06/10/2020
progress, my embroiderers cloth.
My embroiderers cloth is growing, there's a new panel which is partially embroidered and which will be embellished further over the coming days before I put the next piece together.
The little buttons are hand stitched, soft, puffy, light and will be used for adornment on seams. I'm also planning on making more of these to place in one of the numerous pockets on this cloth.
The little notebook which accompanies this cloth has had more work too. I'm hoping to show you progress on that next time but first I need to put some hexagons together.
06/08/2020
stitched notebooks and artist book plans
Happy Monday everyone, how we doing? I've had a busy few days consumed with my 'embroiderers cloth', a little domestitcity and some garden stuff (as an observer, can't claim any credit for the hard work)
I've also been considering notebooks and artist books. Working on paper always draws me back if only to look at what's gone before. Having said that I finished this little bit of notebook stitching over the weekend before looking at some images of past artist books for inspiration.
I may be thinking about creating more little books in bags soon.
There have been a few queries about 'work on your own' classes over the past week. With that in mind I have relisted a couple of those in the shop along with a newly stitched hand embroidered needlecase.
06/04/2020
lace cloth
A couple of weeks ago I showed you a piece of this lace cloth 'in progress'. That piece was for my stash, no particular project in mind just something to 'have'. It's not finished yet. I'm just spending an hour on it here and there, there's no rush.
The other piece here which is slighly different, (no holes) does have an immediate purpose. That piece will be a lining for something. I'm hoping to get that one finished pretty quickly.
06/02/2020
progress, my embroiderers cloth.
I'm really happy with the progress I am making for my latest wrapping cloth. I did have a head start on everyone else but at least I won't be lagging behind which is what usually happens. I'm not sure how many more pieces I will need for this one. For now I will just keep going. (you watch, I'll end up behind again)
It was mentioned yesterday that someone had created a wrapping cloth with me in 2010. I don't believe it. I'm not old enough! But seriously, where has that time gone?
05/31/2020
the edge of a wrap
This piece measures 28 x 8 inches and will be a wrap for my little design notebook. So far only this edge has been embroidered. It took quite some time to piece the papers for this and then to baste it all together.
I won't be able to work on this constantly. This will be a 'pick up as and when' piece but that's ok.
I posted week twelve of my free embroidery class yesterday. There are two more weeks left of that and six weeks after the final post I will be removing those videos so you may wish to catch up now. Just go here for those posts.
Tomorrow will be week two of my latest embroidery class, 'an embroiderers cloth'. Access to all 'paid for' online learning is forever.....you have all the time in the world for that one and can read more about it here.
05/28/2020
05/27/2020
pieces for the next page
I'm gathering pieces for the next page of my little stitched notebook. It may almost be time to call this one finished as I'm not sure the little paperback book can take much more.
Once I have stitched these pieces in I will make a decision.
The girls in class are gathering all manner of pretty ribbons and fabrics for their 'embroiderers cloth'. The Flickr group looks amazing after only two days, their motivation is exceptional...thank you!
It's not too late to join us, you can read all about it here.
05/25/2020
an embroiderers cloth
Just a note for those of you who are registered for my new class 'an embroiderers cloth' which began today.
All sign in details and passwords have now been issued along with invitations to our private Flickr group.
If you haven't received these can you please let me know.
05/24/2020
recording design
This little notebook is filling up quickly. The weight of it in my hands is beautiful. I love how it splays open, settling on a random page when I leave it to lie.
Am I allowed to sigh as I play with this? We are often reluctant to express the pleasure we get from our own work but I'm going to allow myself to sigh and sigh again.
My new class, 'an embroiderers cloth' begins tomorrow for eight weeks. There will be embroidery, buttons, toggles, edge titivation, needle keeps, pin keeps.....if you would like to read more about it just go here.
I now have a date with a beach and a puppy. Have a lovely Sunday x
05/21/2020
extending my little design notebook with cloth
Mostly the pages in this little notebook have been created with torn papers and scraps of lace and fabric. The main focus of the page you can see here is a little different to those in so far as I have used a fabric background in one area, no paper....
This little notebook is my 'inspiration' and record keeping reference for my 'embroiderers cloth', hence the cloth addition. I thought it would be a good idea to include more cloth to give me a better sense of how my finished, embroidered fabric piece might evolve.
05/19/2020
lace cloth
Something you haven't seen for a while today, lace cloth.
I'm stash building.
Since I moved to this house almost 18 months ago I haven't spent any time specifically creating lace cloth for my stash, consequently my stash is depleting.
Yesterday I spent a few hours losing myself in this process and my stash is now growing again.
05/17/2020
revisiting my 'happy cloth'.
This morning I made a brief wrapping cloth 'show and tell' video for my new class which will be included in our first post next week. I gathered a few wrapping cloths including this one and although this piece is visible to me every day it's the first time I have really studied it for a while.
There are so many memories wrapped up in this, my happy cloth....some of you may not have seen it before so there are lots of images here for you.
(this was made in 2017)
05/14/2020
I do love a toggle
More work has been happening in my little design notebook but the thing that excites me the most today are the new toggles. Sometimes I forget how good it is to just create embellishents like these, to have them in your stash, to have a jar full of hand embroidered buttons, toggles, trims. (that reminds me, I haven't made any trims for a while, must rectify that)
My plans for creating a wrapping cloth in my new class are what gave me the push to think about embellishments like these toggles. These are so useful when making a wrapping cloth for edges, finishing touches.
(if you are registered for the new class perhaps you could be thinking about your own buttons, toggles etc now?)
But let's not forget this little book. I am getting so much pleasure embellishing these pages, trying out placement for embroidery stitches, ribbons, laces before I actually create my cloth.
(again, if you are registered for the new class perhaps you could start a little book? we have just over one week to go and it's amazing what can be achieved in that time. In fact let me know if you do start a little book or start toggle and button making and I can open up our private Flickr group early)
My next post will be Week ten of my free embroidery class. Week ten.....how did that happen?
05/12/2020
embroidery and hand stitched toggles
There's a new grandmothers flower garden embroidery here. The hexagons were hand embroidered before being pieced together.
This is the start of a new embroidered cloth book but I have been distracted by the toggles.....
When I am creating a wrapping cloth...(which I will be doing in my new class 'an embroiderers cloth')... I begin to think about all the different ways in which I can add embellishment, titivation. These toggles are quite basic really but I do think they would make for a lovely edge finishing if there were more of them. They do not actually 'match' with my plans for my wrapping cloth but they are very useful to have in my stash.
This morning I have been playing with a new idea for an embellishment, it's fiddly and then some but I guess those of you who know me wouldn't expect anything else.
It still needs work, the idea, so I will be keeping that one to myself for a little while.
05/10/2020
progressing my little design notebook.
The next page for my little design notebook. I am enjoying working on these pages just as much as I will enjoy embroidering the wrapping cloth I hope they inform.
It's been a busy weekend (in the best way). Planning pieces for my 'embroiderers cloth', stitching buttons and toggles, starting a new cloth book, finishing this page in my design notebook, piecing the next one and sending out my first newsletter for goodness knows how long.
Most of you will have recieved the newsletter but if I don't have your email address you can read it here.
Stay safe x
05/09/2020
needlecases and ball buttons
I've been spending a little time recently creating buttons for use as surface embellishments and making needlecases.
Why the needlecases?
I haven't a clue. I just wanted to.
05/06/2020
pom poms, Suffolk puffs and pages
When you saw the picture of my ironing board yesterday what you were seeing was my attempt to gather 'bits' to further embellish pages in my little stitched notebooks. The results are below. A little stitched page titivated with Suffolk puffs and pom poms.
Just a reminder about my new embroidery class which begins at the end of this month, 'an embroiderers cloth'. You can read more here if you have missed it.
05/05/2020
ironing board
My ironing board sees more of this kind of stuff than it does actual ironing. I work on my ironing board a lot, it's the perfect height.
This is what I was playing around with this morning.
And......
check me out in the Typepad showcase!!
05/04/2020
making decisions
Whilst happily stitching away on the next page for my little design notebook I didn't realise it wasn't quite going to fit where I intended....oops.
In the first image you can see the two pieces which have had me scratching my head. The piece on the left with the large circular motif you have seen before. The piece on the right is a new piece.
I had intended to fold the piece on the left under the page and allow it to provide embellishment on the following page....like so.
What I didn't plan for and what I don't want to happen is by doing this my new piece would be partly obscured...as below.
What I have now decided to do is fold the first piece, the piece with the large circular motif around the page to the right hand side rather than fold it under the lower edge and then the new piece can be placed on the facing page ready to be folded under. I will have to plan better for what comes next.
It has taken me most of the morning to figure this out.....I hope you kept up!
05/01/2020
sampling design, my little design notebook
This little book has been getting lots of attention over the past week. The next page is partially complete, you can see that here and plans for what comes next are underway.
You may notice in one or two of these images a tiny stitched piece with embroidered flags. That won't actualy live in this particular notebook I have just used it here to cover a blank area of the page. It won't be blank for long, that's the area I am working on next.
On Sunday I will post week eight of my free embroidery class so get your needles threaded!
(Typepad has been having issues. My blog was unavailable for a large part of yesterday and today images aren't uploading correctly. If you click on the individual image it will enlarge to allow you to see the full detail)
04/29/2020
stitching morning
A little shared stitching today, a short video where I stitch and witter on for approximately eight minutes.
04/28/2020
artist books, design, notebook stitching
The latest page for my little stitched design notebook was created to live on the reverse of the first page.
Because of that it lays alongside a few scribbled notes I made some time ago. Despite the fact they don't make much sense to me now I'm leaving them there. They were there first.
04/27/2020
an embroiderers cloth
More embroidery has been added to two of my panels for my embroiderers cloth. These pieces will be joined along with others to create a wrapping cloth of sorts. This piece will be progressed and finished in my new class...an embroiderers cloth...which begins in late May. You can read my information post about that from a week or so ago here.
Meanwhile, this is probably the last you will see of this on here until class is finished.
For the next few weeks I am hoping to work more on stitched notebooks, work which I will share with you as it evolves.
04/23/2020
more work in my little design notebook.
My little design notebook has been extended, a fold over page referencing my plans for what comes next with regard to my 'embroiderers cloth'. I am still working retrospectively I guess, my plans for cloth and thread are being translated here. In reality I was taught to do the paperwork first, put down my ideas with pencil and paper, sketching, painting before allowing thread and fabric to enter my head. Sadly I failed at that part of my studies.
However......I say go with what makes you happy, rules were meant to be broken.
*****
A new embroidery class has been listed, 'an embroiderers cloth'.
You can read all about it here.
04/21/2020
an embroiderers cloth
You saw the early stages of this piece a few days ago. It has evolved since then and some of that work can be seen in the images below.
You may remember a few weeks ago that I asked for your thoughts on my direction with regard to teaching, with regard to my online classes. Thank you to those who responded to that post. It would seem you want me to continue. I always did want to continue but was unsure if there was still enough interest out there with regard to my classes, hence the question.
Because I received such a positive response to that post I have today listed a new class. All the details are below, the explanation, the why and the how.
My current class finishes next week. In a slight change to how I normally plan my schedule the new class will not begin immediately following my current class, instead there will be a four week interval. That will allow me to develop my design notebook and work on other things I have in the pipeline.
I am very grateful for your continued support.
Stay safe x
An Embroiderers cloth.
An embroiderers cloth, a wrapping cloth for an embroiderer.
Begins Monday May 25 for 8 weeks.
My love of wrapping cloths is well documented as is my love of embroidery, the passing of needle and thread through cloth, handling soft fabrics, embellishing pieced lace, cotton and fine textiles.
An embroiderers cloth is just that, a wrapping cloth for an embroiderer, a beautifully adorned piece of hand embroidery which also holds the most basic of needlework tools.
This wrapping cloth will be present in your day to day, not folded and placed 'somewhere safe'. This will be your 'go to' when you wish to sit and embroider. Not only functional this piece will also be a beautiful example and reminder of your own hand work. It's time to create something special for 'you'.
Beginning on Monday May 26th for 8 weeks you will be part of a virtual 'sewing bee', a group of like minded individuals with a love of needle and thread, a gathering.
Initially we will piece fabrics, adding snippets of lace, ribbon and vintage scraps before identifying little spaces on cloth which will hold our needles, pins, buttons, scissors and other embroidery related tools.
We will adorn these surfaces using hand embroidery stitches and techniques., there may be pockets and patchwork, our cloth pieces will be a blank canvas for embellishment.
Suitable for beginners and the more experienced embroiderer, full instruction and support will be provided every step of the way.
Included in this online learning
programme is access to a private image sharing group where feedback and
encouragement will be provided as we progress through our 8 weeks.
Within that group is an option for group discussion which I actively
encourage.
Previous groups have provided exceptional peer support and encouragement which has proved invaluable to those involved.
My wish for you throughout this programme is simple....pleasure and enjoyment.
Online format. Watch demonstrations at your leisure.
Lifetime access to all resources.
No deadlines. No set tasks.
04/19/2020
a little design notebook
More notebook stitching today. This however is a new notebook. I say new, there are scribbles on the first few pages, notes, prompts, very uninteresting but I left those pages in as someone may find them fascinating one hundred years from now...that's if they can decipher them.
I started this one 'new' as I am hoping it will become a little reference notebook for a new piece I am working on and any other new pieces which may happen in the future. It relates to this piece and future plans for that project.....I hope you can see the connection.
I will stitch my ideas into this as I progress in the same way someone with more love of pencil and paint than me would create beautful, artistic sketchbook pages. I won't draw my ideas, I will embroider them and probably some of that will happen retrospectively. That doesn't matter to me, what matters is I will have a reference to my embroidered pieces and as a tutor once said to me,
'Karen, there's more than one way to make a mark on a page'. Where are you Dennis? I miss your input.
Yesterday I posted the latest part of my free embroidery class. You can find that here if you missed it.
Stay safe x
04/16/2020
an embroiderers cloth
Back to wrapping cloths here, an urge, a hankering. This one will be called 'an embroiderers cloth' because I hope it will be more than a wrapping cloth. I won't go into too much detail yet as I still need to work on a few things. For now, suffice to say, it's padded, it has surface adornments, there will be more pieces which will attach to this one. It will grow and evolve.
I hope you are all safe and well?
I will post the next part of my free embroidery class 'embroider our way through the madness' on Saturday. I hope some of you are getting pleasure from that class.
I did wonder if you'd like a Flickr group? to share your work from 'embroider our way through the madness' with each other? Let me know what you think.....xx
04/14/2020
my graph paper notebook
There's been a lot of folding going on here and in class. My graph paper, 'bargain at only two pounds' notebook has had more stitches added to it. I have to say it's becoming addictive. I have already finished this page and started the next one.
The linear nature of the emboidered cloth additions and the stitch choices, simple running stitch, traditional cross stitch and French knots are there for a reason not simply because they mirror the lines of the pages. They are there as a nod to domestic cloth, kitchen linens, simple yet embellished cloths from home and from memory.
04/10/2020
stitching graph paper
Hi everyone, how we doing? I hope you all are healthy, mentally too, that lockdown isn't bringing you down. In normal circumstances being confined to the house would be my idea of heaven but I do miss my family, my kids as I'm sure you do too. There's going to be one hell of a garden party at the towers when all this is over that's for sure.
Meanwhile, this book....this amazing book of graph paper which for the princely sum of two pounds is giving me endless hours of creative pleasure. The second page is finished and if you are in my current class we tackle the third page on Monday. (don't panic if you haven't got any graph paper.....when have I ever let you down?)
I am loving working in this, it's occasionally tricky, often challenging but ultimately it's more than worth the fiddle.
On Sunday I will post the next installment of my free embroidery class. How's that going for you? It's hard for me to get a measure of how many of you are following that one but if you are following I hope it's filling a few spare minutes for you and don't forget you can mail me if you have any questions regarding process etc.
Speaking of embroidery classes....I have been mulling over if there should actually be another class of any kind. I do sense a tiredness, a familiarity and have considered calling it a day permanently. I did mention this to my group recently and one or two of them, (thank you) one or two of them contacted me asking that I please continue, that I reconsider.
In view of this I'd like to try and gauge how much interest there might be if I were to begin a new, purely embroidery class. I would be grateful for your thoughts on that.
Finally.....it would appear I have been ignoring poeple the world over.....not deliberately I hasten to add. For some reason Typepad has ceased to inform me when comments are posted here despite my settings being correct. I'm trying to keep up to date with those manually now but please accept my apologies and bear with me.
04/08/2020
folding
Three days in a row. Can you tell I am on lockdown? That's not to say I would be going out anyway but I do seem to have more time on my hands these past few days. Maybe I have forgotten to do something? Well until I remember, if there is anything to remember, until I remember I will keep sewing and playing with book forms.
If your thumbs are twiddling don't forget my free embroidery class. You can access that here.
04/07/2020
still wrapping notebooks...
I can't seem to stop wrapping notebooks. By way of a better explanation and a better visual for you there is a very short video at the end of this post.
The fourth installment of my free embroidery class was posted yesterday. You can scroll down for that or alternatively go here.
04/01/2020
more grids and guides
More work has been happening in my grids and guides notebook, these pages were worked in class. When I was taking these pictures I noticed a few edges, page edges which look as if they could use a little dangle or two. I see beaded page edges in my future.
Stay safe folks xxx
03/30/2020
wrapping a stitched notebook
I've made wraps for notebooks which cover pages horizontally, I have made wraps for notebooks which cover pages vertically, the logical progression is wrap the whole book.
That's what's happening here, the start of what I hope will be a heavily hand embroidered wrapping cloth for this notebook.
It will meet in the middle and there will be fastenings, at least that's the plan.
Stay safe everyone x
03/26/2020
wrapping a stitched notebook
Hi everyone, how are you doing? I'm sending good thoughts your way from Lancashire and hope you are managing to keep well, safe and creative.
Don't forget my free embroidery class which you can find here. Dip in and out whenever you fancy. So far I have uploaded the first two posts, there is a lot more to come and the next installment will be going on here on Sunday.
Embroidering notebooks remains my focus outside of teaching. Another double page spread is finished and the wrap for this little book is ready to be attached.
I'm thinking about making some of these little books myself rather than using bought books. Later today i'll have a look at the possibilities of that, cut some paper, see where it leads.
03/24/2020
embroidering fine binding strips
Hi everyone, how are you all? Lockdown arrived here last night...it all feels so strange, it's hard to get your head round it but I am determined to make the most of this isolation, embroidery, book making, teaching.
My free embroidery class, 'embroider our way through the madness' can be found here. I did wonder about adding a suggested supply list to that but basically all you need is embroidery stuff. If there is anything you come across within that class which needs to be clarified then just drop me an email and I will do my best to help you.
I'm also in the early stages of teaching an online artist book class. Unfortunately I can't give that one away for free but you are able to register here and you keep access to all resources forever so hopefully it lasts a lot longer than any lockdown.
Embroidery? what have I been up to? Well aside from work for class I have been progressing work on my little stitched notebooks. If you remember I have developed an obsession with stitching little wraps to hold pages open, bookmark type things I guess. Up to now they have been used vertically like this...so to be a little rebellious I am trying out ideas for horizontal wraps which you can see in the images today.
Going forward I would like to post on here more often. That might not be possibe however as progressing these hand embroidered pieces takes time (as I know you know) but keep your eyes peeled because who knows when I might pop up again.
Stay safe and healthy.
03/20/2020
layers of paper, lace and embroidery
Hi everyone, how you all doing? I hope you and yours are healthy and calm, doing what makes you happy in such extraordinary times.
Aside from class work I am continuing to embellish notebooks, double page spreads in tiny little booklets and going back to the last time I was here, that page edge which was troubling me.....it is now adorned with sequins.
I will post the next videos for my 'embroidering through the madness' offering on Sunday. We will be learning double knot stitch and raised chain band. As always the link to that resource is at the top of this page under the header image. If you are wondering what on earth I am talking about then just follow that link, it's all explained on there.
Until next time....take care of yourselves and each other.
03/18/2020
notebook stitching therapy
I don't know how often you come here for a visit but if you didn't see it the other day I am uploading a past embroidery class onto these pages so nobody has an excuse to twiddle their thumbs whilst we are on lockdown. You can read the original post and see the first videos here. It's important to read that post if you haven't already as it clarifies one or two things about the videos. I will post new video every Sunday I think until the full course is on here. Although you haven't paid for this one I am going to make myself available to you for queries etc. That's only fair. I imagine one or two of you may have a few questions regarding process etc. Don't hesitate to mail me at contemporaryembroidery at hotmail dot com if you need anything in relation to the videos.
In addition, I have placed a link to the free class at the top of this page under the header image titled 'embroidering our way through the madness'.
I hope you are all keeping well, staying safe, your loved ones too.
Me? This morning I put in a substantial thread order. You won't be stitching through the madness on your own.
The past few days have been about notebook stitching The images here are the result of that work but there is a little bit of space on the right hand page which I'm not happy with so I will add to this one later.
Also, artist book explorations is in its second week of eight. Work is progressing for that class and if you would like to join us you can read more here.
03/14/2020
sampling with cloth
I had a hankering to test something out with cloth, to create a sample of a technique I have used before with buttons. The result is the large circular piece here which reminds me of a pie...not a positive image at all lol. Having said that, I don't dislike this, it just isn't how I imagined it would be. I think I know where I went wrong and will try my idea again.
In order to stitch this piece I had a day off from artist books and paper. That won't last long though because I'm itching to put another little page together in my notebook.
This little play with purely cloth, no paper, not book related has been a diversion in a world where I am consumed with paper and artist books. Maybe I should plan a little cloth book to live alongside my artist books.
03/12/2020
layering papers, extending stitched pages
The first week of a new class in embroidery school. We are layering papers, stitching pages, ripping pattern, the Flickr group is looking amazing....my faith in your creativity and your love of all things stitch is strengthened daily, thank you.
03/10/2020
progress
I shouldn't have posted yesterday. That piece wasn't quite ready and the photographs really didn't do it justice. Compare those to the images today where the embroidered lace and paper piece is now attached to a notebook page and the page wrap is finished. The wrap has buttonhole loops which I have threaded with pink gingham ribbon. I may work on that some more, add more buttonhole loops.
(if you are taking my new class 'artist book explarations'.....do you remember I said yesterday 'is a piece ever really finished'? The lace piece here, the piece attached to the page illustrates that perfectly. Can you see what I see? Maybe I should set you some homework lol)
03/09/2020
embellished
When you last saw this piece here it was 'raw', unstitched, unadorned. It's now ready to be added to a page in my little notebook. After that I will finish the page wrap which is partially stitched and add that too.
I think that makes four notebooks in progress at the moment in terms of adornment, four notebooks already crammed with stitch which will have more embroidery added over the coming weeks.
If you are registered for 'artist book explorations' you should have received sign in details, passwords etc earlier today for our private class blog. Invitations to our private Flickr group have also been issued. If you haven't received any of these can you please let me know.
03/07/2020
artist books and suffolk puffs
These images popped into my facebook feed this morning, memories, very apt as it turns out because it gave me the chance to post today and say if you are registered for 'artist book explorations' you should have received an email from me this morning. If you didn't receive an email can you please let me know.
and seeing those oversized, embroidered suffolk puffs again has got me itching to make some more.
03/06/2020
a page and a wrap
This is the very early stage of stiching a page. I've gotten ahead of myself here because I have made more progress with the 'page wrap' than the actual page. At least when the page is finished the wrap will be ready to go.
I made the first videos for class earlier this morning.....I hope you're all sharpening your pencils!!
03/05/2020
taking stock
Today is about taking stock, assessing where I am up to with my sampling, my ideas for book forms, for creating sculptural and beautifully adorned pages for 'artist book explorations'. Tommorow I will make our first videos and looking here at my work to date we may find ourselves beginning 'in the middle' somwhere. Don't worry about that, it will all fall into place. Sometimes the middle informs the beginning and the end.
Looking here it's the white piece at the bottom of the image and the little folded booklet top right which have spoken to me today. There are plans for those now, plans which have taken some time to form but that's the reason I haven't been teaching for a few weeks, I wanted to allow these ideas time to develop.
I'm ready now....are you?
03/03/2020
thoughts on artist books
Way back, last year anyway I decided 2020 would be my year of artist books. In December of last year I said this,
''this is definitely where I am happiest....in 'that place' embellishing little sketchbooks, tiny notebooks and ledgers with stitch, beads, knots and buttons, creating my own heavily embellished pages from self made cloth, creating fluffy, soft, white and lace like fabrics...yes, definitely my happy place.''
This thinking is being reinforced every day, it's becoming my reality. My days are overloaded with ideas and possibilities for embellishing in book form. Problem seems like the wrong word for such a positive situation, to use for something I am more than happy to pursue but if there is a 'problem' it's creative overload and the confusion and lack of clarity that can produce.
For the past few days I have been working more in the little notebook you can see in the images today. Aside from these pages I am working on pieces for 'artist book explorations' which begins next week and which I can't share on here. Work on my little notebooks will continue and will be shared here regualarly however, as will work on my grids and guides book.
Since listing the new artist book class I have had a few questions concerning the notebooks and the grids and guides book, namely will they be included in this class. My main focus in 'artist book explorations' will be to sample ideas for self made books, sculptural books. These will be heavily embellished of course, there will be embroidery and titivation too. I have decided though to include grids and guides and notebooks as a little extra. The main focus will still be the creation of sculptural book forms but I can definitely squeeze in a little notebook stitching too. I hope that answers your queries but please drop me a mail if there is anything else you wish to ask.
Anyone who has ever taken a class with me will be aware that I am always open to short demonstrations of almost anything within reason should there be something in particular you wish to learn.
03/01/2020
extending a page
Earlier in the week in this post I spoke about 'too much white space'. I can understand how some of you my have been aghast at that thought seeing as how white is ever present here. What I should have said was 'too much plain, unworked white space'. I'm explaining this today because this post is about extending a page.....with white. This white however is stitched and adorned...that makes all the difference.
This artist book is becoming sculptural purely through the number of overlays and pages. What I really want is a dfferent kind of sculptural so I'm going to work on that next.
You won't see this one again for some time. Anything 'new' I do to it will be saved for my new class 'artist book explortions' which begins in just over one week. Who knows what you might see next time....probably something like this.
02/28/2020
stitching a notebook
I've had a lovely couple of days playing in my grids and guides notebook, stitching, cutting out page pieces, folding pages. There are so many more things I want to do here and I'm really happy I picked this one up again earlier this week.
After posting this little book a couple of days ago I heard from quite a few of you how you had been inspired to pick your own grids and guides notebooks up and work some more into them.
Wouldn't it be amazing if we could share our efforts? With that in mind I have created a Flickr group for grids and guides stitching. It's an open group, anyone can join. You will find it here.
02/26/2020
the next page
The next page/sample/test/exercise. This page is working for me, there is another layer to come which isn't in these images, it's not quite ready. What I'm not so happy with is where the two pages here come together, all that white space.
That's what sampling is for isn't it, assessing, changing things. Hopefully that is how 'artist book explorations' will evolve too, testing, sampling and changing where necessary, moving work forward in a different manner.
So what to do about this one? all that white space? The toggles will be removed and saved for a different area and the new page will be laid over that area, softening that space.
02/24/2020
grids and guides
If there is a negative to constantly working in sketchbooks, artist books, ledgers and journals it's that one or two of them become neglected. I guess 'negative' is a little harsh, there really isn't a negative in any sense but there is the positive of having too many lovely books to work in.
This is my 'grids and guides' notebook which I haven't worked in for some time. Every time I post this notebook I get asked where you can buy it so the link is here....not on commission, I wish. I worked this little page over the weekend and below are a couple of images of previous pages in here. This book is so tightly bound it's impossible to flip or fold to show them alongside this work.
02/22/2020
a little in love with paper
The past couple of weeks and the next week or so will be full of sampling, testing ideas and playing with book forms for 'artist book explorations'. This piece has been progressed over the past day or so, pages have been put together, combined with loose stitched pieces, attached to a sheet of acrylic paper to add a little strength and paper toggles have been made to adorn an edge.
A little like what came first, 'the chicken or the egg' I'm beginning to think about what comes first here, the stitching, the sampling or the artist book form. I'm leaning toward the stitching. There may be a vague plan as to how I hope the artist book will turn out but of course a page has to be suitable for a particular stitched piece or at least that's the way I work.
Paper is such a wonderful medium to stitch into, yes it can be tricky as some papers are very fragile but with care and patience it's mostly doable. Paper has a flexibility not present with cloth, it holds a fold better, it can be manipulated in so many different ways to cloth and it tears beautifully giving unexpected, unpredictable fragile edges.
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