09/17/2016
silk velvet, gimp and glass beads
Cloth, strips of silk, lace and silk velvet. This is one of the pieces I have put together to accompany my paper embroidery and is now ready to be attached to paper and mounted onto a white background. The softness of the silk velvet makes it wonderful to work with and it takes gimp beautifully, as if one was made for the other. A beaded edge has been added to this, to compliment beads present in the paper piece it will live alongside.
Meanwhile.....a couple of images which show progress with paper that I don't think you have seen before.
09/16/2016
wrapped and bound in stitch
A wrapping cloth....traditional process, bright, modern cloth. I have set myself a challenge to make this work. In the past I have made wrapping cloths with gingham, with handkerchiefs and of course in all white. I think this is the first time I have created a wrapping cloth with patterned cloth, brightly patterned cloth. The process will be similar, the approach the same. Prairie points, applique, cutwork, patchwork, traditional technique and traditional embroidery stitches along with a few other as yet untested ideas.
This is what has happened in the first ten days of class.....so far so good.
09/15/2016
paper, paper and paper....
New paper, old paper, paper in progress. You've seen quite a bit of paper recently. That's because paper seems to be the answer for me at the moment, the answer to my indecision......my angst. I do have cloth in class and I think I will show you a little of what we are doing over there tomorrow, it's actually very exciting, (for me anyway) and is very different to the white and bling that's happening with the paper pieces.
The piece on the far left of the first image and the one which is dominant in most of these images was finished last night. The paper part of it was finished anyway....I have plans for a little piece of cloth to accompany that.
09/14/2016
new cloth....
Most of yesterday was spent putting new surfaces together, mixing silk, lace and off white silk velvet to create cloth which I can use with my planned paper pieces. This is the first time I have used silk velvet in this way. I have used it in the past, mainly when I was studying and was required to test dyes. I recently found quite a small scrap which hadn't been used so thought I would try it with this technique and I am so pleased I did. It adds a richness and the new cloth has a wonderful weight to it when handled.
I have a feeling I will be ordering silk velvet later today, replenishing my stash....
You can also see here a tiny section of one of my paper pieces which has been worked a little more. I am beginning to think more and more that this, (paper, silk and lace) is just what I needed to get myself out of last weeks creative meltdown.
09/13/2016
embroidered silk to compliment paper
Yesterday I showed you two new pieces of ''paperwork'' and mentioned how I think the paper is enhanced by the presence of silk and embroidery. Cloth was an integral part of both pieces yesterday, it was stitched behind cut outs and applied to the surface. Today I am looking at how it lives alongside the paperwork as a separate piece, for an edge maybe, or a draped accompaniment....
This is one piece from yesterday. It isn't finished, nothing is decided. I have plans for the second piece whilst I think a little more about this, the cloth, the placement, the embellishment.
This morning I created new cloth, lace, silk, net....all with paperwork in mind. I will show you that tomorrow.
I also listed another ''work on your own class''...Lace, paper, cloth and stitch. Although it doesn't demonstrate the cloth or paper shown here it does include demonstration of the creation of unique surfaces which have a similarity to the one shown today in terms of delicacy, lightness and texture.
09/12/2016
titivating paper....
The latest paper experiments.....with cloth and embroidery. Going forward I will gather all the recent paper samples, look at them for a while, go away then come back and look some more. Hopefully that will give me more ideas for moving these on. Having said that, last night I began to embroider a little silk and lace which I think will work with these. My plan is to combine cloth and paper, making pieces of various sizes which will either live in a ledger or be mounted as''stand alone'' pieces. Beyond that there isn't a plan.....it's also possible that I could change my mind.....
One thing I do know..... paper lives beautifully with silk and gimp and bling and stitch.
09/11/2016
progress, the drawstring bag
Surface embroidery is continuing on the silk piece which will become a drawstring bag for Clara. Clusters of French knots are being scattered across the open space and hopefully it won't take long to complete those. The last two images here give an idea of how this will look, front and back, when it's finished.
Last night I played a little more with paper. I will show you where I am up to with that tomorrow. I already have ideas for where I want to go next with the paper pieces, I feel as if I have direction which is what I hoped the play, the sampling would achieve.
09/10/2016
preserving stitched scraps
Yesterday if you remember I was having some kind of mini creative crisis. I still am I think but not as much, I think I'm beginning to see the light. I definitely won't be throwing anything away, I won't be making any drastic decisions. Last night I played with more paper, more white. (not shown here, I will show you soon) I am beginning to think white is always the answer as far as I am concerned. Maybe I was feeling a little lost and white is who I am so I need to reconnect with that from time to time. That's as far as my self analysis goes for now....I am happy with the paper piece you can't see just yet and have plans to move it on.
So what's happening today? What's this all about? It's a similar thing, white, looking at old white, preserving this, keeping it safe. It's all explained in the video.
09/09/2016
bling, gimp, silk, paper
I know.....it's not a silk drawstring bag like I promised you yesterday. Sorry about that. I didn't get the bag damp stretched...oops, I'm slacking.
Instead I give you a glimpse of the things crowding my head today, (and for the last million days or so it seems) What exactly do I love the most when mixed with paper? The answer is here, white fabric, white stitch, metallic silk tissue, lace, gimp and glass beads. Now all I need to do is develop my paper experiments with those little things in mind and hey presto we should have lift off. Somehow I doubt it will be that simple. It is however a good starting point.
Do you ever feel as if you want to get rid of everything, I mean samples, finished pieces, old ideas? To get rid of it all and start again, clean slate, an empty mind, no plans, no goals. Kind of be reborn into your love of cloth and embroidery and have no idea how you will express yourself creatively? Just me then? I don't know why but I have felt like that for a couple of days now......I am putting it down to a ''creative meltdown''....please tell me I am not the only one.
09/08/2016
goodbye Clara (for now)
I have been promising you a final look at Clara for a few weeks now.....here it is. She isn't finished. There are many more ways in which this little lady can be adorned and titivated but for now she is having a rest. A silk drawstring bag is in progress where I can let her rest, safely, free from dust and tattered pages. Tomorrow I will most likely show you progress with that.
This class is now available as a ''work on your own'' option. (there are 91 videos) You can take a look at that here. (please note....access to the private Flickr group is not included with work on your own classes)
I am early today.....I am going here shortly. An amateur photographer not a million miles from here is anxious to take photographs. I wonder if there are any fabric shops in the vicinity?
09/07/2016
paper and scrim, experiments...
Paper is a recurring theme at the moment. I am testing, sampling, trying out ideas....of which there are many. Part of me wishes I could focus but it's too soon. I know there is a lot of sampling to do but for some reason I want the answer now.......patience is on holiday it seems.
This one is pleated with an insert of scrim...there is mileage in this. First I need to figure out how I want to embellish the fluffy mound of scrim and then think about the logistics of that. Then I need to see if this lives with other paper pieces I have played with recently, take a little area from one and add it to a little area of another. Mix and match is what I need here....along with a little patience.
09/06/2016
developing pages
Developing more pages in this very inspirational notebook. This ''set'' , these two pages aren't finished yet, they definitely need more. At the moment I am thinking pen, doodle, black or blue but you will notice the absence of both of those which can only mean one thing. Yes....I am still dithering or as I would prefer to think of it....I am still considering.
I could get lost in this book, climb in there with my needle and thread, my black and blue pen and never be seen again.....what a tempting thought. Going a little off topic that reminds me about an exhibition I once saw about a little lady who lived in the wallpaper of a castle.....also very tempting.
Meanwhile, back to the pages.....these are really helping me make decisions about my paper pieces, the ones I spoke of here. Ideas are forming and paper is being stitched.....
09/05/2016
show and tell....a coverlet
It's finished. I love it. I am going to miss working on it. A video show and tell. Three minutes long.
Someone sent me this, thank you. A very worthwhile reason to get stitching.
If you are registered for ''wrapped and bound in stitch'' you should have received sign in information this morning. If you didn't receive that can you please let me know.
09/04/2016
paper on my mind
I've been doing that thing again...you know, looking at old work in order to inform new work. This piece is 11 years old. Can you believe that? 11 years, where has the time gone. Recently I have been fiddling a little with paper, no plans, just playing. I'm talking about these pieces.
I'm now wondering how the paper from then can work with the paper from now. Although I am starting a new ''cloth focused'' class tomorrow, on the side, in the background, away from class I also want to explore this paper fixation. The sampling below excites me too. Maybe this will come into play somewhere when I set aside some time for paper experiments.
There's a lot to think about, a lot of ideas bubbling away, a lot of sampling to be done. Let's see where it takes me. Let's see what I have to show for it 11 years from now.
09/03/2016
just embroidery and stuff
wet, damp stretched cloth
The past week or so....finishing a class, preparing to begin a new class. Planning the finishing touches for my gingham and silk coverlet and drooling over buttons. What's not to love........ Best of all? Today I am away with this wonderful person, we are visiting family, eating good food and having a ball.
09/02/2016
final pages
Paper dresses, press studs, hooks and eyes, page overlays. Clara has been titivated to the nth degree. I will miss her. I said earlier in the week that I would create an image heavy post about Clara. I will....but it will have to wait a few days.
These images are from our last day in school. our final assignment. The overlay in particular has get my imagination working overtime. There are so many options for development with that one, so many other applications for that process......be prepared to see something similar in the future.
Yesterday Facebook shared a memory with me. (it does that everyday) Yesterday the memory was of a magazine article from last year....a magazine article about moi :) :).
I was overwhelmed with the response on Facebook yesterday so thought I would share it here too.
09/01/2016
finishing touches
The top of my gingham and silk coverlet is finished, embroidered, titivated, embellished. It is now damp stretched and dry. It will stay laid upright against the cupboard for now until I am ready to put the back on. It's safer there, won't get creased. (I didn't stand it up until it was dry because all the water would have ran to the bottom and that won't do!!)
The next exciting part starts now...deciding on the cloth for the reverse, I chose Broderie Anglaise. I am sure that doesn't surprise you. Then there's pockets, should it have them? how many? where to put them?
I decided on two bright ones. I will reveal where I plan to put them when it's finished. Edges? What to do about the edges? Buttons.....yes buttons. There was a little of this,
There was a lot of stitching and hey presto.....15 buttons.
These may go on the reverse, they may go on an edge.....I haven't decided yet. I may put a few on the reverse and a few along an edge ............ we shall see.
08/31/2016
developing pages....
I have really enjoyed playing with this book, these pages over the past couple of days. Not being very comfortable with a pen or pencil I prefer to fold and stitch and because I'm not forcing myself to ''draw'' there isn't much angst involved here.
You might notice a little pink here on the gimp. That was present when I bought this. This gimp is very subtly space dyed with lilac and pale blue, not immediately obvious here. I'm guessing the pink is a fault in the dying process but I like it, I'm happy it's there.
( I always get asked about this notebook when I share it on here. It is this one)
Stitching a Story finished today. I have now listed that as a ''work on your own'' class here.
My new class, ''wrapped and bound in stitch'' begins on Monday. You can read more about that one here.
(it is listed as ''live''. That's not strictly true. All that means is it's happening now. (from Monday) Videos are delivered twice weekly and you can access those at a time to suit you. There is no need to sit by your computer at a time which isn't convenient for you )
This afternoon I am hoping to piece the back for my gingham and silk coverlet. Fingers crossed I have
a) enough cloth
and b) enough of an imagination to fit a few pockets in !!
08/30/2016
cutwork, gimp and fancy frocks
There aren't any problems in the embroidery department of Ruane Towers but there are plenty in the camera department. Two cameras, two non functioning cameras means photographs taken with a smart phone which whilst they may give quality in terms of detail fail on the brightness/lightness front. These have been edited in Photoshop but don't quite come up to scratch in my opinion...... I apologise. Sorry. I did my best.
So, the embroidery...silk, frocks, cutwork, gimp, a drawstring bag in progress. It needs more. I can't decide. I'm thinking. Can you hear the cogs turning?
08/29/2016
button page
We made buttons in class last week.....then we made a page to put them on. This page now forms part of the story for Clara. You must remember Clara? You can reacquaint yourself here if you have forgotten.
Sometime over the next week or so I will create a post dedicated to Clara, lots of images, a round up.
(if you are registered for ''Wrapped and bound in Stitch'' you should have received an e mail along with a short video from me this morning. If you didn't receive that can you please let me know)
08/28/2016
paper, stitch, doodle,
A finished page and the start of a new one. There is a short video about the pink and green page in this post....the last time you saw this. Yesterday after finishing the first page I made a start on the second.....
I folded the first page, just because.....I then stitched the folds down with simple straight stitches, alternate pink and green. I like how it allows a glimpse of the next page.
08/27/2016
bright cloth.....buttons
I have been buying a lot of bright and busily patterned fabric recently. These fabrics were bought with my new class in mind where I am hoping to combine them with white, snippets of pattern and bright colours with a white background.
(you can read more about my new class here. It starts in just over one week from now)
In order to get a ''feel'' for this new cloth I spent a little time yesterday afternoon folding and unfolding it, placing it together, comparing and thinking and was suddenly compelled to make the buttons. You can never have too many buttons. If all they ever do is brighten a little corner of a shelf they will have served a good purpose.
Back to the fabrics.....the top two in the last image were bought in France from the show where I was teaching, the other three from the Festival of Quilts. Although I love them all I particularly love the depth of colour in the top two. There is a different quality to the cloth with those two and the patterning appeals more. With that in mind I ordered more yesterday. Although I bought them from France they are available online and if you are even slightly tempted you will find them here. ( I haven't been paid or rewarded for this...I am merely spreading the fabric love, distributing the temptation in order that mine is not the only bank balance with a headache)
Now I am going to find a corner of a shelf for my buttons.....
08/26/2016
one seam, one hundred and one knots
First image, lowest seam running left to right.....29 inches, 101 bullion knots.Each bullion knot has 35 wraps......that makes a grand total of 3535 wraps. I need a lie down! In truth it was a pleasure, an exercise in relaxation and methodical stitch. I would go so far as to add meditative to that too but I still feel as if I want to say ''wow''.....I do this daily, nightly, hourly and never think about the numbers, the wraps, the knots.....it's almost automatic, eyes shut, lost in thought and moving my fingers without thinking. If I were to set you some homework.......count your stitches, count your wraps be they on French knots, bullion knots, cords...anything. Just do it and amaze yourself.
This piece is almost finished. There is a small square in progress for the final corner and then it can be backed, more pockets can be slipped into seams, titivation's for the edges can be considered and then it can be backed. The other day I spoke about this (the small check gingham option in pale grey) for the backing. I have changed my mind. I will take a few days to chose something else....I am leaning towards white. (no surprise there then)
08/25/2016
Allsorts
Thank goodness for my phone. Thank goodness for Instagram. Without either of those things you wouldn't have any images today. I'm not here you see......I am here....there's nothing wrong with me I am fighting fit. Someone not a million miles from here however has Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
So, images from the past few days. A glimpse of things you don't necessarily get to see. Normal service will be resumed tomorrow.....hopefully.
08/24/2016
two silk dresses
Following on from my ''stitching a story'' class I am creating a bag in which to keep my finished book. I think you have seen the early stages of this before but we now have two silk dresses appliqued to the surface, two silk dresses for Clara. I have laid the embroidered silk alongside a page from the book here where Clara is wearing a rather fetching paper dress, an earlier exercise in creating unique clothing for this little lady.
I'm not sure how much bigger her wardrobe will get before this drawstring bag is finished but I will keep you posted.
08/23/2016
paper and white
A new piece of white in progress. The teardrop shaped motif isn't finished yet, the embroidered insert isn't attached. There are two tiny beads visible in the second image, there are more of those scattered on this piece which aren't visible here. They look gold, they're not, they are more ''pearl'' like in real life continuing the white theme.
This piece will take a long time. I envisage it developing gradually as I become aware of what might compliment whilst I work on it. There is no fixed outcome in my mind, I'm going to let it evolve.
08/22/2016
a few French knots
I've been playing with Astrid again, titivating her a little with a scrap of paper and a few French knots.
I have started a new piece of paperwork following on from here but it's so dark and wet and dreary here that I couldn't face the challenge of trying to take photographs of pure white. Keep your fingers crossed for sunshine tomorrow please.
(book.....Astrid by Maria Jonsson)
08/21/2016
cloth inspiring thoughts of paper...
I pinned this edge on camera in this post. Last night I embroidered along the seam with bullion knots. It made me think of paper, it had me wondering if I could use it in a bigger piece with paper alongside it somehow. This morning I had a look, thought about it...
Now I'm thinking ......maybe not this actual piece of cloth but something similar in terms of texture along with the lace cloth which I used as a base for this. something along the lines of this piece.
I've got a lot of samples to create, a lot of thought doodles to get down on paper. I'm excited by the prospect of replacing greens with white, replacing silver kid leather with lace cloth...watch this space.
(the sample with the greens was created around 5 years ago. It has been carefully stored and cherished.)
08/20/2016
36 x 25 inches
36 x 25 inches refers to the size my coverlet will be when this final strip is added. For the sake of cohesion and consistency I have continued with the applique/ cutwork theme here. The gimp on this section is edged with French knots, long clusters of white pink and green which mirror some seams across the whole piece. When I get round to attaching this strip to the main section there will be more little pockets just like the green and pink ones you might be able to pick out in these images. As for the reverse, the backing......my indecisive head is still arguing about that. I have nothing in my stash but am being tempted by a pale grey and white gingham I have found online. What do you think? and......look at all that temptation!!
08/19/2016
seams and buttons
The last time you saw this I had merely pinned these pieces together on the video at the end of this post. (it's a repeat, you saw it before)
It has now been stitched together with buttonhole lace used to join each seam. I made three little, plain buttons and added those too. It's a sample, an exercise, a pass the time activity. Something to do whilst thinking about something else.....you know what I mean. (I know that you know, you do it too).
08/18/2016
swatches, a page
I started a new artist book last week....do you remember? I said it wouldn't be ready soon......it won't. I will put pages together whenever I have a half hour or so in which I feel inspired. That happened this morning when I glanced at the fabric I bought last week from the Festival of Quilts. Three fabric swatches and a row of French knots equal a simple, quick page exercise.
08/17/2016
more experimenting with paper
More paper samples, experiments, investigations....the cloth laid here was created for use with the paper, to compliment and extend the paper. This one is different to the last one which you can see here. At the moment there is no firm plan, I'm just playing and at the same time thinking, wondering, allowing ideas to come as I create these samples.
I have been working on my gingham coverlet too, trying to finish embroidery on the final section. Once that is complete I will have seams to titivate before I can back it, before I can finish it.
08/16/2016
a fancy hat and bag
Since you saw her last Clara has acquired a rather lovely backpack and a very trendy hat along with a matching embroidered cloth...tape measure related. It's been such a happy thing to do, this exercise, this class, a children's story and embroidery. Happy images, happy colours and very happy pieces of stitched cloth.
Of all the things Clara owns I covet the back pack. I am hoping to go some way to having one equally as lovely with this piece I showed you the other day. The surface patterning is different but the connection is there.
(I must tell you, the book I am embellishing is a V&A publication. Clara Button and the Magical Hat Day by Amy De La Haye and Emily Sutton.)
I have the paperback version.
08/15/2016
blue and white and glass beads......paper.
More work on the paper piece from a couple of days ago. Scraps of blue and white embroidered cloth are now secured behind open space and inside defined areas. beads have been added too. Whilst I was working on this more ideas came to mind, more ideas for sampling with paper. This one isn't finished, it needs more. There will be more work on the surface, in the white space and it may also find itself attached to another piece, extended.
A reminder for you of my new class.....not long now.....
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.
08/14/2016
a dress for a drawstring bag.....
Do you remember this post about Clara, the post where I showed progress with my story book from class? Some of the patterning which has developed during class is now being used to make a drawstring bag for my story book. Up to now there is a single embroidered dress appliqued to a silk surface along with clusters of French knots which will form another pattern further down the line.
Another embroidered dress has been started and in terms of more patterning to go along with the dresses I am thinking buttons, button shapes and maybe some Suffolk puffs.
Thank you for the concern yesterday....I no longer have cold feet....I managed to have a quite good sleep last night but I still have a very annoying and ''wear you down'' cough. It will pass.....(it had better pass).
08/13/2016
experiments with paper
I said it here.....I have a hankering for a new paper collection, paper samples, experiments, playtime bits of white paper with a little stitch, a little fabric and perhaps a little blue. This is the early stages of that hankering, a tiny amount of new work on paper laid with possible ideas for contrasts, patterns and complimentary pieces. There's a long way to go....
I'm feeling sorry for myself today...cough, cough, cough....all night last night. No sleep....yawn, yawn and the worst thing of all is this new day and living through it as if I am in some kind of twilight zone....brain not working, timing off, plans adrift.....oh dear....
and to cap it all.....my husband is sleeping after a night shift. I have cold feet. My socks are in the bedroom. If I go in to get some I will wake him. Looks like I'm going to be having a cold feet and coughing kind of day.....
08/12/2016
gingham, pockets, gimp and French knots....
Gimp secured with bullion knots, strips of French knots, French knots seams, pockets, lace.....surface adornments on the final panel of my gingham coverlet. I mustn't forget the cutwork and applique either.....
Yesterday I went to the Festival of Quilts. Obviously I went to look at quilts however I also went to shop. I intended to buy fabric to back this gingham coverlet.....sadly I got distracted by the most exciting sewing needles I have ever bought. I couldn't resist. A little fabric did find its way home with me too but I'm keeping that for my new class. (it starts very soon!) I guess I will just have to mail order something for the back of this and I still can't decide....bright or white? Answers, suggestions very, very welcome.
08/11/2016
08/10/2016
paper
I am going to repeat myself now but I stand by the thought process which tells me it's always a good thing to look back at past work. I say it a lot.....because it's true. Generally it reinspires, invigorates, excites....today it does all those things and has me hankering after another distraction. Now I am wondering do I even have the time to begin a new body, a new collection of paperwork. The answer is probably yes, I just need to manage my time more efficiently.
The reason for showing old work today? (and probably tomorrow too) I have the dreaded lurgy....cough, splutter, sore throat, headache....this will pass....
08/09/2016
hello again....
Neglected? according to someone not a million miles from here....(3779 miles to be precise) you know who you are. Actually, I have to agree.....it's been languishing, cast aside for newer and more urgent cloth. It wasn't forgotten though, never. Just as I am desperate to finish the gingham cloth, (like I said yesterday) I am the opposite with this, prepared to play the long game. I actually think I will be a little sad when this is finished, it will be like saying goodbye to an old friend. This piece has been ''in progress'' for years......and years.....that's a big chunk of my life. It may well not get finished for an equally long time but for now I wanted to add a new panel, to extend it a little more and handle it for a while...lovingly.
If you are new to my blog there is a short video here (from some time ago) about this cloth.
Stitching a story girls....I can't remember if I'm supposed to send your videos today or tomorrow, can't remember what I said so I will do it today, in around an hour, sharpen your pencils!
08/08/2016
pockets, panels and French knots.
The final panel for my pink and gingham coverlet has been put together. Two tiny, spotty pockets have been inserted into two of the seams and one seam has been embroidered with a mass of French knots. That is my ''favourite thing of the day'', that seam. A smaller panel is also finished and damp stretched, you can see the applique and cutwork from that piece in the second image.
I do have a certain amount of doubt about posting this piece in progress for you to see as it can be quite repetitive. Perhaps you are fed up of gingham, fed up of pink. I do want to keep working on it though, to finish it, to be able to use it. I guess if you're bored with it you can have a holiday from me, go off somewhere, put your feet up and put the kettle on. I would completely understand......so long as you keep a bit of cake for me too.
Later this week I am hoping to buy some cloth to back this piece. I can't decide though, white or bright? I think I will have to wait and see what my options are when I get there. Ideally this coverlet will be backed, titivated and finished before the new class begins.....then you will be seeing a wrapping cloth evolve, a bright and cheery wrapping cloth....at least that's the plan.
08/07/2016
It must seem like I get thread delivered everyday......I don't, I just run out of everything at the same time. This coloured broder arrived a few days ago, it's only a part order so I expect more any day soon.
These images were taken over the past week and you will notice the reappearance of my gingham pin pillow. I have so many pin pillows I decided to rotate them....it's the turn of gingham. If I was organised I would place pin pillows strategically around the house. I'm not organised. They are all piled together.
08/06/2016
tiny scraps equal a tiny artist book
Piles of little scraps, embroidery offcuts, samples, all stored carefully and neatly, kept safe on a shelf. Thing is you can't really ''see'' them, can't be inspired by them as they are stacked up, piled one on top of another. What to do? Separate them in a kind of ''one for you one for me'' way then make two little books, ''one for you and one for me''.
I was going to say shortly......but I don't know if it actually will be shortly so I shall say ''sometime'' in the future these will be finished and one will go in the shop. The other will go on the shelf in the gap left by the scraps....for me.
And....3 weeks from now ''wrapped and bound'' in stitch will begin. A cloth making class, an embroidery class, a fabric, thread, pocket, applique, cutwork, titivation, embellish, adorn......and on and on class. You can read more about that here.
and I must tell you.....one of my neighbours had a baby boy on Thursday.....I visited this morning bearing gifts. You forget how wonderful it is to cradle a new born baby, how comforting and warm that is. He is so tiny, you forget that too. Holding him this morning was all I needed to complete my day.
08/05/2016
a white surface
I've been a bit ''off'' this week creatively, a little short on ideas and excitement for embroidery. I know.....it's a curse. It doesn't happen very often, (thankfully) but it's so hard to accept and climb out of. The ''page'' post from yesterday was all wrapped up with those feelings as was the blue and white post from earlier in the week.....I have many ''light bulb'' moments in a queue, all waiting for the big switch on.
There is class of course.....I have a ton of ideas for that, no struggling where Clara is concerned.
Meanwhile, last night I picked my white piece up and added a few little appliques, relaxing stitch, applique and bullion knots, extending a white surface.....try it, it's calming.
I think I am going to cut some paper now, play with a few little pages, maybe put a little artist book together, lose myself in scraps and little samples. I will let you know if that does the trick, brings the spark back.
08/04/2016
pages
Compositions, collections, pages, samples, a selection of what I choose to look through when I have a little time to ponder. Some of these are from way back, some more recent. They are all ''favourites'' but today the light grey with fine pencil lines is my first choice. Tomorrow it might well be a different one which attracts my attention more.
08/03/2016
the next piece of the coverlet puzzle
First picture, top left corner......the next piece for this coverlet which I fall in love with a little more each day. This latest piece needs more embellishment, more cutwork, more applique but in the last image I have pinned it to the main body of the piece just because....because I'm impatient maybe. Impatient to imagine how it will look, impatient to get it finished. I'm not usually in a hurry with my work but I'm breaking that habit with this cloth.
Thank you so much for all the Clara love after yesterdays post....wow.....who knew you would be so fascinated by that. I wish you could see the work the girls are producing in that class.......you would definitely be blown away.
08/02/2016
Progress with Clara
You haven't see Clara for a while have you? There is a glimpse for you today of how she is progressing...who knew a storybook could provide so much inspiration for stitch?
She has new clothes, several very prettily adorned skirts and she frequents the most highly embellished houses and galleries imaginable. She even has wallpaper which zips together. Her home is tied together with ribbon and chain stitch......I wonder if we can move in?
This piece is progressing....I am not showing that yet because I don't want to induce a yawning epidemic as really it doesn't look much different from what you have seen before. That's usually the way with a big cloth, cohesion and continuity dictate the use of the same colour and process throughout. At the moment I am working on a gingham section......you will see it soon though because that's all I am doing at the moment, (aside from class work) and the blue and white doodle from yesterday is waiting patiently for my light bulb moment.............I will keep you posted when that happens.
(a reminder about my new class which starts in less than four weeks......you can read about that here.)
08/01/2016
blue and white doodle....
You know me...always rifling through boxes, cupboards, shelves looking for ''old'' work, ''old'' samples, new sparks, more information. That's what I was doing this morning. These two pieces grabbed my attention today. The blue and white doodle has mileage, I'm sure of it.....now I need to figure out what? Where? and how....
As for the lace piece.....there's always another way to play with lace, always a new embellishment which can be added to change the surface. There are tiny hexagons on this one, I don't know if you can make those out. So there's another idea to think about, another challenge...hexagons and lace.
07/31/2016
white scraps and a gimp seam.
Even with just a tiny amount of attention this white piece is evolving. Last night, a couple of hours, a looped gimp seam was finished, two scraps of white lace found their way onto the surface and one bumpy bit was added. All in all a successful couple of hours.
I do love that seam. Prepare to see a few more of those in the future....not on here but on other things. It's fiddly but very rewarding. It's tough to get your needle through at times but it's worth it. The white scraps are just that, little scraps, offcuts from something else which I saved. it's obvious now....they were waiting for me to start this piece.
07/30/2016
three little pockets
My recent ''pocket itch'' has now been scratched......a pink and lemon spotty pocket has been placed into a seam on my gingham and silk coverlet. That makes three little pockets on this piece up to now.....there will be more.
Embroidery on this floral silk panel was finished before it was damp stretched and added to the rest of the cloth. The floral silk piece measured 19 x 9 inches and now that is attached the whole piece measures 36 x 19 inches...it's growing....
I have no idea how big I want this to be.....I'm just going to keep going. Later today I will put another gingham section together, that will mean another seam, (eventually) and of course another pocket.
We will be doing something similar to this in my new class ''wrapped and bound in stitch'' which starts in four weeks. You can take a look at that here and here. When I say similar I mean similar in terms of a cloth, a cloth created form smaller pieces of embroidery. Surface embellishment will differ from this....my class cloth will be ''encrusted'', tactile , highly textured....at least that's the plan.
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