A fabulous print by Muriel. I had forgotten just how beautiful Jersey is - and what weather we had - my goodness it was wonderful. Not that we saw an awful lot of the sun as we were tucked away teaching, but it does lift the soul. The Jersey Textile Showcase has become a very large event with something like 40 workshops over the seven days. I met new tutors and several tutors I knew but hadn't spent much time with. www.theharbourgalleryjersey.com      The view from my bedroom window. The tutors all stayed in a B & B called The Harbour View and it certainly lived up to it's name. Lovely clean and modern rooms and a remarkable breakfast. If you ever need to find somewhere to stay on the island - I can't recommend this enough . www.harbourviewjersey.com So - to the workshops. My first one was Transforming Transfers. We had 20 in the group - luckily I had taken my heat press with me. We painted disperse dye (transfer paint) onto paper....

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...

Gorgeous over printing. Today was the first day of five workshops I will be teaching this week in Devon and Cornwall. It has taken some organising but we are well on the road now.  The first workshop was Transforming Transfers for the Totnes branch of The West Country Embroiderers. It is a very simple workshop that always yields great effects.  Some of the group getting down to it . . .  I took my heat press with me as it can be very annoying waiting to share an iron. The heat press is very hot and very fast. Disperse dyes/transfer paints were painted onto paper. Once the paint was dry the papers were ironed, paint side down, onto synthetic fabrics. We were using Evolon, ployester satin, polyester velvet and Vilene Spunbond.    Leaves were used as a resist on this print.      The leaves were then turned over (they are covered in dye) and printed onto fabric.  This was the final print.  More plants - ...