Cut,Create, Stitch

Three weeks ago I started a 6 week course at Dragon Hall in Norwich called

Cut,Create Stitch.

I do one day a week and our tutor is one of the Textile lecturers

from the local collage.

I have to admit I didn't really know what to expect 

other than looking at different things we can do with textiles

but I have to say I am loving it.

Dragon Hall is a Medieval Trading Hall

which has been restored and is used for all sorts of 

things from Weddings to workshops, 

Tudor minstrel shows to Vintage fairs.

It is a fabulous place to work although slightly dark.

Week One

The first day we had a real fright when we were

told we were going to do some drawing. 

I am no artist--believe me and I wasn't the only one to have this reaction.

So the phrase was changed to making marks as she didn't want a picture more shapes for us to follow.

The first thing we did was some rubbing, like brass rubbing but on all sorts 

of textured surfaces such as wood beams or brick floors,

which was great fun and really quite interesting as things really didn't come out how you thought they would look.

We then had 60 seconds to make a large representation of part of the wall in charcoal

rubbing lines out then turning the paper and doing it again and again.

This is one of the pictures I ended up with.

You can see all the beams that the hall is made up from

but it certainly changes the way I looked at

making marks.

The next thing we did was take one of our marks

and use it to make a mixed media picture by 

adding paper, fabric, wools and stitching.

This is my effort. 

My first mixed media art work

and I know it's no masterpiece but I'm quite pleased with it.

There is only one other lady on the course, which for the hall is a shame

but for us is great as we get almost one to one tuition.

This is her first picture which I think 

shows off the beams better than mine but we noticed very quickly that we 

look at things in a different way as I looked at a small part of the hall

 such as a window or a doorway

whereas she took in the whole thing and covered the whole paper.

I need to take some better photos before I tell you

about the next week.

See you soon.

Gillx

Hello again, How are you all?

Well!

 what a busy couple of weeks I've had

 with a trip to the Paralympics,

 family to stay and

 then a flying visit to Somerset

I have to say I'm looking forward to a couple of days at home in my sewing room.

The trip to the Paralympics was a girlie trip with my Sister-in-Law

and we stayed with family in North London.

I had no idea how close they actually are to Alexandra Palace,

literally a 5 minute walk and you can

 see the amazing view across London.

I know alot of you go to the Stitching show here but I haven't been

here since I went to see the Custom Car show as a teenager 

with my boyfriend (we have now been married for 30 years)

The park surrounding it was full of families having fun

which was great to see 

and I really wanted a go on

a dragon boat  on the lake

but apparently we didn't have time.

The new art works being carved out of tree trunks 

looked really interesting and of course had an olympics theme.

I won't go on about the trip to Olympic park as I

suspect you are all olympic'd out but will

leave you with a photo of some of the wild flowers that

looked so beautiful.

I'm doing alot of craft course over the next few weeks 

so will tell you all about them soon.

Gillx

The last wedding of the year

This has been a busy year for weddings 

and this weekend was the last of them.

This one was the son of one of my best friends

 and a close friend to all my children.

It was one of those great occasions 

when you know a lot of the  people there and 

get to meet up with some that you haven't seen for a while.

The fact that the setting for the ceremony was beautiful

also helped though.

This is Wolterton Hall which is near Aylsham in Norfolk.

The ceremony was in One of the rooms over looking the garden

 and you walk out of the room onto the balcony with this view in front of you

before going down the stairs onto the lawn( wedge shoes needed)

where the Champagne was waiting.

I can't wait to see the official photos.

But this is the favourite one of mine photos--

close friends ( I'm  the only one drinking, typical)

It was then off to a marquee in a friends garden.

The bride has a degree in textiles and 

the marquee was beautifully decorated with huge

paper poms poms  hanging from the ceiling

and loads of mixed glass, decanters of water and flowers vases, down the unusual runner.

There was lots of other  little bits that really made it a bit different

like fire pits in the garden with deck chairs around them so you 

could get away from the music for a quite chat and a drink.

The only down part of the day was that I managed 

to get not one but 2 glasses of wine down my dress.

But heres the happy couple,

with the bride in her lovely dress.

As the groom is a teacher he was straight back to work on Monday

so no honeymoon just yet.

Well thats the school holidays over

so my daughter has started her first teaching

job after completing her training.

Good luck to her and all of you that 

are starting back to work after the summer hols.

I have booked a couple of courses between 

now and Christmas so I will tell you all 

about them soon.

See you soon.

Gillxx