life after...

applying for a job, getting it, ofsted and tonsillitis!  I sooooooooooo needed this two week half-term holiday!

In between ofsted (that's school inspectors) and tonsillitis my daughter and I went on a one day course down in Stafford with the lovely Emily Notman.

It was a gorgeous, sunny day and we spent the morning dying and bleaching a variety of simple fabrics, including lace.

The afternoon involved putting all our pieces together to create a wall hanging.

 Mine is still a work in progress, but a nice one. I can take it out and add stitching or beading to it according to my mood!  Sophie's is lovely and it was great to do something like this together!

One of the great things about doing a workshop at Unit Twelve Gallery, Stafford is the gorgeous exhibition space which is always filled with delightful things.

clever wire work by Louise Wilson

 love these floral collages by Heather Burgess

 Katie Almond's ceramics are always fabulous

Well out of my price range but absolutely stunning work by Lauren van Helmond

 and I so wanted one of these landscapes by Sarah Jane Brown but the one I liked was sold

fabulous textual pictures by Rachel Hazell

This current exhibition, entitled 'word play', runs until 28th July 2012 and I can highly recommend it if you live near enough!

My great friend Julie Murray is hosting a huge celebration, with giveaways, as she's now been blogging for three years.  Check out her blog here, it's so worth it :)

these boots weren't made for walking!

My fab 'jabberwocky' friend Sue and I took a trip out to the depths of Staffordshire on Saturday afternoon to make paper shoes :)   The workshop was run by the very talented Jennifer Collier (check out her paper vintage typewriter!) in her exhibition, workshop and studio space 'unit twelve'.  

The current exhibition is entitled 'the ties that bind' and features an eclectic mix of aprons, including one made from a tin pail!

My favourite one had spoons in its pockets, and I LoVe spoons!  I wasn't surprised to discover it was made by Priscilla Jones, who's one of my very favourite mixed media artists.

Both Sue and I loved the wonderful 'wallpaper' in the exhibition space, created with pieces cut from old dress patterns.

Through the exhibition space is the workshop area and a number of small studio spaces.  

I got myself a couple of Christmas presents (my mother in law has been asking what I would like so she'll be happy she only has to wrap them!) from the very talented Jo Hill, Emily Notman and Louise Wilson.

I had to finish my shoes off at home.  I changed the lace up ones slightly so as they look more like my own, and shortened the alice shoe design.

I added laces made from strips of cotton, lace and organza.

I added stitched flowers to my alice shoes, and press studs.  Not a great photo I'm afraid as the glue was still wet further up!!

I love my paper shoes :)