Slip covers for the books that were pictured on the blog yesterday.  Decovil - new iron-on interfacing, dyed and then decorated with layers of newspaper, painted Bondaweb and gilding flake. First I was girly - and now I am being dainty - very unusual for me. I have managed to finish 2 book covers and make some more jewellery. I seem to have sold most of my first batch. The cover on the left is finished with acrylic wax and the one on the right was covered with a sheet of Lamifix gloss, hence it is shiny and wipe able. Lamifix also comes in a matt finish if you don't want your work looking tooooo shiny. Here is the dainty part - I have been drilling my jewellery pieces to make them into longer earrings with the tiniest drill bit. I have now managed to get it down to a fine art AND remember to breathe.    Layered newspaper and painted Bondaweb ironed onto Heavy Pelmet Vilene Plus  www.nid-noi.com then cut to shape on a die cutting machine. ...

  the last evening, the courses are finished and we are having our last drinks on the terrace The last day was a gentle dash to get samples finished and try anything anyone thought they had missed. It is always difficult to stop the day running away with you when you are finishing a course.     Jane Sadgrove had been working in the upstairs studio all week and had had difficulty getting Marion and Lee down for meals, they were totally hooked on what they were doing. They were learning special stitches and starting to make beautiful bags. They have the patience of a saint.     We all gathered together for a 'show and tell' at 5 o'clock and Jane Bolsover arrived with some fizz to finish the courses off with a bit of sparkle. Everyone seemed to be pleased with what they achieved during the week. Pauline taking a rest from entertaining us with great jokes all week The 2 Jills,  I am so cross this image is slightly out of focus, I was laughing when I ...

  This is going to be a mammoth blog so do keep checking back - I will be posting more over the next few days. one of the beautiful trees in the garden I may have mentioned once or twice . . . how much I was looking forward to teaching in Spain last week - well it was even better than I could have hoped. We had fabulous weather, great students who all got on very well with each other and the food - Oh!! I have put on 1.5 kilos!!!!!!! Oh! and the students produced some fabulous work as well . . . but more of that tomorrow. The villa and two studios are set in luscious gardens in the village of Venta De Los Pinos, Canadas de San Pedro, just 18 kilometres from the ancient city Murcia There were 2 courses running, 'Beads Amore' with Jane Sadgrove and 'Extreme Surfaces to stitch - or not' with myself. Jane Sadgove has a beautiful shop in Sevenoaks called Beads Amore and runs workshops from there 4 times a week, www.beadsamore.co.uk Jane Bolsover and one of her wonderful lu...