Back on Track

Hooray! The Sue Rangeley book has gone to the printers and I am a free woman - at least until the printer's proofs arrive next week. I seem to have been gone for ages so make yourselves comfortable and let's have a great gossip.

I didn't quite finish talking about the Madeira Show at the NEC. I was impressed - might even consider taking a stand next year. I'm lusting after a digital cutter - Kim Thittichai has been playing with one and I'd love to have a go. I bet they cost arms and legs - does anyone know how much? Here are a couple of Kim's designs.

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Her stand was good - here is Jemma from Vilene minding it for her - they sponsored the workshops which all looked great fun.

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Today I managed an hour in the workroom, producing a design to stitch at the Beyond Stitch group tomorrow. I have been so busy that I haven't seen any of my friends lately - even missed the Solstice Sisterhood's lunch last week - so it'll be good to catch up with everyone.

I am working on a series called The Writing on the Wall - hope to show it at the Knitting & Stitching show as part of the Wessex Textiles exhibition. It will also be good for the Italian teaching trip as part of it is based on frescos and old walls. Taking the form of long thin horizontal textiles - mostly mixed media - I'm working some rough designs in a long thin sketch books. Here is one of them - just papers and oddments laying down ready to be stuck.

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Plus a detail. It is possible, using an adapted Isobel Hall technique (such a clever girl, our book is coming on well), to get a very fresco-like look with Evolon. More details later.

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Lots of painted Evolon is emerging from the workroom. I like this messy stage - getting the background paper and fabric painted, ready for the next stage.

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Any of you lot across the water got an ipad yet? Clive is desperate to get one - he thinks it will totally change the way publishing happens - could be good for Workshop on the Web. We'd be able to be really interactive, with lots of videos, all on a fairly light piece of kit that could be propped up in the workroom. In the meantime, Fiona is working on a Facebook page for WoW so we will be able to have our movies there for now. Watch this space.

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More gossip - I have lost 16 pounds in weight on a rather odd diet. The woodworking-son-in-law read about it in a magazine, tried it, lost weight and felt really well. I have been at it for the last six weeks. You diet every other day - calorie counting and going very low. It is supposed to be about 6oo kcals but my intake is usually around 700. The next day you eat whatever you like. The theory is that your body gets confused and doesn't shut down the metabolism because of the big eating day. The first week is hell and then you realise that you actually have more energy on the low days and feel incredibly virtuous. My halo is shining so brightly that we don't have to have the lights on until 7pm (or is that the clocks going back?). I have slowed down a little and just do Monday Wednesday and Friday as 'low' days, with a careful weekend.

I'll report back on the latest losses soon. (If I go quiet on that topic you will know why!). Meanwhile - back to the workroom.