The fountain in the grounds with evening sunlight on the water. Denman College has very beautiful grounds. This is going to be a lengthy post, I don't have time to write two and split the images. You may remember my recent post about my lovely group at West Dean and my saying it is not often you get a group that gels so well and that you have a lot of fun with. Well I taught another such group this week. They were great fun and very naughty!!! There is something about the groups I teach at Denman College www.denman.org.uk   They all seem to get on with each other quickly. That means they relax more and then feel comfortable being naughty! We did have a lot of fun. The course was a three day 'New Layered Textiles' workshop and basically takes the students through the processes in my book Layered Textiles. The first thing we did was paint up all the products so we would be ready to get down to work with all the products ready to play with. As usual we started

Dyed, torn, bonded newspaper The students painting Bondaweb . . . .  . . . then painting newspaper. We had a very productive first day at Bobby's studio Moor Hall http://www.bobbybritnell.co.uk/ it is a wonderful space to work in and of course having Bobby around settling us in and generally looking after us was the icing on the cake. The students produced some FAB work on the first day and I will update you with what they get up to today over the weekend. We will be working on faux chenille and making boxes today - should be fun! My lecture at Marches Embroiderer's Guild in the evening went well. I was very nervous as Bobby AND Ruth Issett were in the audience but they didn't heckle and things went smoothly, if a little faster than I had planned. Why do you always speed up when you are nervous? so - onto the last day at Moor Hall then onto Redditch tonight to unload and set up for my workshop tomorrow. I will be teaching a 2 day Hot T

Gold foiled Hot Spots! used as a background for print. I was doing some last minute prep for the filming of my new DVD which we are filming next week and thought you might like to see a couple of samples .   Gold foiled Bondaweb used as a background for print. These samples show the effect of printing onto foiled Bondaweb and Hot Spots! This is a washable process for a change and the fabric can be machine or hand stitched into as it doesn't lose it's 'handle'. The printing block is from Colouricious. * I'm off to Moor Hall, Bobby Britnell's studio in Shropshire today, then Redditch Friday night - any orders for products from  www.nid-noi.com will be dispatched on the 14th when I get back. Any of you in the Bishops Castle area , Shropshire  - do come along to my lecture on Thursday night. (see right). If nothing else you will have a good laugh. * Yeehaa!!! Jill and Tallulah - not long til next July!!!!!!! x

 Dyed newspapers layered with painted Bondaweb backed with Heavy Pelmet Vilene Plus - a very heavy iron-on interfacing , decorated with gilding flake and hand stitch. I'm just getting ready for all my workshops over the next week or so. My first one is at Bobby Britnell's studio in Shropshire. It is the first time I have delivered my brand new workshop based on the newspaper exercises in my new book Layered Textiles and I am very excited about it. 'A new starting point' is meant to be a 2 day workshop but if you wanted to come and play for just one day you would be most welcome - you might not get a chance to finish a box but you will leave with some amazing layers and texture to work on at a later date.  A new starting point. with Kim Thittichai 2 days of fun and experimentation with painted and dyed newspaper, painted Bondaweb, craft Vilene and gilding flake, sequins . . . . .   . Learn how to create amazing textures with faux chenille an

 old painted and dyed newspaper layered with polyester organza Well who would have thought that old newspapers would cause such a stir??? I have had several emails and a couple of comments about yesterdays blog. All asking for more images of the faux chenille - so here you are my lovelies. Faux chenille is a technique I taught on Experimental Textiles. Experimental Textiles was a four year course that I wrote and taught for 10 years and stopped teaching a couple of years ago. I will be teaching a shortened version starting next May in Redditch, for more details go to - http://inkberrowdesigncentre.co.uk/node/1471 There are many tutorials on the Internet and more usually using natural fabric, but basically you layer at least 6 layers of Fabric/Newspaper, stitch tramlines or channels down the entire piece and then cut through the top 5 layers making sure you DON'T cut through the bottom layer. Easier said than done with newspaper. I back mine with dyed craft/pelmet Vilene. You

  old painted and dyed newspaper layered with painted Bondaweb to create a firm surface on which to stitch and print  It is always good to write new courses and stretch yourself (and your students). I have been looking forward to teaching A New Starting Point - a workshop based on using old painted and dyed newspapers as a base for just about anything you fancy but including stitch and print. The surfaces can be layered to create samples firm enough to make into boxes or vessels. This should be a very exciting course which could lead in many directions.  I will be delivering this 2 day course at Moor Hall, Bobby Britnell's workshop in Newcastle on Clun, Shropshire SY7 8PH , we could do with a few more students - if you know of anyone that might be interested - do forward this blog to them . . . . .  As well as layering newspaper with painted Bondaweb we will be experimenting with faux chenille using newspaper - another great opportunity for an unusual background on which to stit

 the stunning country side around Newcastle on Clun After I had eaten my second piece of cake and taken another 100 or so photos I left Bryan's Ground and tootled along further up country to have supper with Bobby and Martin Britnell and Bobby's students who were working in her studio over the weekend.   For those who are not aware of Bobby (there can't be many), she is an amazing tutor, quite inspirational and SUCH good fun. Bobby runs fabulous courses from her studio at Moor Hall in Shropshire. Bobby also runs workshops working along side Ruth Issett, the demi goddess of all things to do with colour, print and design. They make a great team, encouraging students to produce new work and develop new ideas. All workshops and dates can be found on Bobby's website www.bobbybritnell.co.uk/index.htm   Bobby also has an excellent newsletter www.bobbybritnell.co.uk/news.htm I would recommend you subscirbe to it. Moor Hall in the late evening the sunny terrace for coff