Sit down - this is a shock I know .. but I have at last found a quicker way to share things with you

The problem for me with my blog is simply that it takes along time to do it .. and I increasingly struggle to find that time. But making a video to explain - and show - what I have been doing is much faster. think the technical term for what I am doing - well going to do, might be vlogging?  That is - a video blog. I have been making videos of work and techniques etc for nearly 6 months now - and sharing on my facebook pages. It is a really effective way of sharing information: fast for me, and hopefully clearer for you. So what used to take me half a day to photograph and write about on here, I can now do in a quick video. 

I did try t upload the videos from my files to here - but they were way too large. Until last week I worked out to put them on You Tube - which is easier to watch I think. The today I noticed a button on my youtube channel that says 'share on blogger' - so I hit it - and hey presto - the video appeared on here. So that opens up a whole new way for me to keep you up to date over here - even if you don't like Facebook or youtube. So - to test this out - I am uploading a series of videos that are about making these peiecs for 'Crossing Oceans' gallery in Russia in the Spring. It will take a few hours to get them all here - but then I would love some feedback as to how you find the process. I can also do direct videos on my webcam .. I will post one of those too so you can see what I mean. If this works - then you patient blog followers may at last get proper information. Heres hoping!!

They should come up labelled Ferns 1,2,3 etc

And these are the separate finished pieces - Hilary x

 

What a Wonderful Weekend we had - piccies of Stitch Retreat

 

This last weekend I was leading a Stitch Retreat for lovely Nichola Keeble (http://stitchretreats.co.uk/) at Wyboston Lakes in Bedfordshire (well - I think it is in Bedfordshire .. other possibilities are Oxfordshire and Cambridgeshire). Whatever the county - it is a lovely spa hotel and we had a ball. Many of the group came on last years retreat (gelliping) and returned to work with the materials they had made. Then a few brave souls came in cold and hit the ground running - needless to say - they all did quite wonderful work. It was also a good social weekend - much chatting, laughing, late nights and bit of drinking ... so very perfect.

So lets get some images ..

Amazingly, all this lot went in the car ... no wonder it took a day to pack it

A few shots of the girls doing messy play an fabric, paper and in their sketchbooks

 

 

Judith caught online .. there again she was so prolific it is probably just as well

proper work now!

 

 

our lovely organiser, Nichola

 

 

and our Heather - who decorated her hoody as well as her sketchbook with a baby gelli plate

 

 

We came back for extra play each evening .. and on Saturday bought some wine with us ... I signed off teaching at 10pm and joined in the colouring .. which lasted until 2am when I really thought we should send our youngest member off to bed ... lovely evening though 

She was a little smidge head-achey, but right back to it Sunday am .. when we did REAL stitching .. a rarity on my workshops I think

 

Look at all those machines - I felt like a proper tutor

 

Everyone managed to get their collage down and held together with some good wonky stitching.Here they all are ... some stunning work ..

Bernadette

Bunty

Debby 

 

Gill

Heather

Jane 

Jill

Judith

Kath 

Liz

Maureen

Nichola

Pat

Sharon

Veronica

Vicki

 

So much talent. Most are now ready to take this home and work machine or hand embroidery, together with crayons and coloured pencils to finish them off. They have PROMISED to send me images when they are complete and I will share them here and on facebook.

I have opened a new facebook page just for worky stuff - like exhibitions, workshops, shop and work in progress. It's less manic than my usual page - so maybe those of you who don't really like FB might feel happier there? It is also where I will post news about the new studio I am converting at our new home in Newport, Gwent, and workshops running there. Here is a link:

https://www.facebook.com/hilarybshop/?ref=hl

I can't remember whether I have told you here about the new shop?? It is all up and running and a lot easier to use. Several new products too - so do go and have a look

http://www.hilarybshop.co.uk/

I'll try and post again soon to tell you all about the new plans now we are moved

Thank you for joining me - Hilary x