IPP - the crafty side of things . . .

One of the most fun things about having creative & crafty friends to stay over the summer, is that there is always the opportunity to learn something new.   So when Lesley arrived with a bag full of beading & felting things,  Jen  & I did a little dance of joy.

The three of us first met, just a little over two years ago in Washington DC, USA where our hubbies were attending IPP.  Within minutes of being introduced, we'd discovered amongst other things, a mutual love of all-things-crafty.  And that was that. . . a firm friendship was born.

Fast forward to August 2014 and once more our boys were gathered at the annual IPP conference - this time in London.  So crafting plans were laid and first up was a bit of beading . . .

Left to our own devices whilst the boys were out & about (running around in some not-so-secret nuclear bunker - yes, seriously . . . read a bit about it here if you're interested), we donned our comfy gear, ordered take-out for dinner and turned the dining room into our crafting studio. 

Lesley makes the most beautiful beaded jewellery and had brought everything along that we needed so we set about making ourselves each a pretty bracelet under her expert tutelage.

bracelets in the making . . .

. . . and the end result :-)

Next on our list was "Learn to needle felt", so after a little excursion to The Cotton Patch for more supplies, and a re-location to London, we set up a makeshift craft space at our hotel, and went about ticking that one off too.

 

turning a bundle of wool roving into a sweet little penguin

expert tutor at work . . .

The call to dinner interrupted our crafting session,  but a little later we reconvened in the hotel lobby bar and had an impromptu workshop for a few of the delegates' kids . . .

. . .  and between us we produced 3 penguins, a Mallard duck, a dinosaur & 2 very scary monsters . . .

How cute is this little menagerie ?

Sadly all good things must come to an end, but as Jen winged her way westwards to California and Lesley crossed the pond home to Canada, we're already making plans for next year . . . 

hmmmm . . . .  what shall we make ?

: - )

'til next time,

xoxo