After much thought and a lot of trepidation I have finally decided to start blogging, so I hope there is someone out there who might enjoy reading what I have written.
I aim to be able to share with you some of the highs and lows of a life within the art and craft world. I want to bring alive my enthusiasm for the materials I use, the creations I make, and the things that inspire me, and hopefully I will be able to add a little instruction and helpful comment along the way and help those who wish to try out some of the ideas.
For those who do not know me, my name is Liz Welch and I run a small company called Rare Bird Ltd www.rarebird.ltd.uk . I am a textile artist who is particularly interested in mixed media and free machine embroidery, but the more commercial world of the craft industry will know me for my work with Friendly Plastic. This magical modelling material is incredibly versatile and can be used for so many different things from small items of jewellery to show stopping costumes. Take a look at the website to see some of the things I have made with it. I will give a more detailed explanation of how it works in another post.
Besides the Friendly Plastic I love to work with textiles in a much more “arty” way. Creating pieces to a theme for exhibitions is a most satisfying way to proceed, it stretches my creativity, gets me thinking and pushes my boundaries. This side of my life is mostly expressed through an exhibiting group called NOLITEX (Notts Lincs Textile Designers). More of them later on.
Right now I am off to a presentation at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground of some silver pins I designed and had made for the Nottingham City Hospital Kidney transplant Living Donor unit. I am immensely proud to have been involved in this project and I will tell you all about it later on.
Welcome to the wonderful world of blogging Liz, I look forward to seeing and reading more about your work with textiles and especially the fab Friendly Plastic.
Hi Lynn,
You are obviously a pro at this blogging lark, I have a long way to go to get up to your standard!
I was at Stitches demonstrating for all About Crafts, we were quite close to your stand I think. Unfortunately I did not get much chance at all to walk the show, so I didn’t even come and say hi to Glenda. That means that the bug I caught at the show could not have come from the direction of your stand. I lost my voice and had a spotty throat and mouth and a fever – still coughing now. Just as well my fingers are working – typing does not require a voice.
Percival looks amazing, I wish I had seen him.
Stay happy
Liz
Hi Liz!
Welcome to blogging!
I just wanted to comment to this post as well. I get the feeling that there aren’t many fp makers where you live either! It’s become a nostagic material around herre. Lots of “oh I did that when I was 10 (big happy whistful smiling face) and now they’re 25 with their own kids looking at my fp things!
As you can see from my blog I first posted in January 2005 looking for any other friendly plastic artists out there. You’re the first to speak up! It only took 3 years! I had intended for my blog to be focused on friendly plastic but it has turned into a thing unto itself and it’s been fun just seeing where it leads me. If it’s a spontaneous creation it seems to really reflect your life.
And I am now go to my blog so I can link to yours
All the best,
Katie.