Fruit of the loom!

It certainly feels like spring really has arrived...I spent the morning in the garden playing on a peg loom from Mother Goose. I had just found a bagful of wools (some carpet grade) in Emmaus and decided to make a bolster or rug ... can't decide which yet. I'd never used a loom like this before but Steffi's instructions were easy to follow and it just took a little bravery the first time I removed the pegs and pushed down the work. After that it was easy-peasy. For ease and speed of weaving I've used a 'Heath Robinson' contraption made from a plastic bic biro case!
  These looms are made by local people at the Nailsworth Community Workshop (Tel 07971 737626). You can achieve amazing results on them using both familiar and unusual materials such as yarns, unspun fleece, rags, even strips of old T shirts and plastic bags - great for recycling. Children and people with learning difficulties find them simple to use and very therapeutic - as did I!
  If you want to weave with finer yarn Cornhill Pets and Country Crafts in Stroud have some double peg looms with both wooden and thin plastic pegs which are spaced much closer together.

By the way, Julie Wickham from the Stroud Valleys Project (Tel 01453 753358) is looking for crafty people to make goods to be sold not-for-profit for their charity. If you have any ideas for knitted, crochetted, knotted, embroidered, appliqued or woven handicrafts do let her know. Come on folks - support your local community and get weaving!

Let's build an igloo!

Stroud Valleys Project have arranged a training session in how to make a living willow sculpture for Wednesday February 19th (the Wednesday of half term). Norah Kennedy, willow weaver extraordinaire, http://www.norahkennedywillowworker.co.uk will be providing the training and the lovely people at JPR Environmental http://www.jprwillow.co.uk will be supplying the living willow structure - an igloo (a dome with a tunnel) suitable for children up to the age of 8. If you would like to come on it, contact Julie Wickham at Julie@stroudvalleysproject.org.

As it is half term you are welcome to bring children along with you, as long as you are responsible for them and ensure they are well behaved and don’t stop others on the course from learning.
The course costs £20 (£17 for Friends) and runs from 10-1 and will help to raise valuable funds for the Stroud Valleys Project charity. All participants will receive an instruction sheet on how to make this sculpture, along with advice on where to source living willow locally.
There are 12 spaces on this course so if you are interested book now!

Yuletide wreaths & milk bottle angels!

In an effort to get well and truly into the Christmas spirit my friend Val Bowen agreed to show me how to make a wreath from leaves, berries and cones found in my garden (luckily I just got in ahead of the birds for the last remaining berries and rose hips, but of course I'll be feeding them regularly over winter so I don't feel too guilty). We spent all morning wrapping moss round a wire base and fixing with florist's wire. We then made little 'bouquets' of holly/bay/yew leaves with some rose hips and holly stems and berries mixed in. These were wired over the moss, the exposed wire then being covered by other bits of foliage pushed deep behind the original wire wrapping the moss. I also made a 'bouquet' of different shaped fir cones for the top of my wreath...not bad for a first attempt if I do say so myself! Val's lovely wreaths can be found at the plant stall at Nailsworth Country Market every Friday.

For more festive cheer I collected empty 1litre milk cartons, cut angel shapes out following the patterns found in the Winter issue of BuyLOCAL and then decorated each one with Rub and Buff gold paint from Kendrick Street Gallery in Stroud and stuck on sparkly sequins and shapes with PVA glue from Mother Goose in Nailsworth. These look amazing hanging round the room or even outside on a tree.

Upcycled Christmas bauble

Having just finished the Winter issue I couldn't resist posting a picture of one of the decorations we're featuring. I raided my button box for various vintage buttons and then got some pearl headed pins, a styrofoam ball and ribbons from Steffi at Mother Goose in Nailsworth and wiled away an hour or so making this upcycled bauble. We also feature lots of other brilliant ideas of Steffi's - so don't miss it!

Support your secret garden!

‘Secret Artist’ is a fundraiser for Stroud’s very own Secret Garden, an 18th century Walled Garden hidden away behind the Museum in the beautiful grounds of Stratford Park. As work continues on opening up the garden , so does fundraising for this exciting project. ‘Secret Artist’ offers you a chance to acquire an affordable work of art on a postcard, as well as supporting a good cause at the same time.

Talented local artists and art students from Stroud School of Art are busy creating beautiful works of art for this special weekend exhibition. Rumour has it that there will once again be an eclectic and fascinating display of postcards adorning the walls of Gallery 2, textiles and photography as well as drawings and paintings, perhaps even mosaics and jewellery too.

The first Secret Artist postcard received this year came from award winning, internationally acclaimed illustrator and graphic designer Tony Meeuwissen. Tony Meeuwissen has lived in the Stroud hills and valleys for over 30 years. From album covers to Penguin book jackets, Royal Mail stamps to award winning books, his intricate and witty designs have delighted us for decades. His V&A commissioned playing cards ‘The Key to the Kingdom’ won him the WHSmith illustration award, and his Weather postage stamps were voted 'best loved stamps' of 2001 … the person who’s lucky enough to win Tony’s work is very, very lucky indeed!

So how does ‘Secret Artist’ work exactly? As the name suggests its something of a mystery … Art lovers and Museum visitors are invited to help raise much-needed funds for the Garden by coming along to the Museum on 16 and 17 November and buying a ‘Secret Artist ticket’ for £15 before they run out. Each ticket entitles you to one postcard … but you won’t know which one until a week later when you come to collect it or when you receive your card by post!

… do save the dates, share the secret and support your local Museum! 

Contact for further information  Abigail Large, Museum Administrator, tel: 01453 763394 email abigail.large@stroud.gov.uk

Detail of the 18^th Century ornamental Walled Garden gate  © Steve Russell

Walled Garden teasels  © Dave Cockcroft 

Basket case

There as another basket making day at Stroud Brewery on Sunday 8th December 10am - 4pm. It is open to all. Older/patient children can come with an adult, age 10ish and above. If you're interested, the teacher, Kamar, will show you how to make a Christmas hamper basket using different coloured willow. Bring a woolly jumper in case it's chilly. Also please bring a simple dish to share for lunch. These days usually book up quickly so please email jadebashford@hotmail.com to let her know if you would like a place. The cost is £35 per person including materials. If you book and can't come you will still be asked to pay or to find someone to come instead of you. Here's the basket I made on the last course - it's about 24 ins in diameter and is utterly fab!

Fix it for free!

Now here's a clever recycle/upcycle idea...this is a very different kind of workshop.  Based on the Repair Café movement in Holland, the aim is to fix or repair any garment or electrical/mechanical device you can get to the café – for free! Hosted by Lee Townsend at the Lockkeepers Café, there will be experienced engineers and sewing/machining volunteers from Transition Stroud to try to fix whatever you bring. You get it fixed (hopefully)  - and for free, the planet benefits as you don’t have to buy a new one and we all have a relaxing time over a coffee at your local café.

Date: Sunday October 20th

Time: 2.30pm to 4.30pm

Venue: Lockkeepers Cafe, Wallbridge, Stroud

Cost: Just buy a cup of coffee!

Best to book a slot to let us know if you have clothes to be mended or mechanical/electrical goods to be fixed.  So email: erik.w@virgin.net - or ring 07725 900666