Summer break

It's been one of those weeks - but aren't they all?

Flat out busy, which has been the story of this year. I'm very aware that this poor blog has been sadly neglected over the past few months. Blame a manic schedule, blame facebook - yes, do that anyway! Facebook is easier and quicker to update, but it's not the same, is it?

I didn't even get around to showing you my pictures from a day trip to Dungeness:

So I hereby promise that when I get back from doing a bit of this

and I'm feeling refreshed and revitalised, normal service will be resumed.

Have a good summer, everyone!

Loose ends

Before I launch head-long into Uckfield Art Trail prep, I need to finish off some loose ends from teaching. I have hand-outs and recipes to email to the Fairwarp crowd (what's more important, how to stitch something or the recipe for the break-time biscuits??) and I need to send photos of the C&G students' work to the Powers That Be so that the displays at school can be updated for the first time in three years.....

So without further ado, here is the wonderful work presented by my students for their C&G Level 2 Award in Machine Embroidery. 

Carole's samples:

and the finished green man:

Fiona's samples:

and her lantern:

(and yes, it did end up a bit bigger than Fiona expected!)

Then Judith's samples:

Judith's finished item was a wedding dress, and the wedding hasn't happened yet so I didn't take any photos! It isn't your standard white meringue dress, it is green, short and multilayered, like a fairy costume. The machine embroidery was the finishing touches, including a corsage and lacing down the back of the bodice. Beautiful!

Morag's samples:

and her finished item, a book about Peter and Paul:

And I LOVE her rationale for making this book! Forgive me Morag, but it's too good not to share...

And finally but by no means last, Vix's gloriously whimsical wall-hanging, featuring the classic childrens' fairy tales:

Can you spot all the fairy tales?

I realised too late that I didn't take photos of Vix's beautifully presented samples, but here is a collage of all the detail from her wall-hanging.

This is Once Upon a Time, and I'm told there's at least one sequel to come....Happily Ever After?! 

I don't know about happily ever after for the students, as they're coming back for more in September (gluttons for punishment) but I am so proud of them for what they have achieved in one year - exhausting, for everyone, but wow, it was worth it wasn't it?!