To Felt or not To Felt?

That is the question. Whether 'tis nobler and more sensible to sell this lovely heather and grey tartan wool blanket on ebay or whack it in the washing machine and max out on soap and heat to produce some delicious felt? Dilemma compounded by fact that the blanket is in fabulous, completely intact, hole-free condition. Seems so brutal to felt something in such great shape, but as is; doesn't suit my decor. Hmmm....decisions decisions...

Beautiful Blanket Face

'Tis the season to curl up with felted wool and get handstitching. Madeleine Millington does this to great effect with her hot pastel palette of enticing projects and workshops. I recently attended a workshop. Simple, soothing and something I actually continued when I got home, rather than stuffing the item into a cupboard from which it could silently reproach me for months, if not years. Recommended.

Pinball Wizard

Stunning vintage pinball machine,  beautifully detailed and plays like a dream.Too big for my cottage, but great for furnishing the diner in my dreams...

Vintage Paper Jubilee

Only the hardest Republican heart would be unstirred by this delicately sun faded vintage folded paper decoration, carefully  preserved from the Silver Jubilee and unearthed in time for this year's festivities

Merry Meringues

The merriest looking meringues around. Positively perky and as delicious tasting as they are photogenic, these beauties were part of the bounty on offer at Marlborough Garden Association Plant Sale. They were displayed prettily beneath a fabric banner appliquéd by a local teacher. Reusable, pretty and practical, (the banner that is, not the teacher.)  Love it. Fab plants too of course; affordable, grown locally, so perfectly suited to my Marlborough cottage garden. 'Days out at home' don't get much better than this.

Faerie Frocks

I was fortunate enough to have attended one of Annette Emms' wonderful workshops a while back with my daughter. We shared a magical day making fairy shoes. Frankly, if there's a better way to spend quality time together, let me know and I'll sign up because this was both fabulous and affordable.

Here's a gorgeous piece of work from this master storyteller; both as a speaker and in stitch. A generous, tutor who manages to combine the prosaic with the poetic, anyone attending Annette's class will come home buzzing with myths and methods in equal measure. A must for your 'workshops to-do' list.

Sunkissed Window

Springtime in Wiltshire still relatively unsunkissed, so here's a window piece of mine which makes the most of even the most scant of rays. Nuno felted on scrim, with found objects added to hem, this was a worked sample for a large scale, commissioned piece featuring free machine embroidered text.

Machined Eyelet

Machined Eyelet by Judith Johnson

I love the simplicty, texture and soft, yet cheery colouring of this eyelet design. I've had a bit of a 'thing' for eyelets for a few years; kick started by a burgeoning obsession with Dorset crosswheels; since Wiltshire sits alongside the home county of these adorably tactile and fun to make little beauties.

Noel Fielding for Hand and Lock

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001118162442&ref=tn_tnmn#!/photo.php?fbid=10150532613588107&set=a.10150532612138107.374895.94867753106&type=3&theater

Tech numpty strikes again. What I am TRYING to do is post the pic, not  the link. Ho hum. Technology and I are not best friends. Dislike.

Anyways, not that this is the most gorgeous piece of embroidery in the world; but I do applaud Hand and Lock for their continued hipness in remaining as deeply at the heart of all things groovy as when they supplied 'scrambled egg' for the Sergeant Pepper album cover. I had the privilege of writing for STITCH magazine about this wonderful, long established company and enjoyed an extended back stage tour and a fabulous rootle through the legendary 'Bunty's Drawers'. At the time, the deeply gorgeous Carne Griffiths was Design Director...swoon.

I've just delivered the text for the piece commissioned by 'Stitch' magazine about 'Prisoner of Conscience', a set of 8 hangings celebrating 50 years of Amnesty International. Until 6th February you can see this challenging work in the evocative setting of Salisbury Cathedral. The piece then moves to Portsmouth Cathedral until Lent. The strongest element of the piece for me, unquestionably, is the rendering of the 3D scupltural chain links in padded leather. The shadows they cast on the stone walls of the cathedral, bathed in the light from the Amnesty Candle; wrapped in wrought iron barbed wire; are a chilling visual reminder of those imprisoned for their beliefs in cells and unyielding locations worldwide. A powerful, soul stirring piece. Read my interview with Jane and discover more about how the piece came to fruition; complete with plenty of technical detail on its creation, in an upcoming issue of 'Stitch'. I'll post here when I know which issue.

Prisoners of Conscience by Jane Lemon

'Prisoners of Conscience' by Jane Lemon

Some artists are a particular joy to  interview; so clear headed in their creative intent, so generous in sharing their techniques and thought processes. Jane Lemon definitely comes into this category. I first interviewed her a few years ago, for a general piece about her career. This interview was for a tightly focussed piece on her series of banners marking 50 years of Amnesty International.

I have been fortunate enough to have seen these today at Salisbury Cathedral in the Morning Chapel. I urge you to go as this setting is perfect for them and they are beautifully illuminated and complemented by the Amnesty Candle in a heavy, iron surround of barbed wire. Afterwards, the banners will be on display at Portsmouth Cathedral. Go see.

Image from Jane Lemon’s series of original embroideries; PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE, marking 50 years of AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

I'm privileged to have been asked to write a piece for 'Stitch' magazine about this stunning collection of embroideries created by a true 'grande dame' of the art; Jane Lemon. The pieces are currently on display in Salisbury Cathedral, Wiltshire.

Day Two

Day Two. Here be monsters. Well, I've successfully navigated my way back through the serpents of technology to find this link again. Will probably be a while before I hit the heady heights of being able to load pictures, but watch this space. This one. This big, very boring whiteish grey one. I shall attempt over the coming months to fill it with colour to illuminate the darkest day. Haberdashery rocks! Say it with me people !!

Hello World!

Deep breath. Hold tight. I laugh in the face of technofear! Am blogging. At last. Scary times...I fear change.