Ouch!

I’ve had a bit of a dodgy week – felt really under the weather and had scary symptoms like waking up five or six times in the night with numb hands, or pins and needles. A quick look on the web convinced me that I had something really nasty and life-threatening so I high-tailed it to the docs to be diagnosed with Carpal Tunnel syndrome.

Not very nice but greatly preferable to some of the things I thought I had. So I have to have some tests and possibly injections to begin with. It was something of a relief really. I think it might subside on its own if I lay off the hand stitching for a while, as it has been quite intense.

I’m doing three pieces for an exhibition at Ramster Gardens next month and they are big on silk paper and hand stitching. I’m only going to show you teasy bits as they form part of an article for the June issue of Workshop on the Web which is about translating designs into stitch. We have a wonderful article on sketchbooks from Anne Menary and some super stuff from Janet Crowther on generating ideas for stitch, so I thought a practical write-up on the transfer process would be good. My base is silk paper with water-soluble inserts. Plus lots of stitching.

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Having had the diagnosis, I reverted to machine embroidery for these alien birds which form the top of a panel. The inspiration is an imaginary planet with a cut-through section. Imagine it rotated 90deg left - for some reason, blogger keeps turnng this one round.

On another subject, I do hope that the cuts leave our libraries alone. Ours does fun things like this initiative. A mystery book hidden in an envelope. I’d never heard of Rebecca Stott but 'The Coral Thief' is a fabulous read and both Clive and I have thoroughly enjoyed it. Although we have a kindle for ebooks, I still use the libraries a lot. I love the fact that you can download a whole chapter free to see if you like a book. There’s never time in a shop to read enough and I have made very few mistakes since we’ve had the kindle. If I like a book, I sometimes order it from the library, although I’m building up an e-collection.

Do you think there would be a market for stitch books in e-format? Some years ago Val and I did a great book for the Guild (The Machine Embroiderers’ Workbook) – starting from scratch and building up. I got the rights back when they didn’t reprint so could publish it. It wasn’t in colour but a website could be used for that. The original book had blank pages for readers to put their samples in and we saw some wonderful books. Maybe that would be better online so the pages could be printed out and saved in a file. What does anyone think? Must go now and give the wrists a rest!

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Been there, Seen that, Had a Great Time

We've been to Cheshire to give a talk for the Guild. What a great branch - loads of members and lots of enthusiasm.
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Stopped off at a wonderful exhibition in Stafford - at the Shire Hall. Called 'Drawing with Thread', it's outstanding - do go if you possibly can. The pic above is by Cas Holmes.

The one below is by Morwenna Catt. I love her work and she's got some great new stuff in this exhibition.
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And Caroline Kirton whose teenage portraits are so humorous.
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Back to the branch - I was very taken with their banner.
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The tiny cameos of local life were lovely.

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I wrote this blog on the talks laptop and it wouldn't move the pics about. I've now managed to get home and on the other machine to put it all right.

Calligraphy and Clean Cats

Heather – was very impressed with your appearance on Facebook. I have to confess that I still don’t know what the heck it’s all about but I’ve got lots of new friends. I know that we have a giveaway on the Workshop on the Web page - a book of your choice plus a big bag of goodies. Fiona is in charge of the WoW page (thank goodness) but she allows me to pop up there now and then.

It is a lovely piece of art, Scooter. It’s by Debbie Kirby, a silk weaver based at Walford Mill and Liz Farqueharson, a calligrapher. Liz has worked her magic with letters in a big swoopy style, cut it into strips for Debbie to weave with silk. It looks very different from different angles, as you can see.
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Diane – I sympathise. It is very different to co-ordinate all the people needed for a building project. We are steeling ourselves for the kitchen, planned for June. My cousin has a fantastic eye for fixing up a room – she calls it ‘pratting about’. She moved my furniture after we moved in and it looked so much better. Yesterday she came for coffee with her husband – a civil engineer. They started looking at the kitchen and it raised pratting to an art form.

What we thought was an immovable lump of wall can be knocked down almost completely and, best of all, Trevor is going to do the knocking down and rebuilding. This gives us room for a breakfast bar overlooking the garden. We never would have thought of doing it that way. Now I’m really excited.

Happy to be your friend Jen – can understand that you need to take care. I worry sometimes that the grandchildren are too free with information on the web.

Gilby- thanks for that – my lanterns are now hung. The electrician thought the lights were great but I can’t help thinking that this view of the bathroom from the hall looks like industrial chic meets Moroccan brothel!

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They do look lovely and give a surprisingly good light. Found them on ebay.

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Have been making collagraphs for the online classes. I’ve used paper mostly, but have got into printing fabric now and found a way to make repeat prints that are wider than the pasta machine.

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Love the back, too.

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Bought a new shaggy rug to soften the bathroom floor – Smudge is busily destroying it. Although he has found the right place for a quick wash, he is moving so fast it’s caused motion blur.
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Must go and finish the lesson, back soon.

Moroccan Adventure

Did I finish my buttonhole bag? Yes, it’s on my Facebook page, so have a look. I have only just got around to Facebook as I have enough trouble dealing with my face on a personal level. Still don’t quite know what I’m doing so don’t be offended if I have failed to be your friend yet, I will be soon. Can’t have enough friends can you?
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Now it’s on with Lesson 3 of the d4daisy classes and we’re going to try to bring the previous lessons together with a finished piece. Well, I am doing that, and I’m hoping it will be able to go into the Ramster exhibition next month. This is always a lovely event – a super show with more and more of the big names entering. A lovely garden to explore and loads of scones and cream! Find out where at http://www.ramsterweddings.co.uk/events/
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This is a rough design – the piece is called Cross Section and it continues a theme that is a favourite of mine, a chunk cut out of the earth – sky, trees and plants, earth and below – you get the picture.
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It’s a good chance to bring in the fossils and I enjoy working in layers, like the pic below. I hope to vary it with a cross section from an unknown planet. That could be exciting. Watch this space.
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We accidentally decorated the hall. The wood-working son-in-law built is a dark wood cabinet over the top of a very ugly meter cupboard. I thought I only liked pale wood but I liked it so much that we brought in a dark, basket holding thing from the garage.

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When we added our Marrakesh mirror, it looked very Moroccan. It now made the walls look shabby so Clive painted them white.


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So I ordered two lantern lights. Will have to get the electrician to fit them as they came without interior fittings, rather annoying.
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When the boiler has been fitted. we will take the carpet up as there is a wood-block floor underneath, like this one.


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This is in my workroom and was in a terrible state – all covered in paint splashes. Clive has scraped them all off and sanded and polished it. I shall now be very scared in case there are new paint splashes of a Maggie kind.
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Spring is coming at last, although we’re still having frosts. Lovely at midday so must go – the garden calls.

Urchfont Delights

Hi Again - yes, it's me, the errant blogger who has been neglecting her post. Been frantically busy, lots of trips to the DIY store as well as finishing the classes for the mixed media book.
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Here's a sneaky look at a sample from the next class.
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Oh yes, and the garden did call a bit, as well. Add to that the fact that I sneaked off to Urchfont College and had a wonderful couple of days - so, a bit of fun too. I belong to a group that meets three times a year and, while we don't have a tutor as such, we are all very generous at sharing our ideas. We also help each other when stuck on a piece of work. It's amazing what other people can see that you can't. We have a space for another member so, if you are interested in a two night course in Wiltshire (near Devizes) and are prepared to abandon your diet for a few days, drop me an email.
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Although we don't have a tutor as such and tend to do our own work, we also have themes where we'll take a topic or a technique and all have a play. Our next theme is stiffening and wiggling (no obscene comments, please). So what do we do?
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Well, Jane Wild had found a wonderful set of American water colours and produced some amazing results.

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She is very generous with her considerable knowledge and has given us some exciting drawing tutorials.
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You'll all know Anna from her blog - she is making costumes for an exhibition at the Urchfont open day in July. That will be well worth seeing.
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Chris is a quilter and did all her finishing off bits - you can tell I'm not a quilter, can't you?

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Sue is our organiser and also has great ideas for work. Here she is busy deconstructing a piece.

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' And putting it back together again.
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So, if you'd care to join our happy band drop me an email and I'll tell you more. maggie@workshopontheweb.com
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I'm sure you'd love it.

Silk and Sanitation

Amo - we are indeed holding onto our sanitation and at last have something in place to hold on to. We are very nearly there, as you can see. There is still a very slight loo leak for the plumber to sort out and a bit of painting, but I could at last clean up. As it's all shades of grey I decided on sharp pink accents but haven't had time to go and buy any so it was down to a desperate search around the house. I came up with an orchid, some tulips and a pale pink china box that Val gave me. Not bad for a quick sweep. The blind man came and measured us and rasperry pink blinds should soon be in situ. Oops, should have moved the toothbrush - just ignore it.

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So glad we went for the slatey tiles over the bath as I think the big pale grey ones might look a bit insipid all over. The hand shower is for washing hair in the bath - too much information?

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Back to things stitchy and lesson two of the on-line classes. We're continuing with a silk paper theme and I'm making something that I'm quite excited about. It's all to do with buttonholes. I'm also having fun with a large lump of silk that was purchased from Oliver Twists, I think she called it silk lapp - I'm no expert so does that sound right? It comes in a big hunk like this in wonderful colours.
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I'd had some success by making a very thin layer of silk paper with it and then pulling out more of the the silk into a lattice shape and laying it over while the base was wet.

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This produced an interesting surface which looks lovely when the light shines through it.
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Current experiments, for lesson 2, involve making use of the fact that the silk forms a tube - see below.
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If you want to join our classes, they are free if you have the Mixed Media: New Studio Techniques (written with Isobel Hall) details at www.d4daisy.com
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I am a reluctant blogger today as the weather is wonderful. It's one of those warm, sunny days that we sometimes get in February and we have been for a huge walk, exploring our new trails. Went through woods, a farmyard, a snowdrop bank and lots of puddles. All without getting in the car. Heaven.

Signs of Spring and Melting Stuff

At last - a warm, dry day. According to the forecast, it's a one-off but it's been so lovely to have a really good walk. Having a new garden is interesting, too, as it's all a complete surprise. I've got daffs in the woody bit and really lovely crocus, with pretty orange centres, behind the summer house. I spent a fortune in one of the plant catalogues before Clive reminded me, after it was posted, that there might not be room for all this new stuff when what's there already comes up!

I opened the door of the summer house to air it a bit and Smudge thought it was great - he immediately stretched out on a sofa - I think he'll enjoy the alfresco life.

The classes have started and we have immediately found fun things to do with clear embossing powder. Gill had a play and inspired me to have a go, mixing it with Perfect Pearls. It melts down so well (no melting pot or ladle).

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I loved the shape and made this cute little brooch.

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Thanks for the comments: Hi to Heather - great to see your name on the Yahoo list, glad you're enjoying the class.

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I wanted that Pat Hodson book too, Celia - apparently she is doing a book, don't know who with - wish it was d4daisy.

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Hi Emma - the classes will always be there, although the Yahoo group - where we chat and share ideas - is limited to six months or so.

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Penny - I hope Isobel is OK. I haven't heard from her and she hasn't popped up on the Yahoo group yet, so I guess she is either in the middle of teaching or she has a dodgy dongle.

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Liniecat - yes, I was only briefly at Harrogate to help set up our Wessex Textiles exhibition. Thanks for getting the book at our stand. Thanks also for the kind words about the book and the classes. I do view them as an extension of the books and love the chance to meet the readers. Now I don't teach so much, it is great to have a bit of interaction.

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The bathroom saga - a bit of a knife edge as the plumber is going on holiday next week and he still has to fit the loo and the radiator. He can't fit the loo until the floor is done and that is underway at the moment.

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Will the floor be finished in time for the plumber? Will the house ever be empty of bathroom bits that can't be stored in the garage? Will Maggie and Clive hold on to their sanity? Don't miss the next exciting episode.

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