Wedding Card

I havn't been showing much of my creative work here recently as I have been busy with a project that could not be shared until after my stepdaughter's wedding.  I wanted to use my skills to make her a special card instead of just buying one and fortuitously we explored a technique at a recent meeting of our quiting group.  

Blogger has loaded the images in reverse order with the front side at the bottom. (I have switched Lightbox back on so it should be easier for you to view the images.  You no longer need to click on each individual image).

I made each signature individually on a felt backing and then stuck it to the vilene bases which had been edged in a neutral cotton.  (Affixing the  panels caused me some deep thought as I found I couldn't stitch them to the vilene.  In the end I went for strong carpet tape.  Hopefully they will stay stuck!)

These are details of some of the pages:

I used some of my printed fabrics, bridal lace and fabrics, beach glass, printed text and embellishments and  had a lovely time sewing special wishes into it.    Once the card was made I realised I needed something to put it in so set to and made a box with some of the butterfly fabric.

The box is lined with dupion silk and I  thought my stepdaughter could use it for her bits and pieces if she wished.  The knob on the lid is made with a small stack of buttons including a lovely copper button from The Thread Studio.

Just as we were leaving the house to travel to Chichester where the wedding took place I grabbed a few sewing supplies because I had it in mind to make something on the lines of a lucky horseshoe, although I don't think people give those so much these days.

Anyway, this is what I came up with,

I cheated a little and used a ready made heart but I had a lovely time decorating it with vintage fabrics and trims and embellishing it.  I think L liked it but hopefully she'll tell me more on her return from honeymoon, the day of the wedding was very hectic as you would expect so there was very little time for conversation.

I have a few fabric hearts in my stash so I may make a few more, maybe on a Christmas theme (sorry for using that word!).  

On Wednesday I went to the first Sit & Stitch day at Stitchcraft Studio and had a lovely day with a few ladies stitching and nattering.   This is going to be a weekly occurance on a Wednesday and hopefully the word will get around and more people will come along.  It will be lovely to have a regular place to go and spend time with like-minded people and to dedicate that particular time to the project in hand.  I'll show you what I was making when I get it finished, which could quite easily be next Wednesday!

Love is..........

my very beautiful stepdaughter and her very new husband on Saturday.   My DH and I were invited to share this very special day with my stepdaughter, her about-to be husband and their family and friends in Chichester in the south of England.

All of the photographs in this post are courtesy of my DH as my camera wasn't up to the light conditions and besides, I didn't want to miss a moment by being behind the lens!

The groom awaits the arrival of his bride and keeps his nerves calm by chatting to his soon to be brother-in-law.

The bride's mother and stepdad, otherwise known as WSD ;-) , precede the bride.  I think Laura's mum was as happy and emotional as I was!

The moment we had all been waiting for, the first glimpse of a delightfully happy and radiant bride, escorted by her brother.

The ceremony was really lovely with a few laughs and some heartfelt words exchanged.  The bride and groom are pictured with both mums.  I have to admit to a tear or two escaping, well, you'd expect it wouldn't you?  

Formalities over it was time to leave.

Laura's dress was so beautiful.  I barely recognised this stunning, sophisticated, elegant young woman.

Time to relax at the wedding breakfast.

Beautiful butterflies denoted our places and brought very special memories of Laura's late Dad to share the day.  He was very much with us in thought and he would have been so proud of his beautiful daughter and her new husband.

Could any bride look happier?

The venue for the wedding meal was the beautiful Vicars' Hall, part of Chichester Cathedral and its high vaulted ceiling added to the sense of occasion.

Our nephew, Johnathan Clover, was the official photographer but that didn't stop DH from sneaking up on him while he was working and grabbing a few shots!  I'm looking forward to seeing the official versions.

No wedding would be complete without the cutting of the cake,

and special people to share the day with.

Sweeties were an extra treat, 

and chips were a welcome supper.

There was plenty of dancing going on, although sadly DH failed to capture me but Iwas dancing, honest! (I think this was a bit of  'Summer Lovin' ' going on).

The bride enjoyed herself too and managed to control her beautiful dress.

Eventually and all too soon it was time to leave the newlyweds and go back to our B&B after a wonderful day that I will always remember.  Our hearts are full of happiness for Laura and Nik and of faith in their future together and who knows where the future may lead them?

Nik looks very much at home with his niece in his arms. :-)

PS

John, another family member who was running the disco, was definitely in the moment!

Stitchcraft

Our newly opened local quilting and stitching centre is starting a social stitching day from next Wednesday and I'm really looking forward to going and spending time with fellow stitchers.  Textile crafts and creative activities in general tend to be solitary activities so it is going to be lovely to have somewhere to go regularly to stitch in company or just to chat.  If you live within reach come along and join the fun!

We have been following the progress of Hurricane Sandy on the TV and online and DH and I both hope that our friends in the affected area are safe and dry.  We are thinking of you all.

Autumn

I thought you might like to see a few of the photos I took today on a very cold but enjoyable walk round the parkland at Belton House.   I think it must be the amount of rain we had earlier in the year that is giving us such a glorious Autumn this year.  With the sun shining beautifully today the colours were stunning!

It's coming to something when you have to apologise for nature!

Experimenting with angles.

Not a clue what these pretty toadstools are but I don't think I'd eat them.

You'd think from that rucksack he was stalking someone but, no, it's just a photo opportunity.

I'm not sure whether this is a handkerchief or a tulip tree but it looked stunning today.

Thanks to some advice from Mark Highton-Ridley I have been experimenting with taking photos on 'Aperture Priority' and I'm liking the results.  Thank you Mark!

Dawn Cameron-Dick

Earlier this week I did a workshop at Stitchcraft, our new sewing centre, with Dawn Cameron-Dick.  You may remember she was the guest speaker at the opening of Stitchcraft but I missed her talk as I was displaying my own work.   This was the first workshop I had done here and I was impressed with the friendly welcome accompanied by 'help-yourself' tea and coffee all day and an included lunch.  

The workshop took place in a very roomy room with plenty of space for all of us.  The subject was 'Invisible Machine Appliqué' and Dawn proved a very entertaining and informative teacher.  (Sadly I forgot to take my camera!  What am I like?)  Dawn spent the morning showing us examples of uses for invisible machine appliqué and talking to us about needles and threads.  I think this is the first time I have actually got to grips with what all the numbers mean on different threads.  I made copious notes (as Dawn remarked) but also bought Dawn's Pocket Tutor for future reference.

 As I am unlikely to hold all the info about needle and thread sizes in my head I'm sure the Pocket Tutor will get some use.

Before we were allowed to go for lunch we had to get our machines set up with clear thread, the correct needle and the correct bobbin tension, having stitched some sample rows.  I had kittens when Dawn merrily took a screwdriver to my bobbin and 'righty tighty' off went my tension!   Gasp!  I have always lived by the law that you keep a separate bobbin for tension twiddling but, no, it is perfectly acceptable, indeed  desirable to alter the tension in the bobbin according to the thread on the bobbin spool.  A thin thread will need a tighter tension than a thicker thread (seems obvious now).   At the moment my machine is still set up for IMA.  I'll let you know if I have trouble getting it to sew straight again ;-)

I can't show you any process photos but I can show you the  pieces I produced.

 The three pieces above don't look much but they took a while to work and I am delighted to have worked them.  I never thought I would ever attempt any part of a dresden plate but done this way it was very straightforward.  The dresden plate section just needs the backing calico clipping away.  The three pieces above allowed us to work with three different ways of using IMA.  .  Freezer paper and fusible vilene played their part.

Although my circle is just a little wonky I am pleased to have achieved this panel and am looking for ways to play with this technique.  When I get round to making something myself with the technique I will take some process photos in case you are not familiar with Invisible Machine Appliqué.  I can see some great uses for it maybe in landscape quilts and it takes all the pain out of insetting circles.

I have been very busy all week on a little project that I can't share with you just yet and it's going to take me another day or two to finish it then I shall have to take stock and see where I am going next.  Apart from some UFO's or not-quite-finished projects I don't have a clear plan for the next few weeks.