Final round up for 2006 !

The Yule holidays have given me time to work on a number of projects.

I finished off the handstitching on a reproduction of a tea cosy. The cosy is one of a number of items I have created as part of the Arts and Crafts research project. Well the embroidery matches the original, but as I have no clear image of the cosy made up I used my imagination. I think its come out quite well. Now just need a cup and saucer in the right style to display with the cosy =)

Finished off the Seasonal hanging. Here it is hanging on a pole by the window. Its not come out too bad. I have placed images of of creating the hanging and close ups of the seasons in an on-line directory...
Click for Seasonal Hanging

Also started to work on the wedding party again. Here is Granny. She is all in black with purple to lift her a little. As yet no name for her. Any suggestions ??
The holidays have been good. We had a nice few days at my Parent-in-laws. I had quite a 'stitchy' season of presents.
* 25m roll of bond-a-web
* kit to make a free machine bowl
* The Recycling Book
* The Art of Embroidery book - reviewed in the latest copy of Embroidery magazine.
* Copy of "The Studios of Frances and Margaret Macdonald" ... RARE book which has been out of print for ten years. STAR PRESSY
* Other non-stitchy items: two talking books, bath pampering set, cheese and wine, Mum had all her old cine films converted to DVD

Looking forward to 2007 :

Well its going to be a busy first six months as it looks like I will be entered into the C&G final exhibition. Just waiting for the review letter from my school, so I can see what they suggest I need to get done. In the mean time I am trying to get Module 5 completed.

I have a talk to give to the local Embroiderers Guild and a day school on art doll angels. Not looking forward to that. Seemed a good idea last year.

Holiday in Germany watching the World Rally and seeing more of the country.

Before the New Year starts

Here are a few of my last completed pieces of work from 2006.

First my Arts and Craft cushion. I created the front using machine embroidery techniques to applique pink and green varigated fabrics into the classic Glasgow rose patterns. Although the design is my own. Last weekend I completed the work with a pink backing fabric. Baringin mind the advice from my C&G course I ensured the back was not forgotten, thus there is a leaf to tie the two sides together.


















While I had the machine going I tried a few ideas for making glasgow roses in machine lace with small hearts too .

Here are two pictures of the final items. The plan is for one to be as the book mark for the Arts and Craft research book. My research essay is on the glasgow rose so it all ties in.

MERRY YULETIDE
Bright Blessings for the New Year to all of you !

Its a really a lovely foggy morning in London today. I remembered the camera this morning and took a few pictures on the way into work.

See the rest of the foggy photos HERE

A busy weekend



Last weekend DH went off to Wigon to a train exhibition. Left on Friday and returned by midnight on Sunday. This gave me the WHOLE weekend to stitch and be creative.

Well first I thought I would show you the broach I made at a Day school a couple of weeks ago ! This was with a Tanya Woodman. Great tutor. She lives local to us so we have been lucky to have her teach for us most years =)

Well making this broach I became inspired to create an Arts and Craft version using the Glasgow Rose motif. I am writing a research essay for my C&G course on this subject so had already a small pile of primary source material to draw ideas from. DH really liked this when he saw it on Monday, said it felt like a piece of jewery .... YEY !

Next started to work on a few Art Dolls. I am doing a day school for the guild next year, so I wanted to make a couple of extras so they could be used to advertise the course, plus get my head round a material list. In the end made two... Naomi and Barbara.

Baraber (above) has hair made from silk waste with silk ribbons holding on the buttons. Tied buttons is one of my 'things' right now !

Naomi is in the pink with her dress and feathers.
I also made a couple of the Wild Dolls from the pattern I linked to in the last post. They are quite fun. This one I have made into a broach.

Finally went back to my Arts and Craft work. Started to look at making a sample based on jeese Newbery's rose methods of using applique, although I was using a machine. I hope if Jessie had the kind of machine we have today, she would be experiementing with machine embroidery. So this is my more modern version to my own pattern. I really like this. It will now become a cushion cover for my sewing room.


So I guess that I now have two C&G projects to start writing up as sample projects.

Weekend Away in Wales

Yes - we had a second weekend in Wales. This time it was to watch the final round of the World Rally events. Below are a few pictures from the weekend, including a landscape image which may resurface as an emboirdery !

Landscape on on the final stage in Sunday... This is before the RAIN settled in the for the afternoon. Then the wind blew in and closed both the Severn Bridges for a while. Lucky for us the newer bridge opened by 6pm so we coudl get home with out taking the LONG route !

This Citron really shows the amount of mud, water and gravel on the forest commission roads.

Petta running in the Millenium Stadium on Saturday evening.

And Marcus - who won the whole event - on Saturday evening too !

Mr Hollywood - aka Petta- This is as close as my poor camera could do. We were up in the first bank of seats in the Stadium. The lower level were empty for safty reasons.

Had Monday off. Went into London anyway. First stop was the beading shop in Covent Garden to pick-up materials for a broach plus a few other bits and pieces. DH is off for the weekend to a Train exhibition with his club's layout. So I have from Friday lunch time to Snuday evening to myself. So LOTS of stitching planned. Want to make a few of the fairy/angel/art dolls. Need to start to put a materials list together for the guild day school and making one will help me plan the day. Promised one to the community centre for their xmas raffle and hope to create one for a friend. Picked up a pattern of "Wild Dolls" off the web (http://www.wildartdolls.com/dolls/dangerous-women.htm) ... Looks fun. Going to try making one or two. These could be good gifts too.

Watched Nigella's new series last night. DH and I felt HUNGRY even though we had already had tea. What is better is that all the recipes are on-line. http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/christmas/nigella_index.shtml

Slow Weekend !

Well the first news is there will be no photos today ... The camera ran out of battery but I only noticed on Sunday afternoon. So its now charging. Not that there is much to photograph !

Next week is the Pre-Assessments at OPUS, so I spent some of my weekend gathering sketch books and samples to take over there. Eeek ....... The sketch books fill a suitcase. I am glad I did not go for posting this lot !! The resolved samples caused me a small problem. The Corset light sculpture is very tall ..... in fact I spent most of Saturday doing my Blue Peter badge by making a travel box from a number of smaller boxes and a real of duck tape !!! The advanage is the other smaller resolved samples also fit into the same box ! Although my tutor sent an information sheet to go over, this did not allow me to reduce the pile as if kind of showed just how much still needs to be done !!!!

Saturday was quite pleasant (as long as you were not outside) ... I was in the Community Centre on a beading day course. Good fun trying something a little different. The tutor is great lady who has joined us before for courses... In the morning a photographer from the local paper arrived to take a few shots of us working plus we had all the squares created by the members for the Embroiderers Guild rainbow project. Thus I ended up with the tutor and another lady holding the squares up for the photo !

Sunday - Finally got back to doing some C&G work. As everything else was packed - started to look back at the Arts and Craft essay. Dug out the pile of books from the library and started to make more notes to use later for writing the text, plus studied the photos and started makeing sketches of different items.

Design Weekend

During last week an idea for the seasonal hanging started to form. Grabbed a sketch book and started making notes and pen sketches on the train to and from work.

So here is the idea. Each panel has an element on it which represents the season in a stylised form. Although not sure that the snow flakes are simple enough. I may just turn them into squares.

On Saturday I created a few colour versions using torn paper. This time tried out holly for the Winter panel. The thinking was to have a cyle of colour too, so one colour off each panel was then used on the next. Just not happy with the holly. So after a weekend of playing with the images I have returned to the snowflakes. After playing with different shapes for each panel, I keep coming back to four even sized long rectangles. Must be the influence of all the Arts and Craft work in the rest of module 5.

While playing with the images I also created a version on assatate as the sketches gave the feel of stain glass windows. Using this as a concept tryed creating a few samples using layers of sheers. To make this simple there is just some bond-a-web holding the layers together. The pictures below show the samples against the window in my studio along with my cat Pippi, who was more interested in the intruder in the garden than my samples, thankfully. Saturday the weather was quite good which meant I was able to capture the cloud images too =)
I also create a few samples on calico too. These turned out more towards what I was hoping for. The colours are stronger and you can still hng them at a window for the stain galss effect. Photos to come next week.

Spent Sunday morning creating two fabric postcards - sorry no photos for now as these are for a C&G class exchange. In between times carried on making stitch Yule gifts for the familly.

Butterflies in November

While outside taking pictures for my patterns in nature module work, saw this little guy on the roses. Feels really strange to see a butterfly at this time of the year.

Spent much of Saturday working on the nature as design part of module 5. First completing the drawings of the leaves. Here are a few more of them.

Next had to create collage with eyes, both human(shown) and animal. Not 100% sure if this is what they expected. There was not much guidance on this bit ! I used up by pile of old mags to cut out eyes !
Then started to layout and stitck down the different photo collections I have been making. This one show plants which a '5' of something. Like a grouping of five leaves, five petals etc etc ... I also started the collection showing patterns in nature. I have a few photos and my friend L has sent me a couple of autumn photos she has taken while walking her dog =)


So now I am trying to work on the Resolved Sample for this section. In fact they are only asking you to design the work. But we'll see about that. So what am I looking at ??

Need to make 4 panels all a minimum of A4 size which represent the four seasons in an abstact form.

I am now starting on a brain storm sheet to get ideas & making a list of the colours which represent the seasons. The obverous way to go is to create four sets of the colours squares i did a couple of weeks ago for the colour sampling task. Not sure about doing that. Been toying with doing that but using a different method on each panel, so the Spring one if squares and the autumn one looks like tree rings, summer one has sun rays and winter has snow flakes. as you can see needs some work doing on it.

UFO Round Robin - Happy Dance !

Well yesterday finished off the next UFO (That is an Unfinished Object ) RR. This month I had M's Teresa Wentler Flower bell pull.

This is a picture of how the piece looked as it arrived from S.

Now below is where I have left it. The next image on the bell pull were sweetpeas which I love. Although I was only aiming at completing 20hrs it was going so well I carried on so that I could finish the image.

Meanwhile over in the states my Permin Sheep Sampler had a small hic-up when the current lady stitching it found herself running out of thread. EEeek ! I had sent along a kit so we would not have this kind of problem. Luckly the kit listed the DMC numbers and G has bought two skiens to add to the pack =)

I have 98% finished stitching the latest Halloween Orniment RR piece. Sorry - no photos as the group agreed not to show until the end. Just need to do a inch on the border and add the charm. Mass photo shot at the end of the RR !

THEN I am back Yuletide Ornies !! I have a few made but need a few more. Been thinking about designing one for my friend DG, but have to work out if will have time to stitch it!!?!?!

Frogging on the Wall Hanging

Put more work into sampling for the Arts and Craft wall hanging. This time looked at the frogs. Again been using the piece and machine quilt method.

The machine embroidery extended the toes and metalic thread create the highlights on the frogs back and legs.

At the moment I am not sure about the background. To try and match the original designs I tried painting the calcio with a brown wash.

As I am still trying to source the more green fabric to create the full hanging.


Started to work on the next part of module 5 working in a new Sketch Book. This part of the module is all about design and colour in nature.

This meant taking images of flowers (thank goodness for gardening magazines) and creating a colour breakdown. I used threads rather than paint as I could sit with the DMC collection matching colours.

Next the module ask for natural designs to be created. These coloured squares were created by using pictures of tree branches, then marking a sheet of paper where the branches come off the branch. These branch measurements were used to mark off the grid. The colours from the flower break down above were used to fill in the squares. The exercise was repeated by measuring a human arm, then the measurements used to draw concentric circles. I need to collect a few photos of tree rings to compare the drawing with.


After completing three of the natural designs moved onto movement. First you are ask to create a smoke image. The paper is held about 2 cm above a candle so that the smoke marked the paper. The smoke images have a plastic sheet over them when added to the sketch book. Then I created drawings of the smoke pictures (not shown).

While looking a movement, from smoke moved to hair. Made sketches of human hair and animals hair.

Next the module moved on to patterns in nature. This next section will need a lot of photos and drawing. To start with you had to find a twig with about 10 leaves. These you had to layout and draw. I took this photo of my leaves as they were already dry. DH and I both like the look of this photo.

Now I am taking each leaf in turn to make a drawing in b/w and colour. Each leaf is the stuck on the same sheet as the drawing with aclear sheet over themfor protection.

Pay It Forward

I saw Coffee Cup Chris post this on her blog. It sounded a little bit of fun, so I signed up with her list and now offering this to my friends too !

The first five people to respond to this post (via the comments section) will get some form of "art" made by me.

An original hand crafted item, made with one of the many mediums I use - stitching, yarn, painting, mixture etch. I

I hope to tailor this to you - so tell me your favourite colour. After you comment, please add your e-mail address so I can contact you for your snail mail address.

Think of it as something to look forward to getting in the mail.

There is a catch, of course, the way this works is that if you sign up, you have to blog this as well and continue sharing.

The real thing !

Well here is my second Sunday post. Becoming a habit to post a follow up message. Well after adding the colour yesterday to the paper images I felt I really wanted to create a stitched version.

Thus this morning you would have found me in the kichen with a roll of iron on interfacing and a small pile of fabric. The design was drawn onto the paper backing of the interfacing. The pieces cut out and ironed on to the right colour fabric.

These in turn where then iron onto a calico backing. I had already created an embroiderery transfer with the outline image which had been added to the calico to give me a guide where the lay the small pieces.

The green areas where cotton and the yellow /orange are silk ! This took ages... Then it all went under the machine for the detail to be added. Luckly I had bought lots of varigated thread for making the sunflower images at the begining of this module.

Well when I took it down stairs hubby said "Wow, so when are you going to be making the full sized piece? It looks like it could have come from 1910, you have really captured the look and feel of the time !" This is HIGH praise from him as he is very criticalaout my work and hardly ever likes any of my work !

Thus , although I do not have to make the full wall hanging for the course I will be. NowI just need to remember where I bought the green fabric from and do a few samples with the frogs !

Adding colour to the Arts and Crafts Images

Well I guess the title says it all. Started with a photocopied outline using felt tips , then added guta to the outline. But you can see on the lower right what happens if you do not watch what your doing, as I smuged the guta with my hand ! Took a picture with this stood up against the PC screen on the mobile and it looks like a stain glass sheet =)

Next started working on a sheet where I have stuck down the photocopied putline last week and covered it with gesso. Added colour using oil sticks. This worked so well. The oil sticks are great for blending colours together. Although I am not sure that the light colours used are very typical of the time period.

Finally went to the raised version from last week. Here the plants were cut from think paper and the covered in gesso. Next I gave the whole sheet a wash of raw umber (brown) to give the feel you see on Margaret Macdonolds gesso pictures. Next added colour using water colour. The range of colours feels closer to the Arts and Craft period.

Arts and Craft - update

Been working on the frog idea. These are my best option at the moment. DH feels they are too cartoon like and too curved. Where I quite like the shape their bodies make. Well they are now on the wall so I can 'live' with them for a while.

Mean while, been playing with the main head area. I had photocopied half the top to start looking at colours. I then created a second copy on assetate sheet to allow me to turn it over and get a perfect copy/mirror image. These two copies ended up on top of each other and I felt that the patern was interesting , less created a version as below.

Next I carefully cut the main shapes from a heavy watercolour paper stuck these down and covered with gesso.

Once dry I can work with colours and shadows.

Arts and Crafts

Been working on the next stages of my C&G course. Module five is all about the arts and craft movement. I am on the 'designing with nature' steps. This meant I had to create a stylised design using nature as a reference.

After creating the top third I really felt that it should be LONG with the stems going down deep , very much like the stain glass windows you see of the period. DH even said he liked this one. Gave me the impression that he would not be too upset if this was stitched to hang on the wall. Although he ask if they were flowers or veg ??

The next task is to create a design by combining two different images. I really want to carry on with the water lillies above, so have started to look to add frogs to the image. Now I have got to the point of creating realist frogs which are diving round the lillies but I feel these need to be stylised more. The frogs will need to place to start on the top sheet and end on the second.

I am also thinking that the third sheet need some movment. Considering twisting the stem round each other , much as they do in the firts sheet.

My next UFORR piece arrived on Friday. It is TW's Floral Bell Pull and this is how it looked as it arrived. I have already stitched the outline border for the third square and started to stitch Sweet Peas.

My knitting continues to grow. I have almost completed the back. Down about 21inches and have to reach 26.5 before I cast off. =) Great only having to knit a retangle ... although sticking to the rib pattern can be harder than it looks. Mean while my friend C, trys hard to convince me that it will not fit, so she'll have to have it instead ! LOL !!!

Weather has not been great over the weekend. We did have a quick run to Alton between rain showers to buy art supplies. We wanted to also replace out radio/CD player in the kichen - its what used to be called a getto-blaster ... but it seems that these are not as easy to buy these days... must be all the Ipods/MP3 players the kids have now. So the search goes on !

Knit and Stitch at Ally Pally

Joined my friend C for two days (Fri/Sat) at the Knit and Stitch show at Ally Pally. Friday was so nice as the number of people visiting was a LOT les than on a Saturday. We planned to shop on Friday and leave Saturday to look round the exhibtions then join our friends for lunch. In fact a new friend from my C&G group joined us too which was great to put a name to a face. Sitting outside sharing a picnic, a bottle or three of wine and looking over my friend Z's finished projects.

The shopping was good. C was being quite good, but I had a number of things to buy.

* A number of varigated threads for stitching Yule Ornaments
* Varigated machine threads from Gutermann - in fact I bought enough to be given a freebie factory gift. Its a small tin with a sewing kit inside. The lid has an old style advert.
* I put together two sets of materials from Oliver Twist. A green/red set and a black & white set. There is a picture of the threads below.
* Back issues of Quilting Arts
* Green fibre bunch you can just see it on the left of the picture.
* Pattern for an Asymetrical Wrap - knitted.


The wrap was great. It was knitted in a cashmere/silk mix, which was SO SOFT !! At first I was not going to buy the wool. But Saturday went backto buy the wool. As you can see below I have started to knit it. The whole thing is in a rib pattern. Wish you could reach into the screen and feel the wool ! Its called Sublime Aran . I have three rectangles and two sleeves to make.


The exhibitions were excellent. Normally we do not have time to look round them. I even had time to pick up a few postcards and speak with the artists.

Started to work on a triangle shaped piece of work using the black & white set. Its still only in the first stages.