Tuesday 16 March 2010

So many pleasures, so little time .......

I've discovered the inherent problem with blogging.  At the times when you're  really busy and dashing about doing interesting stuff - there's no time to write about it, and then, when you have time to sit and update the blog - you haven't got anything to write about.  And it has been a 'fun-packed' couple of weeks which is why I've not had time to post.  I had my niece to stay for a few days which was great, then at the last but one weekend I went to an afternoon tea party, held in honour of one of my neighbours who was celebrating her 95th birthday!  It was a surprise, organised by one of her friends, and her daughter who is currently visiting from the US.  There was a young girl at the party who suggested that we all hide and jump out when Nora arrived, but I think we managed to convince her that maybe at 95, that wasn't such a great idea.  Anyway, it was a lovely afternoon and Nora thoroughly enjoyed it. 

Apart from that I've worked, practised guitar, been to Pilates and the gym, lunched with friends, beaded and knitted, (having gate-crashed a freeform knitting workshop run by June Linsley at ArtVanGo) .......

Oh, and not to mention a Whole Lotta Led gig, and giving blood (totally unconnected events, you understand.)

On Saturday I went to the Embroiderer's Guild - I'd not been for ages as it seems to coincide with Leyton Orient home matches.   I took the day off  as they had arranged a speaker I particularly wanted to see - Libby Smith who is a member of the E.A.S.T group, and who was talking about her most recent work.  I loved it and have booked onto a workshop with her in a few months time (fortunately after the football season finishes!)

On Sunday (it's ok, we're nearly up to date now so I'm not going on for much longer) I went to the Landmark Arts Centre at Teddington for the Contemporary Textile Fair.  It was wonderful - every imaginable type of textile art, and all of a very high quality.  I could have spent fortunes, but I managed to be fairly controlled and bought some very different, but equally beautiful pieces of jewellery.
The first is a pair of earrings, using stitched wire around large press studs, which I thought were really unusual, and which were made by Judith Brown .....


Next, several pieces of wire jewellery - two brooches and a pair of earrings, made by Jo Dewar




and finally, a really delicate and beautifully stitched brooch made by Karen of Contemporary Embroidery.


It was lovely to meet up with Karen after following her blog for some time, and a little bird tells me that she may be running workshops in the future, so I will definitely try to put my name down for one of those.  In fact, I'm going to see if she'll come to our branch of the  Embroiderers Guild - her work blends traditional stitching, used in a contemporary way, that would appeal to all stitchers.

Right, that's me up to date, just got time for a quick guitar practise before heading off to the cinema.

7 comments:

  1. Hi Gill, it was good to meet you too. I never got round the fair at all, the jewellery is stunning and I missed it!!

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  2. I'm so glad to see a bit of this event. I recognise the hook and eye earrings from Christmas, having been there.

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  3. A lovely post. Nice to see you have been very busy doing nice things. I loved hearing about Norah's birthday surprise ... bless

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  4. ps. did you get the email I finally got around to sending ;o)

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  5. So busy! No wonder there is no time for homework... you will notice having suddenly found myself with a free day I am also not doing homework but am lurking on the computer!

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  6. Wow you have been busy but it does look like you've had a great time.

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  7. I love love love those press stud earrings! And the leafy knitting is really inspiring too.
    Yet again you are making me realise that i should be putting more of my own ideas into action.

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