One of the delicious slip covers ready to be stitched to fit the book. Well that is the last workshop for this year. It was great to back at Foredown Tower , you may have noticed it is now one of my favourite places to teach. I had six fabulous students on the course who worked very hard and were good enough to help with eating the cakes.       One of Claire's lovely samples ready to iron onto the Decovil light. The workshop was 'A New Starti ng Po int'. I have never known a workshop to be so popular, it certai n l y seems to have piqued everyones interest. The idea is to make some gorgeous surfaces by layer ing old newp apers with painted Bo ndaweb and all things spar kly. Gilding flake seems to be the most favoured spa r kle this year. Y ou can get this from www.craftynotions.com     Cla ire tearing up one of her samples ready to iron to the Decovil light.  The pa per layers are then ir oned onto pre-co loured Dec ovil light, the new iron-on interfa

One of Gina's beautiful pieces that ended up as a book cover. Only having four students on the course was a great treat for me - I'm not sure how the students felt, as many of you will know, I'm not very good at leaving my students alone to work in peace . . . I don't quite know why there were only four bookings, I have taught in December or January with ten every year so it is a mystery. I know some students worry about the possibility of snow, and it has snowed hard once or twice at this time. Anyway, we had a great time and it was a first for me so that was good. The students worked hard and fast so I had to introduce more than I was expecting to. It's good for me to be 'kept on my toes'. I can get a bit blase if things are too easy. 'Jewelled Surfaces' involved layering newspaper, painted Bondaweb and all kinds of glittery things and then reinforcing them with different iron-on interfacings. It's a tough job, but someone has to do it

  Vicki's gorgeous sample. Torn layers of newspaper layered with painted Bondaweb and sparkly bits and then printed onto. After a fabulous weekend at Foredown Tower selling my jewellery it was a quick turn around to unload the car and re load ready to teach at West Dean College. This week it is Jewelled Surfaces for Decorative Textiles. This is a newspaper based course along with my favourites, gilding flake and printing. The idea is to create sumptuous surfaces with newspaper and then iron the papers onto iron-on interfacing to give support to make vessels, jewelry, boxes . . . We will see what is achieved by Thursday lunchtime. I love teaching at West Dean,  www.westdean.org.uk the grounds are stunning, everyone is very friendly and of course the food is fantastic.  The girls busily painting Bondaweb.    Colour washed newspaper.     Decorating the torn and layered newspaper samples.   A colourful torn and decorated area that has been printe

  Here we go flying head long into the Festive season. It's the third of December already aaRRGGHH!!!! As part of my procrastination exercises to keep me from settling down to write the book, I am sorting out my jewellery for this weekend. As part of the Brighton Christmas Open Houses, Foredown Tower is opening for one weekend and putting on a Craft Fair. There will be all kinds of textile crafts and gifts plus my sister selling her gorgeous cookies and chocolates and I will be there making a lot of noise and having lots of fun. Here are some of the new range that I have just finished -       These are all layered newspaper based.  These are my new foiled pierced drops.   . . and my new two layer foiled studs.  A selection of newspaper and foil studs. . . . and my brooches. I am very pleased with this collection - let's hope I sell a few bits as my workshop at Art Van Go didn't run this week which is a great shame. It is always