Painted Vilene Spunbond CS 800 with Bondaweb ironed onto the back, cut with a soldering iron and ironed onto black cotton - basically applique - just using a soldering iron to cut the fabric as opposed to scissors. This technique can only be done with synthetic fabrics - soldering irons will not cut natural fabrics. After the joys of the Creative Fibre Festival  (www.fibrefestival2012.blogspot.co.uk do have a look and scroll right down) I taught a 2 day workshop - Extreme Surfaces for Stitch - Because some of the students weren't aware of some of the basic techniques we started right at the beginning so we ended up with more of a Slightly Less Extreme Surfaces for Stitch. The main thing is the students got the information that they needed.  Painted Bondaweb and various weights of Vilene Spunbond drying .  I thought Alison's plastic apron was particularly fetching - on the right . Denise my minder mucking about for the camera on the left and Christi

One of the many beautiful rocky beaches along the coast road from Christchurch to Blenheim as the sun goes down. I will have to make this a three part post, I have so many images to show you they won't fit into one. I had so much fun with the wonderful ladies that took part in this festival that I forgot to take some general photos of the festival - to get a flavour of this amazing event go to their blog and scroll right down. fibrefestival2012.blogspot.co.uk The Fibre Festival was a very well organised event by a team of very dedicated volunteers. The ones I can remember are Joan, Chris, Christine, Jan, Nancy, Judy and Wendy - I think there was one other lady and I apologise - I cant remember your name. The team all had their various jobs to do and I think I can safely say I have never been to such a busy and very exciting event that ran so smoothly. I flew into Christchurch on April 25th and was met by Denise. We had never met, but go on immediately - she

The Three Sisters at Echo Point, Katoomba viewed from Sublime Point What has happened to the weather in the U.K? I have had to turn my central heating on and while I was listening to the radio this morning they said it was snowing lightly in Scotland!!!! There was I thinking I would sit in the sun for a couple of days while I remember which way up I'm supposed to be. If you are a regular reader of this blog you will have realised I have had a wonderful time in the Antipodes. I was so well looked after everywhere I went. Working hard doesn't seem so bad when you work with wonderful people. I will add the New Zealand part of the blog tomorrow - I just wanted to share with you some of the incredible scenery I was lucky enough to see in the Blue Mountains and around Blenheim in New Zealand. I had very little time to sight see but what I did see was remarkable . . . .   The Three Sisters taken from Echo Point Ancient forests that go for hundreds of miles

 Layers of Vilene Spunbond CS 500 and 800 zapped and layered with polyester organza and mounted on hessian.  Phew! what a week - it was very full on what with staying in Katoomba and teaching in Springwood but we coped admirably with lovely students providing lifts. I was staying in a little house with my wonderful friend Mary Hettmansperger who was also teaching and who makes the most beautiful metal jewellery.  www.maryhetts.com All the classes for the Contextart Forum were held at Springwood High School or Korowai School . I had 14 students in my class which overlooked the school playing field. Everyone got on very well and all were happy to work on samples rather than make anything considered 'finished'. The group worked well together and we all soon gelled. You can almost hear the cogs turning with concentration.   Sulpher Crested Cockatoos wrecking a tree out side our window.  I'm afraid I was bit naughty now and then when I