Steaming Ahead

Over the last bank holiday I visited the Historic Dockyard in Chatham and their Steam and Transport festival. As well as taking a tour around the areas used in the filiing of Call The Midwife and meeting the Gruffalo in the Juia Donaldson exhibition I also visited Steampunk Central

 

I have just discovered that there is a Steampunk group here in Kent and I am looking forward to attending more events when I can. Steampunk Central had some great traders - I bought some jewllery, and some fun erformances. I am now a big fan of the female trio Artemiss and Steampunk Morris - I might even join the dance troop!

 

Now to just come up with a better costume!

 

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100 Years of Brownies

 

I think a while back I mentioned that I am part of Girlguiding UK and am a qualified Brownie Leader.

 

This year Brownies is 100 years old and to celebrate there are lots of events planned. This weekend I took part in East Kent Guiding's big Brownie Birthday Star Quest - it was super fun! The girls (aged 7-11) got to go into the past, present and future at the Winter Gardens, Margate and do lots of fun activities.

This is me helping out with a science activity where the girls had to work out what the mystery white powder was from doing some tests - we think it was baking soda! That was in the future.

This us me with my original Brownie uniform - well the same as I wore anyway! In the past the girls could try on old uniforms. This, being a costume person, was my favourite part!

 

 

 

I made my mum hold up the best ones :-)

 

In the present the girls got to have a go at temporary tattoos, hair chalks and see some reptiles, including holding a snake. I think everyone had a good time and I was really glad I got to be a part of the Big a Brownie Birthday in 2014!

 

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God Save The Queen

I just finished another quilt square for my Feminist Statement quilt.

I wanted to include famous women on the quilt who have influenced me, the first being Elizabeth I. She was one of Britain's most successful monarchs and she always followed her own mind.

For this square I used printable fabric to include the very famous portrait of Elizabeth I by Marcus Gheeraerts. I then added a blackwork border in keeping with the period. I used a traditional blackwork pattern but had to work out how to turn the corner, which was interesting as I haven't done counted embroidery in quite some time!

I attached the border around the portrait with gold machine embroidery and then added hand embroidered tudor roses on the corners. I embroidered the roses on stitch and tear so they are slightly raised yet still part of the piece.

I'm quite proud of this square as it uses some techniques that I haven't used in quite a while and stretched my skills. I really enjoyed doing the blackwork and might have to do some more in the future.

To Infinity and Beyond!

The International Space Station

As well as going to the Harry Potter Exhibit for my birthday, I also visited Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. I was fortunate enough to go on the day of the 30th anniversary of the first Space Shuttle launch. Columbia was the first shuttle sent into space that could be reused after its return and to commemorate the day Kennedy Space Centre had a presentation and lots of astronauts walking around talking to people and taking photos!

That would be Endeavour behind me, yes.

The Space Centre is very interesting. The best way to see everything is to take the bus tour. This takes you out to the observation deck, from which we could see Endeavour - the second to last shuttle Kennedy will currently launch - on launch pad A. It then takes you to see a replica of the Saturn 5 launch when space history was made. The tour is very well narrated by your bus drivers and there are some very interesting things to see, including a selection of space suits and, my fave, a space suit repair kit!

Endeavour on launch pad A


The Crawler used to move the shuttle to the launch pads


The Saturn 5's engines


A space suit repair kit!

After the bus tour we went back to the main visitors centre and saw the rocket garden - full of old rockets of course - and watched the Star Trek Live! show. This is lots of fun for kids. There is even an art exhibition to peruse of Kennedy related art.

The Rocket Garden


Inside a shuttle - still looking for the real astronauts we were promised!

At the end of the day we finally met a real astronaut. Bob Springer has spent over 200 hours in space, taken part in numerous experiments while up there and taken video footage in HD of our planet and its atmosphere for various documentaries - a very intelligent and space experienced man!

There he is! Our real astronaut Bob Springer!

Even though I do not consider myself a space nut, the Kennedy Space Centre was lots of fun. Add it to your list of great Florida attractions when you visit!

Exhibition Report: Embroideries of Colonial Boston: Samplers

The final exhibition I went to see at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston was in its new Art of the Americas wing. Embroideries of Colonial Boston: Samplers, is the first of three Embroidery exhibitions being held throughout the end of this year and the next. Unfortunately I do not believe I will be able to see the others, but this one was well worth it.

I have read about samplers in The Subversive Stitch, but to be able to see them first hand was breathtaking. The stitches are so tiny and neat, the depictions of bible scenes, animals and motifs intricate.

I was particularly taken by some of the mottos embroidered into the samples, which I will share with you here:

Martha Decosta is my name New England is my nation Boston is my dwelling place and Christ is my Salvation
When I am dead and laid in grave and all my bones are rotten in this you see remember me and let me never be forgotten

Sampler by Martha Decosta 1749, Boston Mass.

In prosperity friends will be plenty : but in adversity not one in twenty

Sampler by Hannah Storer, age 8, 1747 Boston, Mass.

O may I always ready stand with my lamp burning in my hand : May in sight of Heaven rejoice whener I hear the bridegrooms voice

Sampler by Prudence Clarke, 1757

If you are in the Boston area for any of the embroidery exhibitions I urge you to go see them. They are very well presented and the information with them is astounding!