05/26/2016
an update on Clara
I'm always telling you that stitching is happening in the background, stitching for class which I can't share. Here's the evidence....more embroidery for Clara, my story book for my class ''stitching a story''. It would be very easy to get lost in this, to not give a second thought to other pieces in progress but those pieces are pressing too...my mini portfolios, my new cloth taking shape from here. Some days I have to be tough with myself, be disciplined as I could so easily flit from one thing to another without achieving very much in the process. And then there's the doodle with paint from earlier this week and the doodle from yesterday.....oh my, what to do next? I think I'll put the kettle on.
05/25/2016
pattern
Don't worry, this isn't transforming in to some kind of no skill, low ability art blog. I haven't had much time for concentrated embroidery over the last couple of days except for stitching I am doing for class, hence my doodle today and this video. I just watched the video back and the patterning on the pages of this amazing book isn't very clear....so there's an example here.
Yesterday, the painting, the angst? Thank you...I will copy it, I will play with copies, I will also do another one, a smaller one, one piece of cloth perhaps......
05/24/2016
doodle
Remember the other day I said I had an idea for new patterning? Well here it is. Draped cloth, doodled in pencil with a little watercolour added. I like it....but.....I have come to a halt. It isn't finished. I have no idea what to do next. I want to stitch on it. I could add pen to some areas for definition. I'm scared I will spoil it.
If this was fabric and thread I would be salivating at the thought of working on it. I would be stitching like crazy, no fear, no hesitation. I wish I had that confidence with paper, pencil and paint.
Thanks so much for all the birthday wishes. I had a lovely, quiet day. I was thoroughly spoilt. I only ate one piece of cheesecake.
05/23/2016
contrasts
The silk piece, the petal piece is almost completely embroidered....just one or two petals left to embellish. Having said that, I may add something else to that surface, I'm thinking......
The gingham piece has more work needed too, lots more work. Thing is, I have wondered for some time whether these two pieces would live together happily so I tried it this morning. I think they do. What do you think?
I can't stay long today, there's cake to eat. Happy Birthday to me!
05/22/2016
buttons and bling
As you know I am about to get new cabinets in which to keep all things stitch......so....I've been sorting out which mainly consists of moving one pile of stuff to another space and replacing it with another pile of stuff. Whilst shuffling piles of stuff I came across a couple of things which came back from France with me, a blingy pillow and two sets of buttons. They are now in the shop.
I've been embroidering lace cloth quietly for a few days now, for a class related project. Meantime, whilst my mind is wandering to all things sample and portfolio related whilst I stitch it also wandered back a few years to a past project. I don't want to say too much about that today in case I create a huge mess which I can't share but this afternoon I plan to doodle with that project in mind, alter it, move it on and hopefully it will be the start of something ''quite'' new....by that I mean, same stitches, same cloth (one trick pony here) but different patterning....hopefully....
05/21/2016
whites
Another piece has been created for my ''sample portfolio'' plan. Here I have taken photographs of the ''whites'' for this collection along with the new piece finished yesterday. More paper based work is needed and I intend to remount everything I have put together up until now....I'm not happy with the mounts. My paper has arrived for that but now I'm waiting for silk ribbon. meantime I will create more pieces. Sampling samples is what I have decided to call this process. Create embroidered samples, mount them, decide you aren't happy and do them again....
05/20/2016
embroidery, lace, Marimekko and thread.
It's been a busy week...I resisted temptation in Paperchase. I would say that was my biggest achievement. New cabinets have been bought, white of course....they go on the wall next week. An expert will be doing it so they don't immediately collapse which is what would happen if we did it. I sorted out a cupboard, (second image) and if you can spot anything alcohol related in that image it has nothing to do with me. The red box, I bought that from a Graduate at a Degree show several years ago. It was part of her final collection of gift wrapping paraphernalia. The ceramic bowls in that image are extra special, hold a lot of affection and good memories for me. I exhibited in London alongside the guy who made those several years ago. When I got home a parcel was waiting for me, those bowls, a gift from him. Since then he has become a superstar and was artist in residence at the V&A earlier this year....my claim to fame...he gifted me some of his work.
The cupboard with the untidy books...I still need to sort that out. I'm hoping to get a lot of things ''sorted out'' over the next couple of weeks. Famous last words I know but at least I have done one cabinet, that's further than I have ever gotten before. Finally, the last image....my post man making me happy....gifts...lace and pencils. Thank you. Marimekko pencils???? Who knew....
05/19/2016
whites
I've been gathering white samples, scraps of white embroidery from various times in the past. I'm still playing, yesterday I was playing and here I am again. I think it's time to shake myself down, stop playing , make decisions and get on with it.
My sample portfolios are on hold...I'm waiting for paper to arrive.......meantime I am working on all things Clara for class but I can't share much of that here. I do have this collection to mount.......perhaps I will look at that later today. First I need to make alphabet lace....
05/18/2016
circular portfolio?
Just an idea, a query, a curiosity.....wondering how sample portfolios might work with circular mounts. I'm just playing really, aimlessly playing with embroidered scraps, a little fabric, lace offcuts. I'm laying them down, coming up with mini compositions and mounting them, in this instance on circular mounts. I like the ''tied with silk ribbon'' aspect of these, the more uniform holes.
Where do I go from here? Good question.....please mail me when you have the answer.....lol. Seriously though, I'm in no hurry to go anywhere with them yet, I'm thinking, pondering, there's no rush.
05/17/2016
flowers and letters....
Yesterday I mentioned the embroidery for Clara was inspiring me and I had begun another, separate piece. Here it is, flowers, petals, on silk. It's the stitches, the colour combination and the pen, how all those elements live together which inspired the petals, how those things appeal when they're combined. I have no idea yet what this will become, how it will evolve. I seem to be gathering a collection of pieces with no direction, no ''end plan''..... there is this one and this one too...maybe they could all live together somehow?
05/16/2016
overlay
I'm playing with lace cloth as an overlay on collaged and stitched paper for my sample portfolio idea. These two pieces were created separately, without the other in mind but they give me an idea of what may or may not work, about placement of embroidery and methods of collage......everything is a learning opportunity.
The work I am doing with Clara is playing a part here too and I am really happy I posted that glimpse for you yesterday as it inspired a couple more people to sign up to class....so thank you. Clara is proving inspirational in many ways....aside from the lace I showed you yesterday I have been inspired to begin something for working outside of class which I hope to show you tomorrow.
05/15/2016
Clara and the alphabet
A glimpse for you of what's happening in class, what I am getting fired up about in addition to my mini sample portfolios. You can see my first page here, my colour study, as yet unfinished. There is stuff going on over more pages....sorry, can't show you that but it does involve the alphabet embroidery you can see here. The lace, the lace with lettering....I have plans for that, for a lace like structure which will happen in class but which will not form part of a page in my story book so I will share that with you as I progress.
I hope you enjoyed seeing this. For me it provides a contrast to working on the mini samples, equally as enjoyable but very, very different to embroider and plan.
05/14/2016
complimentary paperwork
A small piece of paperwork is taking shape inspired by the cloth piece from yesterday. This piece is also for my small sample portfolio although it most likely won't be placed alongside the cloth piece which inspired it. You will see from the video that I am envisaging cloth added to this paper, extending it somehow with fabric........
Stitching a Story girls...stand by your computers. Even though I have been out partying you are still getting the post intended for tomorrow in approximately one hour!
05/13/2016
stripes, silk, samples....
The latest ''in progress'' sample for my planned mini sample portfolios. This one has striped silk in shades of grey and off whites which I bought in London earlier this year. So far one seam is embellished with French knots and web stitches run the length of a strip of striped silk. When I laid this piece alongside the piece from yesterday it struck me how well they live together, it started me thinking about a bigger piece using this combination of cloth. I am resisting though, trying not to get distracted.
The main reason for my resistance is a plan I have to develop something which I have been working on for class, for ''stitching a story....'' My girls don't even know yet but hopefully when it develops I can share a tiny glimpse of it on here for you. The girls get to hear about it on Sunday.....
(stitching a story girls......I may be able to post late Saturday afternoon. I will let you know :))
Simply Stitch 4 was re-listed as a work on your own class yesterday after a couple of requests.. You will find that here.
05/12/2016
white and gimp, for a sample portfolio
Another sample, white, gimp, pleated net...the next step in my sample portfolio play. This one has couched gimp overlaid across pleated net, a seam of French knots and four tiny cutwork circles worked on a strip of cotton lace. There was quite a bit of response to my queries, my ''wondering'' from Tuesday, thank you for that. I am leaning towards three double spreads, six embroidered pieces in total and keeping them all the same colour, consistent, for example...shades of white, subtle blues and grey in one collection. Other portfolios will have brighter colours, pinks, lemons, brighter blues......it's still very much a ''work in process'' and requires much more ''wondering'' but I am part way there.
05/11/2016
bullion knots over piping cord
This piece of work hasn't been touched for almost a week. I rectify that today, adding piping cord and embellishing it with bullion knots. This piece won't form part of my 'sample portfolio'. It is too big and I really don't want to cut it down. Instead it may be used to form part of a larger cloth as I mention in the video.
There haven't been any decisions made yet about the queries from yesterday.....I'm just leaving my mind empty of that, continuing to create little compositions, hoping the light bulb moment will arrive without any help from me.
05/10/2016
Sample portfolio, part two
The second ''page'' of my mini portfolio plan has been put together. I now have more questions to ask myself......should each mini portfolio have one colour scheme, should the whites and blues and off whites all be together? Should the pinks, the brighter ones all be together? or should I mix them up? If each mini portfolio was a similar colour, fabric, stitch combination that would make it a ''collection''. It could be a collection of varied colour and fabric but then where's the consistency? Who knew it would be such a minefield of doubt and query?
Also.....I may have to remount these.....that thing called ''consistency'' again (plus I am not happy with the mounting of the one from yesterday.)
05/09/2016
sample portfolio....
port·fo·li·o
(pôrt-fō′lē-ō′)
05/08/2016
a pile of pockets
These pockets came on holiday with me to France......then they came home with me. I have been asked to list my unsold items from France in the shop so here you are. I also have a few buttons (not many) and that's about it to be honest. The buttons aren't in the shop because I want to keep those for future work. I know, I'm greedy and selfish :(
I'm still dithering a bit over my dilemma from yesterday...how to mount the pieces in order that I won't want to keep them for myself. I know that probably doesn't make sense but I need to get my head sorted and begin to see my next '''pages'' as not mine, for sale, for someone else. That just takes a little time. For example....all the pockets were made with a view to selling them...now I need to get my head in that mode for my compositions, my page pieces.
05/07/2016
paper to compliment cloth
Still inspired by this body of design work I have moved temporarily to paper. Hopefully the paper compliments the cloth and vice versa. I'm going to have to be careful here though. It occurred to me that I could easily, accidentally begin things here, (publicly) which should be private for my class.
The difference though, which I hope will stop me from doing that....over in class we are using a children's book both to embellish and for inspiration. Here with these I am using early sampling and my head....... and will almost certainly be mounting these on a plain background.
I added cross stitch and some bullion loops to the cloth piece last night as well as titivating the paper piece. I can't see myself making anything 'usable' for the near future in terms of pockets etc. I am minded to mount all this work in a book, on sheets, make a big song and dance about them on pages. The only thing I can see ''wrong'' with that is the fact that I then probably will never want to part with them meaning there won't be anything new in the shop for around 50 years!
05/06/2016
a collection....show and tell.
I flounder no more.....I am newly inspired......I kicked myself several times for not thinking to ponder this collection, this library of samples, this body of work which was created with my ''sampling for stitch'' class. There is so much information in here I shall never flounder again......this process was leading to the design of a bag, a pocket. I have bags and pockets coming out of my ears so I have discarded that thought. In truth this collection of information could be applied to many things, pillows, pockets, wraps, blankets......
Last night I began a cloth based sample......this morning I have a new idea. I'm hoping to develop this work over the next few weeks...ledgers...pages......substantial mounted samples. All it took was five minutes in the company of pink gingham and I was off, there's no stopping me now.
More of this collection can be seen here,
and here,
and here,
and also on this short video.
05/05/2016
continuing in cloth
Remember this from Tuesday? These images are of the piece which followed that. Layers of lace and fabric, doodling onto cloth, embroidery......I like it, I like the one from Tuesday...but....I still don't really know where I am going with this. I still feel directionless in terms of my own work, what I want to do outside of class, what I want to do for me. I need to shut my eyes for 10 minutes and think, get lost in thoughts of stitch, paper, doodles.........let my mind wander.....failing that I will look back at old work....that usually sparks something.
05/04/2016
threads, pins, glass buttons and snippets
The ribbon was bought in France and the notepaper is from France too.....my daughter found that for me when she was in Bordeaux recently. She knows me so well. The glass buttons, in the cabinet.....they are also from France but the boxes with pins and tailors chalk are from a very restrained shopping half hour in Liberty last week. I am so proud of myself for mostly resisting temptation...it could have been so much worse. John Lewis supplied the glass jars for my buttons and puffs......I suspect I will soon need more of those.
I cannot wait for tomorrow, Thursday.....it marks the end of my wandering. It marks the start of a reclusive few weeks when I will not leave the house. That's the plan...here's hoping nothing scuppers it.
05/03/2016
layers, textures....
Yesterday if you remember I was talking about some thoughts I'm having about taking a different approach to ledgers, artist books. This is the start of that, mixing surfaces....cloth and stitch with doodles and texture....larger pieces than I normally use in my artist books. I wouldn't say I'm there yet in terms of firm plans, I'm still playing and thinking and making notes. Maybe I will overlay pages with fine papers, sheer, lace like papers......again I'm just wondering, considering, laying those down. At the moment the overlay in the fourth image is my favourite, it's lighter, more delicate.
There's still a long way to go with these. I will keep playing, testing....
05/02/2016
two from France
Two of these little stitched and titivated artist books made it home with me from France. If you want one they are now in the shop.
It seems I am consumed with all things ''ledger'' at the moment. We are working with ledgers, books, illustrations in ''stitching a story'' and I have plans which excite me regarding ledgers in another form...same principle, different presentation, different approach. It's quite possible I will begin work on that idea later today.
To all of you amazing, wonderful, patient people who have stuck by me through my silence, my non response to e malls and comments through the hectic weeks leading up to France....thank you. I am hoping to make a start on replying to you all later today. If I don't get round to you today it will definitely happen this week. Thank you a million times over for your willingness to keep turning up when all you get in return is zero...zilch....it's appreciated and then some.
Finally...if you are registered for Stitching a Story you should have received sign in information etc this morning. If you didn't receive that will you please let me know.
05/01/2016
lace on silk
White lace, white silk, an embroidery hoop, pale thread, flowers, French knots, buttonhole stitch, lazy daisy stitch, cross stitch....a new piece of work started before I went to London and continued today on video. This one will eventually form a very small part of a wrapping cloth, eventually.
London was good, London was great, London is always great. We celebrated a birthday, visited some of the sights...and visited Liberty. I was very restrained, you would have been proud. (There are London pictures on my Instagram if you want to take a peek.)
It's all systems go now for ''stitching a story'' which starts tomorrow. I'm ready, videos made, pictures taken.
(I sent a mail to those of you who have registered for ''stitching a story'' this morning. If you didn't receive that can you please let me know. I know of three people who won't have received it as theirs just kept bouncing back. I tried 3 times. Laureen, Helen and Cynthia....any idea why that would be??? Laureen and Cynthia I have sent it to your flickr mail....Helen? Help)
(''Helen, I replied to your last mail and it bounced back again. I have managed to find you on Flickr though so have sent you a Flickr mail)
04/30/2016
Lace
I have spent so much time with lace recently that I thought I'd look back to ''old'' lace work. Having said that, I spend time with lace most days......we have an obsessive relationship, can't live without each other. These pieces are from way, way back. These surfaces were embellished and turned into pin pillows......you may have bought one. Did you? Do you still have it?
04/29/2016
Wrapping cloth show and tell
If you watched the video on Wednesday you will be expecting this.....a wrapping cloth show and tell. Two cloths, both of which travelled to France with me and are now safely home.
Before the video allow me an indulgence
It's my little girls birthday today. Happy birthday Helen...we love you to the moon and back.
04/28/2016
a ledger
My old friend ''doodle doo'', a ledger/sketchbook/journal I bought several years ago and which is gradually filling up with ''white'' ideas, stitching and a little pen. None of these images are new...I wanted to gaze at this a little that's all, pick a few favourite pictures and share a couple, of old, short videos with you. I did consider taking this to France. It would have been great to receive feedback from that audience yet I worried about it's overall safety in terms of too many page turns, too many fingers, too much attention. I think I made the right decision. Some of you will have seen the videos before.....those of you who haven't...enjoy....
04/27/2016
Bullion loops.....
I'm convincing myself that I am capable of embroidering a bullion loop following on from my chat about failure in that department in France which I posted yesterday. I'm also unloading a bit today about my lack of direction, my floundering as I am ''between'' things, classes and such like. I'm also talking about the fact that I am going away again tomorrow......sorry.....it's compulsory, there's a special occasion I cannot avoid. Because of that, if you register for ''Stitching a Story'' after today you will need to wait 72 hours for your ''welcome'' mail....thought I best explain that one. I'm not completely abandoning you though. I am working very hard to pre time blog posts for when I'm away....you don't get rid of me that easily.
If you weren't here yesterday I can recommend the video...a chat about my workshop in France.
04/26/2016
Workshop chat....a video about France
OK.....France again...you were warned. A video for you in which I ''bang on'' about the workshop and other things....
Your response to yesterdays post was phenomenal...thank you. I'm still not back to ''normal'' but this morning the unpacking, tidying and sorting out took a back seat as I introduced myself to Clara and prettified her a little ready for next Monday.
04/25/2016
France.....
I'm back.....there's no place like home. I am unpacking, washing, putting away cloth, salivating over one or two purchases and trying to take in everything from last week, how amazing it was, how exhausting it was, how busy it was (at times I struggled to get anywhere near my space), how friendly the people were, how excited they appeared to be about my work. I was humbled on more than one occasion and if I never hear the word ''magnifique'' again it won't matter because I heard it a zillion times last week. (there are many more images on my Instagram, there are also a couple of 16 second videos on there.)
The workshops were so successful, the learners were engaged and enthusiastic, leaving apparently very happy and excited to go home and finish their lace embroidery. I like to think I made some friends.....who knows, I feel as though I did.
I sold out of puffs, I sold a lot of buttons and ledgers and packets of embroidered cloth. I sold paperwork.....I didn't sell any pockets. I'm not actually surprised at that. The show was more of a venue for buying ''supplies'', threads, fabric, needles and such and I think most people attending would feel capable of making a pocket for themselves. (having said that...you would not believe the number of people I met who had NEVER stitched a French knot) The French knot and I were inseparable last week, I must have stitched hundreds of them for demonstration purposes and not in the workshop....for customers.
I did get offered a lot of money for one of my ''not for sale'' wrapping cloths but they are far too precious to part with. Lot's of leaflets regarding ''Stitching a Story'' were picked up too, there were a lot of questions about that so who knows....that class may well have a ''French'' feel to it.....we shall see.
I am very, very happy to be home. I have so much more to say about the past week...prepare yourselves if you have signed up for class....... I will have you yawning before the second week is over! I will speak more about France on here of course but I can guarantee I will be ''banging on about it'' in class for weeks.
Registration for ''stitching a story'' now open)
One or two of you expressed an interest in buying certain pieces if they did not sell in France. I can't remember who wanted what so if you want to ask about a particular piece please just mail me.
04/16/2016
white
I did it, I managed to find the two spare hours needed to satisfy the hankering I had for white lace cloth...I spoke about it yesterday. The two hours were hiding in the cupboard marked ''don't panic you are running on adrenalin''. I'm so pleased I did this, I love it, it makes me happy, it completes my preparations.
I'm closing the shop later today, the registration for my new class will open again a week on Monday. I will be back on here a week on Monday. I need to pack. I need to iron. I miss you already.....got to dash....
(patched pockets girls....I am waiting for the men to vacate the house, go to the football before I make your video...an estimate....it will be ready in a couple of hours....when have I ever let you down?...OK...don't answer that!!)
04/15/2016
lace and beads
Lace cloth is now in rolls...as opposed to coming out of my ears like I said earlier in the week. I love how it looks rolled like this, it also makes me realise how little housework I've done lately....stitch and housework can't be done in unison. (my house is like a bomb site...I'm not in the least bit bothered...please don't judge me)
The puffs, the padded Suffolk puffs....I was going to say they are the final thing I am making to take with me but I'm not sure they are. I have an overwhelming desire to make a piece of white lace cloth....pure white.....I obviously haven't formed an aversion to creating lace cloth after the past weeks marathon which is good thing. I now just have to search for the spare couple of hours I need to actually satisfy that urge.
04/14/2016
books, bags, labels. buttons....
A glimpse for you of what I've been doing. There's been a bit of French printing going on as you can see. There's been a lot of stuff put in bags...(for protection in transit and for display). Cloth pieces such as pillows, pockets and wrapping cloths won't be going in bags.......but for travelling they will be wrapped in white acid free tissue and bubble wrap.
The little thread cards with the labels tied on with ribbon......they will very shortly have coloured thread wrapped on them for my workshops...pink and green to be precise.
Next on my ''to do'' list is exactly that, thread wrapping.....
04/13/2016
beads and labels....
I was worried last week that as I am focusing on getting ready for France and have also been consumed by making lace cloth that I wouldn't have anything to put on here to keep you interested. What didn't occur to me though was that I was still working, finishing things and those could be shown on here. So, last night I burnt a little midnight oil and completed two little artist books. ( I also put Suffolk puffs into little packets but I figure you don't want to see plastic packets every day)
Back to the books. These two are completely finished, crammed with embroidered samples, scraps of painted paper, buttons, Suffolk puffs, graph paper, plain paper. One has dangly beads....I like those, I may do that to another one. They both have labels at one edge, (as do the other as yet unfinished three). There are three waiting to be finished....that's tonight's task. If you go here, to my Instagram there is a little video (16 seconds) which flips through one of these.
I am still quite a way from being ready to travel on Sunday. I had planned to make more lace cloth, white lace cloth but I doubt that will happen now, more buttons were planned too. It's OK though.....I can only do what I can do. I have reached the point now where I am content that I have done all I can....and will accept that it's enough.
Just a reminder too...I didn't make these little books. I bought them from here, a friend, who is more than happy for me to use them in this way.
And, as we are talking books.....''stitching a story'', my new class. Please take a look.
04/12/2016
cloth packages
Yesterday morning I had all this laid out on the table.....or should I say piled haphazardly on the table. I looked, I chose, I mixed and matched, I changed my mind a million times. I then folded neatly and voila....I now have these. (it wasn't easy to choose.....really, to decide on which pieces went where)
Nine packets of embroidered and printed cloth.....that's ''morceaux de tissu broders et imprimes'' to those of you who aren't up on your French...and I include myself in that.
Today it's puffs, counting and packaging, mounting paperwork and packaging. My list is slowly getting ticked off...prepare yourself for more French.
04/11/2016
for pages
Snippets, samples, scraps, paper, cloth.....pages for artist books. Three new pages were put together last night, gathering has happened for other pages. These artist books have now become ''urgently need to put together'' books as opposed to the ''as and when'' books they were a few weeks ago. Another fifteen pages (guessing here) are needed....wish me luck. One thing this should show you is that never throwing anything away is a good choice. Fabric snippets, offcuts come in handy for many things....including ledger work.
(The lace cloth marathon is nearing completion which is a huge relief. )
04/10/2016
little bags of titivations
In addition to having lace cloth coming out of my ears I also have a titivation production line going on. Suffolk puffs, fabric beads (padded puffs) and other such things for adorning edges and surfaces are being created in abundance. I'm thinking little bags of mixed things, a combination, flat and padded.......like little bags of sweeties or candy.
There was a point in time last week when I thought I was going to lose it, to become so stressed that I couldn't go on. That has passed, calmness has descended again and although my ''to do'' list remains long it's not unachievable. My days from now until next Sunday...flight time 9.30 am.....will be filled with finishing touches, labelling, packaging, packing boxes to pack into suitcases. I will not be making any more ''large'' pieces such as pockets or wraps or pillows, there's no time left, it's the little things which I need to attend to now.
Yesterday was a ''day off'' of sorts. Thanks so much for all James happy birthday love. I think he had a good day??? We went to Manchester to eat and I left him there with his dad so they could go and see a band and do other manly things....I drove home through snow, yes snow. I wasn't expecting that.
The video below is a brief overview of my new class ''stitching a story'', first posted on here a couple of weeks ago. I will be closing the shop before I go away and will re open it on April 25.
04/09/2016
gingham and prairie points
A new pillow, doodled silk, chain stitch, cutwork prairie points, applique, gingham and spotty fabric. It's cheerful if nothing else, brightens the day. I'm not sure if this one will come to France with me.....just a niggle that I can't quite put my finger on. Does that happen to you? I will decide last minute. I suppose I could take it but not get it out of the suitcase.......
I'm out today, for most of today anyway...celebrating with this gorgeous little man who is not so little any more.
Happy birthday James. Love you to the moon and back.
04/08/2016
doodling with paint
I made you a video of me painting the new, pink background....I did, honestly. OOps.....something went wrong and it was unwatchable so you had a lucky escape. To compensate I have posted a similar video from last week. Watch, don't watch, entirely up to you. In the video you don't get to see I mention that I am a bit of a ''one trick pony'' when it comes to painting...same shapes over and over. What can I say....I will say that I am hoping these paltry offerings will look very different when added to pages in my little artist books......I can hope.
Finally, following on from yesterday....the next part of the story.
''Do you remember the house we lived in as children? Do you remember the stitches we were taught at school? Lets embroider a picture of our old house and let's see how many different stitches we can work into it.''
04/07/2016
ingredients
What am I doing here? I'm assessing, considering, questioning, wondering, faffing, being indecisive, wondering what, how much, how many of each, make more, don't make more, add buttons......and on and on. Ingredients for goodie bags are being considered by someone who hasn't a clue what to put in them.
What would you choose from this selection to put in your goodie bag? Or...what would you like to find in a goodie bag you acquired out of this selection?
And.....I bought a new book because I definitely need another distraction...not........
This book could be written about me and you. (I'm assuming you like to sew and that's why you are here) Deanna made me aware of it and I am so, so happy she did. It's a story of two ...and I quote.....''old, old sisters'' who spend their life in bed, a ''long, long'' bed. They become bored, they wonder why, they then decide it's because their quilt is plain white so they decide to embroider their white quilt as they spend each hour in bed. I'm going to put a quote on here now, directly from the book which is taken from the section where they retrieve their work boxes from under the bed and which inspired me more than I can say.....
''and they opened them. They were full of scissors and thimbles, pins and needles, buttons and bodkins and hooks and eyes. There were scraps of silk and satin, rolls of ribbon, lengths of lace.''
Sigh...do you see what I mean?
I really want to share more of this with you. I will try and post another quote tomorrow. This book has landed in my life at just the right time (New class...Stitching a Story...and I am given the gift of knowing about this book which is essentially ''stitching a story''...fate?)....thank you Deanna.
(I bought this from Amazon in the US very cheaply, it's a used copy. The available copies on UK Amazon are ridiculously expensive. Postage from the US for this was also very inexpensive...I got me a bargain. If you are in the UK consider purchasing from the US)
Finally......can I apologise if I am slow responding to comments and e mails. I really am snowed under at the moment but you are on my mind, I am really feeling guilty, I appreciate the comments and e mails more than I can say, truly. I WILL respond but please bear with me.
04/06/2016
lace and froth....
Two images today, both lace cloth, both from times when I was consumed by lace cloth. The top image is a ''wrap'', a ''throw'' , a ''shawl'', a ''wrapping cloth'' which I made a few years ago from pieces of embellished lace cloth which I then hand pieced creating a veil like piece of cloth measuring approximately 25 x 25 inches.
The second image is my lace cloth obsession from now, twenty pieces in progress, each measuring 10 x 10 inches......eleven made, nine to go. These pieces of lace cloth will provide a base for the hand embroidery I will be teaching in my workshops in France.
eleven made, nine still to make......eleven days.....no problem.....
04/05/2016
a page and a chat
It's books again, well kind of. It's a single page with a little bit of paper I painted and a scrap of lace cloth. It's also a little chat.......and nine pieces of lace cloth.
04/04/2016
pages.....
These little books are filling up gradually...there's no rush, a few pages here and there as I get time. Well I say no rush, next week actually, around ten days left to make sure each one is crammed. It may be that next week I will need to make space for a ''book afternoon'', finishing these, adding more snippets of cloth and doodled paper. I plan on painting some paper scraps this afternoon to be added to these. I will be taking an hour out from this and making little marks, floral marks with watercolour paint onto a blue speckled background. You will get to see my efforts when those little scraps of painted paper appear on these pages....
Stitching a story. New class. Read more here.
04/03/2016
a doodled pillow top
A piece of silk, a piece of gingham, a pen, a quick five minutes doodling, add stitch add a few prairies points and hey presto....a pillow top. This one is light relief from my current sewing machine duties, Spring like and cheerful. I do love my cloth which is being created on the sewing machine but if I'm not careful, if I don't take a break with something completely different every once in a while it will become a chore. We don't want that do we.
The reverse of this one is being planned in my head as I type this today. The edges are also being considered, debated. There is another piece , similar to this one but not identical in progress too. A matching pair, a complimentary pair.....by the end of the week I hope.
In case you missed them, or have forgotten about them....a few pieces of previously doodled and stitched cloth.
04/02/2016
five out of twenty
I'm spending a lot of time doing this at the moment. I need twenty pieces of lace cloth for my workshops in France. There are five here but since I took these pictures the number is up to seven. It's doable, fourteen days before I leave. No problem, a couple of night shifts and we're good to go.
I have to go out today......but when I get back I will work on these little books some more, five pages? Five pages to match the five pieces of lace on here....
Read about my new class here....stitch and books and all things embroidery.
04/01/2016
a pillow pocket
This week is becoming a ''finished pieces'' week.....that's a good thing which means it's been a good week. Two wrapping cloths are finished, (this one and this one) a white silk pocket is finished and now this one is finished. This pocket has a pin pillow in one end....on the left in the top image. It's going to be hard to part with this......and the white silk one...and almost every other piece I have finished recently. I do however get to keep the wrapping cloths, I have had that conversation with myself and it's non negotiable.
Back to this one, there are lots of Suffolk puffs on here, I am beginning to think they may be my new obsession. The pocket section opens on the right in the first image, a pocket big enough for folded cloth...sigh...If I were keeping it that's what I would do with it.
03/31/2016
folded hankies and hankie edges
I'm not sure you have seen much of this pocket before. This one came together slowly in class. Vintage white hankies folded and embroidered on to a white silk base. At one edge there are three tiny pockets which fall into the seam, the hankie corners you can see on one side here are those pockets. There is a little floral applique on the surface and also decorating the lining. Tiny silk beads which I made are dotted across the surface.
I am having sleepless nights about transporting this one to France...there is a lot of potential for creasing here. I will most likely loosely stitch this one onto card with a couple of strategically placed tiny stitches.
Yesterday, good to my word, I doodled on some silk and I have begun the embroidery on that one. There is another pocket almost finished too so I feel like I am making real progress.
Another reminder now about my new class......
Stitching a Story
A story.....
a narrative, either true or fictitious, in prose or verse, designed to interest, amuse, or instruct the hearer or reader...
or....in this case....to record with stitch.
Stitching a story, a children's book, a little doodling, play, stitch on pages, stitch on cloth.
Beginning Monday May 2 for 16 weeks.
There will be a two week break after week 7 (from June 19 to July 4)
Actual running length of class will therefore be 18 weeks.
Two posts a week on a private password protected blog. A minimum of two hours video per week.
Access to all resources is permanent.
**you do not need to have participated in any of my previous online learning programmes in order to participate in ''patched pockets.''***
No prerequisites. Suitable for the beginner and the more experienced stitcher.
In addition to a private blog you will be given access to a private Flickr group where you will be able to interact with other members of the group, upload images of your work, receive feedback, give feedback, share technique, hints, tips.....
Previous online learning programmes I have hosted have resulted in the formation of a tightly knit group of like minded people who share the creative process in a relaxed and informal atmosphere. It's almost as if groups ''hold hands'' throughout. For me, this is one of the most appealing and rewarding aspects of these classes.
(I am also aware that some people prefer to work quietly with minimal interaction. That is OK too.)
There are no deadlines, no set tasks. You are under no obligation to create what I am creating. Many people in previous classes have merely taken notes in order to apply ideas to their own work. Please take as much or as little as you wish from this programme, tailor my demonstrations to suit your own creative needs.
During the course of this 16 week online class, using a children's book for inspiration and as a ledger (sketchbook) for design ideas I hope to develop stitched pieces on cloth which will be inspired by images from my children's book. Using processes such as stitching, doodling, collage, layering, cutting, pleating etc on the pages of my children's book, I will develop ideas upon and within those pages by allowing paper and page to become a vehicle for sampling and developing embroidery before beginning embroidery on cloth.
Stitch
Collage
Doodle
Layer
Fold
etc etc
The use of a children's book or any other type of book is not compulsory. It is quite acceptable to participate in this class at a level of your own choosing. For example, you may have no desire to work in a book of any kind, preferring instead to take information from video and execute your ideas directly onto cloth. That is 100% OK. I want you to take from this experience whatever suits you, whatever works for you.
03/30/2016
the second one from the unfinished pile....
You saw it here, unfinished.....it's finished now! I backed it and added oversized prairie points along with a few more puffs. Including this one, that's two quite big pieces finished in the past week or so. I am so pleased I completed these two cloths, they languished for far too long. Watch the video and see what you think.
On my ''to do'' list for the rest of the day....make more lace cloth, finish this pocket, doodle on some silk, start putting goody bag things into piles and maybe put a couple more pages together in my little books.
Patched pocket girls....stand by your computers.....there's a video coming!
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