Take a Deep Breath and...

Relax!

Well, that was a challenge! At 3pm yesterday I walked the MU banner to the altar for a rededication blessing to begin the 80th anniversary of my branch of the Mothers' Union. It had been quite a fortnight and I hope I have done a good job. The leather work now sparkles instead of crumbling to pieces. To try to stop this happening again - age not withstanding - I now have to create a travelling bag similar to a suit bag, as previously it was rolled and put in a bag with the poles.

So here are photos of some of the restoration stages...

The back of the banner

The Front of the banner,

striped of the leather work

and Madonna and Child

While removing the old lettering I discovered that the Ladies who had made it had glued down the leather before stitching around it, this caused some colouration of the fabric which fortunately would be covered up by the new lettering!

Crouching down the thread

around the letter

A photograph of the two Ladies

who orginally made the banner

More leather work on the Front

Lettering complete!

The Madonna and Child

I have often looked at this and thought how clever

and talented the Ladies who made this banner were...

So it was with a bit of disappointment I found it had been made elsewhere and had cost £32 (1975 prices)

I have placed this information on the back of the Madonna so when it is next restored - 33 years later - the information will be found!

The Completed Banner

I hope I look less formidable than the original photograph of the two Ladies!

The Service

Six other branches from our Diocese joined us and brought their own banners

So that was what I have been up to while I have been blogquiet.

Now I must get on with the Coursework!

So why the break in blogging?

Yes, I know I have posted alot this evening, but I haven't been blogging for a while. Reason is I have a deadline of the shortest time. I am repairing the Mothers' Union banner ready for the 80th anniversary a week today! It is in pieces at the moment and the top fabric at the drycleaners. I am currently removing the old leather letters and replacing with new silver kid.

Here is the new letter L inplace for crouching down

Look at the "F" to see how worn the leather has got. It is crumbling as I remove it. Amazingly the Ladies who made the banner atleast 40 years ago glued down the leather before sewing which is adding to the work as I need to remove the glue spots before replacing the letters.

So this is the final post tonight as I need to get atleast two more letters done before bedtime!

Workshop 2

Today I was lucky to have a place on my quilting groups' workshop making a Double Wedding Ring quilt with Dawn Cameron-Dick. I and another member were the class swots by having aleast 9 rings either pinned or baste glued down ready for invisible machine appliquing. The method of making the rings was very theraputic and once you had a rhythm I found I got through the fabric squares quite quickly.

Dawn was a good teacher and moved around the group all day - helping members out with machine problems and advising with choices of colours. The photo abouve shows Dawn explaing how to place the rings using my colourway.

This photo shows the rings all plaited together. I really am amazed by how the fabrics go together although I'm not convinced about the background. I was having an economy drive and was not prepared to go and spend a huge amount of money on a technique I was unsure I would like. So I raided the stash! Well, I do like the technique and may make a "proper" quilt next time. This top needs sewing down and quilting - off to the WIPS pile it goes!!!!!

Another book to water!

Whilst at Sandown I was given a catalogue - very thick! - to carry around. I was about to decline the offer but thought no I shall suffer for my art! Once home I set to with knife and shredded said catelogue - after reading to see if it was of use in it's present useage (no) - placed in a bucket of water as we have not had much rain recently and it is now on the patio.

The Argos book is still under the Quince bush and will probably get a watering tomorrow as there as been no rain since the last time I watered it!

I am looking forward to going to Ally Pally so I can see Maggie Grey and show her the photos of the books in the garden - I doubt that I shall be the only one!!!

Workshop 1

Yesterday I went to Sandown Racecourse for the Stitch and Craft Show. I have been attending this show for some years now, my friend makes cards and like to go to this one as there are alot of stockists she uses. I usually go for the day out and end up purchasing fabulous beads and ribbons and maybe some fabric from the few patchwork stalls, oh and maybe a gadget I haven't got that after a demonstration I know I must have! So I was disappointed to find that this year only the ground floor was in use. In the past all three floors have been utilised. My friend noticed some of her sduppliers hadn't turned up this year. "Has the bubble burst on crafting?" she asked "Or is this the result of the credit crunch?" We usually arrive by 10am and leave reluctantly at 2.45pm to collect our school children. Yesterday we were done by 12.15. After lunch my friend wished to look over a few more stalls so I kicked my heels until hearing there were places still available on the Lucet Workshop - something else that wouldn't usually happen! So I had a fun hour mastering the Lucet, I had bought a Lucet two years previously in readiness for the braiding section of Module 3 but found it hard.

Now I can Lucet away til my hearst content! All thanks to Ziggy. All of you who visit Ally Pally in October will proably know who I mean, he is usually in the knitting area where the fashion shows take place, tuck around the edges with the Guilds and Societies - he is usually with the Braid Society, or is that Guild?

Argos Mystery Continued...

I have just been out to water the book!!!!!!

Argos Mystery - or any other well known catalogue will do!

I like a challenge and all the better when Nature is going to be involved.

So when Maggie Grey threw down the challenge to slash a thick catalogue and leave it outside in the garden to see what happens, and asks us to come back later to see what we can do with it, is too intriguing to miss.

I came to this idea through Lynda Monk who has placed her book in the middle of the lawn. I have put mine under the Quince shrub near my shed in hope that the snails and slugs that are around at the moment will do their bit!

I have warned DH that the Argos book has not "blown in" from an untidy neighbour's garden, but has been placed with due care for textile purposes! I'm wondering what Maggie has got us all involved in, but having had her as a tutor at the Distant Stitch Summer School last year one thing I know it will be fun and creative!

I am now not allowed to bring it in until Maggie says so, so watch this space for updates!

Happy New Year!

Since the last blog we have been winding up the holiday with our final holiday trip - Legoland, frantically packing bags ready for school - for once I was organised and labled all the new uniform items before the Lake District trip - and yesterday Son began his journey into Secondary education.

Monday begins the New School Year and the frantic ride to Christmas begins! I hate to bring up the "C" word at this time, but my friend and I were discussing how from Monday everything we are part of kicks off big time and we can see no respite until January! So is the life of a woman who nods and volunteers too much.

I have another exciting Saturday - isn't it just the case, quiet Saturdays on the socialising front and then three come along at the same time! Civil ceremony last week, Evening dinner dance tonight (Black and White coloured clothes only! Thank goodness for Daughter who found me a dress which is both black & white, long, big bird size(!) and a very reasonable price, whilst shopping yesterday!) and then next week-end a journey "up t' North" to celebrate Aunt & Uncle's 40th wedding anniversary.

I have to be so organised in the next few weeks it's no joke as I have the Church's MU banner to renovate for it's 80th anniversary in time for Sunday 28th Sept., plus course work begins in earnest from Monday - keep abreast of what I am doing by visiting the Module Four blog. I will post on this blog when things begin to be posted - My Parent and Toddler group begins it's new term on Wednesday and Taxi Mum will no doubt be doing her hat and grabbing the car keys to deliver and collect the Darlings from their afterschool clubs, music lessons and all the other social things pre-teens and teenagers do.

So I am wishing all you Parents and Teachers out there in blogland a Happy New School Year!

Roll on January!!!!!

The Aroma of Autumn

I hate to wish the year away, but I have finally reached my favourite month.

Why?

Because there's a certain kind of aroma I only seem to smell during September, particularly on Sundays! As there are only four Sundays in September it's a long time to wait for such a short period of time. All this goes back to my childhood and walks after Sunday lunch. Our village was close to the Pennine moors and the walks were wonderful. On "the tops" we would look down on the old industrial North West as we picked wimberries and wandered through the heather.

Now in the South East I miss the moors, but the Queen has kindly allowed the lowly likes of me the chance to wander her parks so for the next four Sundays I shall be off to the Windsor Great Park, I only wish I had a bottling plant to capture the air to see me through the rest of the year!

Wear It, Share it and have People Stare!

So I made the hat and it received glowing reports from my fellow students and Sian - my tutor, yet I still felt I needed some feed back from the general public.

My friend Phil invited me to his Civil Ceremony and if this wasn't the occassion to wear something unusual when would it?

I bought the dress to match the hat!

I am deep down a very shy person and can be racked with doubts about how good my work is and how confident I can be. I usually stand behind my 6ft 4" DH when out together in situations I am unsure about. So when Phil's invitation arrived I knew I had to grab the bull by the horns, and as DH was staying at home with Son, be brave and don the hat!

I must admit I nearly turned round and jumped back in the car, but DH said some supporting words and off I went head held high!

I had a lovely time, I only knew a handful of people, but the hat broke the ice and I chatted the day away. I even had requests for business cards!

Watch out Mr Treachy you may have competition!!!