Quilty

Mini-quilty to be precise. 
Today we have been making small, corduroy leaves for a commissioned panel. They are pesky little critters to manoeuvre under the sewing machine foot...

Pear Shaped

This week's Friday workshop at Cafe Salvation is based upon the infamous pear-drop shaped pattern known as the Paisley or Boteh. We will be making paisley pattern brooches from felt, beads and lots of lovely handstitch. There is still time to bag a place if you're interested in taking part. 

Café Salvation @ Posterity, Lower Mitchell Barn, Worcester Road, Ledbury, HR8 1EG
10am -12.15pm
Friday 24th May 2013
£20 (includes all materials & equipment)  




 
Contact:kathleen@murgatroydandbean.co.uk

Lumps & Creases

A fray, a pinch and a meandering stitch...

Birds of a Fabric Feather

We have two places left on next Tuesday's bird making workshop at theGALLERY in Bishop's Castle. If you'd like to take part please leave a comment below, including your telephone number or email address, and we'll get back to you.

 

 Learn how to make a hand stitched, 3d textile bird using felt, vintage fabric and haberdashery. You can choose to make him into a hanging decoration or standing on his own two feet. 

Great fun to make.

Murgatroyd & Bean creative handstitch workshops at theGALLERY

 theGALLERY, 32 High Street, Bishop's Castle, Shropshire, SY9 5BQ Phone: 01588 630555

The Curiosity of Sunshine

Warm sunshine, newly busy bees and the soothing call of the wood pidgeon enticed Bean to take his design work outside yesterday afternoon. When thinking through his ideas, Bean's favourite method for applying colour to paper is to use watercolour paint or watercolour pencils which require a wash of water to make the colours come alive. On a fallen log Bean set up his paints, brushes & water pot ready to work on his designs.
Sunshine, feeling curious, kept peeping over Bean's shoulder to see what he was up to, warming his long ears & whiskers as she did so. Pleasant though this was, within a short time the water in Bean's paints began to dry up as quickly as he was using them. A game of hide & seek began as Bean found new shady spots to work in and Sunshine found him. This continued for some time until Bean could bear it no more, he packed up his paints and retreated indoors. 
Poor old Bean. Poor curious Sunshine! 

It's beautifully sunny again today. Bean is painting indoors... 

Wedding Favours

Spring brings wedding season which in turn brings requests for hand crafted gifts to give as wedding mementoes. Here's a glimpse of one such commission we made this week...

Pym's Clothing

One naked little Pym waiting patiently for his fitting

When Pym opened his eyes to a bright, sunny morning he knew it was going to a good day - for today was the day that Pym was to be kitted out in new clothes!

If you were anywhere near Ledbury today we wouldn't be surprised if you heard the hoots of laughter coming from this morning's workshop at Cafe Salvation, 'Clothes for Pym the Peg Doll'. 

From the moment the naked little pegs were presented to the group the smiles & giggling began. Thereafter scraps of fabric were positioned and 'auditioned'  as potentially garment worthy for the wooden folk. Using tiny offcuts, scraps of wool & bits of old lace, the group got inventive. Participants worked free-hand - no templates were used. Instead fabric was literally folded, ruched, puckered and secured in place with teeny mouse stitches. These garments are true one offs! 

A selection of CJ's peg dolls

Within our merry band of makers today we had a true peg doll aficionado, whom we'll call CJ, who has a collection of at least 113 peg dolls. CJ kindly brought along a selection of these dolls (sporting some very natty doubled-breasted tailoring) for us to see. It wasn't long before the M&B pegs were making their acquaintance and swopping notes about their outfits...

So here's how the making progressed...

The swoopy pipe cleaner arms give this 'Wiltshire Berry' clad Pym a jaunty air!

An M&B Fraingel gets acquainted with CJ's monk!

What amazing multi-thread hair!

There was even a mini tiara...

Here's a photo to end with. Original Pym, starry eyed, surrounded by a bevvy of wooden, fabric clad beauties. Way-to-go Pym!