This is the postcard I completed for my Project Spectrum partner Jane for the green month of May. I used the same techniques as last months - I think I am building a series....
This proverb was chosen to remind myself that its okay to start with something small - then the large project will follow.
I have finished my panel - which in this case is an memory album cover. Its done but I am not completely satisfied by it. It looks a little unpolished and homely for my taste. I think I could have benefited from doing a little bit more sampling. I restricted myself to only hand dyed fabrics as well, which I tended to rip up - which left things rather rough. Sometimes this was good but this also meant I used torn strips of fabric instead of ribbon for the ribbon embroidery which is usually a lot more refined with the traditional ribbon.
The shapes and drawing were fairly childlike (my current unpracticed standard). M pointed out that for this project it was entirely appropriate because the project is about my childhood memory and the child in me. One benefit of this is that I needed to get back to the drawing of my childhood - the time before I became self concious of drawing and "judging" my efforts to be not "good enough". From that basis I can go on and develop my abilities - the only way I will ever improve. "Mighty Oaks from little acorns grow" - more on which later this week.
The costs for this particular project were kept lower due to me reusing a lot of fabric scraps. Also the background linen I used were discounted linen napkins from Habitat. The time taken for this project was reduced considerably. I was also more proactive about getting it done. Although there is still room for improvement I have managed to scale down my time and costs something I highlighted after completing my wallhanging. So in a way this has been successful.
The back of the book has this teapot - I used the iris motif as a corny reference to my Grandmother. She liked many flowers - however she was not overly fond of irises due to the name link and she was given rather a lot. I followed the shape from a teapot I saw in the V&A.
Grandma was no northerner (she was a Hampshire Lass) but that didn't stop her from cooking the best Yorkshire puddings or Eccles cakes. When I had the job of clearing her freezer after she passed away there was a batch of these uncooked and frozen in a plastic bag. M got in trouble because he baked and ate the last one! Oooo - just realised that I have done exactly the same and there are a couple in my freezer at home. Now wishing this was tea time rather than lunch time at work!
tip: Puff pastry - buy it.
Spent a lovely weekend in Wales with M and a group of friends. On the way back I managed to persuade M to make a little diversion to the Mill shop of Colinette. This was not as expensive a trip as some people would think. As I know I have no time for knitting I just filled a bag with a selection of lovely odds and ends from their Creative Threads selection (a huge cardboard box of small hanks), thus staying under the budget set me by Mr P (not that I had actually taken any notice!). As you can see I got a nice colour selection. I was very tempted by one of their canvaswork cushion kits (but I know I don't have time for that at the moment) despite my legendary aversion to anything involving canvas and counting.
Note: Apologies to all knitters whose feelings and sensibilities have been harmed in the writing of this blog - yes I was in the Colinette shop surrounded by loads of their lovely yarns. Yes, some were even discounted to £4 a hank. You may see this as sacreligious - but restraint was necessary.
M went off mountain biking, followed by white water rafting (can I have some photos please Mr P?). I, for various reasons, didn't fancy exerting myself quite that much so stayed behind.
the worm slide
Went for a lovely walk with M, C, S & X. Forgot my camera so don't have any fantastic photos of the views (although will be having a chat with X who did have a good camera). I did, however, have my trusty mobile phone with its camera (which is OK for a phone camera) so I have few nature snaps which I might look at further for my design work for my next piece for City and Guilds - the accessory. I am thinking of a scarf and returning to my first love - Silk Painting.
In Wales for the weekend. Just finished a meal of pasta bake. I cooked chicken tetrazzini, for the carnivores & Pasta al forno con pomodori e mozzarella for the vegetarians. We followed with Gin & Phil's better-than-Eton mess for pudding. Now sitting round table with mates, talking the night away.
