Twisting, wrapping, and couching

Hello. 

I had a lovely day visiting family in Nottingham, yesterday. Nice to see Auntie and cousins, and kids, again. They made a lovely spread, I came away feeling full to bursting. 

Twas a fun crafty morning at the Village Hall today. A new lady came along and thoroughly enjoyed herself meeting new people. She is knitting some children's dolls. I think she will come again next week. 

A few people asked about the new picture, the techniques I am using. Sue asked what am I weaving onto. This one is not weaving Sue, I'll explain further. Caz asked what is this kind of work called. I don't know Caz. I found a video on yoootooob on how to make cords with a sewing machine, it looked easy to do, then I thought about how I could incorporate the cords into a picture. Rather than splash paint onto a canvas, I decided to stitch the cords on instead. Then I found a picture that inspired me to copy the outline and use it. 

How to make cords, I can't find the first video I saw, so here is my version. Cut strips of fabric about an inch wide, doesn't matter how long they are. Fabric that is the same colour both sides is best, and one that doesn't fray. 

These are the finished twisted cords.

And this is how you do it. Set the machine to a zigzag stitch, probably the biggest one. Start twisting at one end, hold it tight because it will untwist if you let go. Trap the end underneath the foot with a little bit sticking out of the back. You will need to pull it through because the feed dogs won't do that automatically because it is so narrow. 

Twist a few inches of it, hold it with the right hand, then pull through with the left hand. It would be impossible to do this with a hand machine. Use an ordinary foot, keep stopping and twisting a bit more, then sew a bit and carry on like that until you get to the end. One thing you will have to watch out for is the twists coming up through the gap in the foot before it has been wrapped. Try and keep it taught and hold it down as flat as you can while you are sewing, but if this happens keep going to the end because it will still sew if the twisted fabric sits on top of the foot.

I am using a plain piece of stiff, strong fabric, a bit like a closely woven sack cloth, they use it on the underside of sofas at the Lebus factory. You can use any sort of heavy fabric, plain is best if you want to draw a design on it. It needs to be heavy enough to support all the stitching without sagging, and puckering. 

 I am using a couching stitch, some of it is in matching cotton and some in contrasting cotton.

This is what the underneath looks like, hundreds of stitches. 

How to do couching, here are a few pictures to help you. Instead of making cords, you can couch anything onto a piece of work, from fine embroidery thread, to wool, or string. You can use one strand, or several strands, depending on the thickness you require. Basically the stitch is up through the fabric, over the top and down the other side. If you want a really neat job the distances between the stitches should be uniform. As I am going to be adding more detail later my stitching doesn't need to be perfect.

How to go round corners. If the corner is too tight, and the gap gets narrow, I have been cutting the cord to fit exactly in the space, then starting again a bit further down where it is a bit wider.

Anybody going to give this a go? You could start by making a smaller sample picture. I think I shall be working on mine for another two months. You know what I'm like, I faff a lot, ha ha.
Toodle pip

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An update on the new picture

Hello. Today I have been indoors, the weather is miserable, wet, and cold. Woke up to snow, then more snow came down, big flurries. It didn't last long then a bit later it started raining, and now it has all been washed away. It's still bloomin cold though. 

Nothing for it but to get on with picture number three. Here is a little teaser of the work done so far. All shades of green at the moment to represent the fields. 

I have been searching my wardrobe for unwanted clothes, unwanted anything really. Yesterday I bought a ladies green top for �1 from the Age Uk Charity Shop. Jersey type T-shirt fabric is the best for this, it is the same colour both sides, and twists easily into cords without fraying. I'll let you into a secret, there is a pair of my pants in here ha ha, it's the greenest green field, in the middle. I have enough green fabric now, further up I shall be introducing more colours. Although the picture in the magazine is a winter scene, I think I may change it to a summer one, then I can add some flowers. Once I get the base cover done there will be a lot of embroidery and beads going on top. The size of the picture will be 18.5 inches by 24 inches, plus the frame. I have some pieces of wood which I was going to use on a previous picture, they will suit this one better. A long way to go yet.

I have had an email from someone who has connections with The Rectory at Clixby. Her great grandparents were employed there, and got married, in 1901. It's amazing what this internet throws up, you never know who is reading your blog.

Tomorrow is a family day, I hope there is no snow on the roads. Have a nice Sunday whatever you are doing. Toodle pip

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Crumbs !!!

Hello, it's a nice day and I have been out . I went out yesterday as well, to visit The Ropewalk Gallery in Barton on Humber. I haven't been for ages so decided to take a look at the exhibitions. I was lucky, there were two extremely talented artists on show, this one was very pleasing to the eye. This is my kind of art, the sort that makes me go 'wow',, innit fabulous. The pictures here are photographed from the leaflet I brought home, there is a bit of blurb about Clive Redshaw below. 

Here is a link to the Ropewalk web site. There are some more of his pictures on the Lincolnshire Open Studios  web site. I really enjoyed this exhibition. 

On a completely different note, I've been getting fed up of clearing away bread crumbs and other bits of chopped and grated food from my worktop. Some of it inevitably ends up on the floor as I try and wipe it up with a dishcloth, which then means I have to clean the floor as well. Grrrr, I hate housework. I've come up with an idea which I am trying out. I don't want to get a bigger chopping board, mine is a normal size one which can be a bit cumbersome to scrub down in the washing up bowl. I thought of an idea to extend the boundaries of the board by placing a tea towel underneath it, then all it needs is for the chopping board to be lifted on it's side, with the bits falling into the tea towel, which is then taken outside and shaken. I haven't got a nice tea towel, mine are all a bit worn, so I have used a pillow case. I will see how it goes, good idea eh!

What do you do with half a portion of chips left over from the day before. I just fancied some yesterday, it was a massive portion, enough for three people. Today I put the last of them in a bowl, topped it with half a tin of baked beans, and zapped it in the microwave. Ta da! a two minute Sunday lunch, no food wasted here. I will make something a bit more healthy for my main dinner in an hour or so.

I'm going to sign off now, I've got more stuff to talk about but I'll save it till tomorrow. Some questions to answer, and I've picked out a couple of ideas for blog posts from your comments. Thank you for joining in, and welcome to the new readers.
Toodle pip
PS. Still waiting for two addresses. Primroses Attic and Aussie Cheryl. You have each won a shopping bag, they are ready to go. Give me an address.

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Elvis is still alive

Hello. I've seen Elvis, not bad is he for saying he will be 80 next month. He has been reincarnated as a  security guard from Yorkshire. I went to the Arts Centre today to see 'The Kings of England' exhibition, a photographic collection of lookalikes, by Graeme Oxby. This Elvis who was appearing in the flesh is the subject of one of his photographs. 

Graeme Oxby is the man on the far right of this picture, he was talking to someone so I didn't like to interrupt.

Mr Oxby has a web site. He tracked down the impersonators at conventions and tribute concerts across the country. If you want to see a short video he made while doing this click here.   If you want to see some more of his work click here.  I have had a look through it, and to be honest, nothing grabs my attention. I see on the 7th of February they have an Elvis party, with live music and a bar, plus impersonators. That sounds like fun, don't know how much it will be, no mention of prices.

The battery in my watch packed up a couple of days ago, I was a bit lost without it. The first thing I do in the morning when I wake up is look at the time, it is always on my wrist. Even if I wake in the middle of the night I want to know what time it is, that's why I keep a wind up torch next to my pillow. I am constantly checking the time. I lost count of how many times I looked at my bare wrist, then remembered. I got a new battery put in today. It hasn't cost me much, I found the watch about 15 years ago and have only changed the battery three times. It's a Casio, a bloomin good watch.

My specs broke today, they are half rimmed and the cord snapped and one of the lenses fell out. I had to drive home with one eye closed. Luckily I have an old pair to wear to go to town. I went to Specsavers, where I bought them from, and five minutes later they were returned to me, repaired. While I was waiting I was chatting to a young sales assistant, and mentioned that my old specs had discoloured nose pads and didn't look very nice. He said, I'll change them for you, and off he went leaving me all blurry eyed. A few minutes later I got them back, they look a lot better, like new specs. The staff always seem very helpful when I go in there, so praise for Specsavers in Scunthorpe.

I did a bit of shopping while I was in town, just to stock up on pet food and a few essentials to tide me over the Christmas period. I think I have enough to last me until it's all over and the shops get back to normal. I haven't bought any different food, just more of what I usually buy, bananas, eggs, quiche, cheese, cucumber, mushrooms. I looked at some treats, chocolate, cake, and ended up with a packet of jaffa cakes. That will do me nicely. Not bothered about Christmassy stuff, I stood in Aldi looking at the festive food and thought, I wonder if I should get a trifle, or a box of mince pies, or some Frerro Rocher (is that how you spell it). And then I thought, why am I bothering to look at this, stop wasting time, just go home.
Toodle pip.

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Starting an art project

Hello. Can you guess what this is. It's an A4 plastic pocket, with an outline of a landscape picture of Sugar Loaf mountain, it's on the front cover of Country Walking magazine. I wanted to draw it on a sheet of greaseproof paper, but I couldn't see enough detail, so I copied it onto the plastic with a marker pen, then onto the greaseproof paper in pencil. The original picture is here. 

Then I transferred it to a piece of A4 paper, and marked out a grid of two inch squares.

I wanted it twice as big so I stuck two pieces of A3 paper together, and marked out a grid of four inch squares, and copied it across.

Now I need to transfer the design onto a piece of fabric, so I used a much bigger piece of greaseproof paper for that. I penciled it in on both sides so it would be the right way round. 

My piece of fabric is an offcut from the Scrapstore. It's a brown hessian, the type they use on the underside of three piece suits when they make them in the factory. It's got to be pretty tough because of all the stitching it's got to take.

So, my idea is to make lots of these cords and couch them onto the fabric to create the picture. Making the cords is simple, cut lengths of fabric about one inch wide, start twisting at one end and trap it under the foot of the machine. Then sew the length in zigzag stitch, twisting as you go. I don't know if this is going to work, but I fancy trying it. It could be a complete disaster, or it could be really exciting. I've got an itching to give it a go, if I don't try I'll never know. I'm going to use the original picture as a colour guide, it won't be exactly the same, but my interpretation of it.

Lunch today was another salad. Only had half the tub of potato salad this time, with two boiled eggs, and spinach, radishes, spring onions, and lots of beetroot. 

Tonight I made a big pan of lumpy soup with two packs of chopped onions, sprouts, potatoes, carrots, and spinach. It's loverly. Some for lunch tomorrow and some for the freezer.

Tomorrow I'm going to see Elvis, there may be several of him, at the Arts Centre. Should be fun. Over the next three weeks I'm going to be doing some house and dog sitting. My friend has gone on holiday and I shall be staying at hers. Not the whole time, but sharing it with another sitter. I will be posting on here, just the same. I will be commuting back and forth as it's only three miles away. Central heating and a big tele to watch will be a bonus. Hope I don't get too soft. :o)

Catch you tomorrow.

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Visit to the Festival of Christmas Trees

Hello. I've been to church today, the Old Brumby, United Church. It's not an old church like those I visit on my travels, it's a mere fifty years old, so quite a modern building in comparison. Every year the Rotary Club hold a Festival of Christmas Trees to raise money for Lindsey Lodge Hospice. Entry is free, a donation is appreciated, and refreshments are available.

I've seen it advertised before, but never been to it, so I thought this year I would. It was very busy and seems like a popular event. There are over eighty trees to view, all decorated by local businesses, schools, groups, clubs, charities, and the council. Some of them are stunningly fabulous, all of them are super. Here are a few of them. Enjoy.

This had to be my favourite, I love quirky. Driftwood picked up from the beach, cleaned and sanded smooth. Each branch has a hole drilled through the middle and is threaded onto an upright post, the longest piece at the bottom and the shortest on top. Amazing isn't it. 

And the band played Christmas Carols. There is other entertainment throughout the two weekends, choirs are booked to perform as well. 

A lot of the decorations are hand made. There are colourful Suffolk Puffs on this one.

Another quirky one, by the council recycling department. I'm not sure I like this one very much. The idea is good but I think they could have been a bit more imaginative with the construction.

 Small knitted socks covered this one. Cute.

Looks like all the children in the school made a fairy out of a clothes peg. Great idea to get them all involved.

I've got some more photo's but I'll save them for later. Hope you like them.
Toodle pip.

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Free sprouts

Hiya and hello. I've got five cute little cubes now. Someone (I'm hopeless with names), suggested they could be made into dice. What a good idea, yes they could. Might make some more, but I'll move onto something else now, got other stuff to do. Things to finish for the stall on Saturday. 

I went to town today. Took three bags of unwanted stuff to two charity shops. Most of it is what I got out of  a skip, which didn't sell on our cat stall on Saturday. 

 I went to get some cash from the machine inside the bank, and it ate my card. My fault, it went out of date on the 30th. I have a new card but hadn't swapped them over. Must get it activated tomorrow. I paid a visit to the Arts Centre to see what was new. A very colourful exhibition by Nick Sharratt, he illustrates childrens books. It was all very interesting, he has amazing talent. Sorry didn't take any pics. Here is a link to his very colouful web site.

My next port of call was the library, I chose some crafting and sewing books. Who should I meet outside with her bicycle was Joanne from the 1939 house. You may remember I wrote about her a while back, she lives down the hill from me. I keep bumping into her just lately. She was struggling to fasten her shopping onto her bike before the ride home. I offered to take her bags back in the car, but she was adamant that she lives the 1939 way, and this is what she does. She's a gutsy lady, it's five miles each way to town and back,. with a couple of hills to struggle up. I do admire her commitment to her chosen lifestyle.

Last place to call at was the pet stall in the market. They often have offers on short dated pet food. Just opposite is a fruit and veg stall and they were packing up for the day. My eagle eye spotted a couple of sprout sticks sticking out of a bag left out for collection, destined for the bin. Nowt wrong with them I thought so I asked for them. What a waste to chuck them, a bonus for me though.

Remember the story I told you about the green phone box full of wires being smashed up outside my friends house? She doesn't live there bye the way. As I walked by this morning I saw workmen had come to replace it. Knowing that my friend was not best pleased where they had put the previous one, overhanging the entrance to her drive, I dashed back home and got in my car and went to tell her that they were about to put the new box in exactly the same place. I gave her a lift so she could maybe get them to stop the job before it was too late. I sat in the car watching her remonstrate with them, her arms waving everywhere. I had to chuckle, she doesn't stand no messing. Didn't do any good though, they were only following orders. She has already had a lot of argybargy with Open Reach the telephone people. Looks like the saga of the box in the wrong place will go on and on, she won't give up until they move it two feet to the right, ha ha.

Anyway, I'm off to bed now, with my library books. Toodle pip

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