Friday 28 October 2011

Block Lotto - Liberated Logs!

 These are my October blocks for the Block Lotto. They had to contain blue and cream fabrics . I'm not big on cream, and have limited blues I suppose ..and I had made a promise to myself to just use stuff that I already have in my fabric stash. I have LOADS of fabrics but, each time I came to play the Lotto, I ended up having to buy even more...so now I am working within my limits and joining in when I can.
Anyway, as luck would have it, I remembered some vintage Laura Ashley cream coloured fabric that I have had dark-holed for a while, plus a few blue Laura Ashley scraps that were left from a hexagon project ET VOILA!!
This month's Block Lotto is a corker!! The theme is to use these colours in a sampler way - and create sampler blocks - so that the completed quilt will have a colour theme but a menage of all sorts of block patterns. I have chosen aliberated log cabin type theme. The top left was suppposed to be a blue rose type shape...but it lost its way a bit!! and is now a wonky window.
I would love to win this month!!!

Sunday 9 October 2011

Nuno Day at the Parish Room


Yesterday, I held a Nuno Felting Workshop locally here in Shipley where we made some beautiful scarves...boy was it hard work and there was even ....a bit of a failure...but on the whole it was SO worth the blood, sweat and tears!!

Starting with a six foot long or more pice of cotton open weave muslin or a silk chiffon, we first created and played with colour and texture and density...and then for at least an hour we rolled, rubbed, soaked, more rubbing and rolling, threw and rubbed some more...until the most beautiful scarves started to shape up, felt up...and we all cheered!!
There is something very euphoric about creating something really beautiful..your own design..your own energy.

The cotton gauzy muslin produced lovely results somewhat easier than the silk chiffon. Two people chose the silk. It took an age to felt and one piece especially appeared to reject all fibres - so much so that afer a long time we called it a day as every fibre looked like it was coming away. The other took what seemed like hours.. and hours and in the end 3 people at once were rubbing and willing and praying for these fibres to work their magic...and eventually a combination of many hands, brute force, hard work and determination payed off and a beautiful nuno silk scarf was born. PHEW!!!!

a few more pics!!
Patricia's before the silk was layed upon it

Chrissie's before the muslin

Alena and Natalie's hearts before the muslin


Chrissie's - check out the shrinkage! the green line is the original size!

Alena and Natalies finished scarf - minimal shrinkage

Eva before the muslin...
...and after shrinkage has occured!! WOW!!!!


More info on my other blog here
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Friday 7 October 2011

How Bazaar???

I'm so excited, we've finally done it after weeks of preparation!!

2 like minded friends and I have put together our own website, introducing ourself and selling our crafts.

Within this small collective is; Zoe who makes beautiful Waldorf inspired dolls and toys, Sarah who makes the most original and characterful (is that a word?) sock creations and me with some patchwork fancies and the odd quilt here and there.(Odd as in occasional, not weird??!!)

Together we are The Nutbrook Bazaar
DO come and have a look, and if you have time, please leave me some feedback- I'd love to hear from you.

Watch this space for a giveaway in the next week or two to celebrate the launch. Cheers (hic) ...clinking of champagne glasses and the distant pop of another bottle being opened....