Stitch ( Trade Show ) NEC Birmingham www.ichf.co.uk   March 7 th – 10 th Creative Stitches & Hobbycrafts SECC, Glasgow info@ichf.co.uk March 21 st – 24 th Fashion, Embroidery & Stitch/Sewing for Pleasure NEC Birmingham End of year show for Experimental Textiles Vilene Workshop and my own stand www.ichf.co.uk If you are a group that has been wanting me deliver a lecture or workshop but thought the travel costs too steep and are near or on the way to Glasgow or Manchester - do email

  Alpaca and silk tops with painted Bondaweb and layered newspaper ready to stitch.   I hope you all enjoyed the Jubilee celebrations and that those of you that were involved in street parties didn't get washed away . . It is wonderful to have a few days to just relax and let ideas arrive. When I was in Blenheim, New Zealand, for their Creative Fibre Festival I picked up some beautiful Alpaca and silk fibres and started to play with the fibres and painted Bondaweb unsupported - I don't mean me feeling lonely, I mean not on a background. Having started to stitch into the pieces I felt the need for some kind support but nothing too heavy that would detract from the beautiful fairy like qualities of the fibres . . . and low and behold I was asked to test a new self adhesive water-soluble product. It arrived this morning and is just the thing I needed and it washes away quickly with no residue - Fantastic. Once I get permission, I will let you all know the name of it.