Author Archives: Kathleen

Willow pattern stitched with love

I like to have some hand stitching on the go at all times. I can’t just sit in the arm chair and watch the telly. This version of willow pattern was stitched in response to a conversation I had with a student when we were talking about having a complete dinner service given to us as a wedding present and how over the years it has got brocken and disappeared from the plate cupboard.

There’s something quite relaxing and pleasing about blue and white so I decided it would be a relaxing and pleasant workshop to run on that busy lead up to the festive season.
9 ladies met for the day mid December where we spent a lovely day just stitching with basic stitches to produce a visual memory to frame and decorate our homes. 
It was a real pig to get the plate truly circular but at least I can’t break this nod when washing it up. Lol

Stamped festive hanging

Oh my. I hadn’t realised how long it’s been since I blogged. I have been frantically busy the last couple of months running here there and everywhere and grabbing time that wasn’t really available to slip in some projects needed for yesterday. Lol.

However I did finally managed to finish my Christmas wall hanging to demonstrate to students how a simple stamp and one pot of red paint can make a wonderful festive hanging. 

Stamp it Red for Christmas

Oh we’ll I can’t put it off any longer. I have to join the rat race and do the run up to Christmas starting with a demo tomorrow for a group of ladies that I haven’t come into contact with before. So my demo needs to be aimed at everyone from the complete beginner to the more experienced. 

I have gone for simple greetings cards, gif tags and tree decs through to a collage / montage of stamped images bedecked with sequins, ribbons and buttons. 
I hope that the ladies will have a go at stamping their own images  which they will then take home to decorate and finish as a card of dec.
I know I sound grumpy about the rat race leading up to Christmas but I do actually enjoy the simple things about home crafting and bringing a taste of textiles in simple techniques to a broad base of people some of which will achieve for the first time and become hooked and eager to learn more 

Here Comes The Girls at The Knitting and Stitching Show 2013

Every year these two lovely ladies brighten my day as they present themselves at my stand at Alexandra Palace wearing yet another stunning costume which they have made. This year the stunning combination of blue and yellow was really eye catching. No wonder they come to the show for a couple of days. So many people want to take pictures of them that they need the extra day to get round the show. They truly are a walking exhibition in their own right and I can’t wait to see what costume they make for next year. “Girls I think you’re great!”

Organza Poppy Panel

Finally I have finished the last of the five new kits for launching at The Knitting and Stitching Show in two weeks time. The new kits are all long panels with added elements made that are arranged on top to give a dimensional appearance to the panel. The pieces can be arranged so that they overhang the panels edges or they can be arranged on top of themselves to create depth to that shape. Spent last night writing the step by step instructions so all I need to do today is print, pack and stack and that will be another job jobbed. To all the girls in New Zealand who had a copy of the poppies to take away home. This is what it should come out like. Have fun!

Snowflake in September

Snowflake swag nearly finished. It just needs a gold bow with long tails added to the top and its ready to go. It was so hard making snow flakes when it’s still warm and sunny. Glad it’s nearly done because all it does is remind me how much Xmas is going to cost me this year and how hard I’m going to be working to afford it. Ha ha!


Leather Journal Made Using The Sewing Machine

I love working in leather nowadays and am getting some really fab results using Husqvarna cut work needles in a free form Kathy way. I made this leather journal for my niece Sarah who just had her birthday. Prior to this I had made her mum a book and Sarah had asked for one for her school notes ad appointments. It only took me another year ha ha to squeeze her into my hectic schedule but we got there in the end and I was so pleased with the end result . I now have a yearning to make myself one in black green and cream as I have been hanging on to the most amazing piece of lime green leather for several years now and not knowing when or if I would use it. Now I know exactly what to do with it. I just need the time which isn’t happening at the moment with Alexandra Palace starring me in the face. Oh well watch this space you never know.



Beach hut workshop

Just a quick reminder that this Saturday 7th September I will be running my Beach hut workshop at Tudor rose patchwork shop Oakley Bedford. we will be making our background from pieced stripped fabrics and adding simple machine stitching to suggest waves. The afternoon will be put aside to learn how to use the Das Clay to roll out cut and mould our Beach huts, shells and extras to make a small or several small pictures. the das clay will need to dry out and so you will do the painting and assembling of your scene at home but I will demonstrate every step in class. So come on get your self on the class, we are gonna have fun.

Gold Work Poinsettia

I thought you might all like to see that I have at last finished my Gold work Christmas workshop. This piece has been on the go since early July and has been all the way to the other side of the world [New Zealand] and back again. “Did I do any sewing on it when I was in NZ”. That will be a big fat NO No because I was to busy teaching and enjoying myself meeting new people and travelling.
Never mind its finished now and today I delivered it over to Tudor rose patchwork shop for display and signing up to.
If you have never had a go at Gold work before, then you really should. It doesn’t have to be worked in traditional techniques. Today I use a lot of modern approaches such as the use of gold acyclic paint to give a smooth surface against the couched cords and purl pearl and I quite like to use leather as a free standing item and not always heavily padded with felt. Basically as long as I am using everything gold it is gold work and just to stop confusion I refer to my pieces as contemporary Gold work so I can then get away with MURDER