Sunday 7 December 2008

The best laid plans.........

I have not had my day stitching as I promised myself.
This was a sample I made the other night, as I want to make a vessel using Sutton Hoo as the inspiration. The right hand side was attached with hand stitching and the left side was by machine. The hand stitching is better for what I have in mind as it is more pliable and means that I don't have to make it square.
Thursday night was spent collecting all my evidence to go with my papers ready to hand into Court on Friday. It is surprising how long it takes!
I spent Friday evening getting my bags packed ready for Cottenham on Saturday.
An early start, but the roads were empty and we got there in time. It was decided that the 's' would be dropped from our name and we will now be known as Fen Edge Textiles. I have got to get my finger out! I have a lot to do by the next meeting. 2 A.T.C.'s for swapping, my 'dangly thing', a profile on myself and a photo(UGHHHH!!!!) asap for our website, which is under construction, some items to sell to raise funds to pay for our exhibition and develop my ideas for my vessel.
My day of stitching didn't happen as my son who has been decorating his bedroom had the carpet fitter in early this morning. He emptied his room into my playroom and bedroom. I was unable to get in through the door until this evening.
I also popped up to the churchyard today, as it is 7 years on Tuesday since my oldest son Ashleigh, was killed in a car accident, an event that was to change my life in more ways than one!
A few months after the accident, on a whim, I went to a quilt show in Chelmsford and I saw a quilt that a lady had made to celebrate her husbands retirement, lots of blocks depicting his hobbies and interests,(I wish I knew her name so I could thank her). I decided that I would make a quilted wall hanging to celebrate my sons life, but as his life so short and his interests were cars and music, I had a problem with a design. It was then that I decided to use a poem that one of the mothers where I work had given to me at the time of the accident, it was read out at his funeral, and I decided to translate this into my wall hanging. I went to my first the first meeting of the new patchwork group that Delia had started. She said to me that my stars needed points, 'why not foundation piece'. I have to say a big thank you to Delia, it was her words that made me decide I wanted to learn much more about patchwork and quilting, having only dabbled before. I have since done C & G, met lots of wonderful people who are happy to share their knowledge, been on courses as far away as Bramble Patch,been to inspiring exhibitions and shows and last but not least spent loads of money! I look at my wall hanging as it it hangs in the room where I sew, I know that it has many flaws, but it was the beginning of my journey.
( 1 large star represents each year of his life)
This evening, I managed an hour and a half of stitching on my Egyptian hanging. It's been some time since I have done anything on this and I need to get it finished this week so I can start on my Cottenham homework.

1 comment:

Julie said...

What a beautiful way to remember your son Sharne. Thank you for sharing your journey and the lovely poem which I had not heard before. I am so sorry for the loss of your son. This time of year must be particularly difficult for you. I hope you have lots of wonderful memories of him. Your quilt was an inspiration.