Sunday 27 October 2013

Another Textile Jaunt



Some very enjoyable textile stuff has been happening recently here at Textile Treasury. We've had the Kentucky Quilt Collection at Fakenham the other week. Then during my time in Wales came the visit to Lampeter to see Jen Jone's Welsh Quilt Collection with the Kaffe Fassett Exhibition. On my return I went to Swaffham to see Liz Nally's North of England and Welsh Antique Quilt Collection - coincidentally meeting up again with Jane Clarke, whose Open Studios I visited last year. More of Jane's exploits in an upcoming post! And to cap the month off I spent a brilliant day yesterday with Stitch and Bitch friend Yvonne at a very special studio over the other side of the county.

First, though, I'd like to tell you about a Blog Swap I made with lovely Els from the Netherlands. Els liked my wool pincushions and asked about doing a swap for one of her mandalas. I thought this was a Good Thing so the swap was a done deal. I think  the pincushion I sent to Els is the one in my header photograph.

 This is my mandala which Els drew and coloured - can you see the fiddle, and the singing bird - the Firebird, and some folky flowers, and journal flowers. And also a little image of - yes! Me!! So a very personalised mandala which I love - thank you so much Els.



So, back to Saturday's Textile Jaunt. Yvonne belongs to a group of Rug Hookers who meet monthly in a little village over the more easterly side of the county, called Swanton Novers. Meetings are hosted by Jane-Ann at her beautiful home and studio on the edge of the village. I had met her and one or two of the group at Yvonne's Open Studio earlier this year, and had been invited along to a meeting. Now I love rag rugs. You know I do. You've seen my attempts and my two purchased items. I fully intended to spend the day getting to grips with my 'bird' seat cover. I'm so embarrassed to admit - I can't find it anywhere! The bird has flown! However, I was allowed in and permitted to stay, and got on with some other stitching, but oh! I must find that bag before next month's meeting!



I know. Aren't you jealous? I'm so green I could run for parliament on the ecology ticket! Here you see, l-r  Jane-Ann, Yvonne, Red, kettle in hand, and Nadine.


Everywhere I looked there was evidence of Jane-Ann's prolific talent in many crafts, particularly textile-based, but with special emphasis on rug-hooking.

Sorry, this photo does not want to right itself; it is the seat cushion partnered to the next photograph.






This wonderful old hexagon quilt top was purchased by Jane-Ann at a textiles fair recently. Isn't it fascinating? There was much discussion on how/whether to launder it. The brochure reading  "FRAYED" above relates to an exhibition showing in Great Yarmouth between now and March, I'm hoping to get along to see that.


And look what I spied hanging on the wall near the door ...... a genuine Janet Bolton! Yes. and no, I didn't walk out with it!


All in all it was a very productive day for everyone. Much of the talk centred around the forthcoming craft fair "Made in Norfolk" at Swanton Novers Village Hall on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th November 10-4 and 11-4. The post code is NR24 2RB and this is its third year. The work of the group will be much in evidence, and I think Red in particular was instrumental in getting the fair up and running in the first place. (Correct me if I'm wrong!) I'm under the impression that the craftspeople will be displaying and hopefully selling quite high-end items, so if you are within driving distance, do pop along, you won't be disappointed.


                                        Jane-Ann completed her hooky bird in the day.


                                                            The group hard at work.


                                 Yvonne dashing away at her sunflower - isn't it gorgeous?


And I completed three pincushions to 'stuffing level' and worked on my up cycled cardigan. I've become quite excited by 'altered clothing' at the moment - probably started off by my Boro-style Molly Coat - and I have been embellishing this 6-7 year old cotton cardigan. I think I might change the elbow patches a little, but I'm quite pleased with the felted diamonds. The cardigan is a lovely soft green, which unfortunately hasn't photographed in true colour.



Here it is at home, you can see the shade a little better perhaps. I think it is my habit of mending moth holes in woollens with velvet patches which has led me down this 'altered' path. I've seen some very exciting examples on pinterest. Watch this space!

So thank you Jane-Ann and everyone who made me so welcome, and big thanks to Yvonne for taking me. I promise to be hooking next time!

25 comments:

  1. I'm green with envy - I so wish I could have come too! I love that beach design chair I thought at first it was crochet work but now I see it is proddy rug and it's lovely. Once upon a time I lived not far from Great Yarmouth and I wished I still did so that I could come to the exhibition!

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  2. That chair seat cover, Jane, was stunning! And it is hooked, not prodded, you can see the loops. I am also envious of the evenness and neatness of the loops - not at all like mine!

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  3. Wow so much to see in this post, such beautifully crafted things, and a stunning place to work too!

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    1. I know, it was quite sublime, and i am still planning how I can get a studio like that squeezed into our garden. With difficulty, I fear!

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  4. another lovely post - your cardigan is looking so pretty - just off to have a look through my wardrobe!!!!! where do you buy your felt from again - i think you mentioned this a few weeks ago - i'm guessing it is quite thick and sturdy!!!! we've just had a posh shop open near here and i think they have thicker felt so i think i should buy from there as opposed to hobbycraft!!!!! hope you have a good week xx

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    1. Hi Lynne, yes, do use good quality felt - the craft stuff just isn't worth spoiling your project on. I use a mix of felted /dyed blanket, and wool felt from various sources. I love the hand-dyed stuff from 21st Century Yarns but it is expensive. And yes, weather permitting, I hope we all have lovely weeks!

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  5. Wow I love all that rag hooking, would love to give it a go someday Lynne. Your candy is looking very jewelled and pretty with your felty goodness. I love all your hand stitching and these gorgeous posts full of inspiration, thank you xox Penny

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    1. Hi Penny, yes, there have been a few textiley posts recently haven't there? It's a bit like feast or famine though with me. I'm hunting out some more old cardi's to attack! Lx

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  6. Swoon........... what beautiful things, I too am the greenest shade of green with envy! love that Janet Bolton, love the rugs, your beautiful mandala, and your fab upcycled cardi-- I would love to get to that Frayed exhibition!
    Hxx

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    1. Oh that Janet Bolton was lovely! I will get there and blog about it, I promise! Lx

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  7. You sure had a lovely creative time with all these talented
    ladies, Lynne !
    What a great way to brighten up that old cardigan !! Love it !

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    1. It was so good, Els, you'd have loved it! And yes, I have a few Janet Bolton books myself ...and was lucky enough to do a workshop with her a few years ago - with Yvonne as it happens. She is a lovely person and very artistic, and that was the day I got back into stitching after being out of my sewing room for over a year. Lx

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  8. Ha, forgot : a wonderful "Janet" (I have one of her books)

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  9. I have tried yet prodding onto hessian. I normally do locker hooking (hope to finish my rug this year). After that I might have a go at knitting a rug then doing another one using 1/2cm garden netting to see if it holds. Beautiful place, lucky you:)

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    1. Hi Dc, I've hooked through hessian mainly, have tried finer work on canvas but didn't like the result, it looked very clumsy. Anything with a grid will work, theoretically, but I don't like working on fine stuff.

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  10. Oh my goodness, so much textile wonderfulness I feel quite faint! LOVE your pincushions, your cardi, the proddy chair, and what a fabulous space to create in. The hexagon quilt is the same lovely traditional 'granny's flower garden' design that I'm plodding through at the moment, must take a picture of mine and share it. And I hadn't seen your previous post, oh my goodness, need to come back with a cup of tea and browse through slowly.....!

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    1. Sit down and take the weight off for a bit, Nina! T'is a day for noodling and pottering - I am in the middle of cleaning my sewing room as I type!!- and not rushing about too much. So yes, cup of something nice, and have a browse. Some lovely stuff there - alas, most of it not mine! And yes, Jane-Ann's studio is a very special place. Wonderful.

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  11. Hooking ... lovely. But it's the altered clothing thing that has me mega excited ... can't wait to see where you take it Lynne :)

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    1. Hmmm - don't get too excited, Annie - you know me - too many things on the go to really come up with much. But I have enjoyed embellishing this cardigan and am on the look out for some more. I have a lovely Lorry Marshall hand-knit jumper which I really would like to turn into a cardigan - bind the edges with a nice fabric, add some funky buttons and loops .....need to look carefully at it before getting the scissors out though! Lx

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  12. Altered clothing is an interest of mine too ... ever frugal at heart lol. Looks like you had a lovely time ... :0)

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    1. Hi Shirl - yes, I find it fascinating and quite exciting to see what you can come up with - even with my limited sewing skills (I am no dress-maker!) And yes, I had a lovely time.

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  13. Oh wow what a lovely post with beautiful creations. Lovely to see Lynne.
    Patricia x

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    1. It was really a terrific feast for the eyes, Patricia, I can't wait for the next meeting!

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  14. Those rag rugs are truly amazing, and I love what you've done with the 'old' cardigan...... what a brilliant idea :)
    SueXxx

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    1. Hi Sue - yes I am now really really feeling inadequate in the rug hooking department! And thank you, yes, I am enjoying the cardigan too.

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