Faded Rose Flower Page/Challenge

This month's challenge from the StitchedTextiledesign group was to do something on the theme of 'faded roses' and I needed to make two pages for the MixedMediaatc group. I thought I might be able to combine both challenge and swap. Some time ago we visited Wharlton Hall in Northumerland to see their gardens. The visit followed the high winds and heavy rain storms and naturally their gardens were destroyed. The roses which had been magnificent were very much the worse for wear, faded and at the time I took this photo of one of the better ones.

As you can see they were still beautiful if a bit ragged round the edges.
I also took this photo of one of the wrought iron gates on the estate, I liked the curls. I thought I'd have a go at using the gates as a displacement map and see if I could use the results.

I liked it but wasn't sure whether the person who would receive my flower page would appreciate what I was trying to do. As an experiment I used solorize and was surprised to see the colour change. Again I liked it but wasn't sure whether anyone else would so back to the drawing board for the pages but I've printed these two versions out onto tshirt transfer paper for use later.

I had been reading Sandra Hart & Gudny Campbell's quilt book "Piecing with Pixels" and was interested in the effect they had got using the 'cookie cutters' in Photoshop Elements. Now Idon't have elements but do have CS3 which I admit I haven't used all that much as I'm much more familiar with Paintshop Pro. If you use Photoshop CS3 they don't call it 'cookie cutters' its in the Shapes menu. It took me a couple of tries before I got the hang of using the cookies to make quilt tiles (and since I've discovered how to put pictures in the cookies rather than plain colour).

I used one of the cutters and matched the colour to a pink in the photo and placed it on top of the photo of the rose. I made a border of several of these quilt tiles and placed a larger tile in the centre. I printed it out onto fabric ready for the next step.
My final piece for the faded rose challenge was to quilt it.

I faded the rose tiles a bit and added a sequins and beads to the centre point of the tiles. This completes the first of two flower pages. I've decided to use the rose/gate displacement pieces for the second one and will blog later about it when its complete.

I should have known better

I should have rechecked the pattern when I suspected it was taking me longer to finish a row than it had when I started. By the time I reached the armholes I had 65 extra stitches on my needles, the pattern had an error. It was quite obvious when I checked it, one row increased the stitches in the pattern but didn't decrease them to keep the same loop count.

I've now bought a new pattern and this is the yarn I'm knitting it in. Talking of knitting when I had my great clear out to make room for my new acquisition I found this.

Anyone remember the KTel Knitter? More importantly has anyone used one? I didn't have any instructions for the needles? (there were two of them) so I googled it. It appears to be something of a white elephant and I couldn't fine anyone that liked it. I've given the other needle to a friend (will she remain one I ask myself) and we've challenged each other to do something with it. Watch this space.

The postman has been busy again. This is my 'at the castle gate' house from Deborah. I really love the faded photo of the nuns (think they are nuns) with the view through the ruined castle wall. My house for Mariel has gone missing, I put it somewhere safe when my sewing cubbyhole was being revamped and I can't find it now. Guess I'll have to restart it.

October's swap theme for the private group is 'goldwork'. My scanner has decided not to play with me so I've had to photograph the cards and the colours are a bit off. This is Christine's and she's used a variety of synthetic background fabrics with sequine waste, sequines, couched threads and mesh all held down with embroidery.

Jennifer's is a fun card. She's created a pocket and gold coins some are stitched onto the velvet background and others are held with threads and fall into the pocket.

Mine are half made and should be in the post before the end of next week.

I made this diary cover for my partner in the advent swap but just as I was about to wrap it up I noticed a tiny nick in the fabric on the back. Never mind I have a nice diary cover now.

Some time ago a friend gave me a piece of shrink fabric that when steam heated bubbles and gives a textured surface. I finally got round to making a small bag with it. I had bought the dual feed patchwork foot for the 830 and wanted to try it out and thought this was an ideal opportunity. I layered the shrink fabric, wadding and the top fabric and quilted a diagonal mesh with lines approximately one inch apart. The dual feed foot worked a treat and there was no drag, especially as I thought the shrink fabric might slide. When I'd done all the quilting I heated the shrink fabric from the back using a hot steam iron and making sure I didn't actually touch the shrink fabric. I was really pleased with the puffy quilting when it was finished. I've added handles and a lining but it needs something dangle or flowery, that's the next step.

I'm meeting my friend for lunch on Tuesday and hope to give her the bag for her daughter who raises funds for charity.

I'm going to the Crafts for Christmas fair in Newcastle tomorrow and hope to meet up with friends there. Now I'm off to start my new sweater pattern.

Well its arrived and its a monster

My new Bernina 830 that is. I realised when I bought it that it would not go into my Horn cabinet and I was a bit upset about that but my 1630 is quite happy in it. Space in my sewing cubbyhole was a problem. We measured, remeasured and there was no doubt at all - it just would not fit in. I wasn't expecting to take delivery at the end of October so there was plenty of time for Keith to revamp my workspace. Then David Drummond rang and asked me if I would like it earlier as the lady before me on the list was going to Australia for three months and wanted her delivery when she got back. Naturally we panicked and the house started to look like a car boot sale as we hurriedly put boxes of stuff in every conceivable space. Everything came out and Keith set off to B&Q for wood. We ran out of time when it arrived on Friday!!! Undetered my gallant dh brought in the patio table, put a new top on it and made sure everything was level for the prince of the workshop.
Shelves went up

An extra bench went in so I could use my laptop, printer was stored on a shelf above me as was the inevitable box of paper, photographic paper and printable fabric storages.

My Horn cabinet came in handy as an extra workbench.

I love the machine, it takes some getting used to as it threads slightly differently and my hand automatically goes to the back of the machine to lift up the presser foot. But I am getting used to it now. I particularly like the fact that you can set the presser foot to rise slightly (hover) with the needle down. Useful when you are doing applique. I feel that unlike the 730 my love/hate relationship with the 830 will bebetter, at least I do hope so.

I've been making articles for the Advent Swap but I can't show those in case my partner reads this blog.

There's been quite a bit of talk about the new "Talking Threads" series on channel 171 so I've set the series link to record all the episodes. I've also subscribed to the 365 Days of Quilting in an effort to improve my fmq. If you haven't seen or heard about these two blogs have a look at them.

A funny thing happened on the way to Ingleston

We lost our hotel!!! I did an on-line booking into one of the Premier Inns only 6 minutes drive from Ingleston but when we arrived at the spot it should have been it wasn't there!! We'd left home around tea-time and with a stop en route it was dark bythe time we got into Edinburgh and there were, of course, roadworks. We drove down the A8 until we reached the Zoo by which time we knew we were well off track. I jumped out of the car and accosted two ladies who after a long discussion decided there'd never been a Premier Inn on the Glasgow Road. Next I tried the Holiday Inn next to the Zoo, they couldn't find it either, then a garage on Glasgow Road, no luck there. By now we were getting a bit panicky and stressed. We stopped a taxi driver who told us he knew where it was. Turn left before the traffic lights he said, its there. So we did and ended up in the car park of the Marriot Hotel. Taking my nerve in my hands I went and asked them if they knew where the Premier Inn was. No, they too hadn't heard of it but the Concierge was a star. He told me to tell Keith to park up and he'd ring round to see if he could find where we were booked in. The address on the confirmation gave 111 Glasgow Road. Two minutes later he came out asked my first name and said "you're booked in here". Phew were we pleased.

Friday morning we were up and off to the Quilt Championships at Ingleston. It was a lot smaller than I had imagined and we'd done the rounds by lunchtime. So we had lunch and did them again.
I did take photos of some quilts but as I don't have permission to post them I thought I'd better keep them in my albumn. This though is a fragment of my friend Ros Pollock's quilt. Her quilting is exquisite and there always such a lot going on in her quilts that each time you look you find something else.

We thought as it took such a long time to find the hotel we'd better stay another night. On Saturday we went into Edinburgh and this time I had time to actually go to the Art Gallery. The exhibits this time were from Goya to Picasso. We enjoyed it very much, especially the impressionists but it was too hot for Keith and he went and sat outside.

One disappointment with Edinburgh was the roadworks, most of Prince's Street seemed to be under construction so it was difficult to get a decent photo of the castle. You can just see the diggers in the bottom of the photo.

Last time we came there was a service going on in St Giles Cathedral so I couldn't take any photos. But this time I managed to get a couple. There was a sponsored music practise going on inside the church and when we were there a small girl was playing "Happy Birthday". I liked the idea of a sponsored practise, if they'd been one when Sy was learning to play the violin I would willingly have paid for him to practise elsewhere.
St Giles from the Royal Mile.

One of the many beautiful stained glass windows.

Keith thought this man's wife had sent him outside to practise too. We were piped out of Scotland. - actually he was quite good.

Before we went to Ingleston I'd been to a beading day run by my friend Jenny. We made beaded tassels and I promised her I would finish it before I went away and I did.

Just a quick hello

Just got back from a holiday in Warwickshire and these little beauties were awaiting my return. Lorna Jones is a new member of our swap group and I have a feeling in my bones that she is going to keep us all on our toes. Her September nautical postcard has an extra piece on the bottom of thread ends etc sewn into a fabric. This has then been attached to the corner of her card giving a three dimensional feel to the card. I just love it.

I also love Jennifer's card. It's not clear on the photo but she has created a really beautiful background giving the whole piece a peaceful day sailing.

There's been quite a bit recently about zentangles and Joni from the Surface Design swap has sent me one as her 'Technique' atc. I love the detail in this atc and feel inspired to create one for myself. Zentangles I believe are small pieces of artdoodling. Normally around 3.5" square drawn with a Micro pen onto fabric that has previously been coloured in some way. You 'doodle' a design then fill in the 'doodle' with patterning which is then coloured in too. If you want to see more of them you'll find them here. I'm so impressed with them that I've decided to join in the Zentangle Ornament swap on Surface Design, now there's a challenge.

ATCs and Danglys

I've had a host of atc from the Surface Design 'technique' swap. There are ten of us in this swap and they are almost all in now.
Tracy made a double sided atc using bonding, painting and heat stressing techniques. Maria used tinfoil, paint, gel media and embossing techniques.

Joanna used Yupo handyed fabrics I really like the depth of field she has created in this atc. Mags, as usual has produced a really pretty atc with transfer paint and paper resists on felt.

Dotti has used rusted fabrics, metal embossing and beading and a really attractive envelope.

I love this atc and enveloped made by Aynsley using monoprinting techniques and a lot of creative imagination.

Michelle has used similar techiques to Tracy but hers have a base of scrim over cotton. Jan's atc is layered throwsters silk, threads, glitter, leaves soaked with diluted textile medium. She then stamped and painted it further.

I've loved everyone of the atc's so far and am looking forward to remaining one.

In the meantime I've actually been doing some sewing. My effort for this month's 'nautical' theme turned out slightly different than intended. My first thoughts had been mermaids, ships, rock pools, anchors etc but in the end I decided on a coastline approach. I free cut the background fabrics into a roughly sea/sand contour, covered the sea part with irridescent sheer and started stitching and beading.

Friday was the monthly U3A meeting and I needed something to show what the craft group was going to do in October. We'd decided loosely on a Christmas theme - giving people plenty of time to complete before it arrived with a bang!! There is a great variation in people's ability in this group so I needed something that would suit all. I couldn't come up with one item but made four for them to choose from.

The one-winged angel (she is still knitting the other one!!) is a bit fiddly and as the skirt is knitted lace should appeal to those who want a bit of a challenge.

The folded patchwork 'dangly' is not quite so complex and can be made very quickly. The beaded dangly is very quick and easy to make so should suit those who want to complete something within the class time. (I hope!!)

But I could not resist making an Angel Dotee for those members who like something a bit more 'funky'.

We're off again in the morning to Warwickshire to look at gardens - ours is a patch of weeds. I will be back in a week and this time should be around long enough to blog more often.

On the home front Keith had his steroid injections into his spinal cord on Friday and is now beginning to get over the discomfort. Hopefully he should feel the benefit of it while we are away. It's Alix's 30th (shhhhh we have to say it quietly) and last night she celebrated with two of her friends who are also 30 this week. They took over the Students Union in Leeds for the night and at the moment I haven't heard how it went. I expect they are all sleeping it off.

Still miss Mum, I keep seeing places, things I'd like to talk to her about - then I remember but I expect I'll keep doing this for quite some time to come.

Goodies from the postman

I got back from Kent on Monday to find lots of goodies from the postman, bless him. First to open were the Dotee Doll from the MixedMedia ATC swap. This Dotee isn't really for me it was sent to me by mistake but isn't she lovely. Its from Pat Reeth and I will be reluctantly sending her on her way to Kari tomorrow.

Such a self-satisfied grin and with cause, her beautiful beaded hear and tail make Maureen's Dotee feel I'm lucky to have her.

While Kari's dotee is a little red head with a dazzling beaded dress and tail. I love all the dotees if anyone has made one you'll know how addictive they are. I'm in the process of making an angel dotee for the U3a meeting on Friday. The members of the craft class wanted to make something small that could be hung on a Christmas tree. I've made a beaded bauble but thought a dotee angel wouldn't look out of place.

The private swap theme this month is 'nautical' and the sailing ship above was done by Cindy who has gone home to the States for a month, but not in a boat like this one.

Christine's nautical card is very clever. She has manipulated a photo she took, played around with it in Paint.com then copied and painted it onto fabric.

I had seven atc's to show but blogger is refusing to download them so I will save them for tomorrow. I might also get to show you some of my Kent photos.

As time goes by

Last Thursday was our birthday - Keith and I share one (too tight to have one each!!) and to celebrate we thought we'd pack an overnight back, jump in the car and go off into the wild blue yonder. And so we did.... but not before we'd walked the dog, put the washing on the line, cleaned the bathroom etc etc.

We took the back road to the coast passing one of our favourite walking spots - Roseberry Topping on the Northern end of the North York Moors. We were in such a hurry not to loose much more time that we set off without having lunch and so by the time we arrived at the top of Carlton Bank on top of the moor I was starving. We pulled into a parking stop and bought a huge bacon butty and mug of tea from the 'tea caravan' there. You can see the sea and for miles around up here, the thin pole whose top has disappeared off the top of the photo is a signal fire basket. This one was set up to herald in the Millenium.We arrived in Scarborough to a beautiful sunny afternoon where the whole town seemed to be in holiday mode.

Donkey rides, can't remember the last time I saw them on the beach.

Sandcastles were never like this in my day.....

We had a wonderful couple of days and stayed in a hotel at the top of the South Cliff with a wonderful view of the sea. In the evening Keith booked a meal at one of the restaurants so we thoroughly enjoyed our birthday.

Before I went I made a start on the Dotee Dolls for the MixedMedia_ATC group swap. I made two then got carried away and made another two. Now I have the problem of deciding which Dotee will go to their new homes as I've grown fond of them all. They took on personalities of their own.

I've got four postcards to finish and put in the post before Tuesday for the private swap. This one is based on a nautical theme. All sorts of ideas ran through my head but I found myself making something completely different from my thoughts. I'll post photos once they are all done.

We're off to Kent on Wednesday to see Leeds Castle, Sissinghurst and Pankhurst gardens. I did hope to get to the quilt show at Hever but not sure I'll have time as my friend Judy has just moved to a small village in Kent and I would also like to spend some time with her.

We'll be back a week then are off again, this time to Warwickshire with the U3a Garden Club after that I think we can take time to catch up.

off for the day. We thought we'd pack an overnight bag and stay out all night if we so desired.

Ripley Castle

I've been meaning to share these photos for over a week but just never got round to downloading them onto my laptop until tonight. Ripley Castle is just outside of Ripon and has its own tiny village to go with it. The Ingilby family have lived in the castle for over 700 years. We've passed the village of Ripley many times but as its just off the main A61 to Harrogate we've never been there until last Sunday when we went with the U3A to visit their gardens. As you would expect there is a lot of history attached to the castle (more a crenellated manour house really) no dungeons but it does have a priest hole. The walled gardens are beautiful but on the day we went many of the beds were being redug and the plants moved.

Still there was quite a show. You can see the magnificent hot house at the back of the picture. The entrance to the walled garden has a bell. This was where the young servant was sent by the cook to collect the daily veggies. He would ring the bell and wait for one of the under gardeners to come and take the list the cook would give him. He would then wait for the gardener to return with the goodies. He was not allowed inside the walled garden.

This is the back entrance to the hot house which leads directly to the walled flower and kitchen gardens. There were several single under gardeners and they all lived in bothies built onto the back of the hot house (they were lucky they had central heating in the wall of their bothy coming from the hot house).

This is one of the bothies, now used to store plant pots.

Today they grow modern and medieval vegetables (above is not an artichoke but something beginning with a C - forgot its name). They also grow old varieties of apple but are not allowed to sell them or use them, they are grown for their seed and go to various agricultural bodies.

Trees are one of the attractions at Ripley and many were planted around 1840. This sweet chestnut tree has a very convoluted trunk and I saw this lady in the folds. Not everyone could see her, some thought I was hallucinating so can anyone else see her?


This Beech is self perpetuating. They do not know why but where the branches have reached the ground they have rooted and new trees have grown there.

I always knew the U3A were a lot of tree huggers - again can't remember the name of the tree but its a Canadian redwood. The bark is warm and spongy and just asks to be touched.

And here is our own little tree hugger - Buster on his morning walk in the local woods.