Fun in a Doncaster Marquee!

Hello lovelies!

Wow...what a lovely weekend!

I have just returned from a weekend in Doncaster FULL of crafty loveliness!

I've been surrounded by fabric, threads, buttons, different yarns, shiny gems, stamps and so much more... in fact I have been in craft heaven (if there ever was such a thing!)

It was so busy but I did manage to have a quick look around before anyone arrived which was a real treat!

I thought you might like a quick nosey?

This was my first actual major event with thousands of people all wanting to say hello!

I was doing a 'Make & Take' workshop for 100 people as part of Summer Crafts at Doncaster.

The event was organised by Create & Craft TV.

It was wonderful to have the racecourse all to myself (well several hundred as well) early in the morning...

I felt I was trespassing as it was SO quiet.

The sun was so hot even at 8am in the morning but that didn't dull my enthusiasm 

( I don't like the heat at all)

It was the first year that Summer Crafts have ventured into offering customers fabric, haberdashery and yarns as a tester.

The crowds just LOVED it!

So many people said how much they loved the crossover from paper crafting with sewing which is music to my ears....

Sewing is no longer JUST dressmaking or home decor.

Mixed media is becoming very popular as well as collage work and introducing sewing into making cards and scrap booking.

My 'Make & Take' table was offering crafters the opportunity to make a gorgeous vintage heart corsage Tilly Rose style...

Was I nervous?

Well yes I have to say, just a wee bit.... but boy did I have FUN!

I really wasn't sure what to expect...

So many lovely people took the time and trouble to come and find me to say hello and tell me how much they've enjoyed my TV shows which was just lovely.

The night before, I had actually said to Mr T. "what if no-one wants to visit my table?"

I do worry sometimes!

Needless to say I was a very happy bunny when some lovely ladies turned up!

It was fab to see a variety of ages, abilities, a mixture of friends, family and different generations all sharing a love of  being creative... and all leaving with happy smiles :)

So many hearts were sewn!!!

Everyone had the same kit to start with and yet we had 100 different variations...

how wonderful.

I met so many lovely peeps during the event and made loads of new crafty friends.

I am so very lucky to be able to 'work' doing what I love and to be able to share this with everyone over the weekend was simply bliss for me...

A very BIG thank you to you all for making my first show a success!

Here's to next year....

Tilly

xxx

Solitude by the riverbank....

Hello my lovelies!

how are we all?

Do you think summer may have finally made up her mind to stay?

These last few days here in the Cambs Fens have been an absolute delight!

Like many of you, I daydream all the time about living in the countryside in a cute little thatched cottage with a log burner to make it nice and cosy....

but in reality I live in a 1960's chalet bungalow on the outskirts of a city which I really struggle with on a daily basis....

I make the most of what I have though as I am lucky and know

my time will come eventually, but in the meantime I visit the countryside that surrounds us as often as I can...

Last night we visited one of my favourite spots which is bursting full of Mother Nature's beauty.

While hubby spent some time wandering along the river eyeing up the fish available 

I enjoyed being an old woman sat on the riverbank, with my lovely old basket full of pencils, camera and paper, sketching to my hearts delight!

Have you ever watched a gathering of damselflies amongst the reeds?

No?

Neither had I and they absolutely fascinated me....

They are so delicious and delicate fluttering in the breeze of the evening tide.

I tried so very hard to capture their beauty on my little snappy buddy who travels everywhere with me in my pocket but alas I was only lucky to  photograph this lovely beauty...

I managed to get quite a bit of sketching done and can't wait to transform this into a

free motion embroidered piece when I get five mins...

As I watched the sun go asleep I managed to remember the many colours to work with for my textile pictures.

I'm thinking that this image would make a fabulous book cover...

What do you think?

Maybe in a black and white theme?

With some poetic doodles to accompany the design?

Watch out for it on one of my shows!

If you get five mins to visit somewhere similar near you do make the most of these beautiful late nights...

You too can watch the damselflies dancing in the evening to the tune of the choral birdsong...

You never know but you just might see a special viewing of something rather spectacular that inspires you to get creative...

isn't he so majestic?

Just remember that Mother Nature provides us with such beautiful snippets of happiness if only we take the time to see them....

"...discover the beauty in the ordinary things of life,,,,"

Enjoy your day my lovelies!

Tilly

xxx