Flowers and Crochet

Dear all,
I have a few minutes, so I'm going to post some of the things I havent been able to post for the last month, because of the marking situation.Firstly I can tell you all about my Secret Pal 10 person that I spoiled.I spoiled Helen, who lives in Australia.

I've really enjoyed spoiling her, she' s a very talented knitter, who likes jewel colours and turkish delight amongst other things.

For one of her packages I did her a crocheted freeform bracelet which I could'nt tell you about because it would have given the whole thing away. So I have a few pickies.

I really must make some more of these.
Then I have some lovely flower pickies. I was given these by my good friend Amanda, whose boy, Cameron, I looked after whilst she gave birth to her lovely baby Lauren. I've not posted these sooner because I was going to post a picky of Lauren but haven't got around to taking one yet and Lauren is three weeks old!
Very kind of her. off to cord wind with the embroiderers guild tonight
al x

Almost done

Dear all,
Did I mention hubby was marking this month?
He marks AS level exam papers.
So for the month of June he locks himself away.
He's almost done!
But this year I think he's taken it a bit too far.
I think Emi has passed her AS in grubbiness with flying colours.
al x

hiding talents under very big piles of fabric!!

Dear all ( and aunty het in argentina, or wherever you are now)
It's been a busy old week, on tuesday I went with mac's niece and MIL to the loughborough university school of art and designs' degree show and looked at woven, printed and mixed media textiles, and some jewellry, ceramics and furniture. very impressive, but did I feel old, they were soooo young. Emi would have fitted right in.
Yesterday was the fab day My sis and I went to see mums City and Guild exhibitionat tresham college in kettering. She has just finish a city n guilds in embroidery and is going to start a diploma in September!!!!
Now I am slightly biased but I thought it was one of the best there and really gave the diploma exhibtions a run for their money.
But see for yourself how talented she is, these pickies are also for the benefit of little sis who is off travelling again and will return to the uk in August.

First there was mums Doll
her book
and her whole exhibition
and the finally was this piece which is amazing.
and a pink bombshell came with us!
did I mention that mum was on the front cover of the kettering herald and post with her exhibition aswell ( mum was not amused, teehee)
gonna try and get a copy tomorrow!
very proud
what do you think aunty het?

al x

A little crochet fun

dear all,
I really want to do some crochet....
too tired tonight to concentrate so I surfed instead.
So in terms of crochet what would I like to do
I really want to do some socks.... I think I should start small though ( maybe booties....)
Hmm maybe not.
there is this pattern on the crochetme website
I've also just downloaded some pattern pdfs from the fabulous Prudence Mapstone
I now have the
tip, the bullions and beyond and the fab fringes ( go to patterns)
I'm trying to track down her freeform book in the uk....watch this space
I also have some yummy yarn that is still sitting in the bag just crying out to be crocheted.
Mean while I may just go to bed, and try again tomorrow.
here are two pickies I just had to share
dodos a la crochet!!

and star wars the crochet version

fab!
feel inspired?
al x

A ply-split success

Dear all,
So... my life may return to some semblence of order now.... (may be in denial)
I have taught my plysplit braiding workshop.
I think it went very well.
It's only now i realise I failed to take photos of the final samples and the ladies actually plysplitting.
They all produced three samples and seemed to enjoy it.
I did take a few photos
this was just some of my samples to show what could be done and these are the hundreds of cords that I had to prep before I could teach it. recognise the colours from, the previous post?
al x

did you miss me?

Dear all, I am touched that you noticed that I'd not posted for a bit.
I had a bit of bloggers block.
and I've been busy busy!
I'm running a plysplit braiding course on saturday for the leicester weavers spinners and dyers, so i've been busy gettting things sorted for that.
I'll post more photos later but here are a few to tie you over.
First family ( well Emi)
Emi learnt some valuable skills this week, First she learnt how to use a mouse and can now quite happily navigate her way around the Cbeebies web site, could some one reminder her she's only 2 and a bit. and she also taught herself to use a cord winder, she'd seen mummy do it lots this week so she had a go.
I've also dyed lots of yummy Linen for the course.
more later when I've photographed it.
al x