Rug making at The Devil's Porridge Museum

Last week I was invited to The Devil's Porridge Museum to do a demo on Rag Rug Making. 

This was part of the "Pack Up Your Troubles" event to celebrate the 100 year birthday of the townships of Eastriggs and Gretna.

My brief was a tradtional style rag rug which might have adorned the floors of houses in years gone by.

I hemmed some hessian and got to work on a traditional(ish) design.

I was situated in the 1940's "house", a little section of the museum made up to look like those days of old.  I remember loads from this little corner, from my Grandparent's house.  The old Singer sewing machine, the carpet sweeper, the vintage typewriter... and much more.

Now, the donated fabrics that I had to work with were obviously modern and not like the traditional wool coats and bits that they used to use to make the rugs, so there was a mixture of modern materials with a traditional element, which I think works very well.

People got stuck in and had a go, the rug is large and will need to be a big community effort to get it all finished.

Although those fabrics were bright and colourful, at the end of the session I could see that they were really going to work well.

I just hope someone remembers to send me a photo when it is finally done, as I would love to see it completed.

If you have never been to the museum, do go. It's only a few miles from J44 of the M6 and a very interesting little place.

You can find out more about it here...

http://www.devilsporridge.org.uk/about/

West Cumbria Game Fair

On Saturday I tootled along to the West Cumbria Game Fair, which was held at Armathwaite Hall on the edge of Bassenthwaite Lake in the Lake District.

There was loads to see, cooking demonstrations, food tents, craft tents, wine tasting, working dog shows.

Not usually a place I would frequent as I don't agree much with fishing or hunting, but I was asked to go by Higham Hall to be a demoist to promote the craft classes that Higham offer.  I was pleased to do that  :)

It was a scorching hot day and we were situated in a marquee - nice and sweaty then  :)

As soon as I started approaching the tent I was offered free wine samples, by the time I had found our tent I had had three little tumblers full - it had the makings of a really great day  :)

I set up at the Higham stand, beside a fabulous painter, watercolour master Brian Smith, watching him do his demo out of the corner of my eye was amazing, I can't quite get my head around how a painting can come to life like he makes them do.

I did some crochet granny hexagons, got chatting to a few people, melted a little, then I was off for a wander around.

Of course I had to have a spritzer for just £2.00 - this had a chunk of ice so large it would have sunk the Titanic, but in this heat it lasted about 3 minutes.  Slurp.

I bought a hat  :)  I did, I bought a new hat. It's a nice hat, I think you will be impressed.  More on that to follow.