A weekend with Janet Bolton - "Follow your star"

I wanted to share with you the lovely weekend I have spent on a Janet Bolton workshop at the Hope and Elvis studio run by Louise Presley. Janet gave a great talk on her life and inspiration and gave us lots of tips and advice on how to start to create a piece of our own. This is my journey.

My finished piece and the inspiration behind it.

My inspiration came from this lovely picture in one of my all time favourite books - Seasons at Seven Gates Farm.

From the picture I then chose a colour palette from Louises wonderful stash of fabric.

Then I had to piece together the background and frame.

The 'almost' finished piece. Just a bit of snow to quilt on.

This picture shows a close up of the dress which was made from a very old piece of quilt. A truly fabulous day.

Edna found a hat.

Edna my darling little elephant from The Vintage Magpie thevintagemagpie.typepad.com has found herself a new Monday best hat.  Do you think it suits?

Monday morning.

This morning I managed to catch the sunrise through the bedroom window...and the moon in through the kitchen window.

My Studio

The view from the window. I could sit here for hours just watching my chickens and ducks as they go about their business.

These threads came from a lovely old mill in Derbyshire. Such beautiful colours I just had to have them.

I love collecting old boxes too and there they sit until inspiration takes over.

Just some of the fabric I have collected over the years.

You can never have too many buttons either.

My desk area looking tidy for a change :)

Happy 2010!

Hi
Wishing all you bloggers a happy and safe new year.

Paper making class

This is my first attempt at paper making. It has been sitting around my studio for a few months waiting for me to find a frame and at last I've found one at a garden centre of all places!

Matlock Rules!

Look what I managed to find on Sunday at one of my favourite haunts Matlock Antique Centre. I just love these vintage dolly knits and now need to make some creatures to wear them! One even has a monogrammed label stitched in it. Gorgeous!!

The Motley Crew!

Here we have Phoebe the cat, Ringo the cavalier, one of the bumble bee twins (chicken), Abigail and Amelia, the runner ducks and finally Danny, Alfie Moon and Ruby.

More photos

Here are a few more photos of my work from a recent exibition in the Waterstones Gallery, Nottingham.

Finished them

These are the finished bracelets ready to be taken over to Lincolnshire.

First attempt

Well it the 26th January and this is the first chance I've had to use my great new laptop to create a blog page.
I have many excuses like our beautiful new puppy George who is lying on my Ugg boots as we speak. He is a cavapoo although he is looking more poodley at the moment and extremely scruffy. We all love him though and so does everyone who meets him.
I am busy on the sewing front at the moment making bracelets with vintage fabric and buttons for a wonderful shop in Lincolnshire called Decorative Country Living.
My next project, which I can't wait to start, is a quilt made out of outgrown baby clothes for my friend.
It's late now and Georgie needs feeding.
Bye
Mandy