• crafts - handmade - sewing

    A day with Julie Arkell

    You may remember I wrote about a workshop I attended run by Julie Arkell. She’s an inspiring woman and I really enjoyed the opportunity to listen to her talking about her work and what inspires her. Well I never showed you what I made. First up is a Second World War-style brooch, made from cardboard and tapestry wool, and finished off with embroidered leaves and felt flowers. It was actually surprisingly simple to make, using scraps of fabric and wool on a cardboard base. I’ve been busy collecting old embroidery threads whenever I see them in charity shops so I…

  • crafts - handmade - Recycled crafts - sewing - tutorial - vintage

    Making momentoes with Julie Arkell

    Just before Christmas I was lucky enough to take part in a workshop with Julie Arkell. If you haven’t heard of her, where have you been! She’s a London-based contemporary artist who is well known for her papier mache dolls and I was really excited to find she was running a workshop at Sally Bourne Interiors. I spent all day with Julie and a group of like-minded women and it was fantastic. I don’t think I’ve ever spent a whole day sewing but it was amazing, lovely to sit around a table, sew and chat. Julie’s recent work reflects vintage…

  • Christmas - daddy - handmade - Recycled crafts - sewing - swaps - tutorial - upcycling

    Vintage blanket cushion

    We decided to go home for a few days! My husbands’ health is improving so much quicker than last time that we’ve decided to return home for a few days before Christmas. We miss being a threesome, miss our cats and doing our own thing although we are incredibly grateful to my mum for letting us stay with her. On Saturday we’ll be getting on the ferry and heading back to London. I am so excited as I’ll be able to attend the Julie Arkell workshop on Sunday too. Vintage blanket cushion Today I finished a cushion for my youngest…

  • crafts - Knitting and Stitching Show - Local Review - London

    Knitting and Stitching Show

    I managed to complete the application I had been working on all year and submit it on Friday. It felt like a complete anti-climax but I celebrated by heading off to the pub after work for a large glass of wine or two. On Saturday we visited Tate Modern to see the latest installation in the Turbine Hall. The work was by Doris Salcedo and was basically a large chasm in the floor, running from one end to the other. I didn’t think it was very special and it was actually more fun watching people’s response to it. Then we…