About Me

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I am a lifelong fabric artist who loves bringing a home to life with quirky, unique and sumptuous pieces of textile art. I learnt my craft from sharing many a happy hour sewing with my talented mother. I particularly like collage, free-machining, needle-felting and creating home furnishings using a combination of machine and hand sewing. I love incorporating vintage and reclaimed fabrics, buttons, beads, jewellery and other items in my work to give them a second chance at being beautiful.

Wednesday 11 May 2016

WOYWW - It's raining felt...hallelujah!

Hello there, dear reader!

Welcome to my regular ramble about the life of a textile artist. Here's a snap of my workdesk to mark 'What's on your Workdesk Wednesday' (WOYWW) a weekly global gathering of fab craftsfolk.

Here's my workdesk today...

I'm mounting and finishing some pieces of embroidery which I initially envisaged as bookmarks but having finished them I've decided they're destined for more than being tucked between the pages of a book.

I've had a busy and productive week of needle felting to replenish my stocks at the three outlets selling my work in Shropshire. I started the week with a load of part-finished work and (thanks to lots of help from mum) finished the week with 35 framed pieces of work.


Yesterday I drove round the county dropping work off so now I'm starting from scratch again!

My little sheepy collages are proving popular so I made sure I made several of those.

I made a few tiny sheep landscapes too, then found some great little frames in Ikea which fit them perfectly.

When I dropped off my work yesterday I was told a touching story which I'd love to share with you.

Two of my needle-felted poppy pictures sold at The Bog Visitors Centre, Stiperstones, last week. The lady who sold them was also there yesterday when I dropped of new stock and she told me this...

A lady and her husband came into the Visitors Centre a few weeks ago and she really loved the needle-felted poppies. This weekend her husband returned to the Visitors Centre. Sadly, the lady had passed away. As she'd loved the picture so much, he bought it to remind him of her love of poppies. Later, her daughter had visited the centre to buy a different needle-felted poppy picture I had there.

It's always great to here that people appreciate my work, but touching stories like this mean the world to me! I really hope those two pictures bring comfort at a time of sadness.

On a cheerful note, it hasn't just been 'all work no play' this week. We've had lovely sunny weather in Shrewsbury so Ben and I got out and about in the local park. Every parent worries about shading their little ones from the sun so it was with great relief I discovered Ben wanted to be a 'cool dude' in both sunglasses and hat!

Here's to many more sunny days!

That's all folks, thanks for stopping by.

Happy crafting,

Max x



19 comments:

  1. Brilliant new with the great demand for the dumfling Max.....keep up the good work. I'm sure they put smiles on very many faces....as does the pic of Ben.....Only in England would we have sun hat, sun glasses, shorts and a warm wooly hoodie :-)
    Hugs,
    Annie x

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  2. Thanks for sharing that touching story.
    Glad Ben enjoyed the sun and is being a very sensible young man wearing a hat and shades! Cool Dude!
    Hugs, Neet 5 xx
    ps love your pictures

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  3. Oh, that story is so sweet and touching...how lovely to know that your art is helping two people so much. I'm not surprised your work is selling like hot cakes, it's brilliant. The little sheepy pics look brilliant in those box frames. 💖💖
    And Ben looks extremely cool 😃
    Hugs, LLJ 2 xxx

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  4. Oh my word, what a busy bunny you've been, love all your artwork. Happy WOYWW BJ#26

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  5. How beautiful that your pictures are being used to bring such blessing and comfort. That's just great. Your talent with needle felting is really getting around!!
    Great shot of Ben - love the cool dude effect!
    Take care. God bless.
    Margaret #4

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  6. Another busy week! It's great to be able to share in all aspects of your busy life - but especially the Ben minding bit!!! x

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  7. Hi Tilly, what a wonderful story. It just goes to show we have no idea of the effect the things we do have on others. Love all your needle feltings, the sheep landscapes are brilliant. Good old IKEA, what would we do without them?Have a great week, Hugs, Shaz #11 xx

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  8. Oh Tilly, such a touching story, I have some poppies here, felted, and love them too. I pray they find comfort in their sadness.
    I love your sheep too, I'd line up for one of them! :)
    Happy WOYWW,
    Shaz in Oz.x #18

    {Calligraphy Cards - Shaz in Oz}

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  9. What a touching story. I'm sure your artwork will comfort them. That is the beautiful thing about art. It speaks to everybody in a different way.
    And gosh you have been busy! Little Ben certainly is a cool dude. When my kids were small, we never used to worry about sunhats and sun glasses. And that was Italy, not cloudy Britain! Goes to show how things have changed since the seventies.

    Happy WOYWW,
    Lisca

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  10. I went through so many emotions reading your post then Max. I was ooohing and aahing then almost crying then smiling at the picture of Ben in his glasses.
    What a rollercoaster you've taken us on.
    Lynn xx 52

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  11. What a touching story Lynn. It's nice to sell work but even nicer when you get verbal appreciation - well done on your sales x Jackie 22

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  12. I think it's fabulous that your pictures and felt works are going so well! Ben looks quite the man today! Helen#3

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  13. Your work is really beautiful - I love the embroideries and think they are definitely too good for bookmarks - they deserve to be framed. Such a touching story about you poppy picture, and lovely that you got to hear about it - I always want to know more about the people that buy my work, but very rarely do. Thanks so much for the earlier visit, I hope you have a great week, and sell loads more!
    Diana #24

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  14. Your work is just gorgeous. It was so nice that your Mum would help so you could get things finished. What a wonderful story about your work. Lovely that it could inspire such memories!

    Happy WOYWW
    Sharon K #40

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  15. all your work is gorgeous!
    Have a great day.
    Diane - WOYWW #31

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  16. Such a touching story. Your fabric art is so wonderful. I too like your poppies, but I'm not partial to poppies. Happy Wednesday, LisaDV 41

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  17. Just had to track you down having seen all your framed work on another blog ... can only say WOW!!!!! Now I can see them in close up I just love, love, LOVE what you do!!!! The story about the man coming back to buy the poppies is just what makes it all worthwhile I should imagine ... a piece of your fabulous artwork gone "home" to someone who will treasure it always because of the very special meaning attached to it. Just heartbreaking and heartwarming all at the same time. Heading back now to take another look at your little sheep ... I SO want to buy one of those ... must try and find out where you sell them. Love to you, Debbie #30 xXx

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  18. Lovely designs and such fun to visit. You have a special talent and I am glad you share it.

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  19. Such a lovely story. I always think it is nice to hear how our art has touched people, and your creations look lovely (I find Ikea frames are usually nice and simple and perfect for fabric creations too).

    thanks for visiting my desk already
    kyla

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