Hotham Park Country Fair 3/4 August 2013

Next weekend you'll find me under a gazebo at Hotham Park Country Fair, in Bognor Regis, where I'll be selling my textile accessories and other bits and pieces to the milling crowds! Hopefully the weather will be back to 'warm and sunny' - and not too windy - for the weekend, and I'm really looking forward to being out and about in it for a couple of days.

We'll be at stall number B37, just a couple of spaces from the main craft marquee, so I hope a few of you will be around and will come and say 'hello' to us.

The Hotham Park website gives more details of the event as well as directions and information about parking, transport etc.

Littlehampton Arts Festival & Arts Trail 20-27 July

The Littlehampton Arts Festival kicks off tomorrow with Festival in the Park, a day of music, arts and crafts in Caffyn's Field. During the week there are lots more events happening, including Shoreline Sculptures, Arts at Harbour Park, and the Arts Trail.

I'm exhibiting some framed photo prints at Shopmobility in St Martin's Lane as part of the Arts Trail, and will be at Caffyn's Field tomorrow (20 July), with a selection of art and crafts, and at Harbour Park next Friday (26 July) with my photos.

Other events include: Shoreline Sculpture (Sun, 21 July, 3pm); Long Bench 'Flashmob' (Weds, 24 July, 6pm); Arts & Crafts/Special Little Things Market (Sat, 27 July, 10-4); and the Arts Trail is on all week at various venues in the town. Pick up a leaflet for more details, or visit the LOCA facebook page.

Serendipity and Silk Dyes

I've been busy again, this time playing with gorgeous silk dyes and scarves. I love silk, it takes these French dyes beautifully and they look even brighter after they've been steam-fixed. I did a mix of habotai and chiffon scarves - both are lovely - and used three different colourways. I usually select three colours for each batch and mix them to create shades and hues that work well together. Some of the scarves have been shibori-dyed and some space-dyed - both techniques are unpredictable, hence the serendipity in the title. The most exciting bit is unwrapping them after they've been steamed and seeing the final result - always beautiful, but not always as expected!

Here's a photo showing some of them dancing in the sunshine yesterday.

Kimono Notebook Covers

Here are my latest creations, a range of 'Kimono' notebook covers in gorgeous Japanese fabrics with a central band of ribbon representing an obi, the wide sash worn with a kimono. These were inspired by the lovely fabrics - a gift brought back recently from Japan - and my own visit there a few years ago, when I bought myself a beautiful vintage kimono and obi of my very own.

I only have enough fabric for 2 or 3 of each design, so when they've gone there'll be no more in these particular fabrics. They're available now in my Folksy shop, while stocks last!