Silks And Satins And Buttons And Bows…

…and all kinds of haberdashery and crafty bits. Yesterday I went off to the NEC in Birmingham- for the combined Hobbycraft/Fashion Embroidery and Stitch/Sewing for Pleasure show. I had a flyer in the post, and noticed that they were displaying the costumes from the film of Les Miserables, and Bob said “You should go”. I dithered a bit because of the cost [tickets £12 on the door] but then discovered that I could exchange £3 of Tesco vouchers for a ticket. That is a bargain! Furthermore, the ticket is a generic ICHF one, and covers any of their shows in 2014. So I knew that if I didn’t get there this week, I could use it for the autumn event. [Details here ]

I left home before 8am, and arrived way too early, so parked the car, then sat down with a coffee and met a charming lady called Sharon who was also visiting the show. She designs wirework jewellery. Check out her Facebook page, to see the lovely items she makes. Her business is called “Shiny Stuff Designs” We queued together to go in- then kept bumping into each other all morning!

I have to say that I did not enjoy the show as much as in previous years. There seemed to be loads and loads of papercraft stuff, all very much the same. I did make a little Easter chick box with Cathie Shuttleworth, a papercraft template designer. That was good fun!

Loads of stands had signs this year saying “No photography”, which I guess is to prevent people copying their ideas. The lady at the display of gorgeous Palestinian Embroidered Wedding Dresses wanted me to buy the book – but I declined. However in the ICHF advert, there is this detail of a Bethlehem dress from the 1920s

There seemed to be no restrictions of snapping this knitted Mum reading to her child- loads of people were photographing her!

I was surprised that the “Display of Les Mis Costumes” was a mere six outfits! I had hoped for a dozen at least. But here they are  - 1 Valjean, 2 Javerre, and 3 Thenardiers.

As I was taking these, two women were standing behind me. “Can’t see what the fuss was about. I hated the film. Nothing cheerful in it at all”  We all have very different opinions about the cinema, don’t we! It wasn’t clear to me why Sacha Baron Cohen, Helena Bonham-Carter and Russell Crowe were pictured, but not Hugh Jackman, as far as I could tell. I had hoped to see Cosette’s wedding dress on display, but sadly her costumes were all absent.

One of the best stands was the Leicestershire “Go Learn” display, where Andrea was happy for me to take a few pictures. There were lots of pieces [artwork, poetry, textiles] representing two things for which this county has been famed in the past – corsets and coal!

Much of this work is done through the museum at Snibston, which I know I have mentioned before. Sorry I don’t have many pictures to share with you. I spent a little bit of money – three craft magazines which together cost a fiver [and came with cover gifts and a small goodie bag] a transfer pen, for some embroidery I am planning- and finally a pompom making set.

Having seen all I wanted, I left, and was home for lunch by 1pm! I enjoyed myself, and was pleased that I did not succumb to buying any more wool or fabric for the Great Stash.If you are thinking of going to any ICHF events, I would recommend checking out the Tesco Clubcard offer to save 75% on your ticket.

I wonder if anyone else reading this blog is visiting the NEC this week? Perhaps we passed each other on our way round the stands! If only I’d thought sooner, I could have mentioned I was going and maybe met up with other bloggers.

Three Minutes On Thursdays #7–Tooth Fairy

Three useful things to keep in your armoury – a tube of toothpaste [the really cheap white stuff] a container of dental floss [not dental tape], and any old toothbrushes which are beyond using on your pearly whites.

The toothpaste is brilliant for cleaning [and deodorising] stained hands* – think beetroot, blackberries…Just massage it in, and then wash off with your usual soap. It is also good if children’s faces become stained with facepaints. I recommended this to a parent on November 1st last year, when she lamented the fact that her child had to come into school still showing signs of the pirate beard and ‘tache she had drawn for Halloween on the night before. It’s safe and non-toxic, and it works! Toothpaste shifts oil and tar stains from your feet after barefoot walks on the sand. And burn marks from the soleplate of your iron.

You can use an old toothbrush and some paste too for cleaning brassware or jewellery items. I started cleaning my Gospel Bell with regular Brasso, but finished off with paste and brush because it really gets into the crevices. Rinse it off afterward and buff up with a soft cloth.

Dental floss has loads of uses, outside of oral hygiene!

• At Christmas, string cranberries or popcorn to make garlands.
• Restring broken necklaces – it is really strong
• Use it to hang pictures
• Wind a length between your fingers and use it to slice soft cheese without squashing it
• Re –sew buttons which keep coming off children’s coats
• Finally, there’s the Martha Stewart trick, of using it to slice sponge cakes neatly, into two or more layers.

* yes, we do have some Swarfega for cleaning our hands after oily tasks on the motorbike etc. It is great for grease, but it doesn’t shift stains as effectively as toothpaste. And furthermore, Bob’s current tub is not the ‘original’ green gel, it is yellow stuff somewhat akin to polenta, and I find it rather strange!!

To Everything, Turn, Turn, Turn…

We were reading Ecclesiastes 3 last Sunday, and in the afternoon, I was playing the Pete Seeger song. When I did that knitting for the London City Mission recently, the cardigan pattern was knitted in one piece, and the shaping was done by turning rows. I became quite fascinated by this technique, it isn’t one I have used much in the past.

I picked up this super book in the library on Saturday. I really like Debbie Bliss designs, and they are usually enjoyable to knit up.

There was a matinee jacket, knitted in one piece with much turning, and it needed some “Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino” – which is somewhere between DK and 4ply in weight.

I had found some yarn labelled “baby DK” in my stash – but it is tending towards 4ply – so I am attempting to knit the jacket. It involves lots of [a]turning and [b] keeping stitches on a holder whilst you work on other parts. It was a good activity travelling on the train to London and back for my WWDP committee – and I had some interesting glances, and a few questions from other passengers, and the needles went round and round in my hands!!

Has anyone else done a ‘turning’ pattern? [I have learned about wrapping the yarn round at the turn, so that there are no holes in my work!]

All Roads Lead To…

On my walk to the village Post Office I pass many signs of spring, the flowers are blossoming - not only in gardens, but in unexpected places under hedges and along the paths

Even in the hedge at the Manse, a surprisingly tall, solitary white snowdrop blooms in contrast to the glossy black berries.

The tree on the corner is covered in blossom

Here’s the tub near the chapel – and this tin bath of daffs, and the bucket of hyacinths look like they are posing to be photographed for ‘Country Living’ magazine, I think!

But who is this lurking among the miniature daffs, with his little toadstool ? PomPom, do you know anything about these chaps?

A whole colony, cavorting happily under the bushes in Mr M’s garden.

It seems that in our village, we can say with confidence

All roads lead to Gnome!!

Pulitzer Prize

Do you know about Lilly Pulitzer? She was born Lilian McKee, and went to school with Jacqueline Bouvier [then Kennedy, then Onassis] but married Peter Pulitzer [grandson of the journalist who established the P. Prize in 1917] Peter was also the owner of a number of citrus groves in Florida. Lilly started a juice stand in Palm Beach using the family’s oranges.

She kept getting juice stains on her clothes, so started making herself shift dresses in splashy prints. The dresses were so popular that in the end she sold more frocks than fruit juice and started a fashion company. The rich and famous women of Palm Beach – Roosevelts, Vanderbilts, and of course, Jackie started wearing them. Here are a crowd of them photographed together in 1964. Pulitzer Prints made big bucks!

When my neighbour gave me the yellow fabric, she also gave me a lovely splashy pink/purple/blue/green print. It reminded me immediately of Lilly Pulitzer prints. So I used the Lisette pattern again and made a tunic. I made the sleeves without a ruffle [too fussy]

I found some turquoise blue vintage buttons in the stash for trimming.

Also I used some Guterman multi-colour thread to do the decorative top stitching round the neckline, sleeves and hem.

I’m really pleased with this little top which I shall wear over leggings.  Lilly died last year, but her designs remain popular.

Another project to cross off!