Creating my rustic barn

The workshop that I booked at the Knitting and Stitching Show was to create a rustic barn - and gave me the opportunity to experiment with the decorative stitches on the sewing machine and cut out fabric and use bondaweb to stick it onto a separate piece of fabric and then stitch it on to secure it. When you put it like that, it’s a strange kind of activity isn’t it?

But it was good fun. Even better I didn’t iron the wrong side of the bondaweb, fusing the interfacing to the iron’s plate, so that’s another win.

The two hour workshop gave the opportunity to use a ready made kit to practice the techniques, and free rein to do whatever the urge took. Thankfully mine was pretty restrained on the day, and I was so enamoured with the process that I did more to finish it off the next day, and have ordered some more bondaweb so I can carry on to my heart’s content.

The photos below show the progress with my rustic barn.

I was quite pleased with my progress in the two hours, so much so that I carried on the next day - first up was the door.

I also added the final window, I wasn’t keen on another animal window so made use of two shutters and a flower pot for a plainer version. Overall I think it’s turned out well.

Now I just need to work out what to do with it now. I may add some grass on the right hand side, but other than that I think I’m done with the decoration. I want to make it into something useful, I can’t see it as a cushion cover or a wall hanging which are the obvious choices. Maybe a bag, who knows? All ideas welcome!

Love this #94 Onome Otite's three dimensional figurative collages

For me one of the best parts of the Knitting & Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace, which I visited last Saturday, is the exhibitions. The items on display are always of such high quality, and to me, are inspirational. These collages by Onome Otite were stunning and definitely caught my eye.

In the morning I’d taken part in one of the workshops and finessed my applique and bondaweb technique - more on that another day - so it’s not surprising I was interested in these. Add in the pattern, texture and colour, and yes I was lured in - there was no way I was escaping.

BAHIA

The stand had the confidence to have space, and was very effective.

It was these series of large figurative collages that stole the show though - they’re as large as they look.

Find out more, and see more of Onome’s work on her website.

Finishing my teal granny holiday project

Increasingly part of my packing list is which crochet project I’m taking away with us, and for our August trip to Lincolnshire that was no different. Holiday crochet is best served by something that requires little thought and attention and after the success of my mustard campfire granny, I was keen to try another. And one that MOH would use at home if the stars ever align again for us to use our fire pit again!

Along the way I acquired some wool from my mum, and with no real plan - other to keep the indigo and green alternating as constants - I welcomed the additions. As it turned out above every 10 alternate rows or so I used a bolder colour, whether that was yellow, pink or purple - and that worked out well too I think.

Apart from when I ran out of purple about 10 trebles from the final corner, which is where the black made an impromptu substitution and bagged itself a place in the border for continuity. This one is about five rows bigger than the mustard one, and again that’s a conscious decision to make it more useable.

As it turned out, it’s also a really good match for the colours we have in our main living room - which was completely unintentional, but welcome. And it also gave me a great place to take some photos, as well the weather’s not very fire-pit like at the moment. I’m hopeful though…

It turned out pretty well, I think - and I don’t think it’ll be my last great granny!