I made this cute stuffed submarine (with googly eye periscope!) as a tribute for my husband Nic. He works for BAE Systems and this weekend the HMS Astute left Devonshire Dock, Barrow-in-Furness for Faslane in Scotland with its new crew. So it was exciting for the team to witness this new chapter in the project. Nic managed to get some photos and video of the sub leaving dock. There was a big spread in the local newpaper too. Go to this link and scroll down to see video and interviews. http://www.nwemail.co.uk/ All the rest of the lads in the office now want their own stuffed submarine with googly eye periscope!!
I am having real problems finding a local branch of the Embroiderers' Guild. The nearest was the South Lakeland and Furness now has folded and the next nearest I can find is Keswick. The national competition for the Embroiderers' Guild deadline is in Feb 2010 and I would like to take part but via a local branch. In this search I find that many local craft guilds have folded. For example the Cumbria Craft Guild used to be a fantastic group and would exhibit every year at Grizedale, they too are no more! Living in a rural area is fantastic but it can end up isolating those who need to network.
So I guess I will just have to do it through national membership for now. The competition theme this year is 'Shelter'. I am also a member of a local quilters' guild but again I am considering entering the national exhibition next year, 'Festival of Quilts' at the NEC in Birmingham. These fairs are good because it gives the artist a chance to exhibit but also to network. On a last good note for me, Nic and I are off to Glasgow for the weekend. Leaving Alex with his grandparents. So looking forward to visiting the galleries and a few watering holes!!
