About Your Dress

Sorry, bit of a blog break - I've been away in Shropshire on a fantastic course with Ruth Issett and Bobby Britnell - but I'll have to tell you all about that in another post - blogger is too slow this evening and I'm too impatient to sit here.

But I did want to recommend that if you are at all interested in such things - do try and visit the V&A for their new exhibition, opening tomorrow.  I went to the Members Preview Day today, with my friends Gina and Jill

The exhibition is to celebrate the opening of the newly renovated Fashion galleries, and there are dozens of beautiful ballgowns and evening dresses displayed.

 It's a fantastic exhibition, and provoked lots of discussion about which ones we liked best.  Some of the more outrageous dresses appear to be more a case of the designer 'showing off' than trying to make the wearer look fab, and I think the general consensus is that the simple dresses look more stunning.  Although Gina was frighteningly drawn to a full length rubber evening dress. 

If I was to offer any construction criticism, I'd like to make two suggestions. Firstly, it would have been good to see more (and bigger) photographs of the dresses being worn by their owners - they always looked better on real women than they did on the mannequins. 

And my second suggestion?  A grown up dressing up box!  (But no rubber, thanks very much.)

About Your Dress - The Maccabees

Last Chance Saloon

You might remember that a few weeks ago, my fellow knitters and I had a somewhat below-par restaurant experience in one of our local eateries.  You'd think, given the level of (non) service we received, that we'd have met somewhere else this week. But no, we decided to give it one last chance. Not least because the Manager was so apologetic last time, that he said he'd treat us to complimentary Bucks Fizz's the next time we went in. I have to say, I was a bit doubtful as to whether they'd materialise, but one amongst us was convinced he'd stand by his offer.  I hate to say "I told you so" ..... 

Not only did we not get Bucks Fizz, but they still couldn't manage to get the order right - and there were only three of us this time.  I won't bore you with the details, but the orders were wrong on several counts, when they did bring our food we had to wait a good five minutes for cutlery to arrive, and then to cap it all, they tried to overcharge us. We DEFINITELY won't be going there again.

That's it, whinge over, now on a much lovelier note, this week I received my fantastic one-off piece of artwork from my lovely friend Gina.  She is making 50 tiny books - to find out why, read here .  She has made over 30 so far, and they are all beautiful and so different (but mine's the best)

A unique little book of tattoo'd hearts, all bound in it's own fringed leather jacket.  I'm absolutely delighted with it!

I'm currently doing a 6 week course on bookmaking with Gina, and so yesterday, inspired by the course and not least, my precious heart book, I spent several hours having a go at making some myself.  NOT to Gina's standards, obviously, but I'm still learning ....

A blizzard book - with some slightly imprefect folding, so don't look TOO closely ..

A couple of triangle books

(slightly 'iffy ribbon, but it was all I had in my shed/studio and I couldn't be bothered to walk back up into the house, change my shoes and sort through my indoor supplies to find proper ribbon.

A concertina book (more unsuitable ribbon)

And finally a book, that probably isn't really a book - it's got folded up square 'compartments' rather than pages

All covered with handpainted and printed paper.  I can't believe how long ago I painted some of it - one sheet had my previous surname on the reverse, which I left behind over 15 years ago!  No wonder I've got so much 'stuff', I seem to save it all for best.

I should really have been doing my Spectrum homework, but I had a lovely time making books instead!

Last Chance Saloon - The Happy Refugees