Knitting and Stitching Show at Harrogate November 2006. This was a corner of my stand there - we had a very busy and enjoyable show where I met up with many customers face to face for the first time. Its always lovely to put a face to a name! This was my third year at Harrogate and it was great to see old friends again. Nicky Dillerstone is a textile designer who has become a firm friend - I love her work. See her site in the links - Fun to meet the York Dolly birds again there - Harrogate is a very enjoyable venue.

This beautiful fairy is created by Trisha Joyce. I think we can aggree she is absolutely beautiful.

Teresa Malyon is a doll maker/designer of many years experience. This is a wall doll with a cast face and hands.

Teresa teaches all sorts of doll making as well as selling patterns and various clays.

Teresa's website: www.splendorincloth.co.uk

Ray Slater sourced all the dolls for this exhibition, as well as organising the exhibition. This magnificent doll is Ray's 'Pantomime Dame' which she also teaches as a weekend class. Ray has been teaching clothdoll making in the UK for 4/5 years.

I'm very late in writing about the 'Cloth Doll Art Uk' exhibition which was part of the 'Knitting and Stitching' shows this year.

There were around thirty exhibits and these are pictures of a few of them. This piece was by Jeanette Bright - to quote her
'I begin with a piece of fabrc which I stitch, dye and cut to make into a doll. Social history and life events are her strongest source of inspiration'

I held a weekend class in my studio in Deptford, London over the 11th/12th November. Four ladies who had never made a doll before came for this weekend. We made 'Tallulah', a doll which I designed especially to introduce the various cloth doll techniques to new doll makers.

All the ladies did wonderfully and everyone went home with their finished doll, except may be a little hand sewing.

All my classes will be with groups of four as space does not allow for more. This is a really nice size of group and allows a lot of individual attention for everyone. Below are some pictures of the class members and their work.

Mariangela made a great success with her first doll.

We had a super weekend, if very busy. I hope to meet up with all these ladies again.

Chris and Jean both work at the Welling Sewing Centre and were thrilled with their results. They have both gone away to begin another doll on their own.

Ann Gissing with her 'Tallulah' Doll, with a little handsewing to finish.

Tallulah was especially designed as a first doll to introduce the main techniques of cloth doll making.

This is an embroidered picture of my favourite holiday palce - which is Lakka in Paxos. It was also made as one of the final pieces for my City and Guilds in machine embroidery, taken this summer. It was designed in the format of the Bayeux Tapestry as a project entered into with other members of my group.

Got Knitted was made especially for the 'Cloth Doll Art' exhibition at Alexandra Palace. She also got to sit in Blackheath Library!

Man of Leaves by Gillian Bowden

Embroiderers Guild - Blackheath Group - Bi-ennial Exhibition
was held at Blackheath Library, South London from Oct 25th - November 4th. I am pleased to be a member of this small but lively group. Many of us helped to set-up and steward over the two weeks. We have very varied work on display - from small to very large - hand stitched and machine sewn. Beading, felting, jewelry, accessories, boxes and vessels are all shown here. Some pieces of group work as well as examples of our monthly workshops we hold at our meetings.

We meet on the last Saturday of every month in Balckheath Library at 1.30pm. Anyone nearby is welcome to join us. These are just a few of the works on show.

Freedom by Mary Herron - our chairperson

'Flying High' was made with a wire armature and recycled knitwear. He was at Alexandra Palace as well Blackheath
exhibition.

Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace -Oct 2006

This was a fantastic show for me this year. I had a stand in a fabulous new position which had three open sides and I saw many regular customers and met a lot of new enthuisiasts. Ray Slater curated the 'Cloth Doll Art UK' exhibition which included one of my dolls.
Unfortunately my photos of the exhibition did not come out well so I am not able to show you but I hope for better results at Harrogate in November.
It was great to meet up with Barbara Willis, Patti Culea and Betz Vidal again. Barbara and Patti have been teaching lots of wonderful classes while they were here, which I'm sure some of you attended.
There were some terrific gallery exhibitions - Paddy Killer is one of my favourite artists and had a stunning display of work.

'Got Knitted' is a doll I made for the Ray's exhibition and will be at Harrogate as well. 'Flying High' is my latest figure and was made on an armature and costumed with recyled knitwear which was machine embroidered together.