rag rug demonstrating at Killerton Spun

Killerton Spun
Saturday 19 & Sunday 20 July, 11am-5pm

 See exciting demonstrations of dying, felting, printing and spinning techniques, all inspired by plants and the landscape around us. You'll also be able to browse stalls selling a wide range of textile creations and products.

 

 

I shall be demonstrating rag rug making at this event on Sunday July 20th and publicizing my forthcoming workshops which will be at:

 The Walronds, Cullompton (24th July)

and CreaTIV in Tiverton) (Aug 2nd).

(I used to work as a conservation assistant at Killerton which is where my interest in rugs developed)!

 

 

 

flower delivery

 

 

I'm delivering a small felted vase of my rag rug flowers,

(felted vase made by Magpie Heaven) to

Waldrons

 in

Cullompton today.

 

 

 

 

They will be displaying them there to advertise my forthcoming Hooked on Flowers workshop on 24th July. For further details and to reserve a place, please contact Waldrons on:  

Telephone : 01884 33394 or Email : info@walronds.com

 

gramophone needles and blobs of wax

Today, as I was showing a group of women some French knitting that my mother did when she was a child, one lady told me that her mother had made her a French knitting dolly from a cotton reel into which she had hammered gramophone needles instead of nails, each needle dabbed with a blob of wax over the end.

Every time I share sewing experiences with women who grew up during wartime, I am told of experiences that prove necessity to be the mother of invention, and my own creativity feels challenged, in a positive way. Today's shared memory of French knitting, put me in mind of the early pins that were headed with a seed or blob of sealing wax. For pins as we know them with proper pin heads have only been manufactured since 1840. There is an interesting article online about the history of pin making:-

https://www.cs.arizona.edu/patterns/weaving/webdocs/lb_2010_15.pdf

braided and blossoming rug

 

 

Tomorrow, when I  visit Linden House Nursing Home in Wellington to do a Sewing Box Session, I shall also be handing over the completed braided rug that I helped residents to make. I took it home to sew on their flowers and added a backing to it. It's gorgeous - so vibrant.

 

 

While we braided the rug, people shared many memories of hearth and home. When we came to make the rag rug flowers, we talked of the gardens people had lovingly tended and cultivated, still blossoming in hearts and memories.

 

 

Along with the rug I shall be handing over a record of these precious shared memories.

knight and tilley lamp

Last week I was in the CreaTIV hub, Tiverton, to demonstrate how to fashion hand hooked blooms using rag rug techniques, and advertising my forthcoming workshop at the Hub on Sat. August 2nd. Passers by, intrigued by the knight in not-so-shining armour standing in the window to advertise the forthcoming St. James Fair, popped their heads around the door when they spotted me behind the knight working away on my rag rugs.

 

 

 

One woman told me that she recalled cutting up bed sheets to make into rag rugs. She remembered that they dyed the sheets with onions, and worked by the light of a Tilley lamp.

new workshops (including beadwork!)

 

Just updated my workshop page with details of all forthcoming workshops up until October. I've also introduced a couple of beadwork workshops to my programme

 (I used to be a jewellery designer in a past life).

 

 

Also available for parties and groups - just message me for details.

grand western canal bicentinery

 

I am demonstrating at a craft fair to be held at the Mid Devon Show ground on Sat. 24th May. This is part of the Bicentenary celebrations for the Grand Western Canal. Will also be demonstrating at the Navvy Fair in Sampford Perverill on Bank Holiday Monday between 11am and 4pm. Lots of good stuff happening this weekend at the canal: music, entertainment and a festival of trail boats. http://www.tivertoncanal.co.uk/event/grand-western-200---a-celebration-of-the-grand-western-canals-bicentenary-3.html See more

Event Details

www.tivertoncanal.co.uk

To celebrate this significant milestone, the Canal has been given the honour of hosting the IWA National Trailboat Festival over the late May bank holiday. A weekend packed with festivities, including musicians, performers and activities for all ages.

 

cat-sitting

I am combining cat-sitting this week (not the cat in the photo) with doing some rag rugging sessions in Exeter Care Homes, so I won't be in The Old Sale Rooms on Mon. 12th. Very much looking forward to starting the Mantle Street Memory rug when I get back to Wellington 'tho! See you soon!

milverton street fair bank holiday monday, be there or be square

 

 

The Old Sale Rooms are closed tomorrow (bank holiday Monday) so I won't be in the Tea Rooms collecting Mantle Street Memories as I usually do on a Monday.

Instead I'll be displaying my rag rugs at 'The Mad Hatters Cafe' in The Old School, Sand Street, Milverton 10am - 4pm - part of The Milverton Street Fair. It's a brilliant annual event - fulsome    with art and craft. The main street is closed to traffic for the day and given up to art - hurrah!

 
 
 

So come and:

see / be seen / purchase / handle / commission / be there or be square / partake / satisfy your curiosity / satisfy your soul / have your fancy tickled / hob nob / avail yourself of various refreshments 

@ The Mad Hatters Tea Party @ The Old School!