Screen printing ( Painting, anyone?)

You may recall a visit I made to Stitchscape, which is down the road a way from me. It is about a mile away, so really convenient to get to. That was back in November.
So when I saw that Di had Karen Lewis ( yes, really, Karen Lewis!!!) coming to do a workshop in February, I sadly decided that I could not attend. You see, it was on a Saturday, all day, and I work including Saturdays. I came home and whinged to my husband... and he said, book it. And that he wanted to come too!  and then I thought about someone else... who I thought might like to come as well. So, I spoke to Di ( she is a love, you should meet her, she is just amazingly lovely) and she agreed to hold a place if she could... but there were other people interested, and they needed first refusal... and, and... and then she spoke to Karen, who agreed an extra place could be found, for a special overseas visitor!

So I spoke to my lovely friend from overseas, and booked us all on!  She did wonder a bit why I was all excited, until she twigged what we were really doing, and mentioned it to her friends more locally, who said, yes, there is someone really good, Karen Lewis, that would be OK, and then, of course they wanted to climb in her suitcase and come too...




Sorry Karen, not the most flattering shot, as you were mid explanation, but the only one I have of you!
Karen explained eveything really well, made it all simple, and got us all doing our own designs and preparing the masks for printing, Everyone did different things, and very effective some of those designs! We all came away with fabric samples to use, and a set of simple techniques so that we can print all sorts of stuff at home. Karen is great fun and very friendly. You can ask about any aspect of the process and she will keep you laughing and doing!

Nobody said it was a tidy craft to pursue! a lot of mess is fairly inevitable!

Teatowels were provided for us to play with, as well as bringing our own fabric to print on, and tha blank newsprint was good for making masks as well as practising technique. 

this lady used curves from a ruler to get her design up and running. 

Altogether we had a fabulous day, thanks to Karen and to Di. 

Di plans to run another Karen Lewis day in the autumn, so watch out for her on Stitchscape, or you may miss a fantastic opportunity!

Bee blocks

December, January and February  seem to have come and gone before I could even blink, but bee blocks were made and sent

This is November's block, delayed until I could get to it in December. It is the 'WantaFanta' block,  It was easy to make and en masse it will be a lovely quilt. Hot pinks were added from stash, with our queen bee supplying the white.

Then our January queen requested this pineapple, as she is making a wedding quilt for her sister. It is a large block, but again, when all contributions are in, she will have the makings of a lovely quilt.

Sadly February's queen decided she needed a month off, rather than thinking what we should all make for her... I feel I owe her something, she has been right in there for everyone, and made all blocks promptly and with imagination... I shall put my thinking cap on for her, as she is a love. ( you know who you are!)

 And this is what our March queen bee has asked for. A simple but effective block that went together so easily, you just would not believe! And some very pretty fabric popped itself into the envelope beside it, to go into our stash..


Stay tuned, Karen Lewis coming up.....shortly!

Delayed thanks...

There was this little tiny swap... well just a wee pouch swap... and, yes, I fell into it. Who can resist a pouch swap? Not this one, clearly...
A direct swap, this one. She sends to me, I send to her.... Keep it simple, no great mystery, but great fun.

Her preferences? simple bright cheerful colours. Happy and bright. Other than that, anything I like.

Now swap guidelines are maximum measurement, 9". Must have a fastening of some description. And a surprise.

So I did a teensy bit of stalking, and decided I had some really cheery red linen that would be perfect. But you cannot leave it there, now, can you? so...

 

 a set of lined pleats... what would you line them with? Green, of course!

 I had seen geese trailing off centre somewhere... how to do them... Oh, easy once you do the maths! not that they came out quite as well as I wanted... but...
And a few lines of stitching with my Sulky,

 And those pleats just caght back to show how pretty the green linings are...

And we have a pouch. Simple, but, I hope, sweet. 

And the surprise? 

a dumpling pouch, they are sweet, useful ( I keep sewing machine needles stashed in one of these, then I know where to find a new one... ) and fun to put together. 

And I made a pincushion to put on her machine.but somehow, no pictures of that... 

And I received, a beautiful linen pouch in return!

 Simple, with accents that work! And the little cotton reel zip pull...

And a small notebook included, for the surprise. 

Thank you Karin! It is perfect.