07/29/2016
Wrapped and bound in Stitch
I received this email today, such lovely words. (and I didn't pay her...lol)
It came at a very appropriate time too as today is the day I list my new class, wrapped and bound in stitch.
You have become a loyal and faithful "Online" friend to me and many others. You provide understanding along with a depth of stability to your students, and are always there to offer your wisdom and knowledge. It is calming and beneficial to the mind and body to find such an inspirational teacher who offers integrity and loyalty at all times
The new class begins on September 5, four weeks from now. You can register here.
A wrapping cloth, a wrapping cloth with a story bound up in stitch.
Beginning Monday September 5 for 16 weeks.
*** ''The wrapping cloth series evolved from my research into Motherhood and these pieces serve as a tribute to women who throughout time have used cloth as a tool of comfort for their families.'' ***
Two posts a week on a private password protected blog. A minimum of two hours video per week.
Learn how to embellish cloth, decoratively embroider seams and create adornments before incorporating each of your embroidered pieces into one cloth, a wrapping cloth.
Using process which date back to those used by our stitching ancestors the aim of this class is to create an encrusted and embroidered wrapping cloth created from smaller, embellished cloth pieces which will be joined with richly embroidered seams. Inspiration for my cloth will be drawn from fairy tale stories, childlike imagery, simple shapes and delicate patterning.
***Inspiration for your cloth can be drawn from any source of your choosing and I will assist you in identifying pattern, colour and shape from your chosen imagery if it differs from mine.***
There will be pockets, there will be surface adornments in the form of buttons, Suffolk puffs, beads and knots. Fabric will be manipulated with pleating, ruching, cutting and tearing. We will couch gimp, we will create bullion knots, French knots, chain stitch, cutwork and applique ......
Access to all resources, 'videos and blog posts' is permanent, forever.
A list of suggested materials will be sent to you on registration.
Please allow 24 hours from registration to receipt of all class information.
**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.
07/28/2016
precious
A bit of a different post today, a mini show and tell of some precious ''bits'' which I guard with my life. These aren't all of the things which fall into that category, these are just a small selection that I thought you may like to see.
Above.....a scrap of lace I inherited from my Great Grandmother. The lace is also in the next image alongside her nursing cap. My Great Grandmother (Florence Garstang) was a midwife for many, many years. During World war Two my home town being a shipbuilding town was bombed daily yet Nurse Garstang continued to go out and deliver babies in the most trying and risky of circumstances. After the war she was awarded a medal for her efforts.....the medal was displayed in the local museum for many years before being gifted to my cousin who has made a very successful career out of nursing, very fitting I think.
The next image is a scarf, (a kind of chiffon like cloth). This scarf belonged to one of my Grandmothers, I called her Nanna. I am guessing this scarf was bought in the 1950's. I doubt very much there would have been the means to purchase this kind of item during war years when she had a young family to raise.
Next, cloth I have been gifted. I know nothing of its history I just know my heart skipped a beat when I received it. Perhaps you know?
These buttons.....I am sighing.....these buttons were inherited from my other Nanna, (not the scarf Nanna) They are so very precious to me that I never leave the house without them. I carry them in a tiny jewellery case which sits in the bottom of my handbag. I do know that Nanna bought these in an Antique shop in the 1960's, prior to that I have no idea about their origin.
I am emotionally tied beyond measure to the cloth in this last image. This cloth is the cover from my children's Crib, their bassinet....it lives neatly folded in a tiny cabinet next to my bed. It's irreplaceable.
07/27/2016
a lace edge
You haven't seen this piece for a while....it has been neglected really, waiting for me to create more of the cloth surface in order to extend it. Meanwhile I had a hankering to add more lace to an edge.....a compulsion, an urge.....it did me good handling it even for this short amount of time......I fell in love all over again.
07/26/2016
white, gimp and flowers
Aside from classwork these are my ''in progress'' pieces. You saw the white for the first time here and the floral piece is to enable me to extend this piece and if you remember, to scratch my pocket itch.
The white piece has three new cutwork motifs since you last saw it, cutwork with a reveal of lace and some ''twiddled'' gimp which I added. This one may be left for a little while now though as I am desperate to finish the flower piece so that I can add it to the main body of the cloth and give myself an excuse to make another pocket....who doesn't love a pocket.
In other news....my computer is sick. If I disappear there is no need for a search party but I would be very grateful if you could send a nice man to fix it.
07/25/2016
pinning cloth
Moving samples forward, mixing them up, joining different surfaces....all in the name of experimentation with a hope it evolves, informs new samples. For now these three pieces are just pinned. I will add stitch to the seams and most likely leave it at that. By doing that though I am hoping to gain more ideas for more samples, more ideas for cloth and paper combinations. Sampling is ongoing, it never really ends.
07/24/2016
white
I'm early today....there is a family celebration to attend later.....and yes, there will be cake.
Last night I pieced a little white together. Cutwork has been worked on here as have bullion knots, French knots and there is a gimp seam in progress. I was inspired to gather white yesterday after receiving an e mail from Nancy who bought this pillow from me last year.
Nancy gifted this and it has since been used as a ring pillow during a wedding. When I saw the images she sent my first thought was ''wow, did I make that?''. Hence my quickly putting another white cloth together to check I am still up to the job!
Thank you so much for the images Nancy ....... the photograph is copyright George Scintilla.
07/23/2016
applique on lace
Another piece of lace has had embroidered silk appliqued to its surface for the stand alone piece which is evolving from my current class. Both pieces are laid together here so you can see how they will look once joined. I used a different lace for this section, that's the beauty of this process, it allows you to use almost any lace so long as the difference in colour and pattern isn't too stark. I am ready to join these two pieces now before adding gimp to the surface.
Yesterday if you remember I was very excited at the prospect of having a full day and evening to myself for all things embroidery related. So what did I do? Suffered a brain freeze is the answer. I tore some paper and put some lace in a hoop...big plans....I then completely lost interest, became uninspired and did some housework instead. So I have nothing exciting embroidery wise to show for my freedom.....I do however have a very clean house.
07/22/2016
New threads and other things
It looks like I have spent a week chained to the table......I have. I don't think I would rather be chained to anything else. I have also developed a deep love for my Postman.....he keeps bringing me packets of beautiful thread which I must have accidentally ordered.
I have a free day today...an ''on my own all day'' day. No cooking, no people to worry about, nobody to feed. Now all I need to do is decide what to do with the time.....I have too many options. It will be sewing related. I'll make a decision after I have put the kettle on.
07/21/2016
two flowers
A partially stitched silk panel, the next piece in this puzzle. There is more embroidery needed on this surface but I am itching to make a pocket, positively straining at the leash. I will have to contain myself a little longer though.
The pattern here is hand drawn, hand doodled onto silk Dupion......large petals, floral shapes which are then embellished with French knots and chain stitch. Once the surface embroidery is complete I will attach it to the main piece and have a lot of fun playing with the seam. I will also then be able to scratch my pocket itch!!
07/20/2016
royal blue beads on white
Yesterday i was tempted by bling, by beads, blue beads. Two scraps of the lace and paper surfaces I have been creating for the past couple of weeks have been given a blingy seam, royal blue bugle beads and tiny clear glass beads. The clear glass beads aren't very visible in these images but they are there.
Where do I go from here? If time wasn't a factor, if there was absolutely nothing else to do.....I would keep going with this, on and on and on. Time is a factor though, as is the fact I need these samples for something else. I can make more, it would be a pleasure to make more but do I really need another distraction? Do I?
07/19/2016
delicate blue and white
I think I said here that I had been doing a little embroidery on some of my new surfaces...well here it is. I have only taken small snippets and added them to a base of white cotton but I can already see the potential of the textured cloth mixed with a smoother background. There are possibilities for rich seams and lots of surface embellishment too.
This one will most likely stay like this, a sample, an example of how these pieces can be used as part of larger pieces of work. Now I want to play with my other surfaces from here, create more examples, more ideas....move this whole process forward.
07/18/2016
a tiny green spotty pocket
This cloth may need to be renamed...at the moment I refer to it as my gingham and silk coverlet. As I'm forming a bit of a pocket addiction however I may have to start calling it a tiny pocket cloth. The latest pocket is tiny, it's green, it's spotty, it's in a seam. I couldn't resist another video either....humour me. I can now rest content in the knowledge that you are aware of the work which has happened since you last saw this....
07/17/2016
Sample portfolio 2
Finished, complete, titivated, stitched together, ribbon added, delicate tissue paper added, listed in the shop. Yes, the second ''sample portfolio'' is no longer a work in progress. I actually put this together on Friday. By 'put together' I mean stitched the pages together, the samples have been created over a number of weeks, you have seen those evolve on here.
Added to my 'to do' list now is another of these, they are so much fun to make.
I have been working on my gingham coverlet too. If you remember this post there were two separate pieces, they are now joined making the cloth much bigger and giving me a better sense of how it is evolving, what is still needed in terms of panels. Later today I will be doodling on silk in order to begin the next section.
07/16/2016
blue and white, lace and silk.
A new surface, just cloth, no paper. Text drawn onto silk Habotai, cut into strips and laid on scrim before embroidery. This one is very delicate, wispy, fragile....there are open areas, holes which will take stitch beautifully. There are seams and lots of them....seams to enhance with bullion loops, buttonhole lace and beads.....
Here is a closer look for you at the surfaces I have been creating over the past week or so....
07/15/2016
silk ribbon and stitch
Another glimpse for you of what's happening in class.....story book stitching, story book titivation........I can't give any secrets away I'm afraid, I just hope you like what you see.....
I do have more ''delicate'' paper and cloth work to show you which is similar to this from yesterday. I didn't want to bore you or send you to sleep though so I am saving that for tomorrow.
It seems every day there is a new sadness to absorb........what can we do? Helpless.....all we can do is be kind to each other....
07/14/2016
paper lace
I'm still creating surfaces....delicate surfaces using lace, paper, cloth snippets, mostly white but with tiny amounts of blue too. There will be more of these. Each piece I have created has fed an idea for another piece.....I could be doing this for quite some time.
One of these is a base of lace with added scraps of paper, torn edged paper, tissue paper with a barely visible pattern. I'm wondering if I should doodle on some areas of this, on some of the paper areas. I wouldn't want to ruin it but then again....I can always make more, I can cut away an area if I really don't like it. Now I just need to pluck up the courage.
07/13/2016
a little lemon pocket
Another video? You're spoilt.....oh, okay then.....you're not spoilt, I just like the sound of my own voice. A tiny, lemon gingham pocket.....explanation on camera, in the video....
07/12/2016
three glass beads for Astrid
You saw this page a few days ago when I added the scrap of lace along with a few silk French knots. Today I add a scrap of silk and three tiny glass beads. There is something quite satisfying about adding loveliness to a fly swat! A fly swat which is now decorated with silk and stitch and bling.
My little books evolve slowly, a snippet added here and there often months apart. It doesn't matter though, they aren't going anywhere. These books are the real definition of ''work in progress''...work that may never be completely finished...a never ending supply of pages to fill indefinitely. I like that...
07/11/2016
delicate papers
Yesterday I told you I had been distracted by paper.....here it is. Two paper pieces, created from scraps, from torn fragments, laid together, stitched, torn again and on and on.....
The cloth here? The cloth is supposed to be for something else but I am tempted to add that to paper too, to sample a different surface. There is a reason for this playing, this sampling...I have a plan which will require piles of this kind of stuff. I'm not saying too much about it yet because it's very much in its early stages. Just a warning....you may be seeing a lot of this over the coming weeks.
07/10/2016
stitching a story, stitching cloth....
Stitching a story, (my current class) is inspiring these stand alone pieces of embroidered cloth. One will become a veil like piece to drape, to fondle, to lay on a chair or a bed....for me. There is still quite a way to go with that piece, more lace cloth needs to be made along with more appliqued silk.
The cutwork silk you can see here will find its way into the story book but will also inform other stand alone pieces of work which are yet to be started, which for the moment are just ''ideas''.....(as if I don't have enough of those already)
Stitching a story is live now, it runs until almost the end of August. It's not too late if you want to join in. You have access to all resources forever (and that's a very long time) You can read more here.
This morning I had planned to begin to putting this together. You won't be surprised to hear I got distracted. I got distracted by paper and I hope to show you a glimpse of that tomorrow.....
07/09/2016
six samples
Then final piece is finished, altered and added to from here....there are six pieces now which will become my next sample portfolio. Putting it together will take me a couple of hours, adding delicate tissue layers between the pages, mounting these, tying it all with silk ribbon.....
I can't do it today....I'm going here. My sons band are playing. It's raining of course....it will be like Glastonbury all over again.
07/08/2016
my pink and sugary world
It's a good thing I love these colours....I am using this palette in class too....I am surrounded at the moment by baby pink, soft greens and all things pretty. Once upon a time, in another life I would have recoiled from this kind of colour scheme...how times change.
So what's new on here since you last saw it? Three half cutwork motifs on a strip of gingham, that's what's new. This piece can't get finished quickly enough for me, I am desperate to have it. I know I already have it but not as a finished piece to fold, to unfold, to hang, to lay over a chair, to look at every day. My fingers can't work fast enough........
07/07/2016
as requested
I bet you didn't know I took requests.....yesterday I was asked to show detailed images of the pieces completed so far for my next sample portfolio. Your wish is my command!
The weather is against me, it's dull and dreary and wet making it difficult to get pristine images. I do hope these are ok.
07/06/2016
a page and a scrap of lace
So...catch up....still catching up....still disorganised and upside down. Last nights embroidery was something for class and this. I reckon you don't want to see that again yet so I made you a video instead.
Now my little Astrid book has a new titivation, something which is pleasing on the eye and qualifies as a sample, a reference, a record...who knows when I might use this as a starting point in the future. I actually wrote on this page.....shock horror. If you know me you will know I don't usually do that, mostly because I don't like my handwriting. I though I best do that here though as I know I will forget the name of these threads eventually and I am certain I will want to buy more.
Actually....why not buy some more now Karen? Why not indeed......
07/05/2016
silk thread, paper, press studs
I'm back again. I'm staying this time. I am however playing catch up and despite my best efforts I haven't yet ''caught up''. That will teach me to go swanning off to London without a care in the world.
Paper, portfolio, samples, sample portfolio. This piece is in progress, the press studs aren't yet attached. I'm not certain if they will be but it's an idea. I worked on this one yesterday, silk thread French knots on silk, manipulated paper, little windows. It's the final piece needed to finish my next ''sample portfolio''. Once it's complete I can begin the process of assembling the little collection which has been created.
The shop is now open again for work on your own classes and our current class ''stitching a story''........and to my girls in class....I'm fretting over Flickr, I haven't had time to check out what you have been up to yet. I haven't forgotten I promise I'm just struggling to catch up... :(
06/29/2016
triple bullion knots
New embroidery on an ''in progress cloth'' which you have seen before. This seam.......sigh....triple bullion knots, coloured loops, lovely. I could titivate everything I own with this process, I'm tempted....the edge of a curtain, the side of the sofa......can you imagine? I also managed to sneak in a new cutwork circle, medallion like and edged with chain stitch.
I do believe the shop link didn't work for most of yesterday. My fault entirely, Glastonbury brain fog....it's fixed now. (although it will be closing again later tonight)
I'm off again first thing in the morning. Technically I am on my holidays now.....I just can't keep away, I'm addicted, this little place in cyberspace and I are inseparable. I hope to return fired up and newly energised creatively from seeing the work of the latest batch of Design Graduates....here's hoping. I recommend a good look around the website, it's fresh talent, inspiring commitment, amazing creativity.
06/28/2016
reconnecting
I'm back...hello!! Old images....oops, sorry. I have been busy partying though and wading through mud and sleeping in a tent and washing dirty clothes non stop since I got back. You can see some of last weeks adventures on my Instagram here.....
I wasn't going to blog today on account of the laundry and the cupboards needing filled and having not touched embroidery for a week but you are way too neglected and I am disappearing again on Thursday....London beckons, London and New Designers.
Meanwhile.....for two days....the shop is open again in case you want to learn a few new stitches. There are work on your own classes in there along with the current class ''stitching a story'' which is on a break at the moment before resuming next week. (I hope those of you in class have been good while I have been away? Get your pencils sharpened ready for next week....!!)
I have a few e mails to answer.....tomorrow I promise and tomorrow you shall also have new embroidery.....yay!
06/20/2016
two....
As I'm leaving you now in order to enjoy these kind of delights I thought I would spoil you with two pieces of work. I know...I'm too kind. What can I say.....
I finished another paper piece for the next portfolio and have added a gimp trim, a little applique and some French knot clusters to my silk and gingham coverlet.
I'll be back in just over a week....miss you already....
06/19/2016
play.....paper and cloth
The next piece of the next portfolio puzzle. I now have four finished pieces, four finished samples, four mini compositions. There needs to be six. I do have plans for two more, two paper pieces and who knows, a little cloth might appear in those too.
The latest one has cloth, cloth stitched to paper and then hand stitched some more. Bullion knots, French knots, buttonhole edges...there is also a little torn text, mostly illegible. I was tempted to add silk ribbon to this one, (if you're in class you will know what I mean after today's class post) but I will save the ribbon for the next one.
06/18/2016
stitching a story
Embroidering a story book.....being inspired by illustration and text to titivate pages. This is a glimpse for you of some of my work from class. Does the book close properly? Nope....however...the book is inviting, it invites you to turn pages, to discover what is creating the bumps and knots of thread and overlapped papers....
Speaking of paper.....I'm working with paper this afternoon, putting a few collages together to compliment these.....in order to create another one of these. (yes, it's a repeat....same as TV, one repeat after another..lol...)
06/17/2016
the next piece
The next piece of my pink gingham and silk coverlet in progress....Up to now it has two applique circles, a lace frill embellished with French knots and a partially couched trail of couched gimp. What do you think?
It has new elements, the applique and gimp which aren't present on the other panels. Oh no...where's the cohesion I hear you say...never fear, it's all in hand. This piece will definitely not look out of place once my little coverlet is finished.
06/16/2016
composition
I've been playing again, laying scraps of hand embroidered cloth down, seeing what goes with what and adding knots, stitches, beads, lace. When I have finished doing that I put them on paper, textured paper and add stitch to that too. Could there be a better way to spend a few hours?
Now I want to play with torn paper, pleat it, fold it, stitch it. If I ignore the world I may get to do that today.
I will be disappearing next week (after Monday) for around ten days.......it's that time again. The shop will be shut....not that there's anything in there except online learning. The current class, ''stitching a story'' is taking a two week break and starts again when I get back so If you want to join us sign up now, take two weeks to familiarise yourself with what's going on and you'll be good to go when I get back!
06/15/2016
pink gingham and silk
Lots of images today....please indulge me. I want to tell you how much I love this. I don't want you to think i don't love my other work, I do but last night when I was embroidering a seam on here with bullion knots I actually had tummy flips. Pathetic? Maybe but I can live with that. I wish I never ever had to do anything else at all except embroider....i wish.
This piece is this piece. Another silk panel has been added...hence the bullion knot seam. It will be a coverlet....it's mine...it's a keeper.
06/14/2016
blue and white
White silk, embroidery, buttonhole stitch, piping cord, lace, hooks and eyes....OK, just eyes! A tiny stitched sample placed on stitched paper. I love blue and white, always have. I think there are 36 French knots on the paper, alternate blue and white, the most simple of exercises yet so effective.
This is the first page of the next sample portfolio. I am so happy that so many of you wanted the first one from yesterday....thank you.
06/13/2016
Sample Portfolio
Finally, it seems to have taken me weeks. I was scared, I was anxious not to spoil it. I put it together several times before taking it apart and doing it again. Now...I am happy with it now. I do hope you like it, think it was worth it.
It's now listed in the shop.
06/12/2016
three hoops
Evidence...evidence that I do have lots in progress here. Alphabet silk, flowery doodled silk and lace cloth. Each of these is at a different stage of completion with the alphabet piece being the largest.
The flowery piece is to extend this....
The alphabet piece this....
and the lace this....
Which piece do I continue to work with first? Not exactly a terrible decision to have to make.
In other news.....I now have the sparkliest clean kitchen anywhere, yes anywhere.
06/11/2016
stitching and sorting out
Most of the past couple of weeks has been spent stitching, doodling or working with paper....honestly it has. The evidence is here. How come I don't have anything solely stitch or creative to show you today then? Nothing substantially advanced in any case? Who knows....there has been a little ''sorting out'' happening too on the home front but believe me, compared to stitching the time given to domesticity is miniscule. I've had new storage fitted, that is in the process of being filled. I am having work done to my kitchen soon, that means the kitchen is getting a deep clean...in stages. (I have been doing it in ''thirds'', yes, the tiniest kitchen in the world gets cleaned over a period of days not an afternoon or a morning. Told you I am a reluctant domestic goddess) The final third of that particular pastime of torture will take place later today. I may even award myself some kind of trophy when it's done.
I have made more cloth for this. I am in the process of embroidering more alphabet cloth and my sample portfolio is waiting to be put together, finished. You may well see something from those ''in progress'' pieces tomorrow.....depending on how long it takes me to clean the final third.....
06/10/2016
lace and bullion knot seam
I succumbed.....I joined these two pieces, the temptation got the better of me. It's one seam, one seam now embellished with lace and bullion knots. You do know what this means? It means I will have to make more of this cloth, embroider the surface with French knots and create myself another piece for another seam. I have such a hard life.......
06/09/2016
a button tree and a bus
Embroidery, sampling, creativity...inspired by a story book. This is my progress from class. It's a delight to work with these child like images, create child like illustrations and then play with stitch.....I am having so much fun and if time, along with oodles of other ideas wasn't an issue you might have been seeing a children's decor collection taking shape on here.
I wish you could see the work class is producing....it would knock your socks off!
I have had a few enquiries about my wrapping cloth class...why isn't it available as a ''work on your own'' option? The answer? I don't know. So this morning I have listed it as a work on your own programme and you will find that here. Big Cartel is playing up however and won't let me add any images so I will put some on here....a selection of my own wrapping cloths.
06/08/2016
stitching pattern......a ledger
The doodles happened in this post.....today the doodles get a little stitch treatment. This afternoon I will finish this row. I will then doodle another row, maybe two. In a few days I will stitch again and on and on until this page is doodled and stitched completely.
06/07/2016
the correct colour
I say ''if this is to live with the cross stitch piece'' but now I am wondering, thinking...wouldn't it be lovely just to have lots of pieces of this all joined together?
06/06/2016
coming together, a sample portfolio
The fear of this project left me long enough to put the first page together. This is the third time I have done it, two failed attempts to achieve exactly what I envisaged led me to this......it's a winner, it's staying like this, all I need to do now is add the remaining two double page spreads and a cover and it's a done deal.
The two remaining double page spreads are ready. They need to be laid on here, attached with a simple spine. Delicate white paper layers will need to be added too and then I will be ready for the big reveal and the most huge sigh of relief.
06/05/2016
scraps of paper and cloth
Saturday afternoon was very productive chez moi. I made more lace cloth for the cross stitch alphabet piece and unlike last time will use the correct colours to embellish this surface. (Yesterday's post was all about using the wrong colours) Fragments of stitched paper were created too, for the long running saga which is otherwise known as my ''sample portfolio''. I have been very undecided and hesitant with that lately....not any more, I'm on a roll. Tomorrow another double page spread may appear on here as if by magic.......
I should really be cleaning my kitchen prior to the arrival of a decorator in a couple of weeks. Yes, a couple of weeks. It's a very small kitchen which needs a disproportionate amount of cleaning, a testament to my lack of domestic goddess skills. However.....I look at the Brillo pads and then glance at my paper, thread, cloth, sewing things and for some strange reason they always win................can't figure it out .....
06/04/2016
bubble cloth
OK....so no cross stitch, French knots won the day. (I'm talking about what I said yesterday) Disregard the fact that I used the wrong colours ( I was supposed to use the same colours that are in the white cotton piece with the lettering) Yes, disregard that fact and also disregard that these look more like raspberries than roses and it's a winner. It's a winner in my eyes anyway because even though I can't use it with the lettering piece it is still a rather nice piece of cloth which will be useful for something.....just don't ask me what yet.
There is lace cloth here too, made some time ago and created using the correct colours. The lace cloth makes a beautiful overlay but I'm not after an overlay, I'm after a side attached companion. Never mind, I will make more white ''lace'' like cloth which actually looks like bubbles to me (hence the title of today's post)....I will then endeavour to choose the correct colours for the roses. Note to self......choose your colours before it goes dark Karen.
06/03/2016
an edge for cross stitch lettering
This has to be my favourite pattern for cross stitch lettering. I adore the tiny roses which overlay each letter and the ornate nature of the letters themselves. I have this piece of white cotton cloth, it's small (around 10 x 10 inches) which has scattered letters and hexagons embroidered on the surface and I now want to do something else with it. Would a lace edge work I wonder? Would this cotton piece live amongst lace pieces of a similar size?
There's only one way to find out.....so later today I will make lace and embroider its surface with tiny cross stitch roses.
06/02/2016
new doodling, pattern
You last saw this book in this video. Since then I have added more to my first page although I haven't finished that yet. Today, another brief video of my attempts at a second page. I know there is potential with this book for amazing things, wonderful design play, wonderful colour play. At the moment I am merely doodling at the most basic level, feeling my way.....this week is a ''hesitant'' week. It will pass.
06/01/2016
more titivation inspired by Clara
Clara is being embellished in class. Class is called stitching a story and that is exactly what we are doing...but....we are also stitching from a story, being inspired by our story books and beginning to create stand alone pieces of embroidered cloth. My first ''stand alone'' piece inspired by Clara is being created using applique, silk and lace cloth. I could easily become consumed by this at the expense of everything else. I love its child like qualities, its happy colours...it is so refreshing.
My second stand alone piece is also taking shape. I can't say too much about that one as the girls haven't seen it yet. At the moment hand embroidery is happening and plans are forming for what comes next.....I will show you just as soon as I can......
05/31/2016
embroidered cloth and complimentary paper work
The contents of my sample portfolios are taking shape. I now have enough pieces to put one portfolio together assuming each one will consist of six pieces in total, three cloth and three paper. I don't know when that will happen though. I am hesitant. There will be a lot of precise measuring and cutting required and there are still mounting decisions to make. Nervousness is playing a part too. When I put my first double page spread together I wasn't happy with it and since then it has been taken apart. I am a little fearful of making a mistake with these and having to undo them too.
I'm going to let them rest for a few days, come back to them, look again, wait for the spark.....
05/30/2016
a gingham strip
You last saw these two pieces here and if you remember I asked you if they lived together. Your opinion was yes, they do live together.....I agreed with you. There's no going back now.......they are permanently attached, like a marriage only these are joined with pink gingham as opposed to any kind of jewellery.
The pink gingham strip forms a seam embellishment, kind of like a very long tab. I titivated it with clusters of French knots to mimic what's happening in the centre of the flower petals on the silk piece. Do you see what's happening? Cohesion.....................
This will become a ''coverlet''...eventually. However.....my ''eventually'' list will be so long shortly that I may never make my way through it. I was making videos for class this morning and whilst doing that a light bulb went on regarding something else I am desperate to make, something else for my ''eventually'' list......oh dear.
05/29/2016
greys, whites, sampling
Sample portfolios....looking at where I am up to, laying things together...all in the name of moving this little project forward. I'm no wiser ''paper work'' wise but I have put together another cloth piece, (last image with the pins). Cloth always wins with me, that's just the way it is. I'm not going to push the paper aspect of these, it will happen when it happens.
I haven't got much to say today..............I know some of you will just have fell off your chair, (I can't shut up in class) but................................embrace the quiet while you can.
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