Hens Teeth at Hope and Elvis – 2013

Last year I was a very lucky girl and managed to get a place on the Hens Teeth workshop at Hope and Elvis. The idea was to make a sewing or needle case, but as always, I tend not to follow rules and ended up creating something else!

I started off with scraps from an old blanket then added vintage red bias binding and vintage calico from my Arnold’s Attic stash. The wonderful Viv from Hens Teeth gave each of us a screen print for us to embroider the date onto, plus and a selection of screen printed figures to choose from too – I chose her iconic running hen. The whole thing was finished off with flurries of embroidery, inspired by Viv,  and some vintage linen buttons from the stash from Arnold’s Attic.
Here is my finished piece…..I hope you like it .
Thank you to Viv for sharing your work with us and to Louise for sharing your relaxing Studio at Hope and Elvis.

The front cover – complete with vintage linen buttons
Viv was a sweetie and signed my work

 

 

The back cover

The Knitting and Stitching Show 2014, Alexandra Palace, London – Part 2 – The Exhibitions

I go to the the Knitting and Stitching Show for three main reasons – the workshops, the exhibitions and the shopping.
The exhibitions are the greatest eclectic mix of artists in the field of textiles, and I never really know what to expect until I walk into their exhibition space. Some artists showcase their previous collections, whilst some create a whole new collection of work specifically for the Knitting and Stitching Shows.
Here is a selection of some of the wonderful work that was on display…. if you get a chance, visit  The Knitting and Stitching Show in Harrogate later in the year to see some of these exhibitions.

by Sue Walton
by Ann Small
by Jackie Langfeld of Prism

 

by Jean Bennett
by Renate Keeping

 

by Jo Beattie

 

by Caren Garfen
by Marjolein Dallinga of The Black Sheep

 

The Knitting and Stitching Show 2014, Alexandra Palace, London – Part 1 – The atmosphere of the show

What a totally decadent, long weekend – I managed to go to the Knitting & Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace  for three days this year.  Workshops, exhibitions and shopping…… how indulgent!
The show was full of traders from all over the UK and beyond – I arrived with my shopping list in hand and filled my bags with some lovely goodies….. Every year I tell myself I don’t need to buy anything, and yet every year I am astounded at what I do find to buy.
This year, my mind has been filled with embroidery, threads and surface design (especially following my recent visit to The Ashmolean Museum)  – so I was drawn to the Goldwork stalls of Benton & Johnson (who hold the Royal Warrant) and The Golden Hind. I had several workshops, ranging from Paper Lamination, Gelli Printing to Hand Embroidery with the very talented James Hunting  – What a fabulous chap!
Here are some photos from the show – more posts to follow…

Catherina Von Isenburg and her work ‘This Curious World’… she has an Etsy Shop too….
Caroline Bell and her Eco Printed pieces
Lots of shopping, lots of visitors….never enough space !
Demonstration of Tapestry Weaving by Carolyn Perry of the British Tapestry Group
By Helen Sill
By Gina Ferrari
By Ann Wheeler

A pair of these ‘Sheffield made’ Wright & Sons Scissors came home with me…. love them !

Work by Jean Bennett
The Sailors’ Society have a Wooly Hat Competition
The large stained glass window at Alexandra Palace
Happy Shoppers at the end of the day
The view of the City of London from Alexandra Palace