Walk I - Sketchbook development

Hello all.

Hope you're well and are enjoying your weekend.

As promised you can see below some photos of how 'Walk I' are developing.  I'm now at the point of almost having the material stitched together - so it's almost ready for sandwiching and then sewing.

I'm really pleased wit the samples I've produced - well worth the effort as some of my initial ideas really didn't work at all.  

I promise to keep you up to date with how this work progresses.

Walk II

I've kept on walking across the fields recently - in spite of the scorching weather.  And I've noticed how much it's changed since I started work on Walk I.  I've made good progress with this piece and I promise to show you the sketchbook development very soon.

But in the meantime here are some photos from my walk this evening.

I hope you're are all coping with the heat.

Warwickshire Open Studios and Lynda Monk

Yes. It's that time of year again. Warwickshire Open Studios

If you're able to visit any of the artists please do, I'm sure you'll have as great a time as I did today.

My first visit was to Sew Arty. A great shop, with lots of classes and lots of things to buy too. I managed to limit myself to 4 reels of thread.

And then off to see Jo Roberts.

I know when I go to visit I will see something 'mappy and lifey', but I'm never sure quite how she'll bring the elements together.

This project was Jo's record of 70 days.  It's really interesting and funny. 

The next photo is her current project with David Southwell.  Do look at her blog to see how each of them interpret a word. Another beautiful project.

Jo was very welcoming and made a great cup of tea in a beautiful china cup and saucer.

I then popped over to Charkha Yarns.

And here are my purchases - rather restrained I thought.

 I should also let you all know I attended a talk by Lynda Monk last week at the Lutterworth Embroiderers Guild. 

She produces some amazing work - and I could hardly keep up with her description of techniques.  Here are a few photos.

Back to work...

Well, after a lovely week off, work was a real shock to the system.  It was lovely to see the team again, I'm so lucky to work with such lovely people.  But the getting up early was a killer.  It's also meant my run of creativity came to a bit of a halt.  But having met Bee Designs (see a photos of her work below) again today on her stall at the Market Bosworth Festival I realised if I want to do it I need to make time if I want to do it, so this coming week I'm going to see what and how I can fit creativity into the week.

So, hopefully I will be able to show you some progress next week.

A week off...

Well, I treated myself to week off last week. 

 I had a lovely time and thought I would share a few photos with you all.

One afternoon we went to open gardens at Weston under Wetherly. Twelve very different size gardens, but all worth looking at.  The weather was perfect, slightly cool so great for walking around.  

part of the fundraising for this went to the local church, St Michael's, which was a really beautiful old building.  As you know I enjoy looking at buildings that show deterioration, and this church was great.

I also treated myself to a day out in London.

I started off with an exhibition at the V & A, Treasure of the Royal Courts.  As you would expect a well curated exhibition. It was a shame you couldn't sketch, but I can understand they don't want the area clogged up or blocking the view of others for long periods of time.

As you would expect, you couldn't take photos, but there were very similar items in other areas of the museum that you could take photo's of, here are a few:

 I love the idea of looking in a pattern book to select your armour.

I also met up with some friends who I attended classes with at Bramble Patch.  It was great to see them all again.

Make sure you make the most of the good weather today.

Sunshine

Hello all.

Hope you're making the best of the weather.  It's amazing to have good weather again on a Bank Holiday weekend.

So here are a couple of pictures from the garden.

 

 I am sewing - and will have some things to show you soon.

Walk

Hi all,

Hope you're well and enjoying yet another sunny weekend.

This morning I decided to go for a walk and look for patterns and lines in the countryside around me.

Here is what I found:

 

 

  

  

Lets see how I can develop these into a design.

Jean Littlejohn Talk and Class

Another busy weekend involving lots of textiles.

We had a great evening on Friday at Leamington Embroierers Guild where we had Jean Littlejohn to deliver a talk and then a day class on the Saturday.

I'm sure a lot of you are aware of Jean Littlejohn and her close work with Jan Beaney. So to start here are a few photos of her work and samples - she was very generous and let us handle these and take photos.

And her sketchbooks were great.  I had serious sketchbook envy.

And here is the result of my day.  Her suggestion to our group was to use one stitch - twisted chain stitch.  

To make a back ground of this in a thick thread or wool, on a cotton fabric with an open weave with a very large eyed needle - a number 14 Chenille needle. 

 And then Bond a Web and foil was added

 And then more stitching.  

I bound some of my threads and I think this helped knock back the gold which was a little brash.

We then got to play with an embellisher.  Never had a go before, but found it very easy to use.

I sewed a variety of threads onto soluble fabric in cross stitch in varying sizes.  Then I went to the embellisher and worked from the front and the back.  Then I added some more crosses in different threads which I really liked the effect of.

And here is our show and tell. 

I think I can say we all had a great day. Jean is an enthusiastic textile artist and it was great to be able to see the work in detail rather than just in a book.  If you get the chance to attend one of her classes - go.

Take care all and I hope you have a great Bank Holiday Monday - it might even be sunny.