Felt making Workshops 2013

Schedule for 2013 is ready to roll!! Click on the tab above.

The MoJo returneth

Last year I discovered (the hard way) that felt doesn't sell in the summer - it's texturally wrong for the time of year. So for the last couple of months I've concentrated on making stock and teaching workshops. It's been fab - I've created and experimented, and had a lovely time.

On Sunday, however, as my first show of the season loomed, I had crawling butterflies in the stomach! You know - that feeling you have the day before going back to school after the summer holidays. (I'm speaking as an ex teacher here, not a pupil!) All day was spent searching for all those crucial table cloths, clips, and various display bits and bobs which I had blithely scattered around the house, the loft and the shed a few months before, intending to spend a day 'rationalising'. (Obviously I hadn't!) What did I used to take? Where was my hat stand??? oh and I'd better take some things to sell too!

Fitful sleep - what if people don't like my new designs? Have I packed my sewing stuff? Forgotten to print workshop list - do it while you eat breakfast.  You've got the picture.

I'm delighted to report that of course, everything went swimmingly, and I've had a great couple of days. I'd forgotten how much I enjoy craft shows, particularly at Wells next Sea. It's a really nice tight community of fellow makers. The buzz of talking about your work is wonderful, and I greatly appreciate all the positive feedback. And of course, nothing can beat the feeling of total strangers handing over hard cash for something that you've made!!

I said a fond farewell to a favourite hat today...

.. and to one of my new bags ..

Luckily I'd taken a photo of this one (the only one I had snapped!). My new design purses went down well, as well as new flower shapes. (Of which I have no photo's yet!)

Humming and buzzing, I came home last night after a fabulous meal with friends in Wells (thank you Cecilia and Baz) and restarted The Blog.

Tonight, after being inspired by a customer who makes lampwork beads, and after at least two years of procrastination, I have very nearly opened an ETSY SHOP!!!!!!!.

Just got to hit the 'Go on, you know you want to, press me and it will all be real' button.

(After I decide what to write in the really boring sections on terms and conditions etc)

WOOHOO!!!!!!!

The MoJo is BACK!!

Ha ha

Three Galleries added!! (See above tabs)

One of this season's felt lace numbers

Oh dear, oh dear

I am hanging my head in shame at my neglect of The Blog. (Equally guilty of neglecting any facebook updating, and website) . I've decided that this is probably the easiest to keep up to date .. so today's resolution is to DO IT regularly.

So, I've added workshop dates, events - and am going to try and add a gallery too.

(What are the chances of keeping this up? ... answers on a postcard please!!)

Felting Workshops are here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Workshops by Bridget!!

What a week!!

I'm supposed to be getting ready for the craft show at the Forum tomorrow and Sat, so obviously blogging is a suitable way to avoid packing the car and running round headlessly looking for pins etc. Have also completed other worthwhile task avoidance in the form of designing new labels, business cards etc. After meeting with printers last week, I was horrified how expensive these things are! So, I've spent the last hour guillotining A4 envelopes and playing with my printer (the Epson, not the man I met I hasten to add, in case you read this Pete!) I'm pleased with it - looks better printed on a brown envelope - very organic!

Anyway ... the exciting week. Met with the lovely Sheila of Burlingham Hall  thestudioburlinghamhall to talk about felt workshops. She has got the most fabulous studio - it will be perfect. We are aiming for a series of workshops, and have decided to set the ball rolling with a taster session on 21st July. How fab is that!!

Then I got home and my new woman had been delivered:

I think she needs some hair - anyone got a wig they don't want?!

Had a lovely weekend socialising - even watched the football.

Taught my sister how to felt - she made a FABULOUS scarf.

Nice picture of my cooker too - I was in a hurry OK?

Spent a couple of days faffing and felting, then opened my emails tonight to find an invitation to exhibit at a gallery in Corpusty in September - the theme is Mad Hats! Can't wait to get started.

What a week!!

Happy accidents

The felt and I reconnected this week after my distraction with vintage zip brooches. (Very sore fingers - for the first time in my life I had to use a thimble!)

No, I still haven't cracked funky boots - still mulling. Still haven't done anything with the stripey felt. Both gone into my thinking pot. But I have diverged into lattice! I seem to have a geometrical thing going on with the felt at the moment. My inner mathematician is surfacing!

I was happily laying out the fluff for a custom order for a lattice scarf. The prototype had worked beautifully; all I had to do was follow the rules.

Tut, tut. Too impatient. The water was too hot, I was too vigorous too early - and my subtle scarf turned into ..

... a string vest!!

 The air turned a funny colour as I mused vociferously. I scrumpled it up in disgust - then looked again. Aha -(to the point of today's post) - a happy accident. Texturally, it felt fabulous. It draped, it clung. I wrapped it around my neck - and ta ra!! It looked fabulous too!

So I made some more.

Must practice this photography malarkey. Not sure whether it's because my camera is so old, or me!! Should I be fomatting my pics to a standard size first - I did crop these to edit out the coffee cup sitting on the shelf!  Suspect that it's me. Struggled with moving pictures around on here until I discovered a more advanced editing section in settings. Why have a crappy version as the default? Hmmm??