A gorgeous box of goodies that will arrive through the post!
Aimed at stitchers who have a love of making.
Especially for those who missed out last year – another chance to order this beautifully festive Patchwood Christmas Tree Workshop in a Box. I’m now taking pre-orders but be warned and be super quick because initially there will only be eighteen boxes available
I LOVE the idea of you creating this lovely seasonal wall piece that you will enjoy bringing out year after year!
My aim for these boxes is for them to fall somewhere between an inspiration pack (where materials are provided with no guidance for using them) and a kit (where there are step-by-step instructions and everyone makes the same). Because of the nature of this one – it definitely falls nearer the ‘kit’ form but you will find that I have included suggestions for how you can change things around a bit and make it your own. Not least you will start off personalising it by choosing your own colours.
Please note that PAINT IS NOT INCLUDED in the box.
I thought you would want to choose your own paint to co-ordinate with your own colour schemes. I use matt emulsion ‘Match Pots’ from the DIY store, available very cheaply in every colour imaginable!
You could even go metallic & glittery if you wish… just don’t tell me! Rumour has it that every December I frisk my workshop participants to make sure they’re not trying to smuggle glitter into my class!! (Oh to have the opportunity to do that this year!) This may or may not be true but I do have a serious ‘bling’ phobia. However even I will make an exception for this and admit that a wee bit of added shimmer might not be a bad thing! (Not included in the box though because I just can’t!)
The Materials
In my own art practice the theme of my work always suggests the materials that I use. These are generally old, collected, washed & worn. I have an absolute passion for vintage materials so this project is highly unusual for me in that it mostly uses ‘new’.
Why?
Because I’ve taken my favourite patches from four years of making Patchwood Christmas Trees and brought them altogether in the design of this tree. Although I prefer to use vintage treasures wherever I possibly can, it dawned on me that my favourite Christmas Tree patches were actually made from new bits from craft stores. Yikes I never thought I would utter these words – but in this instance it’s absolutely true!
But true to form, I have managed to include some vintage treasures such as: Vintage text – an old book page, newspaper & magazine cuttings for you to cut out letters to use ‘Ransom Note’ style, vintage fabric scraps and other little bits & pieces.
I have prepared everything in the box myself, as I would for a workshop and I’m really excited at the thought of people rummaging through it! I had such wonderful feedback on the presentation of last year’s Christmas Tree Workshop in a Box, this is SO important to me. My aim is to delight & inspire, to keep packaging simple and re-usable…. but also gorgeously beautiful!
You’ll receive seven wooden ‘patches’ and all the materials and tools required to make your Patchwood Christmas Tree with, as I said earlier, the exception of paint. The stitching holes are pre-drilled, ready for you to start assembling. I don’t pretend for a minute that they are perfect. Participants in my workshops always think that I drill perfectly uniform holes and I am very happy to point out the wonky bits. Wood doesn’t always behave exactly as you wish and the grain means that sometimes the drill is pushed out of line. To me this is the point of it – part of the anomaly of trying to ‘sew’ wood. But be reassured – they are drilled to the same standard as I would when working on pieces for selling or commission.
There is, of course, a story behind why I wanted to stitch wood in the first place, a bit long to tell here, but it’s to do with mixing up some of the stereotypical domestic roles – taking a traditionally ‘female’ role of sewing and working it in a traditionally ‘male’ material. My workshops are always developments from my own personal art practice – read more about my series of Patchwood Samplers.
To Order
There will be a limited number of 18 Patchwood Christmas Tree boxes available and I will start posting them out on Monday 9th November and will post throughout that week. They won’t take too long to make so there will be plenty of time for you to complete and get them hanging on your wall for Christmas.
You can pre-order a box now by contacting me by email. It will be on a first come first served basis but depending on the response I may open a waiting list and make more available. I’m not taking payment just yet but it will be by by Paypal or Bank transfer.
The cost of the box is £55 plus UK postage of £3.00
I can ship overseas at cost but personally I think postal rates are pretty prohibitive. Also if a parcel does get ‘lost’ on it’s way overseas then I will reimburse the cost of the box but sorry I can’t reimburse the postage.
I hope you love it and I can’t wait to see pictures of the results!