pillow talk swap 10

i have so much to tell you and so much to write about (am being a bad blogger at the mo) but for now i have just about time to tell you about the naughty thing i have just done.

i have just signed up for the pillow talk swap 10. i really haven't time for this but all those pretty mosaics were pulling me in and then leila went and posted a beautiful one (and included one of mine - thank you leila x) and if that wasn't bad enough kelly posted an irresistible one too. 

naughty naughty flickr people.

so now i'm in it too...which means even less time to blog. how about you? have you been able to resist? sign ups close tonight if you are still a teensy weeny bit tempted...

p.s. you can see all the links to the wonderful work that i have included in my mosaic right here.

a bctf time of year...

it's my favourite trade show of the year this weekend...

british craft trade fair in harrogate is full of designer makers. 

there isn't a mass produced imported item anywhere in the building...

just talented makers displaying their wares...oh and me!

it's a wonderful show to exhibit at and a really lovely show to visit. i'll be there with all my new screen printed pieces on stand 102 so please, if you are planning a visit do pop by and come and say hello. it is always lovely to see friendly faces.

and i'll be back next week to report back...after i've picked myself up from the enjoyable but exhausting few days!

umbrella prints trimmings competition

it's that time of year for the lovely peeps at umbrella prints to run their competition making something with a pack of their trimmings.

i wasn't going to enter this year as i have so much going on and i was just going to admire from afar everyone's fabulous makes from the delicious fabrics.

my resolve lasted for approximately a week when i was chatting with a friend about the competition and whether we were entering. i was adamant i wasn't. she was sure i would be and would be that one of my patchwork lampshades would be perfect.

it seems i am beginning to get a reputation for these, hey helen?

once nicky had planted the seed that this is what i should do it seemed rude to not head straight over to umbrella prints' etsy shop, order a pack, wait for it to arrive and set to make within 20 minutes of the pack landing on the doormat.

it actually felt good to be time efficient with this and still make something i am pleased with. i will take better pictures of the finished article for the competition real but in the meantime here tells the story of my umbrella prints trimmings competition 2013 entry.

are you entering? if not why not? i am sure nicky will be able to make a perfect suggestion of what you should make.

the staple dress...potentially

i am determined that 2013 is going to be the year that my dress making extends beyond pj bottoms.

i have just bought april rhodes' fantastic and apparently relatively straight forward "the staple dress pattern"

apparently you just need to be able to stitch in a straight line to make this dress.

sounds easy enough.

i've already picked 4 fabrics that i would like to make what i think may be just what it says on the label...the staple dress of the summer.

clockwise from top left on my short list are...

scallop in punch from the new piper collection by stella

sunny day flutter nutter from the pb&j collection

raspberry jam jelly also from the pb&j collection

stitch circle mint from michael miller's stitch floral.

quite honestly it may just be a good excuse to buy even more pretty fabric.

handprinted: a fabric swap lll

 i'm trying to be disciplined and not sign up for a lot of time sapping swaps at the moment but this is one that is difficult to resist.

 handprinted:a fabric swap lll is organised by the lovely and talented leslie and she gets a whole bunch of people involved. i actually did resist last year, but apparently the same resolve couldn't be expected 2 years running.

the aim of the swap is to print an fq of fabric in any printing medium you like.

rather than just printing up one of my designs i do like to produce something original for this.

 obviously just printing up one of my designs would be a lot easier and quicker but where's the creative fun in that?!

i had been thinking about what i would do for a while.

actually translate that to "i had been thinking that i really must get on with this as the deadline is approaching.

to be honest until i sat down yesterday i really wasn't sure what i would be doing but apparently i'd be cutting stacking bowls out of a stencil and apparently i would be grabbing some designated fqs and apparently i would be printing them up in 2 colours.

this does sound like a rushed job, but i guess when inspiration arrives, you just go with it. no messing.

i hope the 4 members of my group jennifer, yasmine, ciana and ruth (it's not a secret swap, they all know) will like their pieces and i'm sitting excitedly awaiting to see what wonders i receive from them.

buzzy bee blocks...

 every now an then something comes along that you get a little bit excited about.

yesterday a very lovely Flickr contact asked me if i could make her up some scrap packs for her turn in the bee she is in.

she wanted to send a selection out to her bee mates, along with some coordinating solids to make blocks inspired by the ones ashley had done.

this was an unbelievable compliment, firstly because i am a huge fan of ashley's and secondly because i just love umbrella prints (the ones that Ashley used in her blocks).

i made up a block for her yesterday because i couldn't resist trying one out for myself i said i would do a sample for her bee guys and gals and i am beyond ridiculously excited at the thought of all these blocks being made with my fabrics by all the bee peeps. i can not wait to see how this turns out and i think i may not be able to resist further making my own quilt of them too.

i am not going to ruin it by mentioning who bought this or which bee they are for, but if you have a little pack come through your door i hope you have fun and i can't wait to see what you do with them!

i LOVE teaching screen printing...

i love sitting around my kitchen table creating with enthusiastic fun people. 

 i love that every workshop is different and everyone comes with their own take and own designs.

 i love that everyone gets caught up in my enthusiasm rather than thinking i am a manic nutcase...although to be fair they probably quite rightly think that too.

 i love that everyone gets as excited as i do to venture down to the depths of my cellar eagerly anticipating what their designs are going to turn out like.

 i love as their hearts skip a beat that moment before they see the first print, wondering if what they imagined would transpire.

i love seeing them using my oh so high tech hoist system as though it was the most natural way and best invention ever .

i love seeing their beaming faces after the success of just one day's printing.

i absolutely FRIKIN love teaching screen printing!