06/20/2017
Holiday essentials
The first two images are my holiday essentials....I say that yet there's a big but.....I have never, ever stitched on holiday before. Poor light, wrong chair, no time, too busy doing touristy things. This time might be different. It's a different kind of holiday....we shall see but I make no promises.
Top left corner in the first image and the left hand side of the second image....a pouch I made some time ago which will hold my embroidery whilst I am away. I knew it wasn't possible to have too many pouches, you never know when they will come in handy.
The other images? Randoms from the past week or so. The wool was a gift.....I drooled. It's the pompoms which got me excited, I won't be taking up knitting I will be removing pompoms and using them elsewhere for titivation. It's called ''Jester'' wool and I do believe you can get it here.
OK, can't linger....I have a plane to catch. (still need to pack too and get a few hours sleep)
You can check up on me on my Instagram whilst I'm gone if you like.
Miss you already.....
06/19/2017
two
Two pieces of embroidered cloth, scraps, stitch, overlay, sequins, tassels, small padded cloth beads, bullion loops....
These pieces will find their way into my artist book, the one I am making for myself, the one I hope will be the first of many, my own collection, my own library of artist books.
You can read about the beginnings of this idea and the process here.
In that post I showed you beaded page edges. Today I want to bead page surfaces not just edges. Watch this space.
06/18/2017
overlay
Overlay...layering fine cloth....the first image today is the piece I cut to form part of the embroidery I showed you yesterday. It's vintage lace with a little machine stitch on the surface and a fine, scrim edge which I created myself. The second image is more stitched scrim, created yesterday afternoon. I have overlaid it onto several finished pieces of embroidery to illustrate the softness it adds to stitched surfaces, the ''veil'' like appearance it takes on.
The new piece of stitched scrim will be used in small stitched pieces for my own artist book, added to whites with stitch, beads, gimp and anything else which might take my fancy...
06/17/2017
beaded edges and soft cloth
Yesterday I had a hankering to bead page edges, it's a new addiction and seeing as how pages and page edges come in useful for artists books it's not a waste of time either. I have promised myself the next artist book I make will be for me. In fact I want a whole series of them, six at least.....that's the next 2 years sorted out then lol. With that in mind I gathered a few bits, scraps, soft ''old'' cloth, some machine stitched scrim I created myself and played a little with stitch.
It's not very obvious in these images but the scrim is stitched in a grid like manner and it's use as an overlay had completely passed me by until I rediscovered this piece yesterday so in approximately ten minutes from now I am going to make some more....
06/16/2017
and then there were three
Last time you saw this there were two pieces, now there are three. Each piece consists of strips of silk, various silk cloth, silk muslin, silk scrim , silk net, silk habotai and crinkled silk. They are all randomly stitched together in strips before I begin the hand embroidery. I'm planning on taking this on holiday with me to embroider whilst I relax.....not on a beach, on a balcony so don't worry there won't be any sand. Before I go I would like another two pieces to join on here making five in total. I love the weight of the joined pieces, the drape of them and I'm thinking if I don't have much time to stitch I can at least fondle this regularly to get my fix.
06/15/2017
completed artist book
My latest finished artist book.....there is a very short video here, a silent movie of me turning pages. The early stages of the next ''artist book'' are happening already, that one will be for me. I'm also making progress with my veil piece......also for me. Self indulgent maybe? Why not...we all need to treat ourselves every once in a while.
The ''artist book'' class where detailed demonstration of the creation of this little book is given is now available as a ''work on your own'' package. You can read more about that here.
06/14/2017
pink, silk, gingham and cross stitch
Gingham, pink, cross stitch, silk, sequins and bullion knots......sampling for a drawstring bag, a pillow, some toggles and perhaps a few buttons too. This is work which has been completed in the first week of ''studies in stitch''. I am trying very hard to restrain myself and not begin my drawstring bag before I finish sampling....it's hard, I am excited at the prospect of a gingham and silk drawstring bag more than you could imagine, especially one which has such pretty sequins.
By the end of this week two weeks of class will have passed. We are then having a two week break so I can go on holiday before continuing for another ten weeks when I get back. If you want to join us then just take a look here. I will be closing my shop on Tuesday of next week whilst I am away.
Tomorrow I will show you my finished ''artist book''. There will be a very short video and lots of images.
06/13/2017
Monday.....
I had a very productive afternoon yesterday. More lace cloth was created, another piece to add to my ''veil cloth'' and more pages were filled in my artist book from class. The book is finished now and as soon as class have seen it I will make you a little video. Meanwhile I have a very short video which I made for Instagram of stitching pages in action....
06/12/2017
a piped seam
When you saw this two days ago these were separate pieces.....I couldn't help myself, I had to join them. Piping cord, patterned cloth and hey presto. Joining these has made me anxious to make faster progress with this. It was my intention to create one more surface to take away with me when I go on holiday and embellish as and when I was relaxing as opposed to doing ''touristy'' holiday stuff. Now I want to make another surface and concentrate on that seam before I go away by joining it to these two and then embellish the surface when I am away. That will mean taking a much larger piece away with me as opposed to one small section. I like that idea. I like the thought of having a more substantial piece of this to handle and even if I do minimal embroidery on the surface it will be a pleasure just to look at it every day as opposed to suffering embroidery, cloth and sewing withdrawals which is what usually happens when I am away from home.
06/11/2017
three new pages
The three most recently completed pages from my latest artist book.....it's coming together. I think I have five more pages to fill now. I shall miss this....but never mind I will just have to start another one.
I definitely want more of the beaded edges, the frothy lace, the scrim and paper mixes whether in artist books or on cloth pieces. I'm inspired.....
(I apologise for the rogue hair....I just noticed.....it is mine I can't lie. It has to be mine because my husband hasn't got any hair lol)
06/10/2017
continuing with my ''veil'' pieces
Last time I spoke about this piece on here I only had one surface created on which to hand embroider....I now have two and they are both shown here. Neither piece is finished in terms of surface embroidery but I was compelled to lay them together this morning to get a sense of how this might all come together, how it might look when I have these and more ready to be decoratively stitched together in order to create my ''veil'' piece. (I speak bout the veil piece here if you aren't familiar with it)
Most likely I will need at least ten of these small pieces before I am anywhere near having enough for my veil so it's double the pleasure.....stitching the surfaces and then embroidering those pieces.
A reminder.....''studies in stitch'' is only in its first week. It's not too late to join us. Read more here.
06/09/2017
five beaded applique motifs
Applique on this swatch header is now complete...five motifs each created using pleated cloth which has then been embellished with bullion knots and turquoise beads. This is one of four pieces which will be combined to create a sample book of embroidered silk panels joined with stitch to form a reference of stitch and technique ideas for various embroidered items such as panels, bags, pockets, buttons, pillows and toggles.
I am hoping to move this idea on over the coming days by gathering all my loose swatches together and refreshing my memory as to what each piece still needs in terms of embroidery and finishing.
06/08/2017
bits and pieces
Three images today of bits and pieces which were on my table yesterday, being used in my work, ingredients for classes and which don't normally look half this tidy......I tidied up and arranged them especially for you.
I don't usually get to appreciate these things properly. They are all normally jumbled up in boxes or drawers. I must do this more often, get some clarity.
I can't hang about today. I am expected elsewhere to put an X in a box.
A reminder before I go...Studies in Stitch began on Monday. We will work up until the end of next week then have a two week break because I am off on my jollies. If you want to read more you can look here....
06/07/2017
pages, scraps, stitch....
I know it must seem to you like this is taking an age to come together......it is, these things can't be rushed. Slowly, steadily, considered, carefully.....pages are being filled, beads are being added as are stitches, buttons, snippets of lace and cloth. Torn paper is being used to overlay delicate areas, to create protective yet pretty coverings for some pages, resulting in a crammed little book full of inspiration and information.
This will be finished before next week.....it will come together unexpectedly, without warning....I love it when that happens.
06/06/2017
a large artist book
New stitching on paper to add to old stitching on paper to create a new page in a new artist book, a much bigger artist book. I bought this A3 sketchbook in order to mount paper based samples safely and make them easy to to see, to view for ideas, for inspiration. I have another one of these which I use to mount fabric pieces, you can see some of that here.
As I add each piece to the relevant book I am trying to add to the pages too, to compliment the samples and also integrate the work into the pages on which they will sit. This is the first piece in the ''paper'' book although there is another page in progress. It feels good to finally be finding homes for these pieces of work, to know they are safe and accessible at the same time.
06/05/2017
added turquoise beads and hankie corners
It's still swatch central here, most days anyway. Other things happen too, pages or paper pieces, artist books and the like but swatches are what I have the most of, all requiring headers, all requiring embroidered edges and all eventually needing to be mounted and turned into cloth books. Of course the swatch obsession began in embroidery school. It's continuing in ''studies in stitch'' for me at least, homework for teacher.
This one....turquoise beads on a seam, hankie corners too and the start of a row of pleated applique with beaded pleats, there will be more of those, a row.....
06/04/2017
the final week
It's a big day tomorrow......it's the beginning of the final week of''artist books'' and the start of my new class, ''studies in stitch''. It's going to be a busy week, I will be stitching my fingers to the bone. There will be two unruly classrooms to keep an eye on. How on earth am I going to manage lol.
The images today are from the past week in ''artist book'' class. I hope you can see it's developing, it's getting more and more crammed with little bits of stitch and paper and scraps of cloth. This time next week it should be finished......that's the plan anyway.
before I go can we have a group hug?
stay safe xxx
06/03/2017
ball buttons and bright pink sequins....
Last night was all about pink, pink sequins and pink ball buttons. Another header is taking shape for another swatch and the ball buttons may go along the top edge. I say may because I'm not sure about this one. When I was taking these photographs this morning I thought to myself,
''it looks as if someone asked you to use all the colours you could think of which would never live together in any situation''.
I'm not irritated by that, or annoyed, or in the least bit inclined to discard this. Not at all. I just want to think about it a little longer. It will become part of my cloth swatch book whatever I decide. The swatch books are after all a reference, a reference for me, for design ideas, for prompts and if nothing else this one could one day prompt me not to do it again.
06/02/2017
extending a pattern and a new edge
The gingham piece....I have added to it since you last saw it. One or two flowers, a few cross stitch hearts on stalks, filling blank space and getting my head in pattern mode for ''studies in stitch''. The work I have started in the background for that class isn't really anything like this piece, this piece and the other two you have seen are more a ''wake the brain up to create pattern with cloth'' exercise as I have been in ''artist book'' mode for a while now. The three gingham and silk pieces I have been working on will all be given headers and titivated edges before being made in to a cloth swatch book.
The sequins here...they follow on from yesterday's post, the first edge of another piece which will be combined with the piece from yesterday (and several others) to create a ''veil'' like cloth. So, several things ''on the go'', artist book class still running and an artist book for me to finish cramming with all things stitch and cloth.
06/01/2017
strips of silk....more surface embellishment
If you look back at this post, an earlier post about this piece you will be able to see how this surface has developed and evolved since then. There is more embroidery, more gathered cloth embellishments and a row of sequins has been completed. Since I took these images yesterday more embroidery has been added and it's almost there, almost complete. If you read the earlier post you will see how I want to develop this, to take this forward. First of all I will need to create several of these surfaces which will all be embellished before being joined decoratively in order to hopefully create a '' veil'' like piece of cloth.
I am going on holiday in three weeks, a relaxing break. I hope to take this project with me for leisurely stitching in the evening. Because of that I will stick to white in terms of thread and continue with the printed cloth used here for surface adornments, the same applies to the sequins.......stick to the ones already used. That way I won't need to take three extra suitcases lol as I'm also hoping to create some little flowers on holiday using something I received on my birthday.
If you have signed up for my new class ''studies in stitch'' you should have received an email from me this morning. If you haven't received that please let me know.
05/31/2017
Beads, buttons and bullion knots.
Three hours on a Tuesday night......a header, white cloth, vintage lace, two seams, beaded bullion knots and buttons secured with pink and lemon bullion's. I can't tell you how much I love to handle these swatches. I lay them out, all together and wonder what I could do in terms of mixing and matching, taking one idea from one and adding it to another then wonder about taking one idea from each of them and creating a new piece which really is what this exercise is all about, building a design resource, a library of ideas on cloth. There are more swatches here so you can get an idea of what I am talking about. (this post will likely be the first one you see when you follow that link so scroll down to see all my swatches in various stages of completion)
Aside from these swatches and the ones in the above link others are taking shape. Pink gingham, silk and lace swatches to be precise, all in the name of my next class. You can see some of those here.
05/30/2017
gimp and sequins
Something new....well partially new. A header has been attached to one of my new samples. It's attached with trailing gimp, bullion knots and some tiny little flower/sequin things. The next thing is to embroider the actual header, the expanse of silk above the gimp and sequins...... I'm thinking either flowers, cross stitch of some kind or applique. Maybe I can combine all three. I'll ponder all that later.
05/29/2017
gathering embroidered cloth
So, yesterday, after the indecision, what did I do. I put the kettle on and gathered some cloth, just to look at, to fondle, to become excited by. I then made the first videos for the new class which involved a lot of stitch, stitch, chat....stitch, using amongst other things my little box of delights from French General.
After that I played with pages a little for my ''artist book'', making plans for the coming week in class, having a mini stock take of my page fillers, again realising I have nowhere near enough stitched bits and planning the creation of the remaining pieces.
Then.......I began some embroidery for you, embroidery I can share on here. I will show you that tomorrow.
05/28/2017
this week in artist book class
Stitched paper, embroidered scraps of cloth, hanging tags, sequins, pages, papers....so many surfaces and textures, lots of layering, ripping, rearranging. The past week in class, in Artist Book class. Some days I really don't know what to do with myself, what to work on next. I have so much temptation here. I want to stitch paper, I want to fill pages, I want to add bead and bells and sequins so they hang from the lower edge of pages.
All that and cloth too, cloth temptation, embroidery for ''studies in stitch'', a bag to plan, buttons to plan, surface design to plan. Gingham yes or no? Lace yes or no? Decisions decisions.....take this afternoon as an example. My chores are done and I don't have to cook today. (that's a huge plus all on its own) Do I cut some silk and sample for Studies in Stitch? Do I put more pages together? Neither of these things is ''pressing''. My Artist Book group is far from neglected and a lot of planning has already happened for the next stitch class...it's just a case of me deciding which I want to do more.
Having said all that, whatever I decide I can't show you so I also want....emphasis on want ...I also want to embroider something else which has me excited and which I can share with you. What to do? What to do when indecision and too much choice reigns? I'm off to put the kettle on.
05/27/2017
strips of silk
This surface was put together around a fortnight ago. I think you have seen it before when it was minimally embellished. Last night I worked on it some more although there's still a long way to go. I pieced this with strips of silk, silk muslin, silk scrim, crinkled silk and metallic silk tissue. As I was working on it last night I thought how good it would be to plan a project around it, to have a bigger plan. It's such a pleasure to embroider this kind of surface, there are lots of areas ripe for stitch and other embellishments. I then got to thinking about this,
Made mostly with lace and lace cloth this piece is my ''veil'' piece which hangs in the room where I spend most of my days. It occurred to me that the piece I worked on last night could evolve beautifully into something similar if I continue to create the surfaces, add embroidery then join them together.
There is a post here from 2012 explaining the veil piece in more detail. There is a short video too.....
05/26/2017
the second header
The second header, I showed you the first one yesterday. This one has vintage lace, vintage pom poms, cross stitch and added blingy bits. Am I allowed to say how much I love these swatches? I am completely smitten and can't wait to add a header to the next one.
The next step, after all the headers are completed, sewn and titivated is to join these together, then I suppose I will have to start again, a new embroidered swatch book. Having said that I may be consumed with bags and pockets and buttons from my new class before the next swatch book can be created so it may never happen. (It will, it definitely will)
05/25/2017
an embroidered header
In theory I have added a header to one of my swatches. (the flower heads on gimp stalks with a sequin and bullion knot seam attaching it to the main piece) The header should allow me to join all the embroidered swatches creating a cloth book, a book of embroidered samples. I am beginning to wonder though if what I have done here was purely self indulgent as opposed to functional. The swatch got bigger, longer, the header is attached but did it need to be this opulent? I guess it doesn't matter aside from the fact I now love this piece so much I'm not sure I want to hide it in a cloth book. My other swatches are still to have headers created and attached. I'm thinking I need to create them all in a similar, opulent vein in order that this one doesn't seem out of place. This afternoon I will begin the next one, the next header...it's such a hard life lol, planning encrusted surfaces, embroidery and all things pretty. I don't suppose there's anything wrong with a little self indulgence is there.
My new class begins in less than two weeks. I am going to be making bags and pillows, buttons and pockets and on and on.....I can't wait. There will be more silk, more sequins, a little gingham, patterned cloth and lots of stitch. If you want to join me you can read more here.
05/24/2017
an artist book taking shape
My ''artist book'' from class.....it's coming together but there is a long, long way to go. I'm guessing here, because I can't remember off the top of my head but I think I need another twenty pieces, twenty samples, twenty little stitched scraps before this will be full. How many do you have I hear you ask? Erm....five...lol. I know, I know, crack on.
I'm being distracted by a header though....a header for my swatches.
There's a little glimpse for you here of my birthday. Thank you so much for all the happy wishes...I am blessed.
05/23/2017
Today
It's someones birthday today so she is most likely off somewhere eating cake.
The past week or so in picture.....see you tomorrow.
Oops! I opened this one early....
I wrote this post and pre timed it for today before the awful events of last night.
I don't have any words.
05/22/2017
and then there were three
The day before yesterday I showed you the first of these experiments in surface design, my first attempt at kick starting my brain to gather ideas for patterning for use in my next class.
Yesterday I showed you the second piece, the second sample, today the third. I think this one needs flowers.....flowers similar to the ones on the first piece, perhaps upside down flowers depending on where I can fit them in. Watch this space.....
Pieces I create in my new class won't look exactly like these, the patterning will be adapted again. These are purely references for my own use, memory prompts, idea hors d'oeuvres. I have to leave these for a short while now though...I have headers to make for my ongoing swatch book. (a reminder of that is here)
05/21/2017
developing pattern
Patterning from the piece I showed you yesterday has been altered, rearranged and a new piece has been created to live alongside the first piece. As I said in yesterday's post, this work will inform the embroidered surfaces which I will use to create all manner of things in my next class.
Up to now I have a hankering for a drawstring type pouch with an accompanying pin pillow and some hand embroidered buttons. (you wouldn't believe how much the pouch idea excites me...really) The embroidered cloth in these images won't be used, I have plans for further developments of these surfaces. These pieces will be mounted in their own swatch book (scroll down, there's lots of images on that link)....the swatch book which is another recent obsession. You can see a video here, some of you will have seen it already but others may not have.
Along with excitement for my new class......I got very giddy yesterday putting my book together for my ''artist book'' class. I can't wait for the girls in class to see those videos and once they have I will share images of progress on my book with you and talking of artist books.....once my ironing is done this afternoon I will be stitching pages for the next one.
05/20/2017
hexagons and stitch
This piece has been on my mind and in progress for a couple of days now. It's finished as a piece of embroidery but it hasn't yet served its purpose. This is the start of exploration for my new class, the beginning of the sampling process. The next step is to take elements from this and use them in a different way. I have discounted the ''domestic cloth'', the embroidered motif on the left. The patchwork, the hexagons and the flowers however will be staying as I hope to take those further.
The next step is to adapt this layout with the aim of developing a surface pattern I am happy with which I can then use as the basis for the finished pieces I hope to create in ''studies in stitch''.
This design process does not form part of the new class. This process is my way of easing myself into the new class, creating space for thought and ideas.
05/19/2017
a growing collection of pages
My collection of hand stitched pages for my next ''artist book'' is slowly growing. These pieces are being created in class and next week we begin to put our books together, it's all getting very exciting. There is a mix here of fabric, beads, lace, stitched paper, folded paper, sequins and hand stitch directly onto pages.
When my little book is actually put together I have a collection of hand embroidered samples to draw on for more page titivation, for overlays and compositions. This little artist book is going to be crammed.
05/18/2017
stitched strips, paper and cloth
Yesterday was a sewing machine day....well, maybe not a day but a couple of hours. Paper strips were stitched along with fabric strips. The paper strips will be for my stash, nothing will happen with those yet. The fabric strips? I couldn't help myself, I was drooling....really.
So last night, when I had finished some outstanding school work I added a little bit of hand stitch to the fabric strip piece. There are no ''set in stone'' plans for this piece. For now it will be my ''relaxation'' piece, to pick up and put down when I am between other things. In truth I want to add more now, this very minute. I will control myself though, there are other more pressing things to attend to (otherwise known as housework)
Then......then I am planning a piece of cross stitch in preparation for my new class.....less than three weeks, yikes! You can read more about that here....
05/17/2017
two newly embroidered edges
Slowly but surely my latest collection of embroidered swatches are getting nearer to completion. These two pieces have new edge embellishments, soft Suffolk puffs for one and a double hankie edge adorned with beads for the other.
I have four swatches ''in progress'' at the moment, I want five. There are decisions to be made about headers.....as yet I don't have a clue what to do about those. I am hoping it will come to me in a blinding flash, I'm nothing if not optimistic.
My ''sample. swatch, cloth'' books are going to be invaluable in the future. They will become a collection of stitch and design ideas, prompting and inspiring.
05/16/2017
embellish the reverse?
The reverse, the side which shows all the knots, the loose threads, the mistakes if there are any (there usually are). Back it, cover it with cloth and create beautiful edges? Or not. The swatch books I have been working on over the past couple of months have had unlined pages, no backings. The first swatch book I made, this one, all the pieces in this one have completely untouched reverses, they're raw, knots, mistakes, loose threads all visible.
My second swatch book, the one in progress which this piece is for still has those knots, loose threads and mistakes visible on the back only with this one I am embellishing the reverse, not hiding the knots and things, just creating a more aesthetically pleasing home for them.
A new class.....all things cloth, all things embroidery, beginning in less than 3 weeks. You can read more here.
05/15/2017
pages and stitched scraps
Lace, paper, collage, stitch, beads, pages and a safety pin. Not bad ingredients for a little bit of play are they? Can you tell I am in ''artist book'' mode today? I am gathering, thinking, stitching, tearing, titivating. You wouldn't believe the number of pages I have to fill, each page needing a special little stitched composition or a scrap of collaged paper.
I had my ''up to now'' pages in front of me earlier and although they are looking crammed, looking embellished to death, when you look closely there are spaces, gaps and I have more pages to cut too. I am hoping it will all come together quickly, that the spaces will fill with ease once the final pages are cut and the pages are stitched within the cover.
In other news.....I had planned to visit a couple of exhibitions in London earlier in the year. Because of family stuff however, because I was playing nurse of the year too I didn't get there. Hopefully I will rectify that in July because this morning I have booked tickets to see this and this......I am very excited.
05/14/2017
after the sewing machine
Yesterday I spoke about how useful my sewing machine is to me, how it has become an integral part of what I do. Today I can show you exactly what I mean with these images. This surface was created on my sewing machine in much the same way as the pieces shown yesterday. This piece has areas of hand stitch worked on it, applique, bullion knots, French knots, beads buttonhole stitch.....I won't be embroidering on the pieces from yesterday though, those pieces aren't for me.
I have a new online embroidery class beginning three weeks from tomorrow.....here is all the information.
Studies in Stitch
Begins Monday June 5 for 12 weeks.
***Please note there will be a two week break after week 2 from June 19 to July 3 which means this online class will run for a duration of 14 weeks. (12 weeks learning, 2 weeks break)***
Online learning format. Private password protected blog.
Access to all resources (videos, private blog, private Flickr forum) unlimited, forever.
You do not need to have participated in any of my other online learning programmes to enrol for ''studies in stitch''.
Suitable for the beginner and the more experienced.
Suggested materials list sent upon registration.
Join a group of like minded individuals with a love of stitch and handling cloth.
''Studies in Stitch''. Cross stitch,
bullion knots, French knots, applique, padded applique, cutwork, half
cutwork, beads, sequins, corded knots and on and on.
Take a stitch, take a process and develop it in as many ways as you can.
Cross stitch a pillow top, then cross stitch a button, cross stitch a binding.......
Embroider
bullion knots with thread, add beads, stitch a pocket top with beaded
knots and plain knots, stitch a button with bullion loops and
sequins.......and much, much more.
Using traditional embroidery process and stitch we will create a collection of embroidered items, pockets, pin pillows, buttons, swatches, fabric panels, patchwork pieces......
For example, we may create a cross stitch pin pillow and six accompanying hand embroidered cross stitch buttons.
Bullion
knots could be used to embroider a small, delicate pocket with bullion
knot button fastenings along with an accompanying beaded bullion knot
pin pillow.
A fabric swatch embellished with applique motifs could be
complimented by a selection of hexagon pieces worked in a similar
manner.
Collections, all related through process and stitch.
The size of your final collection, the number of stitch variations you use is entirely up to you. It is perfectly OK for you to pursue one idea through to the completion of our 12 weeks. There are no set tasks, nothing is compulsory.
05/13/2017
my sewing machine
I never used to be a huge fan of the sewing machine, it was avoided at all costs. Then I discovered what an amazing tool it could be if I used it to suit me, for very specific process. Now I must spend at least two hours each week on it, creating various surfaces which I then use as a base for hand embroidery, surfaces you couldn't go out and buy.
These days I would be lost without it.......
05/12/2017
auditioning buttons
I'm still on edges, swatches, seams, adornments. Yesterday I raided my stash of hand embroidered buttons, puffs, fastenings. (last image) The four buttons on the edge of the narrow swatch won. I tried buttons and puffs on the edges of my other swatches but they didn't quite fit the bill. It just goes to show though, it never hurts to have stashes all over the house to call on when the moment strikes.
One edge of the swatch today has been embellished with French knots and silver beads, the other with simple buttonhole stitch, a good contrast I think. I will be turning this one over later today, thinking over my options for embellishing the reverse.....
05/11/2017
new composition, more pages taking shape
Here's where I am with my ''artist book'', the new artist book I am making in class. This is one third of my pages but they aren't full, they are a long way from full. This one will be equally as crammed as this one.
(an old video, a now sold ''artist book''.)
I have a small stack of stitched papers and lace and cloth ready to be mounted onto pages......however, I need a large stack. So there are pieces in progress, there are pieces being planned, there's a lot of stitching and titivating to do.
My new class begins in three weeks, earlier than initially planned as I need to work it round my annual holiday.....here is the information if you missed it yesterday.
Studies in Stitch
Begins Monday June 5 for 12 weeks.
***Please note there will be a two week break after week 2 from June 19 to July 3 which means this online class will run for a duration of 14 weeks. (12 weeks learning, 2 weeks break)***
Online learning format. Private password protected blog.
Access to all resources (videos, private blog, private Flickr forum) unlimited, forever.
You do not need to have participated in any of my other online learning programmes to enrol for ''studies in stitch''.
Suitable for the beginner and the more experienced.
Suggested materials list sent upon registration.
Join a group of like minded individuals with a love of stitch and handling cloth.
''Studies in Stitch''. Cross stitch,
bullion knots, French knots, applique, padded applique, cutwork, half
cutwork, beads, sequins, corded knots and on and on.
Take a stitch, take a process and develop it in as many ways as you can.
Cross stitch a pillow top, then cross stitch a button, cross stitch a binding.......
Embroider
bullion knots with thread, add beads, stitch a pocket top with beaded
knots and plain knots, stitch a button with bullion loops and
sequins.......and much, much more.
Using traditional embroidery process and stitch we will create a collection of embroidered items, pockets, pin pillows, buttons, swatches, fabric panels, patchwork pieces......
For example, we may create a cross stitch pin pillow and six accompanying hand embroidered cross stitch buttons.
Bullion
knots could be used to embroider a small, delicate pocket with bullion
knot button fastenings along with an accompanying beaded bullion knot
pin pillow.
A fabric swatch embellished with applique motifs could be
complimented by a selection of hexagon pieces worked in a similar
manner.
Collections, all related through process and stitch.
The size of your final collection, the number of stitch variations you use is entirely up to you. It is perfectly OK for you to pursue one idea through to the completion of our 12 weeks. There are no set tasks, nothing is compulsory.
05/10/2017
Studies in Stitch
The past few days....embroidery, artist books, new threads, lots of essentials spread out on the table and an hour or so spent looking through old ledgers, old design work for inspiration, just to keep my brain oiled.
Also.....a lot of time spent on the computer writing up my new class.
Studies in Stitch.
Begins Monday June 5 for 12 weeks.
***Please note there will be a two week break after week 2 from June 19 to July 3 which means this online class will run for a duration of 14 weeks. (12 weeks learning, 2 weeks break)***
Online learning format. Private password protected blog.
Access to all resources (videos, private blog, private Flickr forum) unlimited, forever.
You do not need to have participated in any of my other online learning programmes to enrol for ''studies in stitch''.
Suitable for the beginner and the more experienced.
Suggested materials list sent upon registration.
Join a group of like minded individuals with a love of stitch and handling cloth.
''Studies in Stitch''. Cross stitch,
bullion knots, French knots, applique, padded applique, cutwork, half
cutwork, beads, sequins, corded knots and on and on.
Take a stitch, take a process and develop it in as many ways as you can.
Cross stitch a pillow top, then cross stitch a button, cross stitch a binding.......
Embroider
bullion knots with thread, add beads, stitch a pocket top with beaded
knots and plain knots, stitch a button with bullion loops and
sequins.......and much, much more.
Using traditional embroidery process and stitch we will create a collection of embroidered items, pockets, pin pillows, buttons, swatches, fabric panels, patchwork pieces......
For example, we may create a cross stitch pin pillow and six accompanying hand embroidered cross stitch buttons.
Bullion
knots could be used to embroider a small, delicate pocket with bullion
knot button fastenings along with an accompanying beaded bullion knot
pin pillow.
A fabric swatch embellished with applique motifs could
be complimented by a selection of hexagon pieces worked in a similar
manner.
Collections, all related through process and stitch.
The size of your final collection, the number of stitch variations you use is entirely up to you. It is perfectly OK for you to pursue one idea through to the completion of our 12 weeks. There are no set tasks, nothing is compulsory.
05/09/2017
a lace edge, a piped edge
Yesterday, a video about a swatch. Today, a video about another swatch....it's specifically the edges, the progress of swatches, the plans for taking swatches forward. The first video is new, about the piece in the images today. The second video is from yesterday in case you missed it.
We are just about to begin our 4 th week of the 8 week class ''artist books'' online learning. Normally I like a week or so break in between classes however this year I am going on holiday on June 21 for two weeks, meaning I have a one week break and two weeks holiday before my window for a new class. The only problem with that is.....I won't be here to sell the class in the 2 weeks preceding any start date.
For that reason I have decided the best thing to do is begin my next class in the final week of ''artist books'' which is the week beginning June 5 th. That is only 3 weeks away but it does mean I can motivate, inspire and galvanise the group for two weeks before I trot off on my holiday whilst the group either has a break or continues with embroidery related things for class.
The class information is not yet fully written. I will have that ready later this week.
05/08/2017
hankie corners and cross stitch hearts
I had been looking at this one for a few days, wondering what was missing...there was definitely something missing. Hankie corners, reverse prairie pints, lace edges, overlays, layers.....and cross stitch hearts. I'm happy now.
The video explains everything.
We are just about to begin our 4 th week of the 8 week class ''artist books'' online learning. Normally I like a week or so break in between classes however this year I am going on holiday on June 21 for two weeks, meaning I have a one week break and two weeks holiday before my window for a new class. The only problem with that is.....I won't be here to sell the class in the 2 weeks preceding any start date.
For that reason I have decided the best thing to do is begin my next class in the final week of ''artist books'' which is the week beginning June 5 th. That is only 3 weeks away but it does mean I can motivate, inspire and galvanise the group for two weeks before I trot off on my holiday whilst the group either has a break or continues with embroidery related things for class.
The class information is not yet fully written. I will have that ready later this week.
05/07/2017
embellished scraps
Artist books, always stitching scraps, always layering and adding bling. Sequins, beads, gimp, embroidery.....
Over the past five days or so these little pieces have been put together using lace like surfaces, stitched paper and scraps of cloth. I don't yet have all my pages ready, I don't even have my artist book put together but I am building a slowly growing collection of tiny embellished paper and fabric pieces which will be used to fill pages.
Artist books are a long time in the making. It's a slow process, a considered process, a careful process.
05/06/2017
straight lines
You last saw this piece here, a week ago. Then it just had two circular embroidered areas....pockets of sorts and one straight line along the bottom with added beads. I said then I was sure I could get more straight lines on here and true to my word....straight lines, couched gimp.
I'm doing a lot of playing with all the pieces for my second embroidered swatch book. I'm laying them together, changing them around, all the time learning and realising which piece needs what and which process is best suited to which swatch. As the revere of these pieces will also be embellished there's still a long way to go, lots more embroidery to do.
05/05/2017
an edge of buttons and a sequined scrap
Foggy? No and I can't explain why the pictures look as if they were taken through mist....or is it just me? Maybe I need to clean my glasses.
Yesterdays piece with a pretty button edge and a tiny scrap embellished with sequins for an ''artist book''. I worked on both of these pieces last night, sequins, buttons.....happy time, playing and adorning. I am very taken with the ties from the buttons on the reverse of that embroidered swatch and that follows through with what I was saying yesterday about embellishing the reverse of these pieces, giving equal recognition to the back as well as the front. That means double the edges, more seams....more embroidery.
I can't decide, when my chores are done this afternoon, whether to play with pages for ''artist books'' or think about edges and the reverse of swatches. Maybe I can do both......
05/04/2017
embellish the front and then embellish the back...
I added another layer to the lower edge of this swatch which you saw earlier this week. It's not finished, the new layer needs titivating around the edges. Meanwhile, I also embroidered the reverse. Why you might wonder.....well why not? The reverse of these pieces will be visible, they won't be lined so let's have a little titivation on there too. In the fourth mage that can be seen clearly, a buttonhole edge across one seam and some little pom poms on another. I intend to buttonhole all the seams and hems on the reverse perhaps adding beads or other adornments too. That is the plan for all my new swatches. It will take some time to finish them all but I'm in no hurry.
05/02/2017
a sequined edge
My edge marathon is progressing. This one has sequins on a lower edge, the sides as yet are untouched as are the seams on the reverse. Whilst I embroider and titivate edges I am also thinking about headers. This little project will keep me going for quite some time.
I do love my first swatch book, the video is below for those who haven't seen it before. That is what drives me here, that is what's inspiring the current pieces, the second cloth swatch book.
I am having a day off tomorrow so I will see you on Thursday.
05/01/2017
School work, Artist Books
This is what I have been up to in class, in ''artist book'' class. Paper has been stitched to paper, paper has been stitched to cloth, stitching beads and gimp and knots has been going on too. We are ripping up a lot of things.....shock horror, but don't worry it's all for the greater good. There will be more of this to show you later this week. This morning I have been busy making new videos, creating new mini compositions.....as soon as class has seen those I can share with you.
Meanwhile, edges. Once I have finished here (here being the computer) it will be all systems go piecing cloth, cutting cloth and deciding which edge needs what for my latest swatch collection. Included in that pondering will be the reverse of edges, the back of seams....I'm planning a titivation marathon.
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