Fashion for the drab

I own up straight away for pinching the wonderful post title Claire Wellesley-Smith.
http://clarabellacraft.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/weekend.html

Last Saturday I went to her Muted palette workshop.  Had a very relaxing learning day discussing the muted palette and dyeing with French marigolds, walnuts, surprisingly Herb Robert ( Geranium Robertianum) of which I have lots in my garden, and many more.  As recommended by Claire I will leave them a while before rinsing and they will be used for quilting projects.



Key drab into google and it comes up with the following:

drab 1   (drb) adj. drab·ber, drab·best 1. a. Of a dull grayish to yellowish brown. b. Of a light olive brown or khaki color. 2. Faded and dull in appearance. 3. Dull or commonplace in character; dreary: a drab personality. See Synonyms at dull. n. 1. A dull grayish to yellowish or light olive brown. 2. Cloth of this color or of an unbleached natural color. [Alteration of obsolete French drap, cloth, from Old French; see drape.] I personally love the "drab" colour palette it's organic and natural qualities are certainly not what people use the term 'drab' for today. Thank you - as always inspiring, calming, knowledgeable - you always come away with wonderful historical facts about the amazing history of our textile heritage when you spend time with Claire.

Taking time

My daughter will be leaving for uni the end of this week so it's been busy getting together everything she needs etc.   I haven't been hand quilting as much as I had hoped but she also understands I don't want want to rush it and the quilt will be ready when she comes home for Christmas.

I haven't been sleeping very well ( and I know lots of other parents feel the same).  You want amazing things for your children but at the same time to be safe .  You do your best but then have to let go and it's that worry that you aren't  keeping them safe anymore it's out of your control!  But as long as they know you are always there to support them its the very best you can do.   To anyone who reads this post I guess you can tell there is a little bit of therapy going on here for the loss of my little girl - but hopeful that the friendship and love for my daughter turning into an independent woman.

Taking time


I wrote the above post  before taking my daughter down - Bristol is a beautiful city and it is lovely where she is living and studying, plus she has great flat mates.  So it was emotional and it's a new phase for our family at hope as her sister misses her.  I cried all the way back (same as lots of other parents I know) but feel happy that she feels happy!  As we walked around Bristol I felt very excited so look forward to visiting again (but not too soon!)

Now I need to get on with some stitching..............

Quilting and stitching with love

I recently bought Cassandra Ellis' book Quilt Love which is full of beautiful quilt projects - ones for memory, new born etc but the one I loved is the 'sending off' quilt.

My eldest daughter will shortly be going off to university so the idea of giving her something so personal as a hand made quilt appealed to me. It has taken quite a while to collect all the fabrics - Amy Butler, Kaffe Fassett but also squirrelled away fabrics for 'that special project', then piece it all together.  I didn't actually follow Cassandra's design but I would really recommend this book for her projects.

Whilst I have been stitching I have been thinking about Imogen - remembering since she was small all the lovely walks discussing plants, snails anything to capture nature to your small child.  Also all the lovely creative things (along with her little sister) collecting leaves, conkers- making patterns in our garden, mud pies, easels on the lawn and wet paintings all over the garden.  This was an important part as a mother.  I hope the next step - apart from always being there for her no matter whatever,  is the  continuing mother/daughter friendship.  I want her to love university and do wonderful things but also enjoy coming home.

I love the idea of quilting bees and how family and friends sit together and sewed - what a lovely sharing way to create.  Thankfully I had the help of my good friend Sue to help me place it all together as it is large for a beginner!  Will post a picture when it's finished.  But alot of stitching is required before then.....

Embroidered Sweater for CHSI

I mentioned in my last post that I had embroidered a sweater in merino dk and chunky for the Fashion Show at the CHSI show in February so here are a few images.

The garment will also be at H&H in Cologne this week as part of the spinners (who I work for) show.

I really enjoyed embroidering with wool for a change and did alot of raised embroidery using knitting needles!



Busy Life!

I havent blogged for quite some time as life is very busy at the moment.  However I do have an embroidery project on the go for the CHSI show at the NEC in February.  This is an embroidered/embellished hand knitted tunic for the Fashion Show which is held each day.  It is a trade show so the spinners I work for will be showing and launching new products.

I still have quite alot to do so will post a photograph next week - its been lovely using wool on wool for a change.

This coming weekend I am at the YSP for a workshop with Mark Hearld and am very excited to meet him, see his exhibition and get something creative done for myself.