Walk I

Well - here is my piece of work - Walk I.

I'm really pleased with how it's turned out.

It's just over a meter long and is about 30 cms wide.

The majority of the fabrics I've used are ones I've dyed myself.

I've also used stencils made from freezer paper with markel sticks.  

Foiled with bondaweb and painted with metallic paints.  

I've used both machine and hand stitching.

I did lots of sampling - which I really enjoyed.

I've taken more photos and and am starting to design the next one.

Living Thread Group Class with Jo Beattie

Hello all.

I've had a very busy - but really good weekend.

On Sunday I had a class with Jo Beattie from the Living Threads Group.

It was only a small group. So the aim was to select an item and develop it into a design and hopefully end up with a completed textile item at the end.  Sounds like a tall order - but we all managed it.

So here are the photos of my work during the day.

The item I started with was a shell. I looked at from different angles and drew the image on paper and newspaper - drawing on newspaper is a really intertesing process, it feels much less pressured than drawing on white paper, and gives a pleasing result.  I extracted an element from my drawing and then worked it through. 

Next are the different colourways I tried, and I used different watercolour pencils and crayons.

And then I replicated the pattern in tissue paper.

And then I started my piece of textile sample.

And here it is all together.

Here are some pieces from others at the class.

Really interesting work.

And on Saturday I had a great time. I attended a Pride and Prejudice party! I had a great time, lots of tea and cake and of course - Colin Firth.

And we had great pressies too!

So - I hope you all had a nice weekend.

Take care and hope to hear from more of you soon.

Finished!

Yay.  Finished my cushion.  Am very pleased with it.  Hope it sells at the Festival.

It's still raining!

Cut and Come Again - sort of

Hello all.

Are you managing to avoid the downpours? Crikey when it rains - it really rains.

So here is my attempt at Edwina MacKinnon's 'Cut and Come Again' technique that she taught to our group - but I was unable to attend the class. 

I was a bit annoyed this week and this is a great technique when you're annoyed.  If you look at the link to Edwina's blog you'll see hers is much better (as you would expect).  But I think if I have another look at her blog photos perhaps I can adapt it.  I'll be putting these blocks together to make a cushion cover for the show in Market Bosworth in June.

I promise to show you the results when I have it finished.

Have a good weekend - and keep dry.

Angie Hughes class

Hi all. Yes surprise surprise - here's another post. Just got back from a class with Angie Hughes organised by the Lutterworth Embroiderers Guild. It was so popular we had to book her for an extra day. 

Had a great time and wanted to share with you what we all got up to.

 So here's what I ended up with. For those of you who know - you'll see there's a lot of work left to go.

And below is another piece I managed to get started on - much bigger and a different colour scheme - lets see how it goes.

If you get the chance do Google her please do as there are lots of images out there of her work as well as lots on her site.

If you get the chance to take a class with Angie - please do - I'm sure you'll have lots of fun.

I also popped in to see the Market Bosworth Quilters yesterday. Theye were taking a class with Edwina MacKinnon. Another great teacher.

Hello

Hello all,

Hope you're well. I'm enjoying the sunshine - I hope you are too.

 So here's a photo I took on an early evening walk earlier this week.

See the sunshine reflecting on the lake.

And I am doing some sewing too. I'm making slow progress - but I'm really enjoying it. I'm rediscovering old stitches I haven't used for ages.

I'll be back soon.

World Book Night

Well - Saturday was World Book Night.

I was lucky enough to be selected to give away 48 copies of 'Cloud Atlas' by David Mitchell.

The books were specially printed - as you can see below.

I had a very nice evening sat in the pub - with great people - giving out books and having a drink. It really couldn't have been much better

I'm pleased to say I've managed to give all of my books away. 

If you weren't lucky enough to pick up a book on the night -keep your eyes open as the idea is that they're circulated once people have read them.

Now I'd hate to think you thought I spent all my time in the pub - handing out books. So below is a combination of fabrics I've put together to use as the basis for an exercise using different stitches. As you can see I've used the fabrics I dyed the other week. And the threads too. So keep watching and I'm sure you'll see how I get on.

Hope to hear from you soon.