Bronte & Anne came up to the Barn at the beginning of September to spend the day learning how to make felt using the wetfelting method. Felt making is something I didn't think I would be interested in as I had an impression in my head that it involved large amounts of water and lots of stamping up and down and swooshing about in big baths and bowls of water. How wrong could I be! After seeing the totally unique and utterly charming cockeral teacosy made by one friend for anothers hen party I thought that it might be something I'd like to have a go at. One class and I was hooked. Totally. Addicted! I use it mostly as an artwork medium and mix it with embroidery both machine & hand. I am a bit of a lazy felter in that I want to move on to the next piece almost before I've finshed one. I'm always fascinated by watching other people m
0 Comments
I hugely enjoy writing. Fiction and poetry. I don’t' seem to find time to write often and I only seem to do it if there is a deadline. If someone has given me a title or subject and there is a date it needs to be in by. About six years ago I started a two-year Open University Creative Writing course. I completed the first year and passed so went on to start the second year. Life began to get a bit bumpy and I put my writing aside to concentrate on the external 'stuff'. Then four years ago I entered the SWI Federation Show Creative Writing competition for the first time, submitting a poem and a short story. To my complete astonishment I got Gold for my poem and Silver for my short story and won the Cup! That was a bit of a surprise! The Show is held bi-annually so it was held again this year. I was in a bit of a quandary. Do I enter again? How can I top my first year? What to do? After much thought and mental cogitation, I thought I would write something for the entries and if I didn't like them when I finished I didn't have to send them in. The story was to be less than 1000 words and the subject 'A Tall Tale'. No other help or guidance given. So I put pen to paper and came up with the following tale..... A Tall Tale by Kate MacDonald A Tall Tale
Malcolm strolled across the forecourt, seemingly relaxed. In fact he was alert to every sound: each dry leaf blowing along the verge, the discarded coffee cup rolling under a car, each scuffle and scutt, every squealing brake, child cry and horn blast. All had been checked, assessed, and categorised as needing no further attention. The electronic door swished open as he approached. A quick recce of the reception area showed him that it had been a busy evening, the wastepaper bins were full of the ubiquitous plastic coffee cups and chocolate bar wrappers, a couple of the chairs were askew and the floor needed mopping, but it was still early and Ina hadn’t reached Reception yet, offices being first to receive her ministrations. Taking all that into consideration, he decided that on the whole everything was as it should be. Glancing at Lena on Reception he nodded and she smiled back, “Morning Malcolm” she called, as he shouldered his way through the hallway door that always stood ajar, against the rules, but no-one ever shut it. He carried on down the corridor heading directly for the Incident Room, knowing that it was there he was likely to find the object of his affections. There she was, looking through a file at her desk. Her long tawny coloured hair twisted up untidily and secured with a number of biros, tapping her fingers to a tune only she could hear, whilst she studied a series of photographs. He walked up to her chair, standing just behind her, relaxed and at ease for a moment. Sensing his presence, she turned, smiling into his golden brown eyes. “Hello gorgeous,” she crooned, as he moved to sit on the end of her desk, allowing her long slim fingers to massage his neck and stroke his shoulders. “Fancy giving me a hand this morning?” Gazing at her Malcolm simply blinked slowly in assent. He looked over her shoulder at the photographs now lying scattered across the desk. “It’s a tough one, cookie,” she said noticing the direction of his gaze and returning her attention to the pictures. “We don’t know where to start. This one’s eluding us. However many traps we set, he is getting away before the team arrives. It’s as though he knows where we’ll be and when we’re going to strike, ahead of time. There’s a leak in this department big enough to sail the QE2 on.” Her brow furrowed in distress. Tapping the side of her mug she mused wryly, “Time was that the police paid snouts for information on criminal activity, not the other way around!” This case vexed her. If she could only find out who was supplementing their income by apprising this guy of their movements. Catching him would be a real feather in her cap. She could do with solving another crime to prove that the last one hadn’t been a fluke, finding the source of this leak would be a start. She watched Malcolm roaming around the office. His attention was caught by something in the still full wastepaper bin of one of her colleagues. Ina hadn’t reached the Incident Room yet, although the whirring noise of the vacuum cleaner which could be heard coming down the hall bumping into the walls as it was tugged along behind her, signalled she wouldn’t be long. “You can’t be that hungry!” Julia called across, “Anyway, Gary ‘The Hoover’ doesn’t ever leave food!” However, it wasn’t food Malcolm was looking for; he had hoiked out a piece of crumpled paper from the bin and was studying it intently. Curious, Julia went to investigate. Standing next to him she could see that it had been torn from a Police daybook and she bent to pick it up saying, “He’s going to get in to trouble for that if anyone finds out.” Malcolm looked at her intently. A prickle of disquiet ran down Julia’s spine, her guts flip-flopped. She’d had this feeling before, had learnt to listen to it, and to Malcolm. Smoothing the paper out she saw it was a list of dates, and locations she recognised, across the top in pencil was scrawled a phone number. She returned to her desk and started to type, her fingers clicking quickly across the keyboard, then she picked up the phone, dialling the Telecoms department. Whilst waiting for the call to be answered she stole a look over the top of the screen to check that she and Malcolm were still alone. “Yes, Hi Steve, could you look up a number for me?” Listening to his reply she scribbled a couple of notes before replacing the receiver. She sighed with satisfaction. Five minutes later the bin would have been emptied and the leak would have carried on, dripping away, wasting detectives’ time, allowing more drugs to reach the streets, causing more deaths. Now, with the evidence Malcolm had unearthed, and the details confirmed by Telecoms, she could help put a stop to all that. She looked around for Malcolm to tell him what she’d found out, but he’d gone. Never mind, she thought as she got up from her desk, I’ll buy him dinner tonight. Malcolm was stalking along the corridor, proud, upright. He brooked no nonsense, suffered no fools and took no prisoners; ironic since that was his preferred sleeping place. He was often to be found snoozing on the pile of grey blankets on the cell bunk. No-one knew where he came from, no-one knew his real name, for it certainly wasn’t Malcolm, but on that subject he kept a judicious silence. He answered to none and was nobody’s lap dog. He lived alone; he walked alone, and worked alone. Occasionally, on cold nights he could be found tucked into the small of a warm back, helping Julia to right wrongs. A feline criminologist, Malcolm worked for the CSI, Cats of Singular Intelligence at GCHQ and was rightfully DSI Norfolk Alfred Magpie, but Malcolm would do. And so to the poem. Our prompt for this was 'Seasons' and the only guidene was that it was to be no longer than 16 lines. Seasons .......... of the skies by Kate MacDonald A diamond sprinkled black shawl drapes over shoulders of mountains. Mercurial March blows cloudless, moonless, nights. Shedding ice shards, white & sparkling, amongst emerald shoots. Seen at morning’s dawn, the wafer of translucent moon. Skipping over vapour trails from holiday planes, Snow white powder puffs of fluff sail through calm seas of blue. Moonshine white, illumines night time movements. The filament bright sphere firmament high. Shot through with red at the dying of the days, As trees weep leaves, so the skies leak tears. Observed by the harvest lady in her golden light. Riding the horizon, Boadicea of the heavens Heavy, snow filled, clouds creak and groan As they collide. Bumping and bruising cumulonimbus. Pieced through by pin bright stars, Driven on by a blade sharp crescent moon. And that was the last time I wrote anything creative.... but I can feel my fingers itching, a few lines scribbled down in haste before they are forgotten. As other creatures go in to hibernation at this time of year, my creative mind awakens and stretches after a summer of busy. I have made a writing corner on a table in our spare bedroom. It faces the wall rather than the window. Even beautifully wallpapered as it is (by me), in Vanessa Arbuthnott's 'Cow parsley in Duck egg & Cornflower wallpaper it is less distracting than the window, or the television if I sat in the sitting room, or the washing up I would see in the kitchen, I have placed the ironing basket judiciously out of sight behind me. This is my space for writing. For concentrating. For not checking emails and facebook. For clearing my mind of other things. Well, we shall see if anything comes of it! Meanwhile this blog is getting written, course notes getting written up and files of photographs are being organised. Catching up with writing is reminding my fingers where all the letters of the keyboard can be found.
More anon Kx Earlier in the year whilst working on designing and teaching courses with one side of my brain I did some small painted pictures for the Scottish Women's Institute Federation show in April. This was the entry for 'Flowers', it achieved a silver star which I was delighted with. It is painted with acrylics on cotton. And this one was for the ‘Stormy Sea’ category. There were a lot of very impressive very stormy sea pictures. Mine is a bit of a gentle storm, all I can say is that it looked stormier when it was wet! It got, I think. 3 points. About the same time I spent an evening cutting out, not one but two dress patterns.One for a long sleeved tunic in a white on white striped cotton, and a dress type tunic thing in red gingham. Very excited and pleased with my industrialness that evening, I sat down to sew them up, only to discover that I didn't have any white cotton in the house, not a thread. A dozen or more reels in the Cabin & Barn, but not a useable one in the house. Quite a few in my vintage cotton reel collection that I display in an old type setting drawer, but the thread on these has deteriorate too far and wouldn’t survive a modern sewing machine’s tension. I did contemplate getting out one of my hand Singer sewing machines ….. I STILL haven’t sewn up these tunics! Life got a little frenetic, so maybe they’re for next summer now. More anon
Kx Last Monday three ladies came up to the Barn for a hat workshop. "What a FAB class today we all made gorgeous hats, well impressed. Food, company and the teacher excellent. Thank-you Kate." Alka Wedensday saw the first of three holiday workshops for youngsters. The children designed a stuffed animal, drew then cut out patterns, cut out the fabric pinned and then sewed them up finishing off by stuffing them with stuffing from old pillows. Here are a few pictures:
I have been most neglectful of blog writing, other things get right in the way! I put together a wee email of News and I thought I would share it on here too, perhaps it will kick start the habit of writing regularly.
Sometime ago I had planned (even written …. in my head) a wee email to those who are interested in what's happening at the Needlesmiths Studio. Time has passed rapidly and here we are already a week into August. I hope that you’ve been having a good summer despite the somewhat mixed weather. Wet at times it might have been but haven’t we been having some incredible cloud formations? I haven't been on holiday exactly but did spend a lovely couple of days in Fife at a friend's daughter's wedding, near St Andrews, which is my most favorite part of Scotland, sunshiney days, wonderful views, fabulous sunsets and beautiful people, it felt very much like a holday and I came back raring to get on with art projects and courses. Last week saw some junior Needlesmiths designing and making stuffed toys. If you know any that would like to come along on Wednesday this week, we’re going to be making Lantern mobiles. Using a paper lantern as a base for decorating and making small forms to hang from them, think hot air balloon or the sun over a collection of farm animals, space ship & stars anyone? To round off August it is the Artmap Argyll Open Studios weekend ~ Friday 26th to Monday 29th. I am taking part and will have an exhibition of my textile artwork on display in the Barn. Do pop up and say hello at red dot number 29. Then all of a sudden it will be September and the three day long courses at the Barn will be: Saturday 3rd Feltmaking – a day to learn the techniques of wet felting. Monday 5th Lampshade covers – how update an existing tired lampshade with a unique new look. Saturday 24th Messenger Bag – make a useful and capacious bag … from a pair of trousers! ‘Sew More’ starts Monday the 5th of September for six weeks. A more advanced class following on from the ‘Sew Let’s Get Started’ course or for those who can already use a sewing machine but want to get more from it. The ‘Stitching Time’ after school sewing club will also be starting again from Monday the 5th for 10+ and Wednesday 7th for 7+. Both sessions last an hour, start at 4.30 and cost £5. I am delighted to tell you I have been asked by the Adult Education Department to run another series of workshops, both day and evening classes. These will also start in September for six weeks, please get in touch with Sarah Wyatt or Pam Staley at the Community Centre to book a place. Well I think that that is all my news, oh except that I can now take credit card payments, so if you want to book ahead or gift a course to someone you can do so by email or phone. With very best wishes & happy stitching Passementerie (/pæsˈmɛntri/, French pronunciation: [pɑsmɑ̃tri]) or passementarie is the art of making elaboratetrimmings or edgings (in French, passements) of applied braid, gold or silver cord, embroidery, colored silk, or beadsfor clothing or furnishings.[1] Styles of passementerie include the tassel, fringes (applied, as opposed to integral), ornamental cords, galloons,pompons, rosettes, and gimps as other forms. Tassels, pompons, and rosettes are point ornaments, and the others are linear ornaments. from Wikipedia Galloons, pompons, gimp. I love the words used in the textile industry, many out of use today. I'm sitting in front of the fire this afternoon whilst the rain lashes down outside. It's the sort of rain you really do not want to be out in. I love rainy walks ... sometimes.. but today isn't one of those days so Rosie & I have only been out for as long as we've (she's) 'needed' to be. It's one of those days where I am grateful to be able to do some work in the comfort of home and hearth. No need to be in studio or workshop. The Sew Creative course includes an embellishment element, during which we will be doing some hand embroidery. Working on small pieces, combining fabrics and trims, detailling with buttons or beads, using ornamental stitches as well as structural stiching. For use as small brooches, pendants, or necklaces ornamental pockets. These type of small acourtrements fall under the french term 'Passementerie', and I'm stitching some samples and examples. It feels a terribly ladylike activity this afternoon. A pot of tea, some lovely old reference books and a little gentle genteel embroidery.
My parents live on, apparently, 'the second highest hill farm in Argyll'. The views from the top are super, there is a lot of open space, and wind & rain, but sometimes glorious sunshine too. They used to do self catering and bed and breakfast, but stopped a couple of years ago when dad became ill. So there was a wooden cabin, sitting all empty and alone, and there was I just recently moved in to a little house with no spare room to sew in, it seemed like a match made in heaven! I use the little wooden cabin as my sewing studio & I love it. It is full which should really be written FULL of fabric and wool, and Stuff. Anything and everything I could possibly want - although I always find room for more - to be creative with. Dad is getting concerned about floor joists under the weight of all my fabric boxes! There are two bedrooms: One stays as a bedroom for late night sessions and overflow guests from the house, the other is my sewing room, with shelves and drawers full of haberdashery items, buttons and beads, ribbons and feathers, fabric paints and inks and stamps, books and paper, sewing machines, threads, embroiderys silks and wools, and two tables at which to work. A shower room & loo: very useful that shower cubicle .... I keep all my felting equiment in there, but also hanging on it at the moment is a vintage Episcopal Priest's Surplice, and my wedding dress! In the galley kitchen, where I make felt as well as a lot of tea, you're more likely to find a cupboard full of candle making equipment and wax than food. I can no longer call the 'sitting room' area anything to do with sitting .... there often isn't any room on the sofa, and Rosie the fox terrier has the only other chair! Literally floor to ceiling, it is full of boxes of fabrics. And I know where everything is, although that often isn't believed! There is a corner with a book shelf and baskets of wool and yarns, and another bookshelf holds baskets of string, upholstry tape, pots of seaglass and china, an old toy sailing boat waiting for a new pair of sails, a bag of wine corks and a box of old thread bobbins from a mill waiting for inspiration to strike. Should I have an idea, a 'vision' a hankering to make a 'thing', at any time, I can usually find something, somewhere to make it from, and if I can't find it in my studio then dad's is just up the lane and is full of saws and hammers and nails and paints..... I made a decision at the start of this year. I was going to stop making 'things' to sell, as, due to husband's and parent's ill health I'm unable to travel to the sort of Fairs I needed to go to, and to sell 'myself'. I accidently became a tutor in sewing, and upcycling fabrics last year and, it seems, I'm good at it and, most importantly, I enjoy it & people want to come along to the classes. So my busisness direction has changed, and I am delighted to have a new focus for a New Year. I was asked to take a Learn to use your sewing machine and fabric upcycling course at our local Community Centre for Argyll & Bute Council's Adult Education Department, both during the day and an evening class. Then I rented the space for my own courses, a Summer Sewing School & Stitching Time after School Club. Sometimes though it's hard to get the room/day one wants as it is so well used by the community for groups and meetings. So I looked around for another location. One where I could perhaps leave the machines up, one where I could make an insipring creative space. And the Studio Barn was the answer, it's standing 'empty' out of season. Yes it's a little out of the way, but that makes it all the more interesting to get here, the journey starts when you turn off at the Canal and start going up hill, then you turn off the road on to a track and carry on going up hill, then you arrive at the top there's a house and barns and views, and sometimes sheep and cows, and the scruffy little bantam cockerel, Urk, yells a welcome that belies his diminutive size. So choose a course and come and see for yourself what delights await you at the Studio Barn Argyll the home of Needlesmiths Creative Sewing Workshops. More anon Kate :) I had a hankering to change my name. My business name that is. I no longer felt like 'Calico Kate'. My work was heading in a new direction and I felt that my business was growing up. I had no idea what to though. I knew what I didn’t want, it wasn’t to be my name (although others have used theirs’ with great success ~ ‘Emma Bridgewater’ and ‘Cath Kidston’ are two perfect examples), or the pseudonym I use for my art work (‘Frin’ a childhood nickname). I didn’t want it to be located anywhere, although I momentarily considered ‘Sew Fyne’, and I didn’t want it to be a limiting word. I wanted something ‘comfortable’, a single word for preference; I wanted it to be easy to say, so anything Gaelic was out. I was looking for something with the right ‘mouth feel’, something comfortable, thin ‘Toast’ and ‘Nest’. I looked around the kitchen for inspiration but realized I was in the wrong room I’m not doing catering! I went to my studio and dismissed Threads & Threadz, although the floor was strewn with them!
‘Stitch’ hung around for a while in different guises, ‘Stitchkin’ was invented on a dog walk with my father, growing out of Rumplestiltskin somehow, in the way that rambling walks and conversations have a habit of doing. ‘Stitchsmith’ followed and I thought that that was ‘it’. The dictionary definition of a ‘~smith is: a worker in metal. I make my stitches with metal implements. But, I don’t always ‘stitch’. I don’t always sew felt for example. So, that had to go. I looked at what tools I used, and realized that everything I did used a needle, and most of the time the needles are metal …. I was back to ~smith then added ‘needle’. Needlesmith. That’s it. Isn’t it? Maybe it isn’t. Still not quite right. Mulling it over an ‘S’ appeared at the end of it. Needlesmith-S. Needlesmiths. Now that’s better. That IS. IT! I looked at it from all angles, slept on it for a couple of days and was still happy with it. The only other ‘Needlesmith’ is an American company that sells knitting needles. The UK website address was available. And that seemed to clinch it. So ‘Needlesmiths’ I’ve become. A new name; a new direction. Less making and more teaching. I’m thoroughly enjoying planning new workshops, discussing new classes with new clients. Keep an eye on the Facebook page and the Workshops page for new dates and details. All that's left to do now is launch this website .... and have a celebratory tea party in my new workspace. More next time K :) |
Author - Me!
I am a ‘Creative’ - designer/maker/teacher/writer. Vintage sewing notions accumulator; Textile artist & painted lampshades maker. A reader, writer, dreamer, dog walking tea drinker. Categories
All
Archives
February 2024
|