Blue is my favourite colour

Sweet Sisters - Round Robin

2011-06-21T09:56:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of the fabric book I have created for the Sweet Sisters Round Robin. I have chosen the theme Flowers.

The cover is made from Sinemay and I used strips of fabric to embroider the flower. (I have no idea how to turn this photo round in Blogger - sorry!). I backed it with some old shirt fabric, used

Fast2Fuse Interfacing and chose a pink dyed cotton fabric for the inside.

I also added a couple of pockets back and front.

The cord is made from a strip of the pink cotton fabric rolled and free machined with a zigzag stitch. I didn't want the cord to show on the back cover and interrupt the flower so I have just fixed it in place with a couple of zigzag stitches.

The pages are made from calico and wadding, and the edges are zigzagged. I have punched two eyelets in each page but I still have to get the hang of doing this technique properly as the eyelets often fall out.

I have used a magnetic clasp for the fastening because I wanted to practise this technique in advance of using it on a bag and then hid it behind a Suffolk Puff, although I know this doesn't work from the design point of view. I forgot to consider the thickness of any additions to the pages too so the fastening might end up not doing up properly by the time the book gets back to me, but never mind, because I have a Plan B.

I decided I wanted to start the book of with a tulip and I used my embellisher and free machining to create the first page.

I know only two of the people in the Round Robin but I am really looking forward to not only stitching pages on the themes others have chosen, but also getting my completed book back and seeing how others have interpreted my theme.

A day out at Kew Gardens

2008-03-19T14:15:00.000-07:00

Not having planned on blogging for a while, I had such a great day on Saturday, visiting the largest ever exhibition of Henry Moore sculptures at Kew Gardens
http://www.kew.org/henry-moore/ that I thought I would share some photos.

The different textures are fascinating. Some are so smooth from being stroked over the years. Each time they are exhibited they are cleaned and given a new coat of beeswax.

As you walk round the sculptures and look through the holes or gaps in them, the sculpture becomes a frame and your view of the surroundings change. I can't remember what these are made out but the colour is gorgeous.

The pieces are so huge that they had to be lifted over the gates of Kew by crane.

Mother and child was one of his favourite themes.

These lines are so simple with the spine protruding, and just calling out to be stroked.

Whilst the exhibition is only on for about another ten days, you can also see his sculptures at his home at Perry Green in Hertfordshire.

http://www.henry-moore-fdn.co.uk/matrix_engine/content.php?page_id=4361

No stitching!

2008-03-08T07:08:00.000-08:00

Its a month since I last posted anything on this blog, and felt I ought to give some sort of exlanation. Its also a month since I did any stitching. The time spent stitching is now time I spend on my course, which I am thoroughly loving. My creativity hasn't disappeared completely, however, as I am keeping a personal blog of my reflections as a new/mature learner and including lots of my own sketches and images on that. Its very personal though and definitely not for sharing!

Hubs and I have booked ourselves onto a weekend printmaking course in Suffolk in April, which includes collagraphs, so will post some pics of that in due course. This should be quite a relaxing weekend too as we don't have to take anything with us as everything is provided.

Additionally, I have booked a week's summer school at Missenden with Heather Power on bookmaking. I love her work and still use the notes I made on a day class I did with her at Art Van Go many years ago. It was definitely Heather Power that got me into bookmaking. She has a lot to answer for!

Little pink book

2008-02-06T12:01:00.000-08:00

At our last ZigZag meeting Gina showed us how to do cutwork using free machine embroidery. I loved the technique and couldn't wait to develop this further. So using one of my gravestones as inspiration, I took a small section from this photo

and created this little pink book which stands up on its spine. Its quite tiny, 4 inches tall by 3 inches wide.

To open, the front flaps down, and it can then be used as a normal book.

I wonder how small a book I can make? That might be my next challenge.

Bags and terracotta soldiers

2008-02-04T10:02:00.000-08:00

I bought myself this bag last week from Paperchase

but in order to stop my daughter pinching it, I had to make her this! Actually, I thoroughly enjoyed making it as it was a great diversion from an exhausting day starting my new course.

Last week Hubs and I had tickets to see the Terracotta Army exhibition at the British Museum .

About 30 years ago a farmer digging in NW china found a terracotta head, which led to not only the discovery of the terracotta army guarding the tomb of China's first emperor, but also entertainers, civil officials, chairots, birds, horses - in fact a whole underground kingdom guarded by the terracotta army.

Every soldier is individual. The detail is fantastic. Each one is approximately 6 ft tall.
The soldiers would have originally been fully painted. One has been found with his face painted green.This armour is made from stone. Not for normal battle but to protect the emperor in the after life.

These horses were excavated from the first pit in 1977.

If you can still get tickets I would thoroughly recommend a visit.

Sugar and vinegar mixture

2008-01-29T06:48:00.001-08:00

In the C&G Yahoo group we have been discussing ideas how to create textures, and I happened to mention something we did on our C&G course which was to mix sugar with vinegar to make a really thick paste. I then made marks in it with a fork - bit like the mashed potato on the top of shepherds pie - and left it to dry until it hardened.

Here is a picture of my completed texture board from two years ago and the sugar/vinegar paste is the last of the smaller images on the right handside, above the bark rubbing. It has a wonderful translucent look to it.

I have just come across my old notes two which says two parts of sugar and one of vinegar but I recall that was a bit runny.

Other textures on the board were created from:
Acrylic paint
Bark rubbing
Tyvek
Rice
Tissue paper scrunched up
Egg shells
Angel hair wrapping paper
String

I can't believe this was two years ago now. This time next year I will have completed my training course as a Study Skills Tutor and be remembering how nervous I am feeling this week, and wondering why on earth I have signed up to do it! We have our first contact day on Saturday, and having seen the course assignments now I am panic stricken! Perhaps I will get more stitching done as a diversionary tactic from writing essays.

Books, gravestones, and morning tea

2008-01-20T05:18:00.000-08:00

Following on with my gravestone shapes, here is my first little book.

I have been having a go with transferring images using Bondaweb following the directions Maggie Gray has given on her blog. It's so easy. I was really impressed. Using Photoshop, I took a picture of a head that I drew ages ago, and put it against a photo of rust. I changed the colours of the rust to make it look more like lichen as seen on gravestones. I ironed it onto cotton and then washed the print away. I like its ethereal quality.

What I particularly like about this method is that it is using materials most of us have anyway. There is no buying any specialised paper or liquid.

A little while ago Gina nominated my blog for a You Make my Day Award. (Despite several attempts blogger won't let me add the picture of the award).

The rules are that I have to

Give the award to 10 people whose blogs bring you happiness and inspiration and make you feel happy about blogland. Let them know by posting a comment on their blog so they can pass it on. Beware you may get the award several times."

I started trying to come up with 10 blogs but decided to stick with my absolute favourites and the ones that I check really regularly for up-dates. They are:

Zoe at http://witchypoos.blogspot.com/
Joyce at http://sewartjourney.blogspot.com/
Sheila at http://stitchingtrail.blogspot.com/
Margaret (Digital Gran) http://digitalgran.blogspot.com/
and of course Gina’s Fan my Flame

The person, however, who for me deserves the You Make my Day Award above everyone else and nothing to do with blogs is…. Drum roll … My Husband! For bringing me a cup of tea in bed every morning. I am fairly lousy at waking or getting up and this cup of tea works miracles!

Who would others nominate for this award, outside of blogland?

Photo album

2008-01-14T23:47:00.000-08:00

Here is the photo album I made using transfer dyes onto pelmet vilene, lots of acrylic wax, hand stitching and then assembled using traditional book binding methods. The photo doesn't really show the texture or the wonderful burgundy colour of the Japanese silk bookbinding cloth. It measures 10 x 10 inches.

I also made a box to fit and had just as much fun doing this. Its made from scored mountboard, then covered with scrunched up tissue paper, with lots of layers of acrylic paint, Markal sticks and then varnished.

I hadn't tried making a box in this way before, and was really pleased with the outcome.

Thought I would just add some details of a few things I lost or forgot last week:

House keys - again.

Back door key.

Scanner connection - Not my fault. Dog had rolled over underneath the table and pulled the cable out.

Keyboard connection - dog again!

My way - not my fault. Went up to London for a meeting, and the street name was wrong on the map they had given me. When I told them about it, I didn't even get an apology. They just said they were aware of the error!

Forgot whether I had unplugged the iron on our way to a birthday party on Saturday. Made hubs turn round and go back home so I could check, and yes I had already pulled the plug out.

Pound coins I had specifically saved for the car park. Found ... in my purse!

Treasure Gold - gave up trying to find that and used Markal sticks. Naturally, found it later when I didn't need it any more.

Gravestones to books

2008-01-12T06:13:00.001-08:00

Thoroughly inspired by the ideas for taking my gravestone research further, I took the drawings I had done previously of outlines of gravestones,

and doodled. I liked the simple outline most of all. Put on top of one another they reminded me of Lowry's figures.

I played with stitching simple lines in straight stitch and zigzag.

I had the idea of creating a book within the gravestone shape. The gravestone generally marks the date of birth and death, and the book inside represents to me the life story of that particular person. I wanted the book to stand upright too, just like the gravestone. So I was up early this morning and before breakfast had created this mock-up. I think it has lots of potential now for making a stitched cover in various techniques and also trying out various book binding methods.

Having created a present for a friend's 50th birthday using Frances Pickering's transfer dyes onto pelmet vilene method, I think it is time to use this method to make something for me! Next week I can post a pic of the birthday present I made as by then J. will have opened it! Hope she likes it.

Exhibitions.

2008-01-11T12:06:00.000-08:00

Thanks for everone that left comments on my blog about things they regularly lose. Glad I am not alone!I did find my house keys in the end ... under a piece of paper right where I had looked umpteen times!

It was back to work with avengence this week after the Christmas break. I say with avengence because it was one of those weeks when work would really get in the way of doing all those other things I had planned, or so I thought.

Wednesday I had planned on meeting friends at The Mall Galleries to see
The Society of Designer Craftsmen - an exhibition I have never been to and always wanted to. I was very well organised, prepared dinner early and put it in the oven on timer as daughter had a friend coming round to eat. Had worked more or less solidly all day Tuesday and from the crack of dawn Wednesday so I could have the day off. Left home to drive to the station and hit two major traffic jams and ended up queueing for ages. By the time I got to the station car park there were no parking places left and it was only 9.45! There is absolutely no where else to park around and I had no alternative but to abandon my trip. I was a very sad bunny. Thanks P. for telling me what a great exhibition I missed!

As a bit of a consolation on Thursday, after a meeting in London, I popped into the British Library and had a look round one of their current exhibitions
60 years of the Folio Society. http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/whatson/exhibitions/folio.html

I love books and going round I suddenly had inspiration how I could take my gravestone theme into its next phase with stitching. Will have to do some drawings etc and will post some pics in due course.

I haven't checked any blogs for a while so was delighted to read Gina's blog
http://ginaferrari.blogspot.com/ and discover that she had awarded me You Make My Day Award. (I can't add the image at the mo - blogger won't let me copy it). I was quite chuffed, I can't think I have been ever given an award for anything before. Thank you Gina. The rules mean that now I have to :

"Give the award to 10 people whose blogs bring you happiness and inspiration and make you feel happy about blogland. Let them know by posting a comment on their blog so they can pass it on. Beware you may get the award several times."

Now I have a great excuse to spend more time in blogland and decide which 10 people to nominate.

Christmas time

2007-12-31T02:30:00.000-08:00

Boo,Winston and Arnie were last seen heading off to their respective homes on Christmas Eve. They didn't look very happy at the thought of being parted.

I promised myself some creative time over the holiday period. I made some printing blocks from polystyrene cutting the shapes with a soldering iron. This is how Frances Pickering does it,and I have to say it works wonderfully. The soldering iron just glides through the polysytrene, although I did have to work by an open door because of the fumes!

Then I mixed up lots of transfer dyes and painted and printed several sheets of paper. I have a specific project in mind for these, but more of that at a later date.

I also made a photo album with the goodies I had purchased recently from Falkiners Fine Papers in Southhampton Row.

The album measures about 7 x 7 inches. Having had a quick demo from a very helpful assistant in Falkiners, I included a spacer for the photos.

I also made a little A6 sized notebook, which is ideal for popping in a pocket or a bag.

Now, if I could only find my house keys I could get the car out of the garage, and go and get some shopping! I have been looking for them since yesterday afternoon. They must be indoors as I opened the front door to come in. I am always losing things. Saturday I 'lost' the eggs in the fridge, sent Hubs out to the corner shop to get some and as he puts them away in the fridge, he immediately 'finds' the other ones. I have for years lost gloves every winter. The children always threatened to put them on strings for me, like little children have. Well this year I am pleased to say I haven't lost any. I just don't wear them any more!

What do other people regularly lose? Do tell as I am sure I can't be the only scatterbrain around.

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-24T09:57:00.001-08:00

Best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy, prosperous and creative New Year.

2007-12-24T09:57:00.000-08:00

Busy, busy, busy!

2007-12-14T02:09:00.000-08:00

I haven't had much time to put anything on my blog recently, so thought I would share some photos of things I have been making, and receiving!

Firstly I did a one day "Wired wonders" class with Ray Slater at the local branch of the Embroiderer's Guild. The day went fine until we had a demonstration on how to stitch the head. 12 of us peered very closely across the table at the two inch high head in an attempt to see exactly what we had to recreate. A head the size of a football would have been better for demonstration purposes! We could just not see. I actually felt like walking out at that point, and I wasn't the only one to feel so frustrated. Then we were told we could only borrow the sets of instructions during the class, as they were copyrighted for a forthcoming book. Despite this, I did continue with my doll at home, and although she isn't quite finished, she looks quite fun, I think.

Then I did a two day Transfer to Dye course at Art van Go with Frances Pickering, which was absolutely fantastic. She is so generous with sharing her techniques, ideas and suggestions. These are the two main books I created, also not finished. I have a great pile of UFOs as I am sure everone else does.

Then I went to the Louise Bourgeois exhibition at Tate Modern with my friend Z, enjoying the use of her company's corporate tickets. Whilst appreciating the techniques used for the sculptures, I found the whole exhibition seriously disturbing. A review in The Guardian newspaper mentions "sinister sculpture of body parts" and "heads built of flannel or tapestry that softly scream". I couldn't even bring myself to buy a postcard, so serious was I in not wanting to be reminded of what I had seen.

Christmas came a little early with these gorgeous gifts from Z. A concertina book, some Christmas fabric and a sweet hand stitched tree decoration.

In the post a few days later I received these from C. in Dundee, as part of a swap. The leaves are exquisite and have been free machined on water soluble.

Then a Christmas postcard sent through the post. This has given me a few ideas!!

Have a good weekend everyone. Only 11 days to go to Christmas!

I am so excited.

2007-11-30T02:44:00.000-08:00

I am so excited. I have just heard that I have been accepted onto the course PG Certificate in Supporting the Dyslexic Learner in FE and HE at Middlesex University. The reason why I hadn’t got round to doing any stitching for the last few weeks is because, having no undergraduate degree, I had to write a 2500 word essay as part of the application process. I am really excited – a new career awaits!!

I did start my Christmas shopping on Wednesday, but this is all you get to see for now. No more details for now because, although, as far as I am aware, my family don't read my blog, they might just!

They are just wondering if it will be a white Christmas this year.

Three weeks since I last blogged.

2007-11-26T00:55:00.001-08:00

Its been a very hectic three weeks and the sum total of my creativity has been one ATC, and that’s for a swap so I can’t put a photo of it here.

I did however manage a trip to London on Friday.

First stop was Falkiners Fine Papers in Southampton Row and I bought some book binding cloth.
The chocolate brown and burgundy ones are Japanese silk and have a gorgeous texture. Can’t wait to use them. I also bought some Japanese paper which is probably destined for a book cover.

The assistant in Falkiners was incredibly helpful. He even gave me a quick lesson on how to add the spacers to take the thickness of the photo when making a photo album and told me all about the different sort of glues that were used and their properties. I would recommend a visit there.

My friend Z and I had planned a trip to the V&A together but unfortunately she was ill. Hope you feel better soon Z. So I trotted along on my own and saw a number of exhibitions: Out of the Ordinary: Spectacular Craft, Booker Prize Special Book Bindings and Collaborators: UK Design for Performance (Theatre designs - sets, costumes and more). They were all quite fascinating and some particularly intriguing.

In Out of the Ordinary the spots of paint on a paint spattered table were actually mother of pearl inlaid, and the spots of paints on the dust sheets were stitched. Many visitors walked straight past them without looking closely. A little girl of about eight told me quite indignantly that she had seen five people walk past without looking. It did take her to point out to me, however, that the nails in the walls were actually studded with diamonds. How many of us just walk past something and take it at face value without looking closer?

In the evening I went to the lecture with Kaffee Fassett, well known for his riotous use of colours in knitwear.

He was a great speaker, charmed the audience and enthused about his work on the slides. Apparently, he came to the UK in 1964, as a painter, intending to stay for three months and is still here. A chance trip to Scotland with a friend changed his life. He was inspired by the colours of the landscape, and a trip to a mill saw him buying wools with such names as granite and lichen. At that time he didn’t even know how to knit but on the train home he encouraged a female passenger to give him a 20 minute lesson. Later a cleaning lady showed him how to knit patterns using lots of different colours and a new career was born. A number of women in the audience were wearing stunning knitted coats, obviously inspired by him. He continues to be heavily involved in patchwork quilts, needlepoint, mosaics and painting.

He sees inspiration everywhere. He recommends always finishing a project, even if you don't like it at the time. I should take heed of that. I am a great one for starting things.

On Saturday, I had a fabulous surprise. A knock on the door and there was a delivery man with a huge box … for me! I couldn’t wait to open it up and there inside was this gorgeous plant arrangement with thanks for help with The Dress.

I was absolutely stunned. I often take in flowers for neighbours, they are never for me. Even on my birthday, the huge bouquet in the arms of the delivery man was for next door!

Well its off to work now. I hope its not another three weeks before I have time to blog again. Looking forward to a two day course with Frances Pickering next week.

Praise indeed!

2007-11-06T23:26:00.000-08:00

I have managed at last to finish this book. The cover is made up of several layers. Using rust dyed fabric, I stitched lines with a twin needle, and threaded string through the channels. Names of people buried in the local churchyard were stitched along the lines, then painted Bondaweb, gold and copper foils were added, then lastly a layer of painted Tyvek. More stitching with a twin needle to emphasise the lines, and then zapped with a heatgun.

The pages have been stained with walnut ink and the edges painted in gold. The photo doesn't do justice really to the texture but my son actually commented Oh That's Nice! Praise indeed.

2007-11-03T06:56:00.000-07:00

Doesn't time fly. We have now been in our house two years and I just love living in the country. This stunning view of the trees across the fields caught my eye as I was out walking the dog the other day. Just a couple of the tops were bright red and really stood out against the others.

I don't know what this tree is called but the sun was shining through the leaves.

Daughter and I did get round to putting out a pumpkin for Halloween.

And we made some delicious Pumpkin soup but that got eaten before I could take a photo!

Once again I haven't had time to do any stitching, but I did venture into the tiny cemetery in the village, about 200 yards from the Church. Its on the main route into the village. When there is a funeral the whole village stops because the funeral party walks from the church to the cemetery and then stands in the narrow road by the entrance whilst prayers are said. If you are driving up the road at the time, the done thing is to stop (obviously), get out of the car and then stand there quietly too.

I have been intrigued by the work on the gravestones, the range of motifs from anchors, to flowers, crosses and my favourite one so far: a man's hand holding a lady's - how romantic.

I tried to move the ivy aside but it was well and truly attached. I intend to go back and look more closely for the names and dates but I vaguely remember that this is one where they have worn off.

My friend P gave me some gorgeous photos she had taken in Chagford, Devon, of a Celtic cross. Hubs was away the another night and I sat up in bed drawing and exploring the shapes in my sketchbook.

I have decided that my personal challenge is to explore how to take my drawings into stitch. Actually not just to explore, but really do it! This is where I struggle. I stay within the comfort zone of my sketch book and kid myself that its lack of time that stops me taking it further.

Off to give the dog her tranquillisers. There will be a lot of fireworks around and she hates them. One year, she tried to dig her way into the bathroom (no idea why the bathroom) and tore her pads on the carpet gripper.

She will be 13 next week. Can't walk very far now but is still great company.

Why does it always happen to me?

2007-10-25T00:56:00.000-07:00

I am always mesmerised by the wonderful skeins of assorted yarns that are available nowadays. They are definitely Must Have and/or Can't Live Without purchases and I am seduced into handing over my money.

As soon as I start to use them, however, they seem to become one huge tangle which is what happened yesterday to me. All I did was pull one thread out .....

I then had to spend ages sorting them out.

I knew my exercise bike would come in handy one day!Now the question is how to store them? What does everyone else do? Do you neatly wrap them individually onto little bits of card as soon as you get them, or do you struggle and swear (just a little bit) like me when you come to use them? Surely, there must be a solution somewhere in the middle?

The Wedding

2007-10-21T04:20:00.000-07:00

The wedding went off fantastically yesterday. Everyone had a great time, and the bride and groom beamed all day. The Dress looked stunning.

The mother of the bride looked fabulous, even if she had previously remarked she would have rather gone shopping for a new pair of walking boots than a posh outfit!

Everyone knows that brides are meant to wear:

“Something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue”

Ever the individual, the bride decided on stripey blue socks for the “Something Blue”!

Transport for the day for the bridal party and guests was a wonderful old red London bus.

One of my favourite photos from the day was this one of some of the now defunct “baby sitting circle”, with some of the babies now very much grown up.

Barcelona vs Knitting & Stitch Show

2007-10-18T22:59:00.000-07:00

The reason I didn't get to the Knitting and Stitch Show was because, although I had booked the time off work, Hubs fancied a City Break to Barcelona and I am not one to turn a holiday down.

We had a fabulous few days, staying right in the centre. Gorgeous weather meant we were walking around in tee shirts and eating outside. It was great to have such a choice of places to visit. I took loads of photos. I particularly loved Gaudi's use of curves. These were in one of his houses:

This was one of the laundry rooms. If you look carefully you can see clothes displayed on these sheer hangings. The clothes were actually holograms.

We went to the unfinished cathedral which was stunning. A few of my favourite photos:

Unfortnately, it was back to work on Monday, which we both found really hard after such a wonderful few days away.

Wednesday was great, however, as our newly formed stitchng group had our second day together. We now have a name: ZigZag. It was with gusts of laughter that we ruled out quite a few, including Gina's Babes. In Stitches came a close second but ZigZag won. I came away with two gorgeous ATCS from our swap but do you think I can find them at the moment to take a photo! No!

We continued with our goldwork using the machine, and I had a go with Lynda's braiding foot and her cording foot on my Brother machine. Decided I can't live without these, so have ordered them. Its great working with someone with a similar machine, especially as she actually teaches it. I have had this particular machine for about five years now, and am still discovering new things. The other day I used the overlocking foot with the side cutter to turn my daughter's trousers up. How quick it was! Note to myself: must be braver in future to have a go.

2007-10-10T07:23:00.000-07:00

On Friday, I had a wonderful evening at the local branch of the Embroiderers' Guild. There were four activities for us to have a go at. I managed three.

On the first table Lynne took us through making the Christmas decoration on the left. We were provided with everything, even the tassels.

Secondly, Sandie took us through some ideas to use for cards:- weaving fabric, crazy patchwork and much much more. Can't wait to have a go and use those card with precut windows that I have lurking in the cupboard.

Tricia then started us off on the wonderful Christmas tree on the right. Both decorations I finished at home, and it was great to have a bit of handstitching to do.

I took part in an ATC swap too and received this amazing card which was made from paper folding. Thanks Jo.

It was a fantastic evening and I came away buzzing with creative ideas. Many thanks to everyone involved.

Last week I braved the builders again and sketched part of the church. Its very old, with some parts of it going back to 1120.
This is one of the motifs on the gravestones in the churchyard. "In Memory of Mary Weatherhead"

I also came across five gravestones all in a row with skull and crossbones on them. They looked exceedingly creepy. I wonder if it means anything in particular. Anyone any ideas? Blogger wouldn't let me add this photo.

Using the outline of the Church as a motif I played with the shape in my sketchbook, and added ideas for turning it into a textile. I am pleased to say I have even used one of the ideas and created an ATC.

Last but not least, a picture of this morning's washing! More rust dyeing. Hate the green, it really isn't my colour, but the fabric looks very much like the lichen I have been seeing on the gravestones. Unfortunately, I can't make the Knitting and Stitch Show which starts at Ally Pally tomorrow. Look forward to hearing about it from everyone.

Experimenting with rust dyeing

2007-10-05T03:48:00.000-07:00

I have had great success recently with rust dyeing using wire wool.

From left to right, the fabrics are butter muslin, cotton, silk and heavyweight calico. These were left for about 48 hours. Some gorgeous marks. Not sure if I can bring myself to stitch on them.

These were two fabrics I had dyed with Procion dyes previously.

The orange fabric, I only left for 24 hours with the wire wool as I couldn't wait any longer. The marks are somewhat paler as a result. Using the same wire wool throughout, I then tried it with brown fabric not really expecting any marks to show up at all and was quite amazed with the results. The brown fabric was an awful shade previously and now it looks quite amazing.

The wire wool has now truly disintegrated and can not be used again.

A busy week.

2007-10-04T09:30:00.000-07:00

I didn't get round to doing much last week, hence no blog. The reason, however, was because I managed to scratch my eye quite badly trying to retrieve a contact lens that had decided to fold itself up in the corner of my eye. Ended up going to the opticians and seeing two optometrists who both confirmed that by the time I saw them in the afternoon the lens was no longer in my eye! One of them did say though that the eye "looked a bit cross". Understatement of the year in my opinion. Felt very sorry for myself, so as Hubs was away, daughter and I popped out to the local Harvesters for dinner and some comfort food.

Sunday I spent helping friend to turn up The Dress ready for wedding on 20th October. I know all brides look stunning but she really does look stunning. I have known this young lady since she was two (now 24) and felt very privileged to be asked to help. I did make her do the actual sewing though ... I really didn't have the nerve.

This week I have made up for my lack of creation last week. I visited our local church and started drawing gravestones, and carried on bravely despite being given weird looks by the builders on the roof. I really got into the history of those buried. One family had lost three sons under 25.

I am not sure that you can see it clearly in the doorway picture on the right but the second door behind the locked, wrought iron gate says WELCOME. Some welcome indeed.

One of our monthly challenges was to make an ATC in the colour opposite our favourite one, which meant I had to use orange. I raided my stash and came across two orange fabrics from the very first swap I ever did, some years ago now. Thanks to Liz and Sheila. Then using some Supermend and transfer foil, I added some gold bits. Cut some shapes out and stitched them here and there, and hey presto not one but six:

This morning a friend and I spent some time experimenting with Transfer Dyes. I had painted the papers yesterday so just had to iron them off. These are some of the ones I liked best:

Transfer dye on kitchen towel:

Paper scrunched up before ironing and a fabric leaf shape as a resist.

Transfer dye on raised wallpaper:

This is my favourite one. Using a skeleton leaf as a resist, and then printing with the residue on the leaf. The holes on the left are from the iron - unintentional but looks really good.

I can't say I am enamoured of using polyester fabric, so had a go with some thin calico. Worked well I think.

Now to do some work.

A productive day

2007-09-25T00:50:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, hubs was busy writing a report for work so, in between washing, ironing and cooking, I had some time to play. In our embroidery group we are looking at rust and gold and I started by exploring the idea of rust and finding relevant photos.

I looked at the meaning of rust and poems with the word rust in them. I came across themes of erosion, deterioration, decay and everything started to get a bit melancholic,

But I then came across a photo I had taken on holiday of the paint peeling on the side of a boat. There was nothing melancholic about this decay, the colours were absolutely stunning.

I came across too a poem referring to the rusty colours of autumn which helped to cheer me up further and took me to photos I took last autumn when out walking the dog. Last year was our first autumn of living in the country and nature shouted out to me wherever I went.

I went to add some stitching to my book and I remembered last year being told not to add the “craft” to the “design book” – so threads and fabrics were not allowed, BUT, guess what, I'm not doing C&G anymore and I can add just what I like to my books. What a perfectly liberating thought!

Like C&G Diploma, however, we have to choose a theme for our work. I have more or less decided on churches. Z. got me started on Friday with a spider diagram of ideas and I developed that further in my pristine new sketch book, and looked at various definitions of related words.

A very productive day, I thought.

2007-09-21T00:49:00.001-07:00

Firstly, thank you and apologies too to all the people that have left comments for me since I started blogging. I have only just found them!

I can't believe I have been back from France a week now. Came back with a stinking cold, had migraine for three days, and work has been absolutely manic but I am beginning to feel more like myself now.

I had a great holiday and if I tell you I put on 5 lbs in six days you will get an idea of how I spent, at least, some of the time.

The food was magnificent. Claude and Val were great hosts. I did try mussels for the first time, which were delicious. I also tried oysters for the first time but only the ones cooked in garlic butter. I gave the live ones a miss. Having been told that the way to check they were Okay was to push one edge and if it moved it was alright to eat, I thought I could live without them.

I learnt a lot about my camera whilst away from the others on the course and tried various techniques out including cheats silk paper, melting Sizaflor and layering painted Bondaweb to give rusted effect. I also tried combining hand and machine stitching, something I had never thought of before. Here are a few pics of our work.

Wednesday, our embroidery group met for the first time. Under Gina's guidance we explored rust dyeing using wirewool, using Transfoil onto fabric and machine embroidered gold work. Here are two of my pieces of rust dyed fabric. I love the marks.

Apparently, the rust dyeing looks really good on orange fabric, so have just dyed a piece orange. I will also use that for this month's challenge, which is to create an ATC (or several) using the opposite of our favourite colour on the colour wheel. Mine is blue, so I have to work in orange.

I had such a fantastsic and creative time on Wednesday. I felt very liberated not having the City & Guilds pressure. Couldn't sleep this morning, so I was up at 4 a.m. sorting through photos of rust. My head is buzzing with ideas.

I said it had been a busy week. Yesterday I met up with my friend Z and we went to the preview of the new Couture exhibition at the V&A. If you have ever made clothes yourself, or just love the look of tailored items, frocks and the classic clothes from the 50s and 60s, this is exhibition for you. "The Golden Age of Couture: Paris and London 1947 - 1957 . Throughout the exhibition there is great emphasis on textiles and the use of embroidery. We also went to the lecture given by the curator which, although not as long as we expected, did give a wonderful insight into the exhibition.

I bought myself a diary there for next year. Each page has wonderful photos and drawings from the exhibition. This is one of my favourite pages;

The exhibition also brought back very fond memories of my mum to me. She used to do a lot of dressmaking, and taught me too. I remember spending ages with her pouring over pattern books and then spending a day in the fabric department in John Lewis in Oxford Street selecting the materials. Those were the days when John Lewis had a decent fabric department!

Z.also gave me this wonderful piece of altered art she had made. Isn't it gorgeous.

I think its going to become a bookmark for my bedside reading book. Its just crying out to be used and admired.

What a long post. Note to myself: Must write more frequently!

Village Show

2007-09-08T09:08:00.001-07:00

Today was the Village Show and it was my only second time of entering, having moved here 18 months ago.

I was really delighted with the results: I won two First prizes and two Seconds:

So this - a collection of hand and machine embroidered ATCs

and this - a shoulder bag made from hand dyed fabric, decorated with applique and hand made buttons

and this - a handmade book

and this - chalk on paper

means that I won this:

The Dawson Trophy for the most points in the Handicraft section.

I was reliably informed by my next door neighbour that her husband had won it last year, so I can see some friendly neighbourly rivalry going on next year!

This amazing cushion won the Embroidery cup

but my personal favourites of all the 410 entries were these

Aren't they absolutely gorgeous.

Tomorrow I am off to http://www.gitesvendee.com/gitesvendee_index.htm in France with my City & Guilds group and our tutor for a week's embroidery course entitled Sea Themes with Val Holmes. I am really looking forward to it. Hope to have lots of photos to show you next time.

Back to the drawing board, or should I say sewing machine:

2007-08-28T23:46:00.000-07:00

My attempt to recreate a vessel inspired by Janet Edmunds book Three Dimensional Embroidery has failed miserably.

It was so much harder than I imagined. It wasn’t helped by the fact that by the time I had stitched pieces of fabric onto a calico backing, the resultant cloth was incredibly difficult to gather up and stitch through. Also, I realised that I needed a much bigger piece of fabric than I had started with.

Having taken out all the gathering stitches, there are some nice ripples in the fabric still,
which I might do something with, but not sure what yet. It is probably one of those pieces that will stay hanging around for a while until inspiration strikes again.

Didn't do any stitching over the Bank Holiday weekend. Quite a relaxing weekend with a few walks across the fields. We were delighted to see a new addition in the field around the corner.

He is absolutely gorgeous and although he went and hid behind his mum first, he then decided we were Okay and came up to the fence and allowed us to stroke his nose.

Discovered too, reading Gina Ferrari’s blog (http://ginaferrari.blogspot.com/), that the fruit I had been picking in the hedgerows thinking they were very large sloes, are very likely damsons. Thanks Gina, but apologies to P – that sloe gin you made…. you need to rename it!

Walking and felting

2007-08-22T10:35:00.000-07:00

Had a great day to day. It started off with an early, long walk around the country lanes. I was quite shocked to see that some of the ferns in the hedgerows were already turning gold and russet, a sure sign autumn is on its way, even though it is only August. I have only been living in the country for about 18 months, and I still marvel everyday at the beauty of my surroundings.

I collected my first horse chestnut of the year, and picked a load of sloes too just because they looked such a wonderful colour. I also picked lots of blackberries in the field at the back of our house. Some unfortunately are going mouldy from the recent rain but I still managed to collect enough to take to a friend this afternoon. They made a stunning display in the kitchen.

The elderberries look stunning at the moment too in the hedgerows. My mum used to make wonderful elderberry wine, and I wish I could find a recipe for them other than jam or wine – a pie would be nice.

This afternoon I spent with a friend making felt. In Liverpool recently, I saw a felt bag that I thought was gorgeous, and “A” said she would teach me/help me to make the felt for it. When I got to her house she had already done lots of preparation including laying out the first few layers of wool. Prior to that she had also researched different types of wool which would be suitable and had even carded some so that it was really, really soft.

I was so grateful to her for all of that preparation; I hadn’t realised just how much physical energy felt making takes. The final piece was 28 x 17 inches. The edges are crinkly and absolutely gorgeous.

The photo doesn't really show the gorgeous texture of the felt.
Now, home again, I have changed my original design so that I can use these wonderful edges, and have managed to get two bags out of it. Can't wait to make them up, and to use them.

Plodding on!

2007-08-20T08:40:00.000-07:00

I am still on the learning curve with blogging. Only realised as I published my last post that you don't put the date in the title box as the date shows anyhow. Also I have no idea how to include links in to other people's blogs and why, when I incorporate photos, do they always zap to the top of the document?

Its been a busy few days as we have been entertaining the last three days - different people on each day. Great fun and great to see everyone, although it takes a bit of organising and preparation to think of three different meals and the right quantities so as not to end up with lots of left overs each day. Just have a smidgens of Summer Pudding lurking in the fridge, and hubs and I will no doubt argue as to who gets to eat that. Also some left over cold chicken and ham which daughter has offered to turn into a chicken and ham pie with puff pastry for tonight's dinner. Yum!!

All this means I haven't had much time for stitching.

I did, however, manage to glue the cover boards onto a sketch book I have been making.

I used some handmade paper I bought in a shop in Gabriel's Wharf on the Embankment. for the covers. The book is about 6 inches square.

I also used a new little gadget a friend gave me.

Its a mini bradawl and just the right size for making tiny holes in the pages for stitching them all together. Thanks P.

I have just been set a challenge to find something in my workroom that I have bought and never used, and create a small sample. At first, I couldn't think of anything. I am pretty good at using what I buy, or so I thought. Then I started looking in the cupboards! It only took me a few moments to come across the following:

Kozo fibres, silk carrier rods, silk cocoons, Pin tuck foot, Transfer dyes, Lithocoal, Softsculpt, Glitterglue. I also came across some motifs which I created on water soluble paper quite recently but haven't ... yet ... done anything with them. So spoilt for choice. Now just need to decide which to use

Thursday, 16th August

2007-08-16T03:39:00.000-07:00

I have been reading Janet Edmonds' book Three Dimensional Embroidery, and have been inspired to create a vessel. I want to use the fabrics I dyed and "collage" pieces together to make a base fabric with an autumnal feel, before making it 3D.

One of the many things I learnt on the C&G course was to make samples.

So using calico, I stitched pleats all round and then stitched piping cord in for support.

I am really quite pleased with the outcome.

I won't get round to doing the autumn one yet as I want to make a book, as another entry for the Village Show.

12th August 2007

2007-08-12T11:02:00.000-07:00

This weekend I managed to get some dyeing done using the Kemshall method on the Thr3fold CD using Procion Dyes from Art van Go.. Decided that the best effects/marks were achieved by using two dyes - first a light dye, and then over dyeing with a second darker colour.

I did 9 separate pieces:

1. Bottle green on its own. (Fabric ironed before dyeing).

2. Chestnut brown on its own. (Fabric ironed before dyeing).

3. Piece taken from 1. Left to dry and then and redyed with Olive.

4. Piece taken from 2. Left to dry and then redyed with Dark Brown.

5. Dark brown on its own. This turned out very grey in places.

6. Olive on its own.

7. Rust orange on its own.

8. Piece from no.7 rinsed out and whilst still wet, redyed with Chestnut Brown.

9. Piece from no. 5, left to dry and then redyed with Wine.

I also managed to finish stitching my ATCs into a wallhanging for the Village Show. I have been making one a week since the beginning of the year and these are the ones I like best.

I was going to take them off the hanging after the Village Show and make a book of them all at the end of the year, but Hubs liked them so much as a hanging and asked if they could stay that way.

Tuesday, 7th August 2007

2007-08-07T12:25:00.000-07:00

My first posting is a photo of a bag I have just made for the Village Show . The Class is "any home made garment or fabric article". The inspiration came from a playday with my friend P, who set us the task of making squares and using them to embellish a bag. I dyed the fabric using the Kemshall's method on the CD enclosed with the new Thr3fold publication. It was so easy to do and just to prove it was so easy to do, I repeated the same method and created more of the same colour fabric for the lining. The buttons I created from air dried clay and painted them.

The other side is a different colourway.

This is a close up of one of the sides although the colours aren't really right.

I also intend to enter three other classes:
Any item of embroidery - not counted thread.
Any other handicraft
A sketch, drawing or painting in any medium.

More photos as the items are made.

Just been out with hubs and dog for a walk across the fields. The sky was quite stunning.

Well, its taken me half an hour to set this blog up and write today's postings. Not too many difficulties so I am pleased with my efforts.