It Started with a Simple Yes.... Part 1

I feel I must start this little post with an apology...

My little home here in Blogland has been patiently waiting for my return since the launch of my book Stitched Memories back in July 2018

Sadly, I have neglected her terribly.

I do hope you she forgives me and understands!

You see since my book launch my life has been turned around in so many ways I wouldn't have even thought possible, some good, some not so good and some even more amazingly bonkers!

And so, why start writing today I hear my reader asking?

Well, I have just returned from a ten day Textile Tour trip to Jaipur with The Craft Travel Company and I am sitting nursing a little fluey virus that has made me stop.

My fingers itching as usual, head buzzing with Indian smiles and time on my hands I thought I would 'go back home...' to where my journey started over 20 years ago....blogging. 

I'm back in my 'Happy Place' again 🥰

So....India? 

How did that happen?

Well, it's simple really.

I look at life with wide eyed lens.

You get one shot at life.

There are no rehearsals...

And so, when I was asked would I consider doing a workshop further afield, never did I think that would mean India!

And so, a year in the planning, a long plane ride and a shorter bus ride we arrived in Jaipur with a wonderful happy grin!

My little family were ready to explore....

Our tour was a Textile Tour exploring the beautiful rich history of textiles based in and around Jaipur, Rajasthan.

Ten days of soaking up the beauty 💖

I went with very little assumptions or expectations other than to make it through the ten days without a 'delli belly' and without passing out through heat exhaustion!

What actually happened really can't be summed up in one little post but it so much more!

No 'Delli belly' and no heat exhaustion, in fact it was that cold I ended up buying socks!

We saw the usual touristy visits, spoke to locals and learnt a little history, ventured into remote villages off the beaten track to see the 'real' side of India and mingled in amongst the hustle bustle of city life with the goats, camels and cows.

We watched the sun rise and the sun set over a city steeped in cultural heritage dating back centuries...

It was magical.

We saw colours, patterns and designs to inspire us, listened to a beautiful mix of new languages and dined on new tastes...

As well as being the most rubbish romantic, I'm a big believer in soaking up life as it is....real experiences...

I always try to see things as Mother Earth intends.

India is renowned for not only her wealth and riches but her poverty and hardship.

Until you actually see her poverty for real I don't think you can really understand or comprehend the impact that has on family life.

And yet, in amongst all of that equation, we were greeted by the most beautiful people sharing their love and warmth with us.

So....what did we actually do on the tour?

A Textile Tour you say?

Yes, but with a Tilly Rose style!

I was asked by the tour leaders to offer four workshops whilst out there.

After months of experimenting, designing and dabbling here and there I finally decided....

I wanted to offer something that related to India, related to Jaipur but more importantly stayed true to my roots of slow stitching and a love of cloth & thread.

I decided to offer a Stitch Wrap, a Tilly Rose Journal AND a little keepsake bag to treasure after the trip....

I wanted the ladies to be able to capture their memories in stitches...

We had such fun!

And of course, you all know me... I like to experiment with the odd technique here and there, so we painted, we dabbled, we diddled, we stitched and we created.....all with a beautiful flavour of India attached 💗

Each piece was individual.

Each piece was a future heirloom.

🧵✂️🧵✂️🧵✂️🧵✂️🧵✂️🧵✂️🧵✂️🧵✂️🧵

Every lady on the tour collected their own snippets from the visits to bazaars and other days out.

It was so lovely to watch a simple idea blossom, all with different blooms.

Ti hear the chatter, ti see the smiles and watch the slow stitchibg take place was just a joy.

We giggled, gossiped, chatted, heard cherished tales and shared our secrets whilst sewing much to the amusement of the staff at the hotel!

Isn't it wonderful how a group of women can create a supportive little family simply through a little love of cloth and thread?

I will leave it there for now and add more details in another post....

Thanks for joining me

Watch out for my next snippets!

Namaste 🙏🏻

Tilly x

The British Quilt & Stitch Village

Hello lovelies!

Happy St.George's Day!

In celebration of all things British I thought it would be a good time to post about my visit to The British Quilt & Stitch Village last weekend...

It was my third year of attending and I have to say I always love going as it is one of my favourites in the calender of sewing events here in the UK.

I know each event has it's own merits but I love this one simply because

it is such a gentle one despite the crowds...

The sort where you can meamble around at your leisure, stop for a cuppa comfortably,

find a decent loo and more importantly receive some friendly smiles and chatter from the exhibitors.

There are always loads of exhibits, competition entries and workshops of differing abilities to see and do, where you can gain a plethora of inspiration regardless of your interests.

If you've read my previous post you will know that I entered another exhibit this year 

called 'Mercia', 

depicting life in the Fens with all their Myths and legends...

I gained a rosette which I was super chuffed with!

(excuse the shocking photo!)

My competition neighbour was this amazing coat which was an incredible piece of art

...totally my cup of tea!

It's been a few years now since I've made myself some wearable art like this simply due to time constraints but I love it and it reminded me to get sewing for myself!

Here is the winning entry in our category...

perfect for a Spring day!

A gorgeous cushion full of daffodil gorgeousness.

So what else was on offer?

Well a little bit of this...

And a little bit of that....

and loads of these....

Textiles, quilts, embroidery, slow stitching,

mixed media and so much more...

It really is like being in a sweet shop full of stitching smiles just waiting to be picked.

The hours of work put in for the show by exhibitors was outstanding.

I'm sure that there would have been many frazzled hours of frustration, pricked fingers,

ragged broken nails, torn cloth, tangled threads, and many a few 'blue' moments for many...

Do you ever think that

someone has stitched their little heart into that piece you are staring at?

It may look odd or not reach the standard of a City & Guilds certificate but do you know something?

That person was brave enough to enter a competition to exhibit their work.

They were brave enough to stand up and shout out their love of cloth and thread.

Something I so applaud!

Happily or sadly however you look at it I only heard a couple of negative comments.

The majority and I really mean the VAST majority of the visitors 

loved seeing the inspiration of offer.

It was so lovely to hear sentences like

 "how did she do that?"

"wow look at all that hand sewing..."

"look at that beautiful fabric..."

Wow I love her patterns.."

Now, lovely reader have you ever considered entering a competition?

Don't be put off...

In order to make an event fresh and exciting we need sewers like yourselves to be like those brave peeps above.

Will you consider giving it a go just for little 'ol me?

If you are interested in entering for next year, the theme is 'The World About Us'

A fabulous scope for so many beautiful things!

There are numerous categories you can enter covering a multitude of skills.

I just know so many of you would be able to create some gorgeous pieces.

I have to say I am very excited. I have my thinking cap on already!

I will post all other photographs on my Facebook page so if you fancy a nosey you can click on the link below ...

Tilly Rose - Textile Artist

Before I go, I must say a HUGE thank you to everyone who visited my stall, took part in a Tilly Rose workshop or simply stopped by to say hello...

I hope you enjoy stitching with the goodies you all purchased and 

create some lovely memories whilst doing so especially if you are dabbling in to the world of mixed media!

I am so blessed to be doing a job that I love and part of that is connecting with so many like-minded peeps who adore some form of stitching, one way or another.

Without you all, there would be no show so thank you for travelling and dropping by.

There are too many of you to mention names and I would probably miss out someone even if I tried...

Just rest assured I very much appreciate your love and support.

Here's to next year at Uttoxeter...

Belated Birthday Wishes Bill!

Hello my lovelies!

Did you know that it would've been William Morris's 132nd Birthday recently?
William was an English textile designer, craftsman, poet, novelist and socialist.

I was lucky enough to visit The William Morris Gallery in Walthamstowe, London a couple of weekends ago....

such a real treat!

I have admired William's work since my school days when I took my 'A Level Needlework' (for those not having a clue what that was, it is the equivalent of today's exams at Sixth Form!)

Most people think of his Orange Blossom designs and not a lot else if I'm honest but he was SO much more!!!!

So why DO I admire him?

Well, he was a quiet rebel of his time, an advocate for preserving traditional textile and needlework skills and a pioneer in the textile industry.

He was also a firm believer in empowering people with knowledge and information.

All of the above reasons totally sum up my philosophy in life I have to say and I know that if I ever I met him we would have been good buddies!

~~~~~~~~~~

When he married his wife Jane and moved into their first home, he taught himself embroidery to 

make some linen panels to decorate the walls which I love the idea of.
He wanted to know how a design worked, how the stitches rested on the fabric and how the design worked with the rest of his home.

His love of embroidery and weaving extended into the textile industry and today his designs are considered some of the finest...
For me he had such a wonderful philosophy of life which I love...

I have always been inspired by his designs.

 I especially love the fact that he wasn't bothered his designs were only an interpretation of a plant, flower or tree etc rather than the actual botanical drawing... something very much frowned upon by many of his day.

He had his own style and own thoughts and again I totally agree with that philosophy.

His free flowing form of design provided the foundation for The Arts & Craft Movement.

Have you ever thought about that question, if you held a dinner party and could invite a guest of your choice from present or past... who would you invite?

Well, Bill (I'm sure he wouldn't mind me calling him Bill) would definitely be on my list...

At school I was forever being told I didn't conform to the usual rules of art...

I struggled to sit for hours attempting to sketch an orange or a vase of flowers and yet these days

I don't give it a second thought and quite honestly don't give a noodle if my drawings are not up to The Royal School Of Art Society standard.

I simply sketch what I see in a way I can interpret my view.

At school I thought I was a failure at Art simply because I couldn't get my proportions and perspective 100% right!

Would love to meet that Art teacher today and tell him my thoughts that's for sure!

Art in whatever form is only beautiful in the eye of the beholder.

There are no rules.

For any design student or anyone with a love of design and art I strongly recommend a visit to The William Morris Gallery.

I know you will be inspired...

Even his garden has a little of Bill's inspiration about it as you wander along the paths...

Explore the internationally-renowned collections of the William Morris Gallery and learn more about the life and work of this remarkable individual and his artistic collaborators by simply clicking on the link 

  William Morris Gallery

I try to sketch a doodle here and there every day as I go about my daily life...sometimes nothing special and yet sometimes something so very special... simple snippets of everyday life that

we all take for granted in our hurried lives

have you ever doodled?

Why not give it a go...

just remember there are never any rules in life especially when it comes to art.

Happy doodling my lovelies....

Tilly

x x x