02/17/2018
a pink fringe
I started working on this piece at my London workshop last week. Initially it was going to be a pin pillow top...now I'm not sure. I am tempted to work a little more on it and mount it in one of my cloth sample books. I won't decide yet but I'm definitely leaning towards that idea.
The pink fringe has me in raptures. I bought that in London last week, I only bought half a yard and now I wish I had bought more..watch this space for a little mail ordering going on.
Every edge on this piece was bought in London last Friday, the fringe the ribbon, the silk which is folded at the base of the fringe. I chose well I think....
(there is only one artist book left over in the shop...thank you for wanting those. You can see the last one here)
02/15/2018
ingredients for a book cover
A front cover for a book we are putting together over in artist book class. There's a very long strip of embroidered silk and lace, a textured and embroidered watercolour paper base, embellished with French knots and tiny white beads which is laid here alongside paper fragments which when stitched will compliment and enhance the inside of the cover.
This cover will be complete before the pages. There are overlays to be made yet, soft, sheer pieces which will protect the embroidered pages that will live inside this cover. So, quite a long way to go before you see this one completely finished. I need to set aside a day next week, an overlay day to play with lace cloth and delicate paper. Here's hoping.
I have one spare workshop kit remaining from last weeks London class. If you are interested in purchasing that please get in touch. You can read about it here and get an idea of what little pieces of embroidery related things are inside. The pocket itself is completely hand made. The cost is 35 GBP plus postage costs. (SOLD. Thank you)
02/14/2018
three little treasures
Three little artist books each with their own little white cloth bag to live in. I finished them...wow...I loved making them and I will definitely be making more. It's incredibly satisfying to be sat in the midst of chaos, chaos created by having every single scrap of everything you have ever ''not thrown away' around you and choosing the special bits from the piles, adding them to a scrap from another pile and creating a mini composition from those usually discarded pieces.
These have six pages, 12 sides, three by three inch pages. Each side a surface crammed with embellishment and embroidery.
They are now in the shop.
I'm still playing catch up here. The case is unpacked and has been thrown away...the damage is fatal I am afraid. I have piles of cloth and shopping everywhere, there's time, time for more drooling before I find a home for everything.
This morning I made videos for my artist book class. I am so excited about what's happening over there today. I only hope the girls are too when they get the videos later.
(it's not too late to sign up for that. you can read more here....)
02/13/2018
London
At last I can show you the embroidered pockets I created for my London workshop which passed us by in a flash over this past weekend. It was amazing, incredible, so much fun, so much embroidery, too much cake and too much chocolate, lots of laughing and lots of chit chat.
Later this week I will share our creations from the weekend but first the kits.
I am sorry L ....this will spoil your surprise I guess..sorry!!
Hand embroidered folders/pockets/pouches.....sequins, French knots, gimp, bullion knots....... all finished by hand. Hand stitched edges, cords and internal pockets....
Liberty fabrics, hand stitched and pieced hexagons (me!! I did those) ribbon, trim, stitched papers, embroidered scrim and collaged white papers and tiny little hand stitched pillows along with decorative paper surfaces, grids and textured background papers.
and not forgetting little bundles of paper balls for button making!
I think it was a huge success. I think the girls were happy with their kits. I am sure they will let me know if they weren't.....
I am playing catch up now. My washing machine is calling and I have suitcases to unpack. (the wheels broke on my suitcase...I now have the right arm of an Olympic body builder and the ache to prove it)
There was shopping. I will show you later this week.
The shop is open again for online learning classes, no cakes or chocolate I'm afraid but lots of happy stitchy things which will more than make up for that and later this week I may, just may have a couple of little artist books for sale.....watch this space.
02/07/2018
a little pocket
It's a little fold over pocket...or pouch...whatever you want to call it. It measures six inches by nine inches when it's folded and it ties with white ribbon. There are pockets inside too, for ribbon, needles, cloth, thread..anything really although I wouldn't keep unprotected scissors in there. In a moment I am going to wrap it in tissue paper and put it away somewhere safe....
I'm going away tomorrow. It's my London workshop this weekend and I will be spending Thursday and Friday in London as a tourist and fabric shopper. I will be on nInstagram ... I am an Instagramaholic so you won't really be getting rid of me.
See you next week.
02/06/2018
a front cover
A little break from mini artist books today, they are continuing out of sight. This is the front cover for an artist book we are putting together on the 12 month artist book blog. This one will hold the pages you have seen before and you can see glimpses of here. The cloth strip was completed recently...you have seen that before too. It will drape over the paper to form the front cover once the cover is embellished. I am part way there with the cover embroidery and embellishment. So far I have created a little texture and added French knots. Next I will add little white beads before moving to the other side of the embroidered cloth strip and doing the same over there.
Later today I am hoping to finish this. I still need join front and back before hand sewing them together. I might also add a little ribbon to mimic a closure...we shall see.
02/05/2018
stash building
More tiny stitched samples to fill pages and build up my stash. This was a good choice of pastime in the days leading up to my London trip although if you could see the state of my house you might disagree. There are scraps of paper and cloth everywhere. Every time I move I trail thread behind me. I keep stepping on dropped beads and seeing glistening all over the floors from dropped sequins. I'm not bothered though..maybe the elves will come in and clean up when I'm away...probably not though.
When I'm working on these little things they give me so many ideas for using the technique, the process on other pieces. The folded corner of a hankie....that's one I have used before many times. I have used it here too and it's given me another idea as has the use of silk velvet alongside embroidered paper. That one in particular has gotten me very excited. (4th image) I think you'll be seeing a lot more of that.
02/04/2018
three inch pages
You are probably thinking after my post yesterday 'she said these wouldn't be rushed'. They won't, it wasn't. This has been several days in the making but one of my new tiny artist books is indeed finished. I think these might become addictive. This has half the pages of my 'white book' and those pages are half the size too, only three inches square. Compared to the white book this one did come together extraordinarily quickly. Part of the reason for that will be the size of my stash, lots of 'bits' to draw from, stitched papers, stitched cloth all created over a long period of time.
When I was putting this together I had everything strewn out around me, so much to choose from, decisions, decisions....only problem is I started to fall a little bit in love with this last night and if I'm not careful I will get to a stage where I can't bear to part with it. I am going to keep it for a little while longer though....just to gaze....I hope that's ok.
02/03/2018
mini artist books
When I posted about ''the white book'' earlier this week I was completely shocked with the response, the positive response. Thank you so much. The most asked question last week was 'is it for sale'? It's not sorry, it's for me. What normally happens with my artist books is I make them, I sell them, I don't allow myself to fall in love with them as they are going to be for sale before I even begin. That one however was always going to be for me. I have fallen completely in love with it and couldn't part with it for anything.
But....I had a thought...yes, I have those sometimes. Make more for all those who have asked. I don't mean I am taking orders or accepting commissions, rather I am working on these just to have some 'available'. Having said that, don't hold your breath. These are tiny, three inch by three inch pages and in theory should come together quickly...in theory. Thing is I can't rush these, I can't rush the bigger ones and I can't rush these either. I could never work in 'production line mode' churning things out quickly, after the quick sale. I can't chase the money, won't ever chase the money because embroidery means more to me than that.
So, the first one is here. It's not complete but as I said...rushing isn't going to figure anywhere in this. I did think about explaining to you how amazing I find working on these but I don't think I have the words, am unable to express just how much of a joy it is to compose these little pages with embroidered scraps. Hopefully the images illustrate that in a small way.
The following images and very short video are of the pre book stage, the search through my stash and the creation of lace, paper and stitched surfaces to embellish with hand embroidery and use on these tiny pages.
02/02/2018
tidying
Tidying, tidying a sample to be more precise, extending it with paper, sequins, beads and texture. I have lots of embroidered scraps like this in my stash. Most of them are cut up and used in artist books but the more substantial pieces like this one are often mounted and developed into complete pages. This one will find it's way into one of my large, shop bought sketchbooks as opposed to one of my hand made artist books.
Those sketchbooks are an invaluable resource of design ideas which I look through, turn pages and stare at often. They contain pieces of work, compositions similar to this one. I have attached a few images from one of them below.
02/01/2018
turquoise beads
A simple row of turquoise beads along an edge of paper, a page enhancement. There's quite a bit of lace here too, some bought, some I made myself. It all somehow just lives together easily. The blue compliments the white and the lace, the white and the lace compliment the blue.
This is more work on one of the pieces commanding most of my attention at the moment, artist books. I am working on pieces for embroidery school too, creating tiny samples of embroidery stitches for the ''stitch ledgers'' we are making over there. Who knew there were so many embroidery stitches out there? It would seem the world doesn't revolve around bullion knots after all.
Also...prep is really hotting up for my London workshop and unfortunately I can't share that with you either yet...you will definitely get to see all that after the event though, I am taking pictures as I go along. I can't quite believe it's almost upon us. It's next week...time definitely flies.
You will be seeing more paper based pieces over the next couple of days as that seems to be my default media at the moment. That's no bad thing....
01/31/2018
embellishing pages
Yesterday I spoke about other artist books which were coming together in class. This is one of those or should I say this is a page from one of those. I'm considering this one finished now, complete. I may swap the gold ribbon though, I am thinking about it. I have some 'duck egg' ribbon ordered and when that arrives I will try that there. It's a white ribbon with the slightest hint of blue in it....I think it may live better here than the gold.
There are four other pages which form this book, some of them can be seen here and there are overlays too. It's going to have a beautiful weight to it when all the pages, overlays and layers are joined and placed in the cover.
01/30/2018
the white book
The white book. It's been in progress for months. It was always going to be in progress for months, a slow burner, not rushed. It's a 'playtime' book added to as and when the inspiration strikes. On Sunday we added more over on the 12 month artist book class. There is just one more page to titivate and this one will be finished. There is embroidered paper and lace. There are scraps of fragile white cloth stitched to ribbons and buttons. Our class motto is 'never throw anything away', it's amazing what you can do with all those little remnants of paper and cloth.
It doesn't close. That's the best thing about it. The pages are always visible, a glance inspires and hints at other creative ideas. I love it. Can you tell?
I have started another one. There are also other books being put together on the 12 month artist book blog. By the end of September I hope to have a personal collection of six artist books in various forms which have been put together over this year.
(Registration for the 12 month artist book blog remains open until September. If you think you can bear to never throw anything away then come and join us. You can read more here.)
01/29/2018
twenty five inches
Twenty five inch strips of silk, lace and paper. Twenty five inch rows of bullion knots, French knots, buttonhole stitch and chain stitch. A partially stitched row of twenty five inches of hooks and eyes. One twenty five inch edge of buttonhole stitch still to complete along with those hooks and eyes before this piece is finished.
They are waiting for me to finish this embroidery over on the 12 month artist book blog. It's an essential component of one of our pieces, yes one of our artist books. I'm on it....just the areas I mentioned left to do girls and we will be good to go. The French knots took an age....I can't count how many of those there are, they were the hold up. Having said that I am more than happy they are there. They allow for altered texture and altered weight across the whole piece. It just wouldn't be the same without them.
Looking back to when you first saw this here it doesn't look massively different today. You are just going to have to trust me when I say there have been hours and hours more embroidery added to this since then.
01/28/2018
sequins and lace
This piece has moved on quite a bit since you last saw it here. It's ready for the lining now which will consist of cloth strips on to which embroidered samples can be pinned. Yes another cloth sample book in progress.....they are becoming a bit of an addiction. It's tiny, only around eight by seven inches when folded into book form.
I'm going to put the lining together today and this may well be finished in a couple of days being as how it's so tiny.
Meanwhile my London embroidery is almost finished. I have the edges of one embroidered folder to embroider and one more lining to stitch before being attached and I'm good to go....
(If you aren't familiar with my London stitching you can read about that here)
01/27/2018
an old friend
Earlier this week I spoke about a plan I had for a summer project, a new wrapping cloth. Several of you mentioned this piece.....the long untouched body bag. Some of you mention it a lot.....I ignore you.
Why body bag? Basically it will eventually become a human sized wrapping cloth...a wrapping cloth for a body, the body bag. I can't even remember when I stared it. Maybe some of you could tell me.
Why has it been untouched for so long?
I can't quite put my finger on that....many reasons. It's daunting. It's such a huge project. There are feelings of inadequacy that it's not yet finished. I buried my head in the sand. I buried the embroidery in a wardrobe (it is hung properly, it's well cared for and pristine, it's not shoved in a box under the bed)
So when will I finish it? When I am ready. I can't force it. I want to embrace with pleasure every single stitch I ever sew. I don't ever want to be sewing out of duty, on demand.....
Don't get me wrong, I still love this work as much as I did when I started it....I'm just not ready to pick it up again yet.
The body bag isn't going anywhere and neither am I.............hopefully you aren't either so one day.....one day.
There are lots and lots of posts about this piece if you aren't familiar with it, including videos. You can access those here. (this post will be the first thing you see when following that link, just scroll past this one)
01/26/2018
a new cloth book and a glimpse into embroidery school
Yesterday
I spoke about my plans for a summer project , my plans to make a new
wrapping cloth. One or two of you mentioned the ''body bag'', you have
shamed me, yes. I will speak more about that tomorrow.....
Meanwhile, I am crazy busy getting ready for London (only two weeks away!!) and I am happily embroidering in ''2018 embroidery school'' and happily playing with artist books over on the 12 month artist book blog. Those three things are the reason I don't intend to begin my new wrapping cloth until Summer....they deserve all my attention and I'm having so much fun I want to 'crack on' with them, no additional distractions.
However....yesterday I needed something to play with when I was waiting for collaged paper to dry and damp stretched cloth to be ready so I began another cloth book. This one will be small, it will be tiny, no bigger than 8x8 inches. So far I have used white silk, white lace and a gentle Liberty print which I have embellished with bullion loops, buttonhole stitch, beads and sequins. Laid alongside it here are a few pieces we are working on in '2018' embroidery school'. I can't say too much about those but you are not too late to sign up for that one or indeed the ''12 month artist book blog'' if you want to play along.
(I must say to my embroidery school group. This new cloth book isn't for class. I won't be using it for my class samples)
01/25/2018
possibilities
In artist book class I am making books. In 2018 embroidery school I am embroidering tiny stitch samples. It's been quite a while since I created a large piece of anything so I've got my thinking cap on and I've been playing a little with colour and things to spark an idea. Yesterday I was looking at this combination....white, froth, pattern, puffs, texture created by the use of French knots. This actually reminds me of my happy cloth. I think that's because I used this red patterned fabric in that piece.
I do think there is enough information here to make plans for another large cloth, enough colour information, texture information and proportion information too. The patterned red has to go though, be changed for something else. I'm always, always happy to be reminded of my 'happy cloth', that doesn't mean I want to make anything too similar this time though.
This will be my summer project. A large, heavily embellished wrapping cloth
01/24/2018
whites for artist book pages
We've started on a new book over on the 12 month artist book blog. It's very basic at the moment but I did say to the girls I needed to build up my stash of stitched pieces for when we get to the ''filling the pages'' stage. Hopefully they can see by these images that I'm on it....
As we have used a lot of colour creating pages in one of our other artist books for class, (this one) I am aiming to keep the one you see here mostly white.
I wish the little silver sequins were more visible. You can see them I know but they look much more delicate ''in the flesh'', the photographs don't illustrate that as well as I would have liked. I'm also very taken with the little Suffolk puffs. I used a very sheer silk for those and there is a beautiful lightness to them.
01/23/2018
finally
It's finally in use, my embroidered cloth sample book. There are a few samples in here now and lots of space for more. Now I want to make another one, they're addictive. There's not much point having empty sample books though so perhaps I should stitch a few more samples first. The first of the next batch will be put together this afternoon.
In case you are wondering 'what's the point'...well the main 'point' is I just love to have these, to pick them up and leaf through the stitching. They also inform and inspire. If I am stuck for an idea for an edge for example...pick up the samples and take a look. They give an idea of which fabric lives best with which fabric too. Is there too much pattern? not enough pattern? Does that applique need more bullion knots? Should that hexagon be edged with running stitch? and on and on......
I made a very short Instagram video....
01/22/2018
Needle case
Drum roll please.....it's finished. One needle case, sparkly sequins, ribbon, embroidery, hexagons....and it's now in the shop here.
I do love making these, vintage hankies, scraps of cloth, playtime on a new piece. This one has some pretty bias binding which I recently purchased and I'm tempted to get more. It 'lifts' the surface, adds just enough pattern without overwhelming.
When laid flat this measures eleven inches by ten and a half inches. I am quite tempted to keep it for myself but how many needle cases does on girl need....
We are still enrolling for '2018 embroidery school' if you want to join us. You can read more here.
This morning I made videos for class on Friday.......I demonstrated several new embroidery stitches and I mounted little three inch square samples too. As you can probably guess I had a very happy morning.
01/21/2018
buttons
A little bit of self indulgence today...humour me. Every day on Facebook you get to see 'memories', images you posted on this day going back over several years. The past few days my memories have thrown up lots of buttons from two years ago. It's actually been good to see these again and to remember why I was making buttons every spare minute I had. The buttons were prep for my workshop and selling space in France at Pour L'amour du Fil in 2016. (there's more about that here) I am going back this year, as a visitor. I didn't get to see much of the show last time round as I was working, teaching.....this time I can browse. Meanwhile I have a hankering to make more buttons.
01/20/2018
seeing the bigger picture
You might remember when you first saw this here I wasn't happy, I really didn't like it. It was the cross stitch button card I was unhappy with and in truth I still don't much like that particular embellishment but I decided to stick with the piece because as I am always saying in my classes it's important to 'see the bigger picture''. By that I mean an initial unhappiness with a piece doesn't mean that piece can't be turned around, can't be extended and added to until you get to the point where you actually like it, are happy with how it turned out. That is definitely what has happened here. I am more than happy with this piece now and realise I need to take my own advice a little more.
Edges have been bound, lace has been added along with a scrap of vintage nightgown secured with beaded bullion knots and a header of pink gingham has been secured with simple running stitch. It sounds so simple when you see it in black and white.....my initial angst was completely unnecessary.
This will be mounted in my cloth book along with other little samples which are lying around here.
Embroidery School 2018 began on Monday just gone. We are creating a ledger of hand embroidery stitches. It's not too late to join us. You can read more here.
Artist books are being created on our 12 month subscription blog too. That programme runs through to September this year...months and months of book related play. It's never too late .....you can read more here.
01/19/2018
a front for a new needle case
This came together quickly...adding the extra cutwork, hexagons and sequins. Now I'm wondering where I can add something ''dangly''. I like dangly. I'm thinking it will need to go on the inside now though. I am going to put that together this afternoon.
The little cutwork motifs appeal to me a lot here, how they rise a little and take on the appearance of little pockets....as you know I like a pocket. (and dangly things too)
This was embroidered last night after I had spent a couple of hours working on these for London. My London prep is progressing well, really well so I'm able to relax a little with that from time to time and after creating pieces for class, feeding class work, extending class work I am able work on something like this little needle case.
Now I'm off to look for something which dangles!
01/18/2018
white cloth, dotted paper
You probably wouldn't guess from looking at these images that this piece is an integral part of something we have going on in the artist book class, the 12 month blog/class. It's 25 inches long, strips of lace, silk velvet and paper in the process of being embellished. The seams are being worked on at the moment, they are long seams...25 inches like I said. Depending on the stitch I am using they are progressing at varied speeds. The French knots take the longest.
One outer edge has been embroidered with buttonhole lace, mostly I did that early to stabilise the paper on that side. I'm hoping the girls in artist book class can see here that I am beavering away, progressing pieces for class....I'm not slacking.
01/17/2018
finishing touches
It's this again.....I can hear you all snoring from here. It's finished. Well actually I thought it was finished but as you will see from the video I forgot something essential in all the excitement. It's rectified. I show you me putting that right in the video today.
Some mistakes, some forgotten things can occasionally be an excuse for more embellishment. Some mistakes, some forgotten things are happy accidents when you get to titivate a little more. This is one of those....
If you missed it the other day you can read all about this cloth book by following this link. This post will be the first thing you see but you can just scroll past this one.
01/16/2018
the next page
The day before yesterday I showed you another page from an artist book I am putting together for the 12 month artist book blog. Yesterday I worked some more on a second page. I absolutely love how these are coming together, how each stitched piece I add alters the surface of the page, of the pieced papers. Then there's the stitches holding the pages together, securing one paper to the next....I love those too.
Below is an image of his page with the piece from the other day....you will definitely be seeing these again but next time they will have more added, more tiny embroidered samples. There is still a lot of open space to fill.
This work is from my 12 month artist book class. Registration for that is still open and will be throughout the year until it finishes in September of this year and you get access to all resources posted from day one. If you would like to read more you can do that here. I am loving this class....we are having so much fun....(we have fun in every class....I think, thought I best clarify that!) I also love all my classes....digging myself a hole there!!
01/15/2018
an update on the now almost finished cloth book
It's almost finished, the cloth book. The inside cover for the back is embellished and pinned in place. I now need to attach that permanently and hand finish all the edges. I chose Suffolk puffs to adorn this inside cover for the back, to contrast with the prairie points used on the inside front cover. I can't tell you how excited I am to get this one done then I can mount all the embroidered samples I have lying around here. I'm already imagining how it will feel in my hands when it's full of embroidered pieces.
If this piece is new to you all related posts can be read here. (this post will be at the top of that page, just scroll past it)
Embroidery School 2018 started today. We are sampling stitches. It's not to late to join us. Just go here to read more.
01/14/2018
pages from class
This work is for class but I can share it. The page was put together on camera a couple of weeks ago. Now I am busy trying to fill the pages with little stitched pieces outside of class. Class isn't missing anything, these little pieces will be created using process already shared with the group. Once I have filled all my pages, titivated all my pages I can put my book together with class.....there are a lot of pages to fill, I may be some time.
I embroidered the little sample yesterday evening. There are glass beads and sequins on silk and velvet and old white cloth. It's finished with a tiny scrap of the blue edging I showed you earlier in the week. The embroidery is laid here on one of the pages of this ''page''...it's a layered page. I now need at least another two embellished pieces for the other spaces. I may create more than two, I'm thinking the large spotty area on the right could hold several layered pieces.
This morning was spent looking for something I put away ''somewhere safe'' last week. I can't find it. Have you seen it?
(so frustrating)
Tomorrow is the first day of Embroidery School 2018. It's not too late to register. You can read more here. Later today I will be photographing pretty samples I have been embroidering for our first day. Sharpen your pencils and thread your needles girls!!
01/13/2018
pages and artist books
If you have read my last two posts you will be aware I have been doing a little bit of ''appraising''. Appraising the piles of work that are scattered around here, stitched cloth, papers, half finished samples, partially completed design sheets....artist books and loose pages. It was the turn of an almost finished artist book and loose pages this morning.
The artist book is almost finished, almost. I am waiting for a little flicker of an idea that I know is buried somewhere before I finish that one. I do have stitched samples I could use to fill the remaining blank pages but I would rather wait for that ''better'' more exciting idea I know will show itself eventually.
The three loose pages are my starting point for the next artist book in this little collection, the collection of white books which will all mirror the almost finished book shown here. (I want six of those) Best crack on then Karen.
Meanwhile...I have also been working on this artist book for class and stitching happily for ''2018 Embroidery School'' which starts on Monday. Those are things I can't share with you yet unfortunately....next week maybe.
If you are registered for '2018 Embroidery School' you should have received username and password information for our private blog earlier today. If you haven't received that please let me know as soon as possible.
01/12/2018
making sense of scraps
Following my little ten minute play which I told you about yesterday I thought it was about time I took some of my ''scrap'' pile and made them into something a little more substantial. It's something I have done many times, occasionally spending a whole day creating mini design sheets with the bits of things lying around here. The last two images include one of the last pieces which evolved from a similar exercise. I had completely forgotten about it until I was looking through my 'piles' of work and scraps. That piece is one of my favourites.
The piece above, the latest piece with the pom pom trim isn't fixed yet. I am going to think about it for a while. I could well change my mind.
Embroidery School 2018. Begins Monday...that came round quickly!! You can read more here.
01/11/2018
composition
Yesterday I spoke about that little bit of spare time you might find you have in any day...not a lot of time, perhaps only 10 minutes when you are between the things you had planned to tick off your list but twiddle thumb time all the same.
This morning I had ten minutes or so. I played. I gathered scraps and came up with this. Nothing is fixed, it will all be put away again but I have learnt something already ...... doesn't that blue , scrappy hankie edge look good with the colourful beads? If I was to look at this longer I would learn so much more about placement, contrasts, complimentary pieces.
You should try it.....I can recommend it.
01/10/2018
titivating a needle case
A spare hour in the evening when you are between damp stretching something and bedtime.....titivate a needle case. You saw this here and I haven't touched it since but in my spare hour last night I added a little more. I could have worked on my cloth book but it was too late to contemplate getting the ironing board out to measure and pin so needle case it was. It now has more pretty bias tape, a grandmothers flower garden patchwork motif and a little cross stitch with added sequins. In truth this could be finished quite quickly but for now I will leave it as something to pick up when I can't move forward with current, pressing pieces.
If you are registered for Embroidery School 2018 you should have received and email from me yesterday. If you didn't receive that can you please let me know.
If you are coming to London 2018 you should also have received an email from me yesterday. Again, if you didn't receive that can you please let me know.
01/09/2018
sequins
As you are seeing so much of these pieces for 'London 2018' I figured I should speak a little about the process without giving too much away. There's a short video where I attach a couple of sequins and chat a little about the process involved in creating these fabric 'folders' for the upcoming workshop.
In other news.....I have been teaching myself a couple of new stitches (new to me but much used by others) for my stitch ledger which I will be working on in ''embroidery School 2018''. You can read more about that here...we start next Monday.
If you have already signed up for that I will be mailing you later today.
01/08/2018
stitch for artist books
Quietly, in the background, artist book pages are evolving. Papers, stitch, lace, embroidered cloth. At the moment it's more of a puzzle, lots of pieces still to put together, decisions to be made on what goes where and which piece looks best with which page but it's definitely fun. I am so indecisive it could take some time but there's lots more stitching to do anyway. Hopefully as I'm stitching I will also be thinking and getting somewhere near to making the decisions about placement.
Meanwhile....I am going to piece my final embroidered ''folder'' for London 2018 this afternoon. Once they are all completed I can begin the next exciting stage...filling them with workshop bits. I will take lots of photos as I do that so once London is over I can share it all with you.
01/06/2018
French knots, gimp and sequins for London
I do apologise if you are fed up of seeing these London 2018 pieces over and over again. As these are taking most of my time it's all I have to show you but on the plus side for you....I am very happy with progress and I may even be finished in ten days or so. These are wonderful to create, I'm not in the least bit bored of them and will need to be careful I don't finish up with too many, get carried away. Although I said these were taking up most of my time there is other stuff going on that I can't share. I am creating stitched ''bits'' to go inside these workshop packs and have spent a bit of time on my current ''artist book '' for the 12 month ''artist book blog''.
(artist book girls....you will get your post later today not tomorrow because I won't be here tomorrow so stand by your computers)
I can show you these.....new thread cards I treated myself to with money I got from father Christmas.
and last night I wrapped some of them with thread and ribbon
Artist books runs until September. You can enrol anytime. Read more here. (you won't miss out on anything, access is given to everything posted since September 2017)
There are only two places left for the London 2018 workshop. I am so excited about this upcoming event. A full weekend of stitch, good food and incredible company. Read more here.
Embroidery School 2018. Begins in just over one week. Read more here.
I am away tomorrow at a Baptism. I will see you on Monday.
01/05/2018
early stages
It's the start of a new needle case. (like I've got time to make a new needle case???) I had to. I had to do something anyway because my order of this came yesterday and it was too tempting, I had to work with it straight away.
It will have to go away for a couple of days now though....I have embroidered workshop folders to finish for London. There are stitched papers and fabric combinations to be made for the same workshop packs and I have lots of pages to embellish for the ''artist book 12 month blog''.
There is plenty of time to do all this so long as I don't allow myself to be distracted.....famous last words.
Embroidery School 2018. Begins Monday January 15.
More information here. It's going to be amazing!
01/04/2018
a little more embroidery
You first saw this here when I spoke about how I wasn't really happy with the cross stitch button card. The general consensus was that I should stick with it, add to it and I would grow to love it. I haven't had much spare time to spend on this piece but I have managed to add a few web stitches, sequins and embroidered Suffolk puffs ............ I'm still not sure. I will stick with it, I will continue to add to it. It will live in my cloth book as a sample when it's finished. I won't throw it away........... that's the purpose of samples isn't it, to assess what works for us and what doesn't.
01/03/2018
an embellished lace page overlay
An embellished lace overlay for a page which has evolved over on the 12 month artist book blog. This particular ''artist book'' will have an overlay of some description protecting each page....I think I would like one more page before this book gets 'put together' , pages, overlays, front and back covers. More images of pages from this piece, this artist book can be seen here, here and here.
Yesterday, (although anxious to finish my cloth book) I worked some more on the workshop folders for London 2018. I will continue with those tonight as well as adding a little more embroidery to this piece.
I must be restrained, be patient when it comes to my cloth book....I am prioritising. I hope you're impressed.
01/02/2018
an inside lining
Progress.....the inside lining has been added to the front cover of my cloth book as has the band I embroidered for the front. I've added long ribbon lengths too, mostly because I like them and also because they may be useful for fastening when this is finished. The next stage is to embroider an inside cover for the reverse and yes...I will need to do something there to enlarge the back cover, make it a little wider following my monumental measuring error last week.
A very short video of the pinning stage from yesterday.
Embroidery School 2018. Begins January 15. Read more here.
01/01/2018
a little lace for artist books
Lace, lace cloth, French knots, a little cutwork....we are playing with page overlays on the ''artist book 12 month subscription blog''. I have been back to white for the past few days, this morning too. (stand or sit by your computers girls....you have a new post coming later today)
This light, soft, 'almost gone' cloth is a delight to stitch on, like butter. We may be creating artist books, the title may say ''paper'' but it's really all about the stitch whether that is on paper or cloth.
Embroidery School 2018 starting soon!!
Where I begin to create of my stitch ledger.
12/31/2017
Yesterday and last night was mostly taken up with work for ''artist book'' class. I did get to a stage where I couldn't go any further with that though so I put another little stitched sample together and added a small amount of embroidery just before bed time. It's a cross stitch button card. I'm not sure? I think it's outside my comfort zone colour wise but I'm going to leave it and work round it. It could look completely different once more embellishment is added. And anyway...isn't that the point of sampling?
I guess today I should wish you all a Happy New Year. I'm not a big fan though.....not because I am a misery but because it's going to be Monday......what's the big deal? And besides...I want you to be happy every day, every year.....so I wish you a Happy Forever how's that?
Finally, for Elizabeth.....because she asked.
12/30/2017
progress
I was feeling very pleased with myself as I damp stretched the second one of these embroidered folders last night which I have been working on over the Christmas period for London 2018, my upcoming workshop. I patted myself on the back a few times and relaxed a little because I already have one completely finished piece and these two which are at a very advanced stage. That was until I took the photographs this morning. One of these has something missing which I didn't realise until I edited these images, I'm sure you can spot it. Oh well, I'm still happy with the progress I am making. There are a few of these still to be made but as I embroider on each one I get excited about how they will be when they are finished, about the pieces I am going to put inside them, the workshop kits, the cloth, the papers, the little unexpected things . You will be able to see all that after the event I promise. I will take lots of pictures.............
I'm hoping to make progress with the cover for my personal cloth book today and tomorrow. I am desperate to finish that so I can begin to add my embroidery samples to it. If you remember I measured it wrongly.....I speak about that here. What with measuring errors and forgetting embellishments on this work I think I have Christmas brain fog.
The embroidered band for the edge, to rectify the measuring error still needs a little more embroidery but once that's done it can be damp stretched and I will be good to go putting it all together....
12/29/2017
finishing a sample, a lace border
It's finished..........a partial lace border attached with simple, neat running stitches. Draping was an option too, cloth cascading from the lower edge but in the end I decided on the lace, cascading cloth can wait until another day, can wait for another sample. I'm guessing it won't be long before another sample appears. Once I have an unused idea I am compelled to act on it. I also store them up, mental notes and written notes on scraps of paper.
My ''scrap of paper'' pile is getting bigger by the minute for use in ''embroidery school 2018.''
I am itching to start.....I love Christmas but I love my classes too. This morning I prepped for the next instalment of ''artist books''. I hope you're ready for Sunday girls.
12/28/2017
an embroidered band for the edge
Do you remember I made an embroidered panel for the inside front cover of my cloth sample book? Well.....it's too big. Something was amiss with the measuring....don't ask, I haven't a clue. The cover is too narrow for the inside cover. Are you keeping up? Two choices, cut down the inside cover or extend the outside cover.
The outside cover extension it is. A simple band embroidered with web stitches and French knots in white with three hand made buttons and two vintage buttons which will be added randomly as a finishing touch to draw the whole piece together. I have around 4 inches of embroidery to complete on the band before I can attach it and move on to the inside back cover. There will be more measuring involved. Wish me luck....
12/26/2017
binding edges
I managed to get a little sewing time yesterday evening. This piece now has a small cutwork motif surrounded by French knots with a row of French knots added alongside the pom poms, I put sequins there too, I just couldn't help myself. This morning I've added binding to two edges which has yet to be stitched into place. I am having a debate with myself about the other edges, binding or something else? I haven't a clue what 'something else' might be but I may wait before I decide. 'Something else' may turn out to be amazing. Then again it might not.
Embroidery School 2018. Starts January 15.
12/24/2017
The next London 2018 piece
I have made very good progress with the next piece for London 2018. I don't actually know what to call these things, pockets? cloth books? they are more like folders I guess. I don't suppose it's essential to give them a name, it's the purpose that's important. These hand embroidered 'folder, book, pouches' will hold the workshop supplies I am giving to those coming to my London embroidery weekend in February. They will hopefully have contents similar to this but with more pieces including stitched papers. (you've seen the next image before)
I'm confident I can get all these made before February and I am going to crack on over the Christmas break.
The other piece today is the first finished inside page for my cloth book. You can read about that here. I have added beads. You might have known I would do that. If it wasn't beads it would have been sequins. Karen you are so predictable...yawn...
So....there is a big guy coming tonight I heard. If he stops by your place I hope he's good to you but whatever you are doing over the next day or two take good care of yourself and I will see you on the other side x
12/23/2017
Saturday
A few images from around the house this past week or so. Nothing is 'normal' this week. There's been a lot going on. I had my first Christmas dinner last week and of course will be having Christmas dinner number two on Monday. I've been shopping...and shopping. I've been wrapping....and wrapping and I seem to be constantly playing the domestic goddess role, seeing dust everywhere. I do hope the big guy is watching.
I've also been blessed and spoilt with lots of early gifts......the Paris gift is from my little girl, she was lucky enough to go there a couple of weeks ago.
And.....I treated myself to a ''fabric advent calendar''. Some of the goodies from there are below. It was always my intention to gift some of these pieces and I have done that with some already but if there is one you fancy let me know and I will see what I can do.
(sadly I can't give to everyone who expresses a wish for one of these but I hope I can make one or two of you happy)
and then there is this....it makes me want to cry every time (in a happy way), thank you so much.
(press play and have your sound on)
Not long now.....
12/22/2017
more sampling
It's official, I have no self control. I should be working on pages for artist book class, I should be embroidering pockets for London 2108, I should be finishing the cloth book. Instead I started another sample last night for the actual, as yet unfinished cloth book. (second image) It has soft pom poms, hexagons and little flowery sequins. It's not finished yet.
These images show how the samples created so far might look in the as yet unfinished cloth book.....get a move on Karen.
Tonight I will work on London 2018 pockets, I will. It's a promise.
12/21/2017
samples and pages
I couldn't help myself....yesterday, when I said I needed samples for the new cloth book? Well the cloth piece here is the first one but obviously I can't put it in until the book is finished. I best crack on with that then....
The other piece here is the latest page I am working on for the ''12 month artist book subscription blog''. We are on a holiday break at the moment, school is out but my homework is to finish this and plan the next stage of the book this page will from part of. No rest for teacher.
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