summer fever

i have just realised that it has been well over a year since i last blogged,shame on me, but life and ill health have over taken me and the blog suffered. During all of this time, martin has completed his degree, has taken up a new hobby ,peyote bead weaving and is going to try to sell his jewellery at a craft fair. its really great, a sort of weaving technique which makes for beautiful jewellry which is hard to break. thwe dogs are older but no wiser. Simba is a bit deaf, a bit blind, arthritic and balding, but the lady dogs still love him. we have started to use our caravan in Norfolk, in order, to give us a break and the dogs more exercise. we arrive like a mini zoo, 5 dogs,1 cat and 2 humans. we have invested in a large awning,some patio furniture and a large tv, in order to make it comfortable.Through out these last few months i have developed tri-germinal neuralgia. I have took it as a warning to slow down, so i have cancelled all my groups,classes,magistrates etc in order to rest more. i still teach crafts at the central library one day a week, but have given myself the summer off. lily is still as scatty as ever,she ate, the other day, 20 bars of dog chews which clean teeth,plus biscuits and crisps to wash them down with.

The Dali Llama

The Dali Llama
Originally uploaded by frances.small2

I finished the second piece for the Lavender ladies embroidery of the century panel today. It represents the fleeing of the Dali Llama from Tibet to India, when the Chinese invaded in 1959. The silk was dyed in tea, quilted, embroidered,buttoned and beaded, then the back ground was seed stitched. It is about A4 in size and took two days of constant sewing to complete.Thankfully, I have now finished both pieces,ready to be displayed with the other members of the group, to see where they should sit on the panel.

Ben Hur 2

Ben Hur 2
Originally uploaded by frances.small2

Ben Hur silk painting, embroidered and beaded

Ben Hur

At long last i have finished one of my pieces for the Lavender ladies panel for the Embroidery of the Century, Ben Hur has at last reached the finishing post. Each group has taken a panel and will represent the year in various embroidered pictures. our group chose 1959. Each group panel will have the year in bold cross stitch and a central piece, ours is the cathedral, surrounded by what we thought were major events of the year. All of the panels will eventually travel the country in an exhibition and raise money for a children's charity. Each panel is over 3ft long and 6ft wide. Ours has, the last spitfire, barbie, a piccasso painting to name but a few. I have done 2 pieces, Ben Hur and the retreat of the Dali llama from Tibet. Ben Hur was drawn of tea stained silk,quilted ,embroidered,beaded etc. It is about 12 by 10 inches and represents the chariot race. It took about 2 years to complete as for nearly 18 months i could not really manage fine things with my left hand.

cushion buttons

cushion buttons
Originally uploaded by frances.small2

fair trade buttons for the round cushion, so that the cover can easily be removed.

Summer Breeze Cushion

Summer Breeze Cushion
Originally uploaded by frances.small2

A crotchet cushion is dk cottons, to go into the garden room, inspired by the brighter day light hours.

Tumi. feather and fan shawlette

Tumi. feather and fan shawlette
Originally uploaded by frances.small2

A simple feather and fan shawlette knitted in a wonderful 100% alpaca yarn and crotchet around with a picot edging in a baby bamboo. This shawl is so soft to touch and it's in my favourite colour. I love it!