Starting this months challenge

 

Today I decided I needed to make a start on my May Chookshed challenge. The challenge this year hasn't been as easy as previously for various reasons. In January the magic number was 3. My number 3 was to start a new quilt for my brother but my machine was still not home from its service so I switched my number 3 and number 10. Number 10 was my frog stitcheries.

These were all completed in January and I now need to make the blocks. In February number 8 was called, my quilted Jacket. This moved the project forward but I still need to add a sleeve, finish the lining and add the binding to the sleeve cuffs and all round the main body.  Sorry I can't find the photo and currently this project is back in my seiwng cupboard waiting for a time window to finish it off.

March was number 2, my Japanese style quilt. I was waiting for some thread for the fish pattern I wanted to use. I copied the pattern out and I did eventually receive the thread through the post but I haven't started any stitching. Unfortunately this project didn't get its month because of the postal system misplacing my thread order.

April was my switched number 10 (3), my brother's quilt, but he contacted me to ask if I would put it on hold. No problem I just deleted the quilt and exchanged it for my Grandmother's Garden quilt. I'm very pleased I did as I got a lot of work done on this quilt last month and I plan to have this finished before the end of 2026.

I had my fingers crossed when I looked to find out the number for May and got a little over excited when it was 1 - my embroidered table cloth. A month of embroidery is just perfect. Obviously if time allows I'll work on other things as well but slowly hand stitchiing on this piece is so relaxing. I want to try and finish the whole side. I did some stitching on this yesterday evening and in between jobs today I've added more stitches.

The sides are not that long as the cloth is meant for a small occassional table or in my case my small garden table. The table always looks more inviting with an embroidered cloth on it.....along with scones with jam and cream and maybe a nice cake. Oh and don't forget the tea. I'll move my hoop along a little when I do some stitching this evening. 

Yesterday I didn't quite finish off all the photos I took at the Women in Print exhibition, so here are the last few.

First up is  Peace, Love and Librerty Scarf. The scarf design was by Megan Pearce (B 1989) in 2025 and the artwork is by Holly Marler.

This scarf is called Ianthe Garden Scarf. The scarf was designed by Emma Shortland (b 1997) in 2020 and the artwork is by Holly Marler 

This scarf is called Flower Scarf and was by Colleen Farr (1932 - 2021) It is made of silk and c 1960

This Batik Scarf was designed by Jessie Marion King (1876 - 1949) It is resist printed silk from the 1920's

I took a photo of the label and got a clear image so you can read it.

Kon-Tiki was designed by Hilda Durkin (dates unknown) It is roller printed cotton furnishing fabric from1956

I just had to take a photo of these curtains. Bauhaus curtains were designed by Susan Collier (1938 - 2011) and Sarah Campbell (b 1948) They were printed on cotton furnishing fabric in 1972. I love colour but these are a bit over the top for me.

The label below gives you the information about the sofa and also the dress below.

The picture below Design for Poppy Amelie was done in 2020 by Polly Mason (b 1975) It is pencil crayon on paper

and finally I took this last photo because I liked the dress. This is a gala dress in Peacock Manor. The fabric was designed by Natasha Murray (b 1984) and it was hand painted in the Liberty studio. Peacock Manor is a new iteration of the well known Hera design created by Arthur Silver in 1887. This pattern was created by digitally overlaying hand painted artwork on Silver's classic design. This could not have been done without digital technology. The fabric is 2025 on silk satin.

I hope you've enjoyed the designs. Our next trip is in two weeks time to Chester. This is specifically to see some quilts.

I'm hoping to get some more embroidery done on the tablecloth this evening and tomorrow I'm back at work. We are supposed to be having rain over this week but it hasn't rained so far today. In fact it's been rather nice.

Take Care

Lyndsey

A visit to the William Morris Museum

Yesterday John and I travelled to Walthamstow in north London to visit the William Morris Museum. The day was perfect, with clear blue skies and a few fluffy clouds. The walk from the station took about 15 minutes and gave us a chance to see the local shops. The museum is housed at Water House, a substantial Grade II* listed Georgian home. The extensive grounds of the building are now a public park, known as Lloyd Park.

The posters by the gate for the Women in Print exhibition.

There is no charge to visit the museum or the exhibition. We started our visit in the rooms dedicated to William Morris. Morris (24 March 1834 - 3 October 1896) was an English textile designer but also a whole lot more. He was a poet, a writer, an artist and also a socialist activist with the Arts and Crafts movement. I didn't take many photos in this part of the museum but here are the few I did take. 

I enjoyed seeing this fabric hanging from the ceiling in the area of the museum where the process of dying and printing fabrics was considered.

Below is the mahogany Saville armchair that was introduced into the furniture range in the early 1890s. 

There several examples of wallpaper on display but I liked this one as it wasn't too dark.

To find out more about William Morris you can follow this link  There was a lot to see and learn about his friends, family and his work. I enjoyed finding out about the man behind the name. However we had come to see the Women in print exhibition and I've got quite a few photos to share with you.

The exhibition was conceived in partnership with Liberty Fabrics as part of the design house’s 150th anniversary. This exhibition highlights the role and contributions of women textile designers. The blerb states that women are often stereotyped only as consumers of clothing and textiles but this exhibition was showing the key role they played and still play in keeping Liberty at the forefront of fashion.

The Prado Biba Trouser suit by Barbara Hulanicki (b 1936) for Biba and the Liberty fabric designed by Olive Fisher (dates unknown) Biba were known for their bright colours and bold prints. This fabric was a favourite of Barbara Hulanicki. Unfortunately very little is known about the fabric designer. The fabric was screen printed Varuna wool (1968)

I have to say I loved Biba and I still own a Biba handbag. I don't use it very often unfortunately.

The next dress is a wedding dress made using 12 Liberty prints. Made in 1978 using cotton and lace by Lizzie Houghton Puddifoot (b. 1948) for her own wedding. I enjoyed spotting the different fabrics and I love that it isn't a traditional white dress.

Kandura (Mukhawar)  Mukhawar is a style of Emirati Kandura dress which is often embroidered or beaded. The fabric was designed by Polly Mason (b. 1975) Unfortunately you can't see the beadwork or embroidery very well in the photo.

The workspace below would certainly brighten the office up!

An embroidered book cover. Unfortunately the photo of the attached information is very out of focus so I can't tell you who designed it.

I love this catalogue cover from the 1900's.

I did manage to take photos of some of the information boards without getting the focus wrong!

Dress by an unknown maker but fabric designed by Madeline Lawrence (1896 - 1952) This fabric was produced in a range of fashionable colours. The design is printed on linen. 1935.  This syle of dress was still going strong when I was young i.e. during the middle to late 1950's.

A photograph of Althea Monish in her West Green Road studio in 1966

A sample book by Monish.

A mary Quant design. I used several of her patterns to make myself dresses in the late 60's and early 70's. Unfortunately I could never afford to use the liberty fabric. The label below is out of focus and unfortunately I can't read it

Somewhere I have a photo of me wearing a similar dress but different fabric.

I still have a few photos but this post is very photo heavy so I'm going to stop for now.  Here in the UK tomorrow is a Bank Holiday and we haven't decided yet how we are going to spend it. Most bank holidays tend to be rainy so it may be a sewing day but I also need to get out into the garden. Oh if only decision making was easier.

Take care

Lyndsey

Welcome to May

I enjoyed April, the days lengthened, the weather got warmer and the trees and flowers took on their beautiful colours as their leaves and flowers appeared. For the first time in years I planted quite a few seeds and they have germinated successfully and are now ready to plant out in the garden or window boxes. I've really enjoyed the journey to and from work and the traffic holdups which have given me time to appreciate the daily changes to the trees and shrubs along the way. I've put extra effort in to make sure I've seen the beauty of the world around me. On the down side work has been demanding and so I didn't get to enjoy my sewing and other crafts as much as I would have liked. So let's see what I achieved.

I finished the scrappy donation quilt and this has already gone to its new home. I finished knitting the left front of my cardigan. Since then I haven't done any knitting at all.

John and I went walking to test out a new bluebell walk.

We visited the Constable and Turner exhibition at the Tate Britain which was good. We had all of our three children, partners and our two grandsons for Easter dinner. Both my daughters celebrated birthdays during the month, as a result I've eaten far too much cake. I also ended up with several Easter eggs. The Terry's chocolate orange egg was the best egg I've every had . Unfortunately the Easter eggs and the birthday cakes cause a small increase in my weight but it was worth it! Fortunately I'm back to my usual weight.

My Chookshed challenge for the month was to try and finish the orange round of the Grandmother's Garden English paper pieced quilt. I didn't complete the whole round but I now have 4 sides completed.

The remaining two sides. I need to make 17 'flowers' and to sew them to the quilt to finish off this round. 

I'm hoping to get this finished this month.

Looking forward to May the Chookshed Challenge is number 1 which for me is my embroidered table cloth. I have two sides left to complete plus the butterfly on each side. The picture below was the side I was working on and this is now complete.

It would be great to finish a whole side but being realistic that won't happen. We are away for a weekend later this month and I am on annual leave at the end of the month. That makes it sound like there will be loads of time but we want to make several visits to places this month, so time will be tight.

Yesterday John and I visited the William Morris Museum. We visited the exhibition about William Morris which was very interesting. We also visit the Women in Print exhibition. I have some photos to share but I will post about that tomorrow. Today has been busy as we went over to see older daughter and grandsons. I'm always tired after a visit as the nearly 4 year old is so energetic.

Take care.

Lyndsey