Stitch and Creative Crafts Show

Last weekend Jane, Sue, Denise, Francis and I manned the Japanese Embroidery UK stand at the G-Mex Stitch and Creative Crafts Show and we had a great time. I helped on the stand at Japan Day in Liverpool a few weeks ago but this is the first time I have done a full weekend at a stitching show. From comments made by other stall holders, I got the impression that there were fewer visitors than previous shows, but our stall was very busy for much of the time and generated a lot of interest from stitchers and non-stitchers alike. There is nothing more thrilling than someone showing interest in what you are doing and wanting to know more about your work. After three days of nearly continuous talking and demonstrating I was very tired but I enjoyed every minute of it.


Here Sue, Denise and Jane (from left to right) are putting final touches to the stall before the show opens on Friday morning.

I took Bridge Between East and West to use as a demonstration piece and throughout the weekend I made a small amount of progress. I stitched the first of these petals in Cambridge under the tuition of Tamura-san. We were asked to stitch the diagonal foundation layer of the pointed petal flowers with a slight gap between the stitches. This seemed alien to me and I had to fight the urge to close the gap between the stitches.

© JEC/Carol-Anne Conway

The reason for the gap between the stitches is that blister stitches are worked on top of the foundation and that will spread the foundation stitches slightly. The first step of blister stitch is to work a round knot in the centre of each petal. Knots, all knots, cause me problems and I need to practice them some time.

© JEC/Carol-Anne Conway

These knots are not perfect but in this case they are for padding and will be concealed beneath a straight stitch.

© JEC/Carol-Anne Conway

I'm not sure that I like this flower. To me it looks artificial and it does not help that it is worked in two of my least favourite colours, orange and pink. It may look less stark when all the other stitching around it has been completed but that will not be for some time because I will put this work away now until Karahana and Venerable Friends are finished (or I am invited to help at another show).

Happy Stitching