Kathleen Laurel Sage Workshop and more

It has been wonderful to be on the other side of the fence and be a student for a couple of days. I have had the most fantastic time with Kathleen Laurel Sage making a fairy doll

She is a great teacher and I had a lovely time doing something quite different to quilting. I have not stitched and burnt organzas for several years or done so much embellishment so had great fun letting go.

This little fairy will be finding her way into someones stocking this year.

Making some Christmas gifts this year has made me think that this is the way to go and next year most of my gifts will be made (I will have to start in January I think as I want to make a few quillows)

Luckily I now have my new studio and no excuses for lack of productivity.

This weekend I am having my first students to have a dyeing, using resists and discharge pastes weekend. Should be messy and fun.

I have also been involved in a lovely group project making a lap quilt for a very special friend. We each made a block of blues and greens with a pop of orange.  You can see more of this on Pams Blog

Bev

Raggedy wreath

My friend Anne has sent me this photo of her raggedy wreath to share on my blog.

She used 5 fat 1/8ths and a wide gold organza ribbon on a double florists hoop.

It looks stunning 

Thank you Anne

for instructions on how to make your own raggedy wreath see my previous post

Bev

WOW where has the time gone?

The last few months have been super busy what with decorating, moving office and finishing projects before Christmas. 

Firstly I just want to say a huge CONGRATULATIONS to all my students for completing their City & Guilds level 1 courses, ( machine embroidery, hand embroidery and patchwork & quilting) We heard yesterday that they had all passed so it is a wonderful early Christmas present to everyone. 

I also heard today, that I can offer level 2 courses next year so I am over the moon. I will need to get back down to earth soon but will enjoy today.

Last night my friends popped round for a Christmas make - raggedy wreaths. A great make as there was no stitching or sticking involved.

To make one you will need a wire hoop and at least 2 different fabrics and some ribbon ( 1" wide)  or organza to add a touch of glitz

 The above finished hoop was made with a florist hoop which has 2 rings. 

The pictures below show a single hoop which is of the sort used to make dream catchers and lamp shades. I purchsed it from Fred Aldous and I have to say delivery was super quick.

Fabric - 2 fat quarters and some ribbon or organza to add a bit of glitz.

A double hoop will take more fabric and some of my friends used 5 fat 1/8ths which worked very well.

Cut the fabric, ribbon and organza into strips 1" by 5" (2.5cms by 12.5cms)

We found that knotting the fabric with the right side on next to the hoop made the knot lie better. 

Keep knotting the fabric round the hoop (randomly choosing the fabric strips, ribbon or organza) until it is covered.

Then fiddle and tweek to fluff up the fabric. The left side of the photo is before I fiddled and the right side shows some tweeking.

Bev x

The Pencil Museum

The Summer is nearly over and there certainly is a slight snap in the air. Things have been busy on the home front with sorting out some of the clutter accumulated over many years. There has also been time to catch up with family further afield. Being from the Lake District I do miss the mountains and I can feel myself relax when I catch sight of them. The weather was beautiful and there's no better place to be than Keswick, for me anyway.

Every time I go back 'home' the town has changed. We seem to play spot the new shop. It is almost a relief when the new shops are not more outdoor clothing. There is a lovely new interior shop called Poets Interiors which is in the old dining room of the Royal Oak Hotel. The wonderful listed stained glass windows with portraits of Lake poets and some of their verse makes this shop unique. 

Another first for me this trip, was that we had time to visit the Pencil Museum. The factory is long gone but the museum is on part of the factory site. There is a feeling of nostalgia in this visit, as my mother was a book keeper at the pencil factory and the managers secretary at the Royal Oak Hotel. 

The story behind pencil making is fascinating and I hadn't realised what goes into something that I take quite for granted. The science behind the production of accurate colours, makes this humble everyday item something really special.

Derwent Pencils

One of my favourite Derwent Pencil products has to be the Inktense Range and I was lucky to be given this wonderful set last Christmas. They are vibrant water soluble ink pencils. The full depth of colour is not revealed until water has been added. They can be also be used on fabric.

This is a idea sample for a fan. The leaves are applied and then trapunto quilted for a 3D effect. I used the Inktense pencils to add shading to the plain green fabric. 
Lots of potential for this art material I feel.

Bev

If I Had Wings

The inspiration for this Three Dimensional embroidery was from the Preface to Cromwell by Victor Hugo

On the day when Christianity said to man: “Thou art twofold, thou art made up of two beings, one perishable, the other immortal, one carnal, the other ethereal, one enslaved by appetites, cravings and passions, the other borne aloft on the wings of enthusiasm and reverie—in a word, the one always stooping toward the earth, its mother, the other always darting up toward heaven, its fatherland”—on that day the drama was created. Is it, in truth, anything other than that contrast of every day, that struggle of every moment, between two opposing principles which are ever face to face in life, and which dispute possession of man from the cradle to the tomb?

Therefore "If I Had Wings" was born with birds breaking free form the earth and soaring above.

These are a few pages from my sketchbook

These are ideas which didn't make it in the final piece but that is the fun of starting a new project. 

The shape also developed organically as I cut the sections and re-pieced them.

It is another piece which is in need of some TLC. I sent it to an exhibition and it came back in a slightly different shape to the one sent. 

However it has made me take another look at my sketchbook and I am falling in love again with the torn paper shapes on the second image.  I can see the dissolvable fabrics coming out and some machine stitching.

Bev

Tyvek Revisited

Tyvek is a non woven fabric made by DuPont. It is also called Fibrefilm. 
I haven't used it for a few years and have had a day revisiting this interesting fabric. 

FREE ACEO offer details at bottom of post

When a heat source is applied to a piece of Tyvek it shrinks away from the heat and unusual effects and textures are created. ( Remember to have good ventilation when heating this type of material)

I chose to experiment with a heat gun and an iron on a dry setting, stitched and non stitched pieces.

NOTE: Always use baking parchment to prevent the Tyvek or Fibre Film sticking to your iron.

Tyvek sheet

After ironing. This is the side which was not directly exposed to heat - the wrong side). I like the pebble effect . 

Stitched with metallic thread

After ironing. This was the side exposed to the heat

The reverse side

Machine Stitching 

Ironed. Side exposed to heat

Ironed.The reverse side.

Machine stitched

Heat gun. A much more random shrinkage Don't like this as much as ironed effects

Machine Stitched

Heat gun used

Machine stitched

Heat gun used.

This piece of mixed media stitching used both the side of Tyvek exposed to heat and the reverse. 
Called River Bed it was influenced by rivers drying up during periods of drought.

Scan of the ACEO   'River Bed'

I have 22 limited edition ACEO's of the River Bed embroidery. ( Art Cards, Editions & Originals)

If you would like one please LIKE my Facebook page and Private Message me. Do not put any personal details onto the site, thank you.

I only have 22 so it is first come. I am not interested in building a mailing list so I will not be keeping your details.

I am giving these cards away free and will post worldwide but I cannot be held responsible for any lost in the post.

Happy Stitching

Bev

UFO finished

At the beginning of this month I shared with you one of my UFO's (unfinished objects)

I had taken a box of rubber washers and wrapped them. The project theme was exploring bubbles and foam.

Now I can show you the finished bowl. It may not be practical but it is certainly more decorative than a box of rubber washers.

Happy Stitching

Bev

Silk Paper Table Lamp

When is a quilt not a quilt? 

Over the last couple of days I have been busy working in my studio and the question of the division of textile arts into different categories again came to mind.

This is my Silk Paper Table Lamp.

Is is made from two layers of sheer fabrics - organza and chiffon - and the surface layer of silk paper. It has three layers and so can be classified as a quilt.

I have stitched (quilted or free motion embroidered depending on your stance) through all three layers.

What ever it is, I enjoy it, both lit when there is a warm glow and unlit for the lovely colours of the silk paper.

        

Happy Stitching

Bev

Falconry Day

Today we are going with friends on a Falconry experience. I have never been close to hawks but we do see the occasional Red Kite gliding over our garden. 

It reminded me of the Falconry furniture I made when I did my City & Guilds way back in the early '90's.  Always one for a challenge as I had never worked in leather or made a glove before (how hard can it be!!!) Well I soon learned how difficult and tricky glove making is. I couldn't even think of making one with a hard leather so chose to make it from chamois. The colours were taken from a photo of a Kestrel.

The feathers were made by free machining over net, cutting out and applying onto the  leather. 

The cuff of the glove was influenced by wonderful Elizabethan embroidered gloves.

Threads were trapped between the leather and a layer of chiffon and free motion stitched in place.

As this is a new blog it will be a combination of some early work as well as new, hope you enjoy seeing my work.

Happy Stitching

Bev

All Stitched Up

What do you do with a box of rubber washers?

Stitch them of course.

I started this project thinking of bubbles and foam and this is  the project so far. 

I haven't simply wrapped them I have used buttonhole (or blanket)  stitch  like the  first stage of making dorset buttons

I had been thinking about making a bowl - What do you think they should become?

Happy stitching

Bev

Paperclay Texture Book

This morning I am looking at textures for the City & Guilds courses.

I am busy looking round the house for more things to make wax rubbing's of, but have taken a moment to share my paper clay book with you. I was introduced to Paperclay by Pam - thank you. 

Using Creative Paperclay I found lots of texture around my home to make this texture book

There are placemats, the bottom of baskets, shells, old toys anything with an interesting surface which could be transferred to the paper clay.

Paper clay is an air drying modelling clay.

By rolling small pieces out and pressing it into the textured surface I could make "textured images"

When dry the paper clay can be painted and stitched. Although I found that if I wanted to stitch them it was better to make holes using a blunt needle whilst it was soft.

Here are some of the pages from the book

Just found this link for UK visitors Art from the Heart

Happy Stitching

Bev