If you're wondering what this is, it's called 'Piano Cube' and I was slightly taken aback to see it installed outside, near the art gallery in Leeds. It's impressive, and my cursory Google search revealed there's a Leeds piano trail 2024 and this sculpture's part of it.
I was at the art gallery for a monthly group called StitchArt, which is a kind of taster session where you try something stitchy that's inspired by a gallery exhibit or artist. This month's was based on textile works by Nik Savvas, someone I'm not familiar with. She's done artwork similar to Bridget Riley's abstract geometric designs, but also this kind of thing.
Our task was to create a pattern which - for those of a certain age - was reminiscent of Spirograph. We were given a sheet of A4 paper, an A4 piece of card, a nifty device we all instantly coveted called a Japanese hole punch, also needle and thread. Using the template printed on the paper as a guide, we punched the outline of a circle in the card, and then made patterns by threading in and out of the holes.
I think we were all pretty baffled at first, but as the thread patterns appeared our enthusiasm grew. Everyone's patterns were different, and I wish I'd a photograph of all the variations.
I can see this technique would look even better if you used embroidery threads instead of the standard sewing thread we used, and you could add beads as well. Quite by chance I saw
this on Instagram today, and Ana must've used one of the Japanese punches to make the holes in her artwork too. That device is definitely going on my rapidly expanding Christmas list. '
Dear Santa, just bring me a roomful of crafty supplies. Yours sincerely ...'
I mentioned yesterday that I'd arranged to buy a bureau off Facebook marketplace. This is it, and my brother helped me collect it later in the day. It cost me a tenner, and I'm chuffed to bits with it. I've already stashed lots of crafty clutter inside.
The top can act as an extra shelf for various odds & ends.
Watercolour pencils, Inktense blocks, tubes of glitter, Sharpies and fabric marker pens, all kinds of little things can find a cubby hole to put them in.
Glue and tape in the top drawer, with room to spare.
Brushes, sponges, lino printing equipment, stamps and ink pads in the middle drawer.
Paper and my three gel plates in the bottom drawer. I can keep them nice and flat here, and make sure nothing heavy is laid on top of them as that can cause dents in the plate's surface.
There's room underneath the bureau for a stack of gell prints and notebooks in the making. I know this old fashioned style of furniture isn't to everyone's taste, but if you're looking for an inexpensive storage solution then something like this can be ideal. My home's furnished with a mix of secondhand, friends and family hand-me-downs and cheap & cheerful Ikea, so it'll never appear on Grand Designs but it suits me.
I'll finish up with a few bargains from charity shops I've been lucky enough to find. Two handsome hardbacks at a quid each. I've read the Richard Osman book before, but his mysteries are so well plotted they're worth a second read. Haven't read Margaret Atwood's 'The Testaments' so that should be good. The stylish Bento box looks as if it's never been used, and is complete with the original cutlery inside. It retails for around £11, but I paid a mere 99p. The wool was bought with my niece in mind as she's taken up crochet. I'll keep some of it, but most will go to her. Three bags at £1.49 each, and the blues are beautiful shades. It's always a lottery when you delve into a charity shop, and sometimes you time it just right!
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