♦ ♣ ♥ ♠ A recommendation for a magazine article ♦ ♣ ♥ ♠

A good friend of mine is always coming up with ways of promoting me, recommending events and generally spreading the Soobird word. Here's what he has to say... to the magazine DIRTY

Hi,

I have spent the weekend reading issues 1 & 2 of your great little book, and would like to nominate a friend/colleague of mine as worthy of a feature.

She is called Sue Atkinson and makes, amongst other things, mini top hat fascinators and other very cool items. Her hats can be found in the burlesque scene, but also adorning the heads of hipsters, revellers and even brides all over the place.

As befits your mag, the thing that really sets Sue's hats apart are the quality and the originality. They are quite simply works of art.

Sue is a pretty wild person herself too. It seems like she has 15 projects on the go at any one time.

She even manages to get kids excited about knitting. (She is a textiles teacher) But not just any old knitting, knitted graffiti, knitted coral. Amazing stuff.

Here is her website, she can be contacted through that http://www.soobird.com/page3.htm or satkinson@westberks.org

So, Please can I nominate Sue for a feature. She inspires all of us to get more creative and original, I think your readers would enjoy her creations too.

Thanks,

Edward Mather

THANKS ED!

♦ ♣ ♥ ♠ Back again ♦ ♣ ♥ ♠

A tribute to the late family budgie, BillyBobBen. (They are not his feathers, I got there too late!)

It's been ages, so much has happened... I say this everytime. Craft fairs, orders, ideas and life have been keeping me busy.

The newest Spitfire designs. Found them at a sale and thought I would have a go at some pads. They seem quite popular and very easy to wear. The piece is fitted with an elastic and an optional hair comb for extra security.

The larger Borneo butterfly... enjoy wearing your new headpiece Mrs Franks!

Ok, so this is the 3rd attempt at a comfortably wearable teacup. I am pleased to say it works. Like the spitfire pads, an elastic and a comb offer extra security. It's so small, the picture doesn't do it justice!

♦ ♣ ♥ ♠ Getting back into it ♦ ♣ ♥ ♠

Groom's Royal Flush Buttonhole in Spades and Hearts.

This design is part of a series. The Best Men have '4 of a Kind' 9s and 8s, the fathers 7s and 6s with the ushers having the remaining cards, the 5s, 4, 3s,and 2s using a full deck of cards.

Where has my energy been! I have been neglecting my creativity recently and since being back at school it feels like I have been non-stop for the past 4 weeks. Well, today that is going to change. I have almost completed an order of buttonholes that will wing it's way to Florida for a wedding in November, confirmed my space with Lina for a Contemporary Craft Fair at The Global Cafe (RISC), Reading on November 27th and managed to get Binkypops to sign up to it to. I can't wait, should be a good day out. I am also planning to enter an embroidery competition with a prize of a chance to spend a day with Diane Bates, who I think is wonderful! Oh and what else, start a range of card designs that can be framed for my stall, update www.soobird.com with a Buttonhole gallery, update Etsy with a few new things and collect some fisheye pictures from Boots that I hope have worked. I borrowed a camera from a friend, destroyed the first film and had to use whatever I could find whilst in Paris. If they do work I will be so pleased and will get them up on here. Er what else, oh and make a cannelloni.

This is all in one day... I will let you know how I get on

Fathers of the Bride & Groom

Best Man

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♦ ♣ ♥ ♠ A Stitched Me ♦ ♣ ♥ ♠

Waiting for a delivery of cards, confirmation of an order, my new jacket to arrive for the House of Burlesque Victorian Values costume so needed to do something with my time... here it is.

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♥ Joe & Eileen Wed 26♥08♥2010 ♥

A splendid afternoon spent in Minehead witnessing Joe (Darren's dad) and Eileen wed at St Michaels Church. We then made out way to Binham Grange, which was like an art gallery with sculptures and amazing things everywhere. I want to live there!

Binham Grange

A wire Dung Beetle

I can't remember who the artist was... it's really annoying me. They were about 6 or 7 insect homes made out of brass and ceramic pots. really unusual. Unfortunately pay day was a way off. One day I would like to own one.

Ali and Megan wearing their original 'Soobird' hair pieces. Which can be purchased in my Etsy shop wink wink.

My hat then did the rounds...

♦ ♣ ♥ ♠ Borneo Butterflies ♦ ♣ ♥ ♠

Found these on one of the hundreds of stalls at the Kota Kinabalu Sunday Market. The others had all gone off white water rafting whilst I stayed behind with the sick, including myself suffering from stomach ache. I managed to get a very low price and now I am turning them into shoe clips. I have 4 larger black and white ones for a hat I am making for Blakey & Laura's wedding this Saturday. Hope it works.

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♦ ♣ ♥ ♠ So Long August ♦ ♣ ♥ ♠

8.? km high on the top of Mount Kinabalu. The hardest thing I have ever done. No stomach bug or altitude sickness could stop me though!

Well I am back from Borneo... one of the most amazing experiences. I went with 5 of my Sixth Formers (and Kay & Nicky from Ilkeston School with 7 of their students) to Borneo as part of a World Challenge. The students had been building up to this 4 week trip for 18 months. It was an action packed month of jungle trekking, mountain climbing, white water rafting and various other things. Tons of inspiration gathered and now ready to get going creating some hats based on my findings.

I imagine some kind of spiny, spikey fascinator perched on the side of the head with antenna and feelers made from spines...

On route to Bako National Parl, Sarawak. Glorious quiet beaches surrounded by rainforest containing creatures of all shapes and sizes... including Proboscis Monkeys.

I ♥ CARNIVOROUS PLANTS - got to make something based on these!

So bright and vibrant... the picture doesn't quite do them justice. Another idea for a hat.

Kept myself busy on the plane home by painting the 'Student Awards'. I can make a studio space in the smallest of places!

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