swap goodies, an exhibition and a meeting...

On Friday myself and Ms Bester met with the lovely Katy from imagingermonkey and her son, ginge ( obviously that's not his real name). We visited the Skin and Bones exhibition at Somerset House where I was delighted to bask in Katy's reflected glory....the woman was only wandering around the show with one of the exhibition items on her back...I tried to persaude her to hop up on the plinth and be done with it but strange as it may seem she managed to resist. The show was great. Lots of very sculptural fashion pieces juxtaposed with interesting architectural models, designs and photographs. I was most interested in the clothes: think Junya Watanbe, Yohji Yamamoto et al etc along with Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood from closer to home. Well worth a visit, if only to see Mc Queen's amazing appliqued skirt with leather bodice - I almost wept. Don't go expecting pretty floral prints and a fashion trends to follow for this season, this is serious stuff, imprevious to such paltry concerns...

We then retired to Gabriel's Wharf for some lunch and swapping of our sewn goods.

Katy produced a beautiful Astronoughty for Ms. Reva's fifth birthday in a couple of weeks time



and a great bag for all the child's bits'n'bobs...

how cool is that, it's even got a tag with her name on...she is going to love it!

and for me a really lovely little tea coaster...

Katy has obviously been paying attention to my interminable ramblings on the subject of that fine beverage. Ms Reva set up the following shot, to showcase both the lovely new coaster and my favourite vintage teacup as well as the teapot she helped me paint when she was two years old.

See that blob inside the lid? That's Reva Girl's thumbprint...

Thanks so much Katy - you are a star!

I mentioned to Katy previously that I was thinking of making an owl and pussycat mini-quilt, she said it was her favourite piece of nonsense verse and I didn't need any further encouragement...


here's the back:

difficult to see much with all that Michael Miller stripe going on but as I was making the quilt I reflected on the fact that I actually sometimes like the backs of such things more than the fronts. After I had done the appliqued front with the owl and cat on I just loved the wrong side with the stitched outline (before I added the striped backing). It reminded me that when at art school most of my drawings focussed on negative spaces rather than positive, there appears to be something about what is absent rather than present that attracts me...hmm, may need to give this a little more reflection...

other swap news:

sneaky peek of my actual Lucy Locket mini-quilt swap for Marie


I really hope she likes it...

and a finished Functional Felt Swap pincushion and needle-roll soon to be off to a surprise recipient

These are made from a thrifted felted scarf (the blue) and cashmere sweater (the pages in the needleroll) along with some really pretty vintage trims that were in my stash. I really want to keep them for myself as I need one of each (well, I actually do have a needle book but the cashmere pages in this one are just gorgeous so I want it!). The pincushion was inpired by this tutorial right here...I didn't follow the tutorial right to the letter (far too lazy for that) but the end result is pretty much the same.

next up - the doll swap...am nervous about this one I must say, never having made a doll before...wish me luck...no, more than that send me inspiration...