In Print

Ever since I was little I've harboured the thought that it would be rather lovely to write a book one day. As a matter of fact, the things I always said I wanted to be when I grew up were either an author or a sweet shop lady (I loved the idea of measuring out sweets and putting them into small paper bags)! Although the sweet shop thing didn't work out, I suppose by being a freelance writer I'm sort of an author?! Oh, and there's also the small matter of writing this blog...which leads me nicely into something I'd like to share with you...

I've always loved creating journals and in a way this blog has become a bit like a journal - documenting places I visit, treasure-seeking adventures I go on, people I meet and things that inspire me. This made me think...wouldn't it be nice to be able to look back on the blog posts I've written and somehow preserve them offline? So, with this in mind I made my first year of blog posts into a book using Blurb... and was so pleased with the result, that I'm now doing it for every year of blogging I do.

It's really easy. Just download the Blurb software on to your computer and use the templates to create your masterpiece. It takes me a long time to finish each book (mainly because my computer's a little over the hill), but it's fabulous when the finished article arrives.

There are lots of different layout templates to use. Just drag and drop the images on to the page and insert the text (I copy and paste it from my blog into each book).




You don't have to put text on every page... sometimes it's nice just to have pictures.


You can even add a 'blurb' (publishing speak for the bit that tells everyone what the book's about!) on to the back cover, just like a real book you'd buy in a bookshop!

There's something rather exciting about publishing your own book (even if you know that only you and your family will probably ever see it!)

I must just add a word of warning though... creating your own books can become really addictive! You could make a book about your summer holiday, things you've made, or even put together favourite sewing projects or stories for your children. I've got far too many ideas buzzing around my head now... where to start?!

A Time to Collect Thoughts...and Inspiration

There's something about a new year that always gets me thinking about all sorts, from the new adventures I'd like to go on, to the books I'd like to read and the things I'd like to make. It's the same every year (and not just for me I'm sure!) I suppose it's the first chance we all get to stop and collect our thoughts after the excitement and busy-ness of the festive season. I'm engrossed in the books I had for Christmas (amongst them Kirstie Allsop's Craft and Cath Kidston's Stitch) as well as the magazine's that have been piled up until I have a spare moment to flick through them. I'm also enjoying walks in the park, watching Little Treasure grow and change before my eyes and the joy of feeding ducks. There's so much to be inspired by!

I thought I'd share some of my ramblings, thoughts and things to inspire here...illustrated with photos I took at the last two Vintage and Handmade Fairs in Chipping Sodbury.

I'm currently having a love affair with patchwork. My first ever textile creation at school was an English pieced patchwork cushion that was made from Laura Ashley ready-cut patchwork pieces (does anyone else remember those?!) and took me a whole term to make. I can remember feeling so proud when it was finished...wobbly stitches and all! I think this is where the seed was sewn (sorry, no pun intended) for what has now become my favourite sewing pastime.

I'm now making a patchwork quilt (all sewn by hand, eek!) out of Mr Treasure's old shirts. It seemed like such a waste to throw them away when it was only the collarts and cuffs that had gone threadbare, so I'm putting my best 'make do and mend' foot forward and creating something new from them for posterity. It's nowhere near as fancy as this gorgeous quilt here, but I'm hoping it'll turn out alright once it's finished (keeping everything crossed!)

Treutmade

Suffolks Puffs are so joyous! They can be made into all sorts, or merely kept safely in a pretty box, to be taken out and admired every now and again.

HenHouse

Donna Flower

Donna's stall is always a feast for the eyes. Over the years I've bought all sorts of fabric treasures from Donna and I think this year I need to be brave enough to just get on and enjoy using some of the bigger pieces I've been stashing away in my fabric drawer.

Donna Flower

Lovely, lovely, lovely! So many gorgeous colours and patterns. I should really have a good sort of my own fabric stash, find something I fancy making and then crack on with it. I will...I really will!

Donna Flower

I just love buttons! There's something fabulous about getting lost in the simple pleasure of sorting through a button jar. I think having a bit of time for what could be categorised as 'frivolous' is important. It's all about taking time out for the small things.

Canvas and Cloth

I love vintage reels of thread, especially Sylko ones, which come in such a wonderful array of colours with fabulously evocative names. I think the threads in this photo look great together. My friend Kathleen is an absolute whizz at putting together the most wonderful combinations of colours in her work. I think this year I will try being bolder in my colour choices in all aspects of life!

Hen's Teeth

If there was a 'Bestest Designer in the Whole Wide World and Bringer of Great Joy' award, it would absolutely have to go to Viv. Her creations make me smile from ear to ear whenever I see them. I've got a little collection of Viv's brooches and purses, as well as one of her birdy needlecases and I just love them all! Viv's just announced that she's going to start running workshops - hoorah, hoorah, hoorah!

Sallie and James Ead

The Devil Makes Work

The Devil Makes Work

Hoorah for tweed! I think Woo's owls are rather fabulous.

There's something wonderful about rummaging for treasure. It's all about the thrill of the chase and the thought that in the next box, drawer or corner could be lurking something fabulous just waiting to be discovered. Treasure seeking is certainly high on my 2012 'to do' list!

Cowboys and Custard

Catching up with old friends and making news ones...definitely good for the soul.

Canvas and Cloth

With this cold weather we're having at the moment, it's definitely a good excuse to curl up in the warm with books, Blogland and a mug of hot chocolate!

Stay warm everyone...and I hope you find much to be inspired by in 2012!

Hello 2012, Hello Blogland Once More!

Happy new year everyone! I hope you've all had a fabulous festive season.

Oh, how I've missed blogging! Can it really have been so long since I last tapped out a post? Where on earth does the time go? In my case, it's been taken up with the fun and rather time-consuming business of looking after a little one (who has now learnt to crawl and is busily trying to pull herself up on to her feet)! Even though being a mum is the best job in the world I've missed being part of Blogland - not only writing my own posts but also reading about everyone else's adventures. With the dawning of 2012 came a promise to myself that I'd try to carve out a bit of regular time when I could indulge in a spot of blogging. So, here I am...back in Blogland and hoping that you'll pop by and say "hello" once more.

It was such a gloriously sunny morning on Friday that Little Treasure and I braved the slightly crisp January air and went to the park. It's a popular little haven in amongst suburbia and there were lots of other little folk there enjoying the sunshine too.

I love this 'bench'. It's made from a tree trunk and has all sorts of creatures carved into it.

New things often spring up in the park and the latest things we've spotted are some rather lovely sculptures (this being one of them). They fit in perfectly next to the nature pond. A bit of trivia for you - for those who remember the TV series 'Butterflies' (starring Wendy Craig), this pond is the one she used to sit by in the programme (as it was filmed in our neck of the woods)!

Little Treasure loves seeing the ducks and gets very excited whenever we get near the duck pond. I was always asking my parents if we could go and feed our local ducks when I was little and I have a funny feeling Little Treasure won't be any different!

I loved the way the light caught the leaves. Such a lovely rich colour.

Two of Little Treasure's beloved ducks happily soaking up the sun.

After all the excitement of the sun, leaves and duck pond, Little Treasure couldn't keep her eyes open and drifted off to the sounds of quacking ducks splashing about on their pond. Little folk are so peaceful when they're asleep, aren't they?!

Sew to Speak

Things around here have been rather busy of late. Is it really a month since I last posted anything? Where does the time go?! Well, actually, I know where my evenings and weekends have gone recently... stitching pieces to go in The Wednesday Group's very first exhibition, which is on now until Sunday (25th).

The Wednesday Group are: Kathleen, Anni, Grace, Ann, Judy, Lindsay, Alison, Lois and yours truly.

It's been great fun planning it all over the last six months or so. The exhibition's a culmination of lots of hard work and bucket loads of laughter, discussions, get-togethers and, of course...cake! We even made it into one of our local newspapers on Monday.

Here's a sneaky peek at some of the pieces on show in our exhibition. The first three are some of my pieces...

'She Saw Life as an Adventure'

'Sewing was her Passion'

'She Liked to Keep the Little Things'

There are two rooms bursting with all of the things we've made. This is one of them, with 'Plaster Woman' (as we've come to call her) keeping an eye on things!

Alison always creates thought-provoking pieces. I find this one, all about military losses in recent overseas conflicts, particularly poignant.

For the first nine months of the group's existence, we set ourselves the challenge of creating postcard-sized pieces on particular themes. Here are all of our favourites, put together for all to see for the very first time.

Another group challenge was to create a piece based on vintage pianola rolls that Lois gave us all for Christmas. We've all come up with completely different ideas and it's been really exciting to see everyone's finished creations. This is Anni's. She had a pianola roll featuring a foxtrot to work with!

One of Kathleen's colourful and whimsical creations.

A vintage-inspired piece by Grace, based on an old postcard she found.

Judy's hand-stitching looks like a pen and ink drawing.

Lindsay's pianola roll was called 'Scarf Dance', which was just the ticket for her as she's also a bit of a whizz at belly-dancing!

This has been a mere taster of what's on show and there's oodles more to see! If you're intrigued and want to know more about The Wednesday Group, or our exhibition, pop over to the group's blog here. Oh, and do come and see us at the Weavers Gallery in Ledbury if you're in the area!

An Inspiring Day

Little Treasure has been keeping me very busy lately and continues to grow and change before our eyes. Even though I've really had to cut back on the things I can do (like blogging and stitching!), I wouldn't change a thing. She's such a joy and makes me smile all day long! However, the weekend before last I did have a day of indulgence...having left Mr Treasure in charge all things baby-related, I headed off to the NEC with Mum to the Festival of Quilts. What an inspiring day it was..and so much to see!

I thought I'd share a few of my favourite quilts, so here they are (in no particular order!)...

Double Delight, Pauline Law (South Africa)

It's a knitted quilt! Brilliant! I was really drawn to the colours. Having looked through all the photos I took at the Festival, I've realised that I'm drawn to all things colourful, like a moth to a flame!

21st Century Victoria, Dana Leigh Brenan (London)

A modern interpretation of the crazy quilting technique that the Victorians were so fond of.

Becky's Dresses, Rosalind Gregory (Taunton)

Smocked dresses were hand appliqued on to this quilt. I thought this was a really clever and lovely idea. What a wonderful way of keeping treasured children's clothes.

Dorothy, Yvonne Fish (Southampton)

I'm a magpie when it comes to vintage ephemera, so this quilt really appealed. It was based on the life of one woman and featured all sorts of photos, tickets and concert posters.

Moeders Mooiste (Mothers Most Beautiful), Hanneke Kwakkenbos-Schilt (The Netherlands)

This quilt incorporated all sorts of design elements, including embroidered panels, which I thought was a really clever idea. However, it was the gorgeous fabrics used in the patchwork parts of the design that I was particularly drawn to.

Heat, Vibrance and Colour, Impressions of South Africa, Joan Squibb (Ipswich)

Another colourful quilt that caught my eye. I love the gorgeous Kaffe Fassett fabrics that have been used.

4 Seasons, Ineke Berlyn (Bromsgrove)

This is a detail from one of the panels that made up Ineke Berlyn's quilt based on the four seasons. I was rather taken with the little bird that was hiding in amongst the lines of stitching.

A Taste of Africa, Irene Sutterluti (Austria)

The colours and patterns in this quilt were absolutely stunning.

A Taste of Africa, Irene Sutterluti (Austria)

I was really drawn into this quilt and couldn't help getting up close so I could have a really good look at all of the hand-printed designs on it.

A Taste of Africa, Irene Sutterluti (Austria)

More gorgeous patterns and colours from Irene Sutterluti's quilt.

Spoon Fed Love, Maria Thomas (Kenilworth)

This was one of my favourite quilts. I loved all of the different textures and techniques that were used. It had a lovely vintagey feel too.

Spoon Fed Love, Maria Thomas (Kenilworth)

According to the show catalogue, recycled fabric and paper ephemera were used to create this quilt, which is all about the maker's task of feeding her family being a token of her love.

Spoon Fed Love, Maria Thomas (Kenilworth)

Printing, buttons, applique and stitching - brilliant!

Botticelli Quilt, Nikki Parmenter (Poynton)

This quilt was exquisite. It was based on Botticelli's 'Birth of Venus' and 'Primavera' and even had 3D elements to it.

Stash Findings, Jenny Hubbard (Newark)

Vintage heaven! I loved all the bits and pieces that made up this quilt and spent ages looking at it.

Stash Findings, Jenny Hubbard (Newark)

The Suffolk Puff flowers were really eye-catching.

In amongst the competition quilts were exhibition galleries featuring the work of various textile artists and groups. My favourite was Jennifer Hollingdale's collection - 'Re-make, Re-use'. She uses all sorts of old materials in her work including labels, packaging, household linens and wallpaper. I could have easily brought all of her pieces home with me...unfortunately, the budget wouldn't stretch to one of her big pieces of work so I treated myself to one of her small printed pictures instead!

Brunswick Street (on the theme of 'Community'), Kirsten Duncan (Australia)

I really enjoyed looking at the creations of the Twelve by Twelve group. They're an internet-based quilt art collaboration group who set themselves the challenge of creating 12 x 12 inch-sized quilts on chosen themes. The results were really diverse and it was interesting to see how everyone had interpreted the same theme in completely different ways.

The Indulgent Delights of Spring (unfiortunately, I can't find the listing for this one in the show catalogue, so I'm not sure who the maker is)

Oh what glorious colours!

Endurance 1 - The Ship and the James Card and Endurance 2 - Shackleton and His Men, Cathy Corbishley-Michel (London)

I thought this was a really striking quilt. According to the show catalogue the images have been cyanotype printed on to fabric and then machine quilted. Such a great effect!

Hexagons and Stars, Lucie Summers and Jenny Spencer (Worlington)

I really liked the colours and the different screen-printed fabrics that were used in this quilt, as well as the fact that it was made by a mother and daughter team.

Festival, Susie Corke (Kettering)

Gorgeous vintage fabrics.

Retrospective, Louisa Lawson (London)

This quilt was hand sewn and hand quilted...what a task! The fabrics that have been used represent a cross-section of the fabrics in the maker's stash since she started quilting in the early 1990s. What a great way to keep lots of pieces of fabrics that are (no doubt) steeped in memories.

There were so many fabulous quilts at this year's Festival, it's been a job choosing just a few to show here. After so much inspiration in one day, my fingers are itching to raid my fabric stash and get creating something myself!