Stitch with the Embroiderers' Guild

I've just received the latest issue of Stitch with the Embroiderers' Guild, and as usual it is packed with brilliant projects and information. From stumpwork sheep, applique using DIY objects, crazy patchwork, plastics. goldwork and even cup cakes, this is a jam-packed issue.

Denise

Christmas at Barleylands

4pm on Friday 20th November is the start of Christmas at Barleylands Craft Village. Father Christmas will be arriving, and our Christmas lights will be switched on by a very special guest. There will be live music and local school choirs will perform. Join us for a glass of mulled wine and mince pies until 8pm to enjoy the atmosphere and start (or finish) your Christmas shopping.

If you can't make Friday, the festivities will continue over the weekend from 10am to 4pm and the Craft Village will be open until 8pm every Thursday from 26th November up to Christmas and on Wednesday 23rd December.

With live demonstrations on Friday, Saturday morning and Sunday, why not drop in and see what is going on?

Hope to see you then,

Denise

Latest Stock News

I've just got in some feathers - peacock, marabo and pheasant.

Also in:

• Shisha Mirrors. They are in packs of six and are 1 cm wide. Quite small, but a start. I may be able to get some larger ones in the new year.
• Small Brass Bells - as featured in this months issue of Stitch with the Embroiderers' Guild

More stock expected soon, so keep popping back!

Denise

Spooky Night

I wanted to be at the Barleylands Spooky Night last night, but unfortunately, the studio was taken over by a mad witch who I understand spent the whole night cackling and scaring both the children and adults who attended. My apologies for this, and I can assure you that normal service has been restored.

Denise

New Things

I've found some little brass charms with a stitching theme. As you can see, there is a thimble, safety pin, sewing machine, scissors and a reel of thread in each pack.

I've now received my d4daisy delivery and now have all the books in the series. These are:

• Exploring Colour with Julia Caprara
• Textile Translations: Mixed Media by Maggie Grey
• Embellish & Stitch by Maggie Grey and Vall Campbell-Harding
• Stitches, Straps & Layers by Maggie Grey
• Stitching the Textured Surface by Lynda Monk and Carol McFee
• Contrasting Elements by Jae Maries

All great books. If you've not seen them, do come in and take a look. The books are taking over more of the shop, but you can never have enough books.

I've also got Silk Paper by Sarah Lawrence and The Art of Stitching on Metal back in stock. I know some of you have been waiting for these.

Also in:

• 100% cotton fabric
• felt that melts (I hope!)
• Fabric Master heat tools for melting the felt (and other fabric)
• A special publication from Quilting Arts called International Quilt Festival: Quilt Scene. This has projects and articles mainly about quilting, but as usual with these magazines, the techniques can be used for all types of media. I particularly like the fabric fortune cookies!

Denise

ArtsyCrafty

This is what I made at the Artsy Crafty weekend. I'm quite pleased with the results.

The clock was the most challenging; we painted and stamped and painted some more, and used metal embossing techniques to embellish all the pieces. I used some techniques I'd not tried before, and some of these will be creeping into my workshops over the next few months.

If you get the chance to attend one of Linda and Leandra's workshops, do go. It was well organised and we had just the right amount of time to complete projects. It was a brilliant weekend.

Denise

Weekend Off (or not!)

I'm spending the weekend in Newport Pagnell at the ArtsyCrafty workshop run by Linda of LB Crafts and Leandra of PaperArtsy.

We are having a great time playing with paints and sprays and stamps and clocks (yes, clocks), and have already achieved a great deal. I'll post photos when I get back, but in the meantime take a look at Linda's blog for a sneak preview.

Denise