Follow me as my journey continues ....

I have no more picture space on this blog. So I have created another blog called Sew Susan Continued. It will appear in my list of blogs I am following. Thank you for all your words of kindness and encouragement. This I hope is only temporary till I can figure out the stupid Picassa problem. in the meantime hugs to you all xxxx

Very sad

I am really sad I have had to delete lots of old post in order to free up some space on stupid picassa album to continue to upload new images and keep blogging. :( If anyone knows how to unistall picassa album please advise as I can not find it in any of my programmes. Thanks

Its all about colour....

This is the mini work shop I did at the knitting and stitching show.

This is my version when I got home.

Lovely flower cut from a piece of fabric my lovely friend Janet gave me.

Image of one of the flowers from the fabric I have painted using water colours.

The flower images are part of the new brief which is all about colour.  My mood board for this brief consists of lovely pinks and greens, now I have to find as many ways as possible to produce study colours of my chosen colour palete. Hence the image above.  I have just had a pop up saying I have used all my free picture downloads oh dear I do hope this is not the end of my little blog. :(

Knitting and Stitch show Harrogate

TAG (textile art Group) A group of textile artist that live in Kriklees and Calderdale Area.

Didn't get the name of this artist but I loved the work all collaged images.

Sue Walton

Sue Walton

Sue Walton

Sue Walton

This knitted dress was made by a graduate but sadly I did not write her name down sorry.

Pat Osbourne

These are just a few pictures from the photo's I took at the show. This was my first time at the show and wow I had a fabulous day and hopefully will be able to return next year.  As with all the shows there was some amazing pieces of work, espescially in the graduate show but sadly, yet understandably, you could not take photos.  I met Alice Kettle and let me just say, I do not think she will forget me in a hurry. I dropped by Janice Gunner's stall and said hello and I nearly bumped into Ann Gosling literally as she had her head burried in the catalogue. I fell in love with textile artist Sue Waltons work. Her exhibition was amazing see the image of the fork dolls and the little dolls made from actual chicken bones honestly unbelievable. I did mange to have a chat with Sue but only briefly as her exhibiton was extremely busy. That is how I found out what the bones where. I also did the most adorable mini workshop but I will save that for another post. Hope you all enjoy the pics I've chosen to share.

Its all about colour..

The new brief for creative thinking is all about colour. I had to pick an image with colours that I like as I am going to be working with the colour pallet I chose for the next four weeks. Last night I tipped out the concertina file where I keep lots of images I have collected from various sources since starting Uni in September. I was spoilt for choice in picking my image, the hard part was the next step in the brief. Once you have chosen an image find other images that are the same colour scheme or tonal range and make a mood board. This was tough because I did not have enough images to chose from. Every time I picked an image I would always fall short by about three or four other images in the colour scheme. I decided I had to turn to my collection of quilt magazines until I can pick up the much needed other magazines from my wonderful friend Janet. Hours later and I think I have manged to  create two completed mood boards in my chosen colours. Hooray! I am delighted to say the least.  Oh and one has a beautiful image of a lovely duck egg blues and pale greys quilt.

Time stealers...

I could sit for hours and hours watching utube tutorials on how to make tags, collage, mini albums etc.. the list is endless. I ooh and arr at the amazing things that people make and I think to myself ooh I'd love to have a go at that. A few months ago I decided I was going to have a go at a mini album. I went on eBay and bought a chip board mini album, all I had to do was decorate it. Like most things in my sewing room, it has sat there patiently awaiting my attention. After a very stressful day last Saturday, trying to write the essay for Uni, I got out the mini album and the big box of junk. Armed with some glue and my junk box that contains all kinds of ephemera, I set about decorating the mini album. Hours later and a very messy desk top, I had covered nine pages of the album. Today I did two more pages but one is just all collage. I only have the backs of these two pages to decorate and my album is finished. It is an abomination of sorts as nothing matches, there is no theme running through it, the truth is it is a far cry from the wonderful ones demonstrated on utube.  However I do not mind in the least as I have finally got making a mini album out of my system and it feels rather good. Will I be making another one? Err NO! I think not..

A squash book...

I spent hours yesterday trying to write an essay on how Wedgwood changed manufacturing in the 18th century. I have found the research bit very interesting but I am not very good at writing essays and it causes me a great deal of stress. Today I felt the need to distress and have a craft moment.  I decided to make a Squashy after seeing Sue Sercombe's work last week. Her Squashy was amazing all made with embroidered samples absolutely stunning. I began by watching a few Utube videos on how to construct the squashy, then I gathered what I had to hand and here is what I came up with. It was quick and fun to make and I have been inspired to make more but this time I will be adding pockets and maybe even a Christmas on for a friend. For those who have asked for the UTube I watched here it is: Sorry could work out how to do a link.:)

Making a Squash Book with LytleScrapper

Its all about me....

My Effigy Doll.

A couple of pages from my sketchbook showing ideas for constructing my effigy.

I thought I would share my first completed project for Uni. The brief was to make an effigy of yourself and it was a little scary because I had to stop and think about what I felt makes me who I am.  After lots of mind mapping, chatting to friends and family I came up with my doll. Obviously she is not a true likeness she is merely a representation of the things that I love and are important in my life. My family, my friends, my love of all things crafty, my high heal shoes and my art. Unfortunately I did not take a picture of her rucksack which contains a miniature paint box, a tiny sketchbook, pencils and the tiniest camera and real of film you have ever seen, which my wonderful daughter bought as a surprise, especially for my effigies bag.  My next project is MOLA!

All work and no play.....

That's what life feels like at the moment because if I am not cleaning or washing or doing homework, I am travelling to and from Uni.  However, yesterday I took time out and I went to the Merseyside Area day. The speaker was an amazing Textile Artist named Sue Sercombe and her work was lovely, right up my street. I had a fantastic day with my very good friends and thoroughly enjoyed the workshop in the afternoon. As always the day was filled with lots of laughter and good company but alas no cakes.  Here are the results of a great day:

I completed my little Christmas tree on a felted background in the work shop when I got home I glued it to the card and added the NOEL stamp.

I made a poppy broach when I got home using the work shop technique.

I made this little card using the left over bits from the workshop kit. I changed the beads to gold instead of red but I think the red beads work better.

Lake Windermere...

Yesterday I visited Lake Windermere with my lovely sister. We had a fabulous day and oh boy, the weather was truly on our side, glorious sunshine, not a single drop of rain to be had. I have not been to Windermere before and I really enjoyed it, such a beautiful picturesque place. We sat by the lake and had cinder toffee and chocolate ice cream which was scrummy yummy. On our way home we went via Blackpool to see the illuminations and stopped of for fish and chips.  I was positively shattered when I got home but I loved every single minute of our day out.

Regional day...

I had a great day yesterday at the regional day. Two very interesting speakers Lisa Walton and Isabel Dibden-Wright. As always I took my camera but it didn't even make it out the bag, so sorry no pics. I love regional and area days they are good for meeting like minded people and yesterday was no exception. I met a lovely lady named Pat who did her degree in social care at Uclan. I also met the new rep for Lancashire, Liz. We had apparently met before on Ferrets work shop but shamefully I did not remember her but then again I don't remember anybody else on that work shop. I wore my new shoes, very high red wedges and they where much admired. I took my Summer Harmony quilt as did my delightful friend Gwen, for show and tell. I was thrilled that we got some oooo's and arr's from the audience. Fun, laughter and good company was the order of the day I enjoyed every minute.

Always looking....

Since going to college last year I am constantly looking at the world around me for inspiration and ideas. However, I am very camera shy and often feel uncomfortable just whipping out my little camera and taking pictures.  Yesterday I decided to overcome my embarrassment and take photographs of anything that sparked my interest. Seeing as I have not blogged for a while I thought I would share just a few of the photos that I took.

Of all the things.....

I am rubbish at embroidery and needle turn appliqué and what was our first assignment? A small sample of embroidery stitches and a piece of needle turn appliqué.  To be fair you only had to do a running stitch, a back stitch and a satin stitch. However, if anyone felt confident to do other stitches from the sheet provided then you could. For the needle turn appliqué you only had to do a circle or a square. Does anyone think I've been a bit of a show off by doing a jac'o'bean flower??? (That is a rhetorical question so don't answer that lol). It took me all day Sunday to complete my flower but I think its fairly expectable, however, it is far from perfect and anyone who is an expert at needle turn appliqué would surely laugh at my attempt at this incredibly skilful technique. I have to say I was quite shocked at such a request from the teacher and the five minute demonstration at the technique to a group of novice sewers (no disrespect to the group of lovely girls). I myself find this technique difficult and I have attempted needle turn appliqué several times including a very intense work shop with Barbara Chainey no less! and I am rubbish at it. The thing is I could not bring myself to do just a little circle or a square, it seemed so pointless, so out came the Jac'o'bean book and this was the end result.

First projects for UIni.....

Choose a natural unusual object. i:e fruit, shell stone leaf etc.... I chose a pomegranate..

Make representations of your object by drawing, painting, printing  etc....

Be realistic and impressionistic with you drawings of your object.

The last two weeks have been really busy but I am enjoying every minute. I realised I have not blogged for a little while but in truth I have not had anything to blog about. (sorry) I thought I would give you all a glimpse of what I have been doing this week and a peek into my very first sketch book for Uni. I feel I have exhausted drawing, painting, printing and photographing the pomegranate so today I am hoping to stitch one on my lovely Bernie.  This project is for creative thinking and besides the sketch book I have had to collect hundreds of images from magazines, books and take photos of everything and anything to be able to create mood boards.  Mood boards are new to me but I will save showing you my first one for another posting.

Its a start.....

It has been a real busy week and time has just flew by. I was getting my bag ready for Uni tomorrow and decided to take time out and decorate the cover of sketch book number one. A few days ago I bought a pair of pumps from Primark and the brown paper bag that they came in has been lying on the floor in my sewing room.  When I decided to decorate the front of my sketch book this morning I picked up the brown paper and bag and decided it needed to be ripped into strips and it became the basis for my collage. I added masking tape, again roughly torn into strips, a bit of coloured paper and began to randomly stick the pieces to the front of the sketch book. Nothing was planned and I used whatever was to hand. I even had some little left over threads on my desk from the current stitch along I am doing with Homespun Magazine. I added some stamped images and the text Imagine, Wonder and Dream is a lovely strip of cloth. I am really pleased with the end result as I am not very confident when it comes to collage. I hope I will make the inside just as interesting as the front cover and it invites people to want to take a peek inside.

Unexpected gift.....

I have started Uni and it has been a very busy week. Last night I went to Liverbirds and was greeted with a beautifully wrapped gift and card on the table where I sit.  It was from my very generous, wonderful friend Sue. Inside was a big square Oink sketch book (my favourite type of sketch book) and a lovely lilac A5 (very posh) sketch book, to start me off on my journey in Uni. I was so overwhelmed, I think I hugged her and her son Josh to death. On the bus home I took out my new sketchbook and stroked them loving, enjoying the anticipation of knowing they will both soon be filled with doodles, scribbles and wonderful images of things that inspire me to be creative. Sue thank you for your wonderful and very thoughtful gift. I am truly blessed to have such amazing friends in my life. XX 

Get ahead wear a hat........

When I got my welcome pack from Uclan there was a brief in it for a summer project titled 'Know Thyself. The project was to create a sketch book and develop it to make a hat,which reflected your self. Well silly me, I thought this was probably for the fashion students and therefore did not bother to do the project. Then two days ago I discovered that I was wrong and I had to do the summer project. This was because you need to bring your sketch book and hat to the introduction day, it is an ice breaker to introducing yourself to the other students. OOOPs PANIC!!! because I start Uni next week. Yesterday I went to town bought a sketch book and  I have tried to do what was asked as best I could in such a short time.  After lots of stressful moments this is my  hat. I decided to make a top hat because I can be as mad as the mad hatter in Alice and Wonderland and he wears a top hat. I collaged it with things that I think make me who I am. Family, sewing, cup cakes, cats, paints, quilts etc.. you get the drift. I just need it to dry and I can glue it to a head band that will keep it on my head, hopefully. Phew!! note to self: "don't leave things till the last minute".

Disappointment leads to Embarrassment.....

Well what a week it has been. Wednesday to Friday I was on a course at Uni called Flying Start and it was very enjoyable. I am looking forward to starting Uni even more now, if that's at all possible? Then yesterday I went to Harrogate with three of my amazing friends, Janet, Sue and Emma and we had a lovely day. Sadly my Age of Aquarius did not win any rosettes but I didn't really think it stood a chance there where some big names in the large wall hanging category and just on sixty quilts entered. I was more disappointed  about the place it had been hung and boy it hung terribly. It looked awful and was tucked away in a confined space and that saddened me more than not winning. I was so proud of it beforehand, telling all who'd listen I had entered it in Harrogate and I was so ashamed when I saw it because it really did look terrible. However, I am not throwing in the towel, its back to the drawing board and start thinking about an entry for next year. It was that bad I didn't even take a picture. :(

So far so good....

This is how far I got with the little art wall hanging yesterday and I am really pleased with the progress so far. I have even began to quilt parts of it.  I still need lots of practise at free motion quilting my stitches are very hit and miss.