Laugh, it's OK!

I'm not, well not just yet anyway...... readers of my blog will know that The Material Girls have an event coming up at Horndon on the Hill. Just to digress for a minute everything seems to be going well for that, even publicity in Essex Life (fame at last).  Back to the theme of this post, I need to have things to sell in the shop, I'm not the greatest at producing lots of small pieces for sale. So far my collection includes  a selection of bowls  and two knitted felt bags, the second one I knitted came out a bit small after the washing process. So I decided to try another one this time I made it bigger used larger needles but the same yarn,  I washed it in the machine with a pair of jeans at 30C it came out no smaller infact it came out exactly the way it went in but wet!  Without another thought I washed it again at 60C with a hand towel and two bath sheets, when it finished the cycle I took the bag out of the machine I was over joyed, it had felted to a perfect size........ Oh, I thought I should let it dry over some sort of former...... But next.... Oh (excuse my language here) Bug**r the bag had felted it's self together so I can't open the bag...... Any ideas what I can do with a nice size lump of knitted felt? It's OK I have ideas. When Dave got home from work and I showed him he said 'Oh, Bug**r, you spent a lot of evenings knitting that'. Then he laughed, no I didn't damage him in anyway as I think it's funny too, I've knitted and felted quite a few times before and never had this happen, any ideas why it happened this time? Photo evidence I was so prepared I even used a plum to show the scale of the shrinkage, after the  DISASTER I ate the plum very nice too! I feel disappointed I had great plans of how to dye the bag and decorate it, never mind. As I said I have plans for the felt, and no not the bin, watch this space or better still come to the event. Pop over to here and see the list and times of the demonstrations.

Before

After

Saturday I was at the ERTF conference at Girton College, Cambridge, Chris gave a talk about the Bridging Waters Exhibition. She did a really good job, mind you she had great material, but then I'm biased.

Chris Spencer

Betsy is up to her usual tricks, she never stops, it's like living in a whirl wind most of the time. Today she's discovered a root that she had taken a fancy too, I have a dreadful feeling that by the end of the week the Camellia bush is going to fall down! Bless her..... I get a rest tomorrow I'm off to the British Museum,  research for the next Material Girls body of work and maybe a chance to have another visit to the Crypt Gallery and lunch, of course there's always lunch!

Betsy

I have a plan in the near future to make a page of photographs of the Quilts I've made over the years, I cant believe I made quilts and gave them away as gifts and never kept a photographic record? It's a project to get photos taken, Rachel jumped at the suggestion as she said the quilts she has at her house could do with a wash!!!!!! The joys of being a Mum.

Catch up!!!

The Material Girls exhibition at Craft Arena has been and gone, the work got some good comments and  the 'Liberation of the Heart' hanging looked as though it was meant to be there, despite not being made for that exhibition it fitted in very well and I was relieved to get it back. There are lots of exciting things in the pipeline for The Material Girls, we'll  be exhibiting the 'Articulated Materials-Bridging Waters' work at three venues, more about that in future posts. I've still a way to go to get my work completed, as I have a helper with me ALL of the time, but things are getting a lot easier with Betsy.

I went to the Knit and Stitch with my sister in law, it was her birthday treat from me,  we had brunch which was very nice and saved stopping for lunch! Michelle enjoyed it and bought herself a new pattern book and some wool to knit a scarf. This year I spent very little and came away with money still in my purse? First time ever, I usually spend my cash and then hit the credit cards!

Last Friday I met up with some of the Essex ERTF members at another members home, we were having a meeting to follow up on a sketching day we had on a very hot and sunny day in August at Southend on Sea.

After  a lot of chatting and some delicious cake that our lovely hostess provided, our sketch books were produced and we discussed how we were developing our ideas, I'd only managed to progress with the designs, others had developed onto stitching, felting and printing. It was a day I really enjoyed I hope that we continue with this project, it's definitely the sort of thing I need to move my work on, I also like to see the way others work ( that's because I'm nosy). Rachel took the day off work and puppy sat, Betsy has been left for a few hours but I think Rachel wanted an excuse to look after her without us around and as she was coming home for the weekend anyway.......

The garden situation, well it's no longer looking so great, nothing to do with the weather! Betsy has dug up, chewed or trampled her way through most of the flowers ( No Photo's sorry) The vegetables are almost over I have some parsnips, swede and celeriac still growing. I did have a glut of tomatoes so made lots of sauce which is in the freezer and three large kilner jars of chutney, last time I made chutney I used it in curries and it added a depth to them, so I'm looking forward to that. I also have a supply of onions which should last until well into the new year. I would call that a successful year, well for me anyway, not sure if it will be so good next year. We need to find a way of  keeping  Betsy off the veggie patch!

Last week Betsy was a bit of a nightmare she suddenly decided that she would wake up at 5 am, not good for me! But things have improved this week, she seems to have settled down again and we are into a routine that seems to suit us all. Last week I started taking her to training classes and she now behaves better when we are out walking. Not that she was badly behaved before it's just that she barked at every one we met and every dog, she just wants to play and be friends with everyone and sadly not everyone wants to be friends with her! She has also stopped barking every time she is in the garden and my neighbour is out there, so life is calmer, well for the moment anyway. We have also been taking her to puppy socialisation classes at the vets, she meets other pups of about the same age but not the same size in the group there are two Rottweiler's, Betsy is not afraid to play with them and she stands her ground which is a bit scary for us. There is so much conflicting advice out there, the dog trainer says we shouldn't do both, the vets say we should, Rachel has a friend who is a dog trainer and she says its good to do both. I've decided to ignore everyone and do what I think is best for us, Betsy enjoys playing with the other pups and  there is only one more session to go, we will carry on! Betsy is developing  a lovely character she loves to have the last word, something that I think is a mini schnauzer thing. She does something  I can only describe as grumble. If she barks and I tell her to stop, she'll stop barking but carry on with this low grumbling, she does it at the training class and everyone thinks it's really funny. Now I only have to stop her weeing on the floor and we've cracked it!! Thankfully we have no carpets only a couple of small rugs easily replaced when this stops, it does stop doesn't it???

Cake with Eggs Added

As promised the recipe for the cake, it's from a book I've had since 1985. When the children were small the programme was on TV and I remember watching it and cooking lots of meals that they demonstrated.

Mincemeat Cake - Mrs Ward Warwickshire

75g margarine ( I use butter)
25g lard (I don't use this I add extra margarine or butter)
2 large eggs
125g soft brown sugar
325g mincemeat
190g self-raising flour
a little milk if necessary ( I sometimes use sherry, brandy or whatever I feel like adding)

1. grease and line a 18cm round cake tin (sometimes I use loaf tins)
2. cream fat and sugar then beat in eggs.
3. stir in mincemeat and fold in flour. Mixture should be moist (this depends on who much liquid in the mincemeat) If necessary add the liquid.
4. Bake in a moderate oven Gas mark 3, 325f, 160c for 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to Gas mark 2, 300f,150c for about 1 1/4 hours until the top is firm and cake is shrinking slightly from the edge of the tin.

I find that this cake freezes well, it will keep in a tin for a week, I can't say if it keeps longer for obvious reasons. If you do make it I'd like to know what you think, I think it's OK for an everyday cake it's easy to make.

My back has improved, thank you for your good wishes, especially Sharne, who emailed me as soon as she heard about it, she offered to help out in any way she could as she's on holiday. That was really so kind of her, Sharne is one of the busiest people I know, so it meant so much! I'm still not going to the gym, but I don't need much of an excuse not to go there! When I get the dog I'm going to give up the gym altogether, I think walking in the fresh air will be so much better for me. Beverley I think you could have been right, the idea of a pony troting around the living room made a dog seem much more appealing!

It's just as well my back improved, since Saturday I've spend an awful lot of time sitting in a car as a passenger and as driver, Saturday it was the ERTF AGM and conference, it's nice to go to these events it gives us a good chance to catch up with like minded people from the region. The venue was very impressive Girton College, Cambridge and a very interesting speaker. Then due to events at the AGM  an extraordinary committee meeting was called, everything was resolved so all crisis over and things will continue running smoothly as usual but it did involve a round trip of 141 miles. I'm no longer on the committee, but three of us were invited to the meeting as we were the founders of ERTF. I'm looking forward to seeing how the group moves on and evolves, which reminds me I must amend my profile on here.  Many things are changing at the moment the textile group I belong to The Material Girls is going through a change. A few  members have decided that now is the time for them to move on, it will be interesting to see how the group changes, there are a few interesting things in the pipeline for us, we'll be exhibiting in a new venue for us later in the year and in 2013 we'll be exhibiting in Canada, I'm really excited about that. Who knows I might even get to Canada for a holiday, we do have some air miles saved what better way to use them?

Mum's house was finally settled two weeks ago, it all went through with no glitches. So far I've resisted going to have a look at the house. My brother has driven by, not so easy as the house is in a cul-de-sac. I did drive close by yesterday on my way home from the Material Girls meeting, but resisted all temptation.

Foundlings

Drawn using Faber&Castell Artists Pens

 After an eventful weekend, this week has been quiet,  I do find that when it's quiet I'm not very creative. I'm knitting another pair of fingerless gloves and also working in my sketch book (see the images). Dave was out for dinner on Wednesday, Rachel decided to come home for the night, she brought a girly dvd, we popped some popcorn and had a really lovely evening. She spotted my fingerless gloves (earlier post), I thought she was going to ask if she could have them, instead she asked if there's any wool over after I've knitted her socks could I knit her a pair of gloves, no pressure there then!!!

Today with a small group of ERTF members I went to see an exhibition in London at The Foundling Museum , "Threads of Feeling". We were lucky enough to be guided round by Janette Bright,  a member of ERTF. Until I met Janette a few years ago I'd never heard of The Foundling Museum, I went along to a talk given by her at an Embroiderers Guild meeting. She gave  an inspiring talk, relaying such sad but interesting stories,  there wasn't a dry eye in the place. This was the first time I'd met Janette, she was so passionate about her subject, the textile work she does is often inspired by her research at the museum. Today as we were looking at the exhibition  the group seemed to expand as other people there listened to Janette's talk.  This is a big benefit of belonging to a group like ERTF, members are happy to share their expertise with other members and are so generous with their time. After a lunch of a scone, cream and jam and a catch up with friends it was on the train and home, I really should not have eaten the scone, I'll have to make up for it,  I'll put in extra work at the gym????

Mum's house selling saga is still going on, contract's were exchanged today and  complete on 31st March. I'll believe it when it happens! It has really put me off the idea of moving, I don't think I could stand the stress. I think I've said this before I have no real connection with the house I never lived there, it was where my Mum lived and my Dad died there. It will be all done before the garden starts needing attention hopefully. I wont miss going to the house, of course it's not the same for my brother, he lived there, so his feelings are different.

We have  a few nice things planned for the weekend, tell you about it next week. Sitting here typing this there is a red glow in the sky, hope that means the weather is going to be good tomorrow. RED SKY AT NIGHT........

NORWICH

Wednesday I went to a Kantha workshop with Libby Smith, it's the first time I've ever done it, I have some good samples of the stitches for when I need reminding!

Friday, I was up early to catch a train to Norwich, it was the start of  two brilliant days with ERTF. Twelve of us spent Friday firstly at the Norwich Cathedral Broiderers', we were shown the new project's that they are working on and a repair project that they have just completed. After lunch in the Refectory, we took cabs to  Carrow House, a textile and costume study centre. I was particularly interested in a piece of work from 1900 by Lorina Bulwer, it's one of those things that just stays with you. The curator was really very helpful and chose textiles that she thought would connect to the subject of the ERTF conference Concepts and Meanings. We had a lovely time there and Gina was a good sport when we suggested that she try on a Victorian hooped skirt and a Norwich Shawl!

Saturday was the conference in the Dragon Hall Norwich, there were four speakers two in particular were really brilliant a textile artist Debbie Lyddon and Les Bicknell a book artist.  By the time I was sitting on the train on the way home my head was full of ideas, the speakers gave us such a lot to think about a really worthwhile day.  Saturday  was  the launch of the second ERTF juried  exhibition which will be held at Dragon Hall, I have ideas already!!!!

Where has the time gone?

I cant believe that it's been so long since my last blog. During this time I visited the 02 exhibition at Hyde Hall another three times (I'm not a stalker honest), it was just a really good exhibition in a great venue and a good place to meet up with friends for lunch!

My Mum's house has sold and so I've been busy sorting out the final pieces of furniture trying to get them a good home. James and Becky have sold their house and are moving in the next month, Rachel moved into a new rental house with a friend of James' so everything is changing here!

My weight loss seems to have stopped the last two weeks I've stayed the same, not good, I need a bit of a kick. I'm still going to the gym three times a week, and today I enrolled on a Yoga course. This should be interesting............watch this space.

We have also had a few family get togethers, I met up with my cousins for a really nice evening. Then the next day Jacqueline's Mum and Dad celebrated their Diamond Wedding Anniversary,it was a lovely day the weather was kind so we could sit in the garden. My Dad had been Uncle Alf's best man. They received a special delivery of a card from the Queen and the local paper sent a photographer to take pictures. It's good to have something nice happen.This weekend started with an ERTF Tea and Textile this was an Essex event at Julie's in a lovely setting for more information see ERTF blog and Craft Arena. Lorraine and Janette are having a good time! Saturday I went to a fabulous workshop held by Chelmsford EG, it was one of the best I've ever been to Lynda Monk was so generous with her information and instead of taking lots of bits with us Lynda provided a goody bag with everything we needed, right down to labels so we could identify our work and remember what we had used in our samples. Everyone came away with a vessel started. Really I wish we'd had a weekend with her, a really big thank you Lynda . I'm a new member of Chelmsford Guild and they make me feel very welcome. Sharne and Lynda with a few of Lynda's samples that she provided for us to look at.

Well that's about it, except this week I'm going back to the Quilting group that I had to leave when I started doing my City and Guilds because they clashed. It will be nice to meet up with them again after a three year break. My friend Kath that goes to the group is about to become a Grandmother for the first time so I've knitted a little jumper for her new addition, just need to sew on the buttons!

Time For A Catch Up

Things are not great with my Mum,she came out of hospital, but rapidly deteriorated and was re-admitted last Thursday. So much has happened in the last few weeks I cant post about it. Any way Mum is being very strong about everything, a remarkable lady, she knows that she has cancer in her liver and her bones. Today she told me that she has been offered Chemo therapy and the oncologist has told her this is not a cure, Mum is worried that she might loose her hair! I really don't know where she is getting all her strength from.

While she was being re-admitted to hospital I was in Jersey at the Textile show case with ERTF. My family were looking after Mum and persuaded me that I should attend as it had been booked a long time ago. Whether I would have gone had I known what would happen at home I don't know, Mum had said that I should go so I did! Up until Thursday I had a fantastic time, even then I had a good time as I did know that everything was being done that could be done by my brother, sister in law and my husband.

We all made our own way to Jersey, I flew from Gatwick, a good flight, it was my first visit to Jersey, it wont be my last. Every morning we met for breakfast, then we split to go to our workshops, then met again in the evening for dinner.
Sometimes there were a couple of ERTF on the same workshop, I really enjoyed the variety. The group knew what was going on at home for me and couldn't have been more supportive, without them I don't know how I would have managed!

My first workshop was with Louise Gardiner, this was a very lively workshop. For someone that says she cant draw it was very scary, Louise put on music and we had to close our eyes and draw on a piece of paper that she gave us with a pen to the rhythm of the music! The second exercise was to draw the person opposite without looking at the paper or lifting the pen off the paper My partner was Angela, if you look at her blog you will see her sketch of me!!!!!! I'm worried, I think I need a facial and must get rid of the green hair, it was the first time we had met, on her blog she says I've got a sense of humour, does she know me? I'll wait to see what your comments say......
Angela, she doesn't look like this honest........


I had an enjoyable walk with some members back from the glass church, Lalique I loved it! We took the bus there and walked along the beach back, it was really cold and windy.My next workshop was a whole day with double trouble, I played with the embellisher and have lots of ideas.ERTF had dinner with Jan and Jean it was great to sit and talk with them two very talented and lovely ladies.

We also had a whole day doing design with Gina, I had a really good day and yes Gina I have done more work in my sketch book.There was a Gala dinner, not really my sort of thing but never the less a lovely meal in our hotel.I did a workshop with Jean Moss 'knitting with beads', this workshop whilst very interesting not one I would repeat, I wish I'd done the free form knitting what ever that is? Saturday was a free day until flight time, so it was a wander around a craft market and a relaxing lunch. All in all a lovely week! Would I go again? Yes! A very friendly event, somewhere I would be happy to go on my own. The hotel was very comfortable, the only downside was that it as at the top of a hill, I was exhausted,I need to get back to the gym!

There is a good post about ERTF's Jersey trip on the ERTF Blog

Good And Not So Good

The news wasn't good when we took Mum to get the results of her CT scan, a mass on her pelvic bone and liver. We are waiting for a biopsy on the bone. She is in hospital and on a drip to sort out the high calcium levels, on the positive side she is very cheerful! She always had a good sense of humour and for quite a while that's not been there, its back and she's sitting up in bed and holding court. Before being admitted to hospital she spent a lot of time sleeping, now she's awake and taking in all that's going on around her. She is very weak and cant walk on her own, shes using a walking aid and has to have someone with her. Yesterday when I went to visit she was being taken for an x-ray, she had tried to get out of bed on her own and fallen, no serious damage has been done! A couple of bruises and she managed to pull the cannula out. We have to wait and see what happens next, I think from now on it will be one day at a time!
On a more cheerful note tomorrow I'm going to a workshop with the Chelmsford embroiderers guild, I'm really looking forward to that. I went to drop off some pieces of work at Chrissythreads sadly our talk last weekend was cancelled as Chris was really unwell, thankfully shes recovered! I had a nice surprise when she gave me the money that I'd made from the sales at the Material Girls exhibition. It's a shame I cant get to Cottenham to see Sharne, Nickie, and ERTF and spend my money on the sales tables, but I have asked Chris to get me a sketch book. I'll just have to make do by reading everyone elses blogs to see what I've missed!

It's Working

A really good week, three trips to the gym, it seems to be working! I visited the doctors to get the results of a blood test I had a couple of weeks ago, my cholesterol is fine and the other things he tested for were good to!

Friday I went to the V&A with a group of friends from ERTF we went to see the Maharaja exhibition, Chris generously took me in as her guest! The exhibits were wonderful I was particularly taken by a necklace Diamonds, Emeralds and Platinum! I couldn't take photographs in the exhibition, this is in the foyer of the V&A it's a glass sculpture by DALE CHIHULY. Then as usual we sat and had a lovely lunch and a good chat, it's always nice when we catch up. The plan had been to go and look at a venue that is possibly going to be used for ERTF 2011 exhibition, but that didn't happen.

Yesterday I went to Romford Embroiderers Guild meeting, the weather was awful really strong winds and pouring rain, I was surprised how many people turned up. Today was totally different weather warm and sunshine! We went to Lakeside Shopping Centre and managed to get a few more Christmas presents.

Now the weather is changing I'm glad to be snuggling up under my quilt in the afternoons watching something good on the tv and stitching!

Tomorrow evening I'm going to Chelmsford Embroiderers Guild for the first time, I'm really looking forward to it!

Fun Fun Fun!!!!!!!!

Where to start, I've had a really bad eye infection all week, I'm on antibiotics so cant even make myself feel better with a stiff drink! Dave had this week off so we had planned to go out for a few days. But! we had been waiting for the builder to come and pave our driveway which we are having done jointly with our neighbour. The guy turned up and started, Dave wasn't at home so I went out and talked to him and all he said was 'Yer,yer, yer' your not listening to me I thought! No he wasn't! As a consequence we couldn't go out except for short periods of time as we didn't know what we'd come home and find! I was glad Dave was here as the guy really dismissed everything I said, still it's all finished and as it turns out it looks really good, we just need to sort out our flower beds and it'll look really good. During the week the Aqua-8 group met at he RSPB site fairly close to where I live for a walk sadly the weather wasn't that great. We still managed to have a nice walk and get some good images.The site it's self is really interesting it is on marshland very close to the Thames, and was once used as a Rifle range I know it was used up until the late 1970's as Dave went there when he was a young lad, and every time we pay a visit he spends ages telling me about the good old days!!!!!! I'm not sure if it was used during the First and second world wars? One of the images has the numbers clearly there these were where the targets were located, I think? Yesterday I went to the ERTF conference in Letchworth, the venue was really good, I had been a few weeks ago with another member to check it out, it was ideal. I took along my lap top as a few members are having trouble with their passwords, so I got them sorted out. I'm going to try and take the lap-top along to most conferences, I hope this will make things easier for the members.During the morning there was a talk from Claire, she works for Southend on Sea Museum Services, she gave an interesting talk on costume and textile conservation. Then Liz Holliday did a "members spot light talk" about her work and her inspiration, her work is beautiful. These talks are always inspiring, we are so lucky to have a lot of very talented artist in the group. I was looking around yesterday and thinking, as there are so many members thank god I'll never have to stand up there and give a talk about my work, they will have to get out a search light not a spotlight if they ever ask me to do it. I'll be running for the hills! After a really nice lunch we did a networking- speed dating! It was really good fun, we each took a piece of work that we liked and were happy to talk about, we then had five minutes each to talk to our 'date' before we moved on. As you can imagine it was very noisy a room full of woman chatting at the same time, but really very enjoyable. I did get to talk to a few people that I'd not spoken to before, that's always good!
Who knows what this week holds? Hopefully I'll get in a few trips to the gym, I'm also going to the V&A and while I'm in London I'm hoping to pay a visit to a gallery that we are planning on using for the next ERTF exhibition.
I promise I'll post during the week with some images of textile things, I've made a piece of felt this morning so I'll post about that. I'm supposed to be pinning out a quilt now but the thought of kneeling on my hard wooden floor is putting me off which is why I'm blogging now, can't delay any longer here goes..........Comments are always welcome!

Hats and V & A

Just to prove I've not been completly idle here's a picture of my daughter modeling one of the many hats I've knitted for her over the last few weeks, I've not stopped knitting socks just had a short break! As you can see Rachel wasn't keen on modelling for me!

Yesterday I met up with 5 ERTF members for a visit to the V&A, next year we are having an exhibition using the work of Owen Jones, as inspiration. We spent the day looking at his work, during the afternoon we had a room to ourselves and were allowed to  view his designs close up and take photographs. It was amazing to be able to touch such wonderful work from 1840, I left feeling very inspired and my head was buzzing. I took lots of photographs, but can't show them here as they are for personal use only, but here's the group!

To end the trip three of us went to a tea shop in Kensington, they had lovely cream cakes, I managed to resist! I met Dave at St. James's and we travelled home together. As the train was pulling out of Fenchurch Street Station I noticed the sky and the light looked really good so I had my camera out of it's case. I think this is a good shot of Canary Wharf!

I was back at the gym this morning so far I'm managing to fit in these trips, I cant say I'm enjoying it but I'll keep going, all I need now is to get some willpower and eat less!