Saturday 10 March 2012

A day out at the Creative Stitches show

 I haven't done much making this week, but lots of writing, stitching samples & more writing.

I think this will be my first post with only one photo - the slr camera is just too heavy for a show so this will be full of delicious links ;) A light camera for the handbag is on the long list!)

So, I went on a little trip out to Glasgow to visit the Creative Stitches show at the SECC. The DH decided to come as we had a few things to get from Ikea for the new B&B room. It was also an opportunity to see the Middlest with his GF & the Elest & my DIL  to be, who are only an hour on the train away from Glasgow so we met for a cheap & cheerful meal in a place chosen by the Middlest. There was someone thrown out of a 2nd floor window recently but that didn't phase him - we had an uneventful evening on that score, luckily! Stayed in a perfectly fine Travelodge where there seemed to be a loud meeting in the hallway till 3am, but never mind!

I got a  couple of hours on the first day of the show to do some of the shopping on my list & sound out things to do the next day. I'd have had a longer day but we got a late B&B booking  for the 2 nights previous which I'm very glad about as it financed the shopping ;)

This is what I got -






 The first afternoon I went to a talk by Isobel Hall, very interesting, talking mainly about her new book 'Textile Adventures' & the techniques in it, using membrane from the garden for one & moulding paste. So I got some of that but as I am in a book phase I got her Embroidered Books, so difficult to choose! Can't see her own website.

Another good talk was by Kim Thittichai, very funny, she describes herself as a techniques teacher, not a product teacher, otherwise we get stuck on one thing & don't grow. Newspaper chenille is her thing at the moment, sounds fabulous! She's teaching in Australia in April I think - her w/s & shows schedule would have you in a spin, I'm telling you! I got some of her solufleece...

Wendy Cotterill gave a wonderful talk with demonstration, bravely printing text on white cotton using a stand alone printer. The best tip was to cut a little bit off of the leading corners of the paper/fabric. Her thing is transparent fabric & she'd dyed & ironed on bondaweb - paint is obviously opaque, a bit of glitter, printed with a painted stamp, added accent beads & dyed net over a bit of that. A lovely layered collage effect.

I was late for a 15 min taster w/s with Rachel Powell on using a drop spindle, but she very kindly showed me anyway. I've felted wool found on barbed wire that'sbeen torn off sheep before & now I can give it a go to spin it & couch it down. Somewhere I read you can spin paper.... So I got the drop spindle on the left of the pic & the Jan Beany & Jean Littlejohn book on the right on couching. I'll have a little squiz first, but I might give it away as a special thank you...



Saw Helen McKenna's stand, new to me, with fabulously embelleshed bits & pieces, especially shoes! Didn't know coz I didn't look at the program properly but I could have asked for a demo. I think she was the only one who had a sketchbook with lots of frilly bits in it on her table. I love a good flick thru those ;)

Wendy Dolan was there, but I'd seen her last year & there wasn't time (or energy!) for everything, sadly.


Went into the Hobbycraft Hall, boy! A little daunting & all very white. I went round very methodically & got those dry glue things - in the middle of pic; I find pritt stick a little gloopy these days. & the 3 permanent ink stamp pads I've been after for ages. Back in the Stitches bit I found a huge roll of gold foil & a special glue pen, no ironing & bondaweb needed, just rubbing. I had to walk past a chocolate stall - why is there a chocolate stall in a stitch show? to get a bigger pot of special tacky glue, an oil stick, cheap brush & a big metallic reel of gold thread :)

Saw some beautiful lace & someone demonstrating tatting, facinating! See the blue corners in the pic? 3 little cushion blanks from Ikea to encourage me to make some covers. We'll see ;)

My real luxury book is From Print to Stitch by Janet Edmonds of Embroidered boxes fame. Looks great & again, so many to choose from for my collecton! I had to have a coffe cup wrap (off the floor!) for my favorite kind of printing & stirrers, so useful. I forgot to pic the straw from I won't tell you where ;)

Hope you enjoy some of these links!

21 comments:

smarcoux said...

Hi Emma
I too have been trying out the drop spindle and here is that article on paper
http://greenupgrader.com/2138/handspun-recycled-newspaper-yarn/

I have tried some fabric strips .. have a look at my blog
Sandy
Dangling by a Thread

Sarah Sequins said...

I love Janet Edmonds! I read her three dimensional embroidery book, and I almost asked the library if I could keep it.

The show sounds fantastic. :)

Julie said...

Thanks for sharing your day out Emma and for the links. I hadn't heard of Helen McKenna before, her work is beautiful! I'm pleased to see someone else collects stirrers and coffee wraps :-)

Anonymous said...

Wow, good finds and what a cast of creative lovlies to see!!!! I am jealous.....xox Corrine

artymess said...

ive got that book Print to stitch I love it ..x

Numinosity said...

Sounds like a great event. can't wait to see what percolates with your new knowledge and supplies.
xoxo Kim

ArtPropelled said...

You packed a lot into a short time!Hope you have caught up on your sleep after the noisy lodge.

Heloise said...

Sounds quite exhausting day, but I am sure you loved it.

Maggi said...

Sounds like a really good day and no doubt provided you with plenty of inspiration.

Robin Mac said...

You must have been completely exhausted with all that activity, and nearly overwhelmed with all the inspiration! Sounds like a marvellous show and you have a great selection of goodies you have bought. Cheers

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a fantastic and packed time and you really have got some wonderful things to play with!

Carole Reid said...

Thanks for all the links Emma! Can you see how green with envy I am of your trip and purchases? Well, I admit it, I'm jealous but very happy for you! My family hates going on walks with me because I'm constantly picking things up off the ground to use in my work. You would like the recycling store in Nanaimo. It's an adventure going there and I often find the coolest things on the ground!

mano said...

hi emma, sounds like a great day! I like your finds - and thank you for the interesting links!

suziqu's thread works said...

Emma what a great post with all of those links. I love those Stitches and Craft shows - we learn so many new things, ideas etc.
I did a workshop with Isobel Hall here in Aust and I really enjoyed it.
Love all your purchases and it brings a new breath of fresh air into our artworks.
Your friend in Yoga,
Suzy with hugs

Jill said...

Spent so long following up your links I forgot to comment! Thanks for lots of inspiration.

Aileen Clarke Crafts said...

Thank you so much for all the links Emma! I never got this year as we were at a big family wedding. It's the first sho I have missed in 7 years! Going to sit by the fire and follow all your links and try and make up for not being there : )

Linda Vincent said...

Oooh what lovely treats Emma, good for you! Sounds like a great trip....

Off to follow some links now :-)

Dorothy said...

You sound like you had an enjoyable day at the Craft Fair. It is difficult to see it all in a day,isn't it,rather exhausting as well but worth while for the inspiration.

Linda’s Textiles said...

You certainly made the most of your trip and some great goodies to take home. Love Janet Edmond's book too.

Parabolic Muse said...

Oh, my heaventy sakes! You keep learning and learning. And you are so patient!

I've been on a project and just finished so I'm catching up again. Can't blog read when I'm working on something, for some reason. It looks like all is well with you!

Fenland Textile Studio said...

Hi. Sounds like you had a fantastic day. I love all the Jan Beany and jean Littlejohn books, I don;t know the couching one though. Happy creating. Angela x