Frost, Flowers and Lutradur

This is a sight I thought that I’d never see - Sue’s book is here, on my coffee table, at last – hooray! It looks fantastic, as you can see. It is 'floating' on my glass coffee table - interesting effect.

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The binders let us down badly. They assured the printers that it would be ready on Friday, but it wasn’t. Kerry from the printers even phoned them on Friday, before she sent the (hired) lorry. So the lorry got there only to be told, ‘Sorry mate – it’s not ready – come back tomorrow’. Some places don’t deserve to be in business and we won’t use that firm of binders again. Our printers are wonderful – they have done full justice to Michael’s amazing pics.

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This is my favourite spread – I just love the delicacy of this cape which incorporates Angelina fibres to convey the theme of ’Frost’. Combined with the embroidered flowers it is just breathtaking.

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I expect that the most thumbed section will be the Stitch Techniques, where Sue shares her secrets.

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I do admire the way she can produce fragile and delicate, like the cape and then switch to the drama of bright colour on black. Here’s an example of a pastel drawing on black paper.

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The website www.d4daisy.com is open for orders and we have some great give-aways for the early birds. Fee and I have made up lots of very special packs with a mix of foils, sequins, water soluble film, silk and organzas. Lots of lovely stuff. We also have some great Simply Sequins packs and some foils to pop in the books. We like giving prezzies.

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I am even giving away some of my precious foil with lettering on it. Interesting effects with reflections in this photo.

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This foil was obviously printed for a book cover and, when letters are foiled, all the rest of the sheet remains. It would be such a waste if the printer threw it away. I was given a small roll, which is much loved. Such a sacrifice! It works really well when ironed onto velvet (fusible web is ironed on first). Does need covering with sheer fabric to knock back the shine, though – see below.
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I had a class in Oxford on Saturday which was great. I don’t teach much at all these days so it was a really special day and the girls were such fun. We were looking at techniques for slips which turned into little books like this.

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It was such a rush that I forgot to take any photos - and there were some great pieces. We were foiling on velvet, as described above, and then placing Lutradur over the top before stitching. The surface was then zapped to reveal the foil and velvet.
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Well, now it’s back to the drawing board for the next book – Isobel Hall and I are working on that and we’re having a really good time. Meanwhile I’m having a day in the workroom. Deep joy. UK folks, have a great May Day Holiday. Back soon.