08/08/2014
the lace in my life
I'm considering lace, more specifically the lace I have been working with this week. I have no problem deciding how to use the open pieces, the pieces which have holes edged with hand embroidery, which are light and floaty. The top piece however? I have been pondering that piece. It has a unique handle to it, it is light, at least the base cloth is light yet it doesn't have the fragility of the open pieces.
Pondering has led me to believe that surface is perfect for garments. Thing is I don't do garments. Why don't I do garments? Because I don't know how.
Everyone has to start somewhere right? It may as well be now, here with this cloth. Don't get too excited though, I still have to actually make more of this cloth first. I also have to find a pattern. AND.....there won't be any full dresses, blouses, skirts or anything being made. I'm thinking a bodice? A sleeve? A bolero front? they may be the best places to start.....
08/07/2014
next
The next step in the sparkly experiment is well under way. Lace cloth has been made and titivation's have been added. There are beads, there is purl, there is silver leather.....this one has mileage. It feels amazing to hold. The base is very delicate, almost weightless. Once the beads are added it gives it weight, a contrast, fragility and weightlessness against solid and heavy. I definitely see more of this in my future.......
I'm going out now, up North,.....it's my mothers birthday. There are gifts to deliver.
08/06/2014
finished....
Ta da! It's finished, it's titivated, it's mounted in doodle doo. It has already served to inform. I have ideas coming out of my ears. Another sparkly sample is taking shape as we speak......
(The background to my work here is from a colouring book, ''doodle doo'' that I purchased at Anthropologie. Sadly I think they are now discontinued.)
(SS4...you have videos coming imminently about this page. Stand by your computers)
08/05/2014
the early stages
I've started, I've begun to put a ledger page together in the manner of doodle doo using my new sparkly things. (if you don't know what doodle doo is there is a link in yesterdays post)
This is at the early stage, the very beginning. I embroidered last night, this morning I cut paper and titivated paper a little. There is more titivating and stitching to be done before I mount this. I can't emphasise enough how much this helps, a little bit of playing, a little bit of faffing. It really does inform an idea, it produces more ideas, it moves a design forward. It even does all of that if you don't like what you produce, you learn about your preferences, your dislikes, what not to do.
Will this actual piece be translated into cloth? Replicated? Probably not. What it will do is inform a surface, a choice of sparkly things, what lives with what, patterning and placement.....
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spend time in ineffectual activity."we can't faff around forever"
08/04/2014
practising....
I've decided to play with my new sparkly things for a while, just to get used to them, to investigate their potential. So far I have only added three lozenge shaped off white beads to this white piece with the mirrors. My plan is to sample in the manner of doodle doo, with silk dupion, with metallic silk tissue, with white and pin pricking and stitched paper.
That should help with my plans for a bigger piece made purely from cloth, sample, sample, sample. I am going to make a start today. I will get all the bits together, doodle doo, fabric, shiny things and a scrap of paper to doodle ideas onto and hopefully....fingers crossed....I will be inspired.
It's not all about the sparkly though. This piece has got a new row of bullion loops, a new strip of buttonhole lace and a tiny area of French knots which are there to repair a hole.....an occupational hazard of working with old cloth.
a gentle reminder for you.....Simply stitch 5 begins in four weeks. You can read more here.
08/03/2014
this week....
Well the past week has been busier than I thought by looking at these images from my phone. These are just the embroidery/creativity related ones. I'm not sure you want to see rain through a window or dirty dishes in the sink or a pile of ironing although that would prove my status as aspiring domestic goddess. There was also a raspberry and mint trifle, made from scratch, by me....yes it's true. The attraction there was the ''no cooking needed'' aspect.
I'm still thinking about the shiny, dazzly, sparkly thing. I have an idea but I'm still not sure it's good enough. Maybe the only way to find out is to actually do it. I will ponder on that whilst I clean my kitchen window which is the next task on the list.
p.s.....Liza, are you geting my e mails???? I don't mind if you are choosing to ignore me, I don't blame you actually, I just don't want you to think I am rude, bad mannered and not caring a jot. :(
08/02/2014
mirrors....
I'm running late today, too many distractions. The post arrived with some shiny, sparkly, dazzly things. I've been fondling. I've also been thinking, hard work sometimes. I'm scared I will mess this all up, make nothing of an acceptable standard, let you all down. I did have plans now I'm not sure they're good enough.
This is the result of the playing so far. Mirrors live beautifully with white. They live beautifully with lace. They also live beautifully with silk which I haven't yet used, not dupion anyway. I have decided to get ALL my design sheets out, ALL my recent ledger work, everything, the lot, look through it all and see if there is anything in there in terms of a design which could be tweaked to give me a better idea of a final outcome for the shiny, dazzly stuff.
Some of the stitching here doesn't meet the standard, the mirror stitching. I haven't done this for a while, it will take a little more practice so please don't judge me.
08/01/2014
pages, ledger, body bag.
There is so much to be excited about I can hardly contain myself. We have been working on these pages over in embroidery school, one finished, one in progress. These will form part of a record of the ''body bag'' and not only that they will inform future pieces. I already have a few ideas inspired by just these two little pages so there's a lot of stitching in my future.
And then there's the sparkly, dazzly thing. My purl arrived this morning as did my silver kid leather. Last night I stitched more mirrors....I even put one on here. That's something else I need to order....more mirrors.
As if that wasn't enough I'm also titivating my swaddling band and everything related to that, ledgers, samples.
One thing is for certain, my fingers are getting plenty of exercise.
07/31/2014
a new surface
I have been tempted by all things sparkly. I did warn you yesterday. These are ordered as is this, plans are afoot. All I need to do now is order more silk dupion, spend a few more hours on my sewing machine creating more of the cloth in today's pictures and wonderful things should happen.
The sewing machine part of this plan began yesterday afternoon using lace, metallic silk tissue and silk net. I embroidered on the surface last night, edging open areas and adding a solitary mirror. There will be more mirrors, they will happen when I am not half asleep...... at midnight......watching Netflix..... when I should be in bed.
07/30/2014
cross stitch, web stitch and buttonhole edges
I titivated this piece from yesterday a little more last night. A double buttonhole seam, cross stitch, web stitches, French knots and some unruly bullion knots. I tried to create an uneven ''chain'' effect with the bullion's. Some are created with 40 wraps, others with 30. I'm not sure it was a successful attempt? At least I tried.
To be honest I am getting distracted by mirrors, shisha mirrors, all things shiny and luscious and opulent. Everyone in class seems to be using mirrors and the final temptation came when Deanna posted this video on Facebook..........you may see some on here soon.
07/29/2014
pin tucks and handkerchiefs
I had an urge to pin tuck cloth yesterday. That's probably because I recently pin tucked some paper over in simply stitch 4, anyway whatever the reason it had to be done. I gathered some old handkerchiefs and used those. They were pin tucked, some were also pleated, they were joined, (in the manner of a wrapping cloth...I hope you don't come here for originality)
Last night I had a great time stitching them together, securing seams, tiny running stitches, buttonhole lace and a few bullion loops....(again...originality in short supply). Regardless......I love it. I think it will evolve into a pillow. It might acquire a pocket. I haven't decided yet.
07/28/2014
the body bag, a video
I made you a video!! It's OK, Stephen Spielberg doesn't have anything to worry about it's just a brief show and tell about the body bag, the progress, the plan.
Basically the plan is just keep stitching. Make more sections and try not to bore everyone to death. I will be working on this a lot for a while, picking it up on a regular basis but not stitching on here exclusively. I will also be working on other things, one of which I hope to start this afternoon. If I get my finger out, get a move on, you might see that tomorrow.....
07/27/2014
three pieces
There are three silk surfaces here, all panels for the body bag. I have been working on these this morning for Simply Stitch 4 videos. (stand by your computers girls there are videos coming).
The body bag needs attention, determined effort, consistent effort so it's quite likely you will be seeing it regularly for a while. More panels are needed as are more pleated muslin pieces, as are tabs. That's a lot of stitching. That's a good thing. I also need to buy more silk, another good thing. I need to make more snippet cloth which will live happily in this piece, another good thing.
Basically today is full of good things!
07/26/2014
embroidery school
These pieces have all been present over in embroidery school this week. Some are ''old'' and were examples, used to explain various ideas whilst some are new pieces evolving in class and which will now become the samples of the future.
Lace, paper, cloth and stitch is finished. That was a great two weeks, I enjoyed it a lot. Alchemy has another two weeks to run....time flies when you're having fun.
We are still hotter than hot here. With that in mind I have been up for hours, fulfilling my role as domestic goddess, getting my chores done before it gets too hot. They say it will break tomorrow, we will lose 6 or 7 degrees.....that would be perfect.
07/25/2014
Stitchery doodle 1, finished
Yesterday the third one was finished, today the first one is finished. OK, so I finish back to front, in reverse order....
Unkempt, unlined, raggy bits, loose threads...yes.
Soft, delicate, free, peaceful, feminine, fragile.....yes.
Will there be more of these? Most definitely.
Can't stop, I've got muslin to pleat.
07/24/2014
stitchery doodle 3, finished
Stitchery doodle three is now finished. The buttonhole kept its place, it escaped a cull.This piece is edged with fine piping and tiny running stitches, the loose ends left in place. It already has a new home...we shall see how it's received. It's not there yet.
This evening I will finish stitchery doodle one in the same way. As for stitchery doodle two......I don't know. It still feels wrong, too pristine. That piece may well find its way into something else at some time in the future.
and finally.....just three words.....simply stitch five.
07/23/2014
Lace and paper and embellishment
Phew....I can finally prove that I don't spend my days drinking Gin and watching TV. This is what I've been up to. I have made lace, I have embroidered lace. I have stitched paper...titivation central!
The second image, that piece....it's tiny. I want to make a HUGE piece, a draping, wrapping, covering, swaddling piece. I need to order some lace....a yardage or two.
I've also been busy putting this together........Simply Stitch 5. Who knew it would be so popular. Number 5???? I can't quite believe it.
Simply Stitch 5.
***you do not need to have participated in any of my previous online learning programmes in order to take part in simply stitch five. There are no prerequisites for simply stitch five.***
=============================================
Simply
stitch 5 has no deadlines, no set tasks. Groups which are formed
through my online learning programmes are communities, friendly,
interactive, supportive communities. It is my hope that each individual
course takes place within a relaxed, informal and ''comfortable'' online
environment.
You are welcome to dip and and out of our experience as and when it is convenient for YOU. Access is permanent....forever.
==============================================
Access
to a private blog with regular, minimum twice weekly blog posts which
will be created specifically for this group included. These posts will
NOT appear on my public blog, they will be exclusive to this group.
Video posting weekly minimum.
==============================================
Commencing Monday September 8 for 12 weeks Simply stitch 5, a gathering of cloth and embroiderers is my latest online learning programme born from a desire to get ''back to basics'', hand stitch at it's purest. This online creative experience will take the form of a very relaxed and gentle gathering of cloth and embroiderers, those who have an affinity with handling cloth, working with cloth. We will gather together and embroider, I will discuss my plans, my inspiration, the preparation and creation of embroidered cloth. I will demonstrate technique and process throughout. I can guarantee that there will be embroidery, embellishment, manipulation of cloth. There will be pouches and pillows, there will be larger, considered works. I will share thoughts along with the more tangible sources which drive me. I will doodle, you will be encouraged to do the same.
It is my hope that you bring your own work along with you, to share and discuss with the group. We will guide and support each other, sharing tips and process, a gathering of girls for ''online'' afternoon tea.
You are welcome to continue and /or begin your own projects within the forum of this class. You are also welcome to observe and plan work around the pieces I create. If you do not wish to embroider then that is fine too. You can just follow along with us as I record my personal, creative process. You will be given access to me, my day, my embroidery with demonstration, discussion and instruction throughout.
*** There are no deadlines. There are no set tasks. This is an informal and relaxed process which is purely concerned with enjoyment and companionship.***
Video will be hosted on our private password protected blog and there will be a dedicated flickr group where you can upload images and interact with your peers by means of private discussion.
Upon registration you will be sent a brief e-mail to confirm your seat at the table.
Suitable for beginners and the more experienced.
Please allow 24 hours from registration to receipt of welcome mail.
07/22/2014
just a circle....
I have so many pieces in progress at the
moment but I can't show you yet. I'm waiting for the girls in class to
see them and then it will be your turn. I knew last night that this
would happen so I made you this. One single, solitary cutwork circle on
some pieced cloth. I do think about you. I wonder if you will be trying
to figure how I'm spending my days if I have nothing to show you. Trust
me, I'm not sitting watching daytime TV and drinking Gin.
Tomorrow you will have proof of my non TV watching life. Tomorrow it will be lace.....
07/21/2014
bullion knots
It seems I am having a love affair with bullion knots. It crept up on me, happened without warning. I can't help myself. I was working on the piece in the hoop last night, a double line of bullion knots and it occurred to me that these, bullion knots, keep me company most nights. It happens without thinking, an automatic response to having a needle and thread in my hand.
So this morning I gathered a few things together, things which have been embellished with bullion knots in some way. The muslin pouch in particular was created quite some time ago....they're ever present.
***I have not sent anyone a mail from flickr to their normal e mail address......please do not open it if you get one***
07/20/2014
lace from class
White lace from class....this is what we are working on at the moment. It's so relaxing and very much a pleasure to stitch on this. I feel a huge piece coming on, an enormous piece of titivated white frothiness. I'm re connecting with embroidery this evening after my party filled weekend! and this is what I will be working on.
This morning I waved off my children who are on their way back to London as we speak. I fed them first of course so that's one domestic goddess point in my column. The bed linen is now in the washing machine, another point in the column...I'm at risk of overdoing this domesticity thing so may need a lie down soon.
The party was wonderful, really. Lots of people. I didn't know I had so many relatives. There are pictures here if you want to see and I'm afraid I can't take any credit in the cake department, the accolades there belong to mother. The two men having fun with a guitar belong to me...Andrew and Phillip, two of my brothers.......
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