Layered Vilene Spunbond applique cut with a soldering iron and ironed onto Pelmet Vilene light (black). This time last week I was being mobbed at the Exeter show - my goodness it was busy - at times it was like being at the NEC. It was great to see many of the ladies I had taught on my 'tour' in June in Devon and Cornwall. I had very little time to play on the stand but I did manage to get these samples done ready for Ally Pally next week. I love working with synthetics and a soldering iron - I love the 'oozzy' melting feeling you get as you cut. I was also visited by this lady who I met when I was teaching in Spain at the Castanea Studios. castanea-craft-courses.com She was doing a beading course with Jane Sadgrove who was teaching in the other studio. I have of course completely forgotten her name - but we all had such good fun at the studios.This lovely lady co-ordinated beautifully with the purple stands and carpet at the show. She always dyes...

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 ...

  Various weights of Vilene Spunbond zapped with a heat gun and cut with a soldering iron to create fabulous edges. Foils were added to some of the edges. First the good news - There are five spaces on my workshop   'Hot new jewelled surfaces for stitch' . New, soft fairy like and jewelled surfaces can be developed by distressing Vilene Spunbond/Lutradur and layering this exciting product with embossing powders and Hot Spots! Using beautiful mica powders and high metallic paints we will create stunning layered surfaces on which to stitch – or not.  This workshop is on Saturday 16th June at Hurley Village Hall, Hurley, Nr Maidenhead. SL6 5LT to book email Lesley a t lel.a@sky.com It is unusual for one of my workshops for a Guild not to fill within the Guild - I must be losing my touch - so those of you in the Windsor and Maidenhead area who have been saying I don't do enough workshops in your area - now is your chance! I shall also be putting this inf...