PPL

Last week I paid a visit to Chelmsford Embroiderers' Guild, not been for a while, but went specifically to hear the talk by Jill Flower.  See her website.  Lovely to catch up with people too, as I know many from that area, from initially studying City & Guilds Embroidery in Chelmsford.
Also watch this space, the Eastern Region of the Embroiderers' Guild is about to get its own website - so I've been busy supplying the information needed for that, as I'm our Branch IT Rep.  When it goes live I'll let you know.

The ERTF Owen Jones toruing exhibition has finished at Chelmsford now.  Thank you for visiting, I hope you enjoyed it, and it now moves on to Letchworth.  Do try to see it, because the accompanying sketchbooks are very informative, to see how everyone has the same subject matter but interprets it differently.

In the meantime I have a new business... well... decided I need to run a PPL (not to be muddled with VPL - visible pantie line, oooo errr) PPL - Postcard Production Line. Ha, did you think it was something else?  I am going to need some postcards for many projects and decided I needed some kidology - ie that it feels better to achieve lots of little tasks, than the long struggle with the big ones!  So below is a pic of one in production - I have 4 of these, not at all cost effective, as after stitching they will be painted, may be even gilded, a few surface embellishments - this technique usually involves 7 layers of paint or more, so really really a bargain for a purchaser.  Oh I can't show you the rest, himself has gone to France for 8 days and taken my best camera only just managed to rescue this pic before he waltzed off!

Oh, excitement ONE person has looked at my Sketchbook in the US - yipeee - I know, one, but hey its a start and I did have visions of it harbouring dust and never being touched.  So I count that as meeting the remit of the project - hopefully more will take a look, its very early on into that tour.



THE SKETCHBOOK PROJECT completed!

I have completed THE SKETCHBOOK PROJECT and posted back to the USA, and see logo on the right.  This is not to be confused with The Sketchbook Challenge which I am following but not participating in.
My Sketchbook isn't pretty and wonderful... I really don't work that way.  I choose the theme Lines & Grids and could have done more with it but for a couple of things.  Firstly I did everything twice.  I decided not to pay for it to be replicated, and not to photograph it myself, but instead to make it all in duplicate, at least that way I always have a physical copy.  Secondly I kept thinking of ideas, such as, I can stitch over wire, I can cut up the wire mesh I have, I could use wooden bbq sticks - but I started to worry, wire, grids, perhaps not sensible to include in a padded envelope subject to scrutiny!!  And wood is organic matter is it OK to send across the water... I watch too many of these border control programmes!
So now well and truly I start with the 2011 projects.  I did win the Ebay last week, and the item has arrived, and no I'm not telling you what it is, so there!!!  Actually, its because writing down the ideas for you all to read is scary, will confirm it all, and make it real.  At the moment I have a perfectly constructed masterpiece, which looks absolutely gorgeous, admired by all - in my head.  Soon the reality of making and doing, will have other thoughts run through the brain cell - like "who thought of this stupid idea then" - so let's keep the illusion as long as possible!