The first activity was a tapestry brooch with Tina Francis. This was the perfect stitching project as it was done in tent stitch and it's small scale meant that we could actually finish it at the event.
We were each given a kit with the pattern (erm no, I didn't follow it!), the brooch finding, a needle and some canvas. There were piles of Anchor tapestry wool on the table for us to chose from.
Tina (who is fabulously friendly and helpful - take a class with her if you get the chance!) encouraged us not to think too much about colour choice, but to just grab something we were drawn too. I started with a bluey-grey and added a reddy-purple. This picture does NOT show the correct colours!
For my third colour, Tina pushed me towards an acid-green. It was perfect. I randomly chose orange for the final grid colour and I'm loving my choices!
I managed to get the brooch finished, despite taking the time to drink about 6 cups of coffee, or perhaps because of the coffee! Then I moved tables to have a quick go at the papercraft project of the day.
We were making paper houses with Cathie Shuttleworth (apologies, that's a Facebook link, her website seems to be doing something odd right now - but it's here if it comes back up). We were given the templates and I got cutting out.
As the first group were still making theirs, I didn't hear the instructions and so just wung it. Cathie would have, and did, help when I asked, but hey, I like to do my own thing! This meant that I did the ribbon slot on the roof wrong and I also put the house together inside-out!
Ah well! I didn't have too much time so the decoration is fairly minimal. It would have been nice to have had a bit longer as there were some lovely papers and punches and papercraft bits and bobs to play with.
It's been a long time since I did papercraft and I really quite enjoyed it!
The top flap of the roof lifts off so it's a useable box, and ties with the ribbon.
To sum up the workshop - a paper house, 2 tapestry brooches (one was my friend Laura's, she'd accompanied me in her capacity as my "assistant" - i.e. pass me the coffee....) and a muffin!
AND... most excitingly, we got a goodie bag! It's a proper canvas tote that I forgot to take a picture of, and it had all this inside! Above is paper and card.
Beads, glitter, glue, dies, a papier mache monster (that I love!), liquid pearls and a block printing kit. What a great goody bag!
I did a little, but not much, shopping. My entire house is in disarray due to the renovations I'm doing and there is craft stuff everywhere which put me off buying more. I did invest in a House of Zandra kit though. I've wanted one forever and this was on offer for £15!
Next we came across the Powertex stand. I've seen this product advertised, but don't recall ever seeing it demonstrated at a show. It was amazing! Unfortunately, they wouldn't let us take photos (other than this mannequin), so I'd have a bit of a google as the stuff is amazing!
We were invited to add to the mannequin, I added this heart on her knee and also a W on her bum! Forgot to get a picture of that... I bought a starter kit as I have an idea to Powertex the side of my outdoor toilet wall.... watch this space!
