11/18/2022
white for a page
Remember this post?
I have moved this little book on with some pieced vintage white and hand embroidery.
The edge of the page has also been altered, cut down and tiny pom poms have been added there.
(if you are not seeing images and can only see code where they should be, please click the code and the image should appear. I am struggling to see the images here, yet again a Typepad issue...silently screaming)
11/16/2022
page fillers
These newly embroidered white pieces are being auditioned as possible page fillers for this little, unfinished artist book.
The large piece is too big but the smaller one is definitely a 'possible'.
That won't stop me from putting another little composition together this afternoon though as there is more than one page here that needs attention.
11/14/2022
extending pattern
The development of this piece is making me very happy.
If you compare the image today with these I hope you can see the development of the pattern, the altering and extension of the design.
My hope now is that by altering the size of the rose pattern I will have more hand embroidery options on those surfaces.
(I'm late today.....I have been to Scotland and back in 7 hours.....go me!)
11/12/2022
altering papers with stitch
Stash building continues, this time with paper.
Earlier in the week it was cloth.
These papers receive hand stitch so well and it's always a relief to find some in my stash when I am putting an artist book together.
Equally, it's extremely disappointing when I don't have any to hand.
11/10/2022
paper, stitch, crystals and a zip
Paper work continues in 'sewing circle', the piece with the zip fastener being our newest sample.
Hopefully you will notice I am continuing the run of embellishments on the outer surface of the lift up section.
The run of crystals is unfinished as I have ran out of those. (they are on order now)
There is more pin pricking to do before this one is complete.
The piece with the row of web stitches is one of three pieces that I have mentioned before, this being another.
I'm aiming to begin finishing this three section piece in our videos next month.
(A word on the background in these images.....white is difficult to photograph especially when the weather is gloomy. Laying white on a background with colour and pattern helps with the photography. I have used this ledger a few times recently for that purpose and you can read more about it here.)
11/09/2022
the process, the results and the potential
This is a follow on from yesterday....making lace cloth and big plans.
The first image I took yesterday, the process.
The results are below. I have created six pieces so far, I need many, many more.
And below you can see the potential. The embellished piece is constructed from lace cloth. It also has uses in artist books which you can see here.
11/08/2022
Sewing machine
The trouble with having lots of plans is the hours available in a day don't care how much you want to do.
I started making lace cloth today for a long held idea, it's been brewing for a while and this is the first chance I've had to begin.
(I'm owning up to using an old image here. It's so dreary here today I couldn't get a decent shot but the piece in this image is exactly what I am up to now along with two other variations.)
The video....that's from around 20 minutes ago....
11/07/2022
Zoom
It's that time of the month again. It's Monday and it's four weeks since the last time this happened. It's Zoom Monday.
We had a gathering at 10am this morning and we will gather again at 7pm this evening.
Two meetings are needed to catch all the time zones.
This morning we chatted about paperwork and there were demonstrations too. It will be the same tonight except there will be different faces.
I get so much pleasure from these online get togethers. I never thought I would, I have always been camera shy but then nobody is looking at me, they are looking at my needle and thread.
11/06/2022
re examining
As I am consumed by paperwork and pin pricking at the moment as a process of surface design I have spent some time today looking closer at past works.
I see so much potential for development here but I also see the lack of hours in a day.
There is one piece of 'paperwork' from class that I haven't shared here yet and I have plans for that, to work on that in our live Zoom sessions tomorrow.
It's a distraction, my plans are probably unexpected but I have another one of those itches I just have to scratch.
11/04/2022
hooks, eyes and paper
Fingers crossed everything appears to be resolved with Typepad.
(I hope I don't live to regret saying that)
So here we go with todays post, covering my eyes with my hands and only peeping through my fingers as I'm scared it will all go wrong and the host will go down again.
The promised paperwork.
This work is evolving in my subscription learning class.
One of three pieces, this section requires the most time and is by far the fiddliest on account of the hooks and eyes.
If you compare it to the last time you saw it here, I hope you get an appreciation of the progress I have made.
Hooks and eyes have featured in my work on and off for a long time, this is an example from 2011.
(the post is on my old blog and is quite a good read if I do say so myself!)
There is another example here from 2018.
I'm hoping to finish this section today and move on to the other two. That will allow me to finish this piece in my next videos for class.
11/03/2022
lined with white.
There have been some issues with this blog over the past week or so.
This is a Typepad fault which they say is being fixed.
Until things are running smoothly here I will also post to my Ko-Fi site should you have trouble accessing my posts and images.
The Ko-Fi site is here.
I know I promised paperwork in this post when I was here last but I'm not sure my membership groups have seen that yet so next time....
I have been busy though, lining these little white embroidered pieces with a plain backing.
They are moveable linings, they lift away so I'm not trying to hide the reverse, I guess I just thought they would 'raise' the status of the embroidery if that makes sense.
Going back to the Typepad issues I mention at the top of this post...the situation is causing me a lot of anxiety, I have years and years of my life wrapped up in this blog.
I am following typepad on Twitter and their updates do not fill me with confidence.
As I said though, I will also post to Ko-Fi. (you are able to subscribe over there if you wish to, for free)
There should be a little follow button in the top right hand corner of the page.
10/28/2022
82 bullion knots
The title refers to the bullion knots but in truth there is more going on here than those.
This one also has a little guilloche stitch along with some Turkey work which don't feature as regularly as the bullions.
If you'd like to 'peruse' my history with bullion knots then you can just follow this link. Todays post will be at the top of that but just scroll past this one.
There is also a video here with a '35 wrap' bullion knot 'how to'.
As for Guilloche stitch, it's been a long time! That is a really pretty stitch, delicate too and there is a 'how to' video of that one here.
I had aimed to post every day this week but Typepad has been malfunctioning, very frustrating. Fingers crossed they have sorted it out now.
Anyway, I am off to London for a few days tomorrow. I may post before I leave but if not, when I return my subscription learning videos will have gone live, been seen by the girls and I will be able to share some new 'paperwork' with you.
10/27/2022
more white
I'm continuing to create these little white pieces, this being the latest one.
Each of these measures no more than 7 x 7 inches with a few variations in between.
One of these pieces can be seen here and if you keep scrolling down my home page there are two more.
This morning I have been pinning 'reverses' for them, small pieces of plain cloth which will serve as a very loose lining.
The background here.....an old 'ledger' crammed with samples which I speak about in more detail in this post.
(Typepad was having issues yesterday. I apologise if images were slow to load)
10/25/2022
pin pricking
The two pieces on the left of these images are works in progress for 'sewing circle' where we are currently pin pricking, using that process as a design tool.
There is much more of this happening behind the scenes which I am unable to share at the moment as my groups haven't seen it yet but I will share on here just as soon as I can.
Pin pricking is something I have used for many years and I have laid the current pieces across another example.
The old pieces are mounted into a sketchbook, a sketchbook which has the title 'doodle doo' on its cover and which I am sure some of you remember.
There is more of that sketchbook here if you'd like to take a look.
10/24/2022
sorting out
This task has needed doing for a long time!! Bits and bobs in no order, things in the wrong place.
I started sorting it out this morning after my lodger had left.
My lodger? My sons puppy who I have been minding for five days.
When he comes I have to move everything, that causes a little disruption as my 'stuff' is mostly next to me on the sofa and when he isn't lying on my knee he is lying on the sofa where my 'stuff' usually lives.
If you were to visit unexpectedly I'd have to move it for you too, unless of course you wanted to stand!
10/23/2022
hand embroidery with vintage scraps
*****
Gathering, considering, basting then embellishing, mostly vintage scraps.
I'm enjoying working these small pieces as an alternative to the paperwork which is unseen but ongoing.
White....it's also lovely to reconnect with white and only white.
10/22/2022
Saturday
My table this morning, it's all paperwork as you can see.
I'm prepping for Sewing Circle and trying to catch up with work for that too.
Why is it always me that's behind and not the girls?
In case you haven't been here for a while, some images which sum up the last few/several posts.
You will notice some cloth in there. I am picking little scraps up every so often and sewing them together by hand, adding a little patchwork here and there.
10/21/2022
one of three
This is one of three pieces which will be joined when they are all embellished.
You last saw this here and I hope you can see how much development has happened since then.
The next stage for this one needs to wait until I make my next videos for my Ko-Fi membership sometime next week.
In the meantime I am going to put more of this cloth work together.
10/18/2022
a little patchwork
Last time I was here I mentioned how I wanted to keep working on cloth in some small way despite having a few paper projects in progress too.
These two little samples filled that gap, satisfied that urge yesterday. They are still very much 'in progress' and when finished will be kept in my 'stash' file and most likely find their way, eventually, into a little artist book.
10/16/2022
pieces of a paperwork puzzle
This is the work I spoke about last time I was here.
We started work on this piece in our last sewing circle session and I'm progressing it outside of that forum ready to move the girls on to the next steps.
There's a theme here isn't there....it's the patterned paper which I am also using in this work.
Although I love working with papers I miss the handle of cloth, the softness and the possibilites so I think I need to reconnect with that if only for today.
The paper pieces won't languish for long though, they are equally attracting my attention.
10/14/2022
fold, cut and stitch.
Were you here yesterday? how did you get on? From my end there were zero images and I was unable to post! It appears to be fixed today.....keep everything crossed.
The new 'project' seen here has had more work.
Folded pages, cutting out, adding embroidery to the page along with stitched pieces.
It's fiddly but what's new.....I love a challenge.
I have more 'paperwork' evolving too from Sewing Circle. That will get attention later today.
10/11/2022
Zoom
I hosted two Zoom sessions yesterday, live embroidery, live Q&A, live chat and feedback.
This was my space when I finished the second one.
There's more to embroidery than needle and thread! Who knew.....
10/10/2022
pockets for embroidery
Most of my weekend was spent gathering, a very lovely and exciting way to pass the time.
Pieces of embroidered paper and cloth were collected then placed in hand stitched pockets ready to be sent off to my 'stash' members.
Once I have made it to the post office and these are on their way I hope to devote more time to my new project and my 'paperwork'.
10/08/2022
beginning
I spoke about starting a new notebook, a stitched book of design ideas here and here.
This is the start of that project. It's very early days.
More work will be added to this first page, more torn papers, more scraps of lace and a lot more hand embroidery.
At the moment my favourite area is the buttonhole lace around the cut out section and how that frames the stitched piece below.
10/06/2022
pieces of paperwork
As I mentioned last time I was here we are playing with 'paperwork' in class.
I mentioned how this work was inspiring me to begin a new design collection and the cogs are already turning for that one.
Think paper, think altered paper, torn, pieced, think lace and hand embroidery......I can't wait.
10/04/2022
87 videos
We are covering 'paperwork' in my online learning forum at the moment and it's giving me the urge to start another design ledger.
Once I have finished my current pieces, (for which there is a deadline) I will be moving on to a new ledger/artist book/ design collection.
The work in today's images is from a past ledger class and as a reminder, if you sign up to any tier of my subscription learning you get free access to that class, 87 videos and countless images.
Membership levels start at only £5 a month and you can take a look at those here.
Meanwhile....I must crack on with what I'm doing so I can begin work on my new paper pieces.....more of that next time.
10/03/2022
pockets and embroidery
I've been a bit distracted by pockets.....and adding a bobbly fringe to some pleating.
That's not why I have been absent for the past few days though.
I have been in London visiting with Stanley, (on the right) and later this week I will be visiting with Sonny (on the left).
Stanley and I went to Liberty where I may have bought some fabric.......he will very soon be a Liberty veteran with his own loyalty card!
09/27/2022
thirty
Now I know why I have used so much white thread lately......
09/25/2022
artist book, continuing....
Following on from this post I am continuing to create inserts for the pages in this little artist book.
The latest piece here is just paper, torn papers joined with hand embroidery stitches.
Occasionally I add small pieces of cloth or lace to this work but the piece here really doesn't need any.
There have been a few new people signing up to my subscription learning programme over the past couple of days, thank you.
There is no end point to this new way of teaching, to the videos etc which are provided so it's never going to be too late. You also get access to all learning resources up to the point you subscribe along with access to a complete, past class.
If you have ever been interested in my 'paperwork' pieces, we are working on that process next week.
(I'm having an image issue my end. If you can't see the images try refreshing the page)
09/23/2022
artist book pieces
I've diverted from white over the past couple of days and am working on pieced and embroidered paper to add more to this artist book.
There are another two of these pieces waiting in the wings, almost finished so I'm really pleased with progress here.
09/20/2022
09/18/2022
'to do'
This is my embroidery 'to do' pile for today.
09/16/2022
edges of white
There are several finished pieces of white on white embroidery here, mostly created with a mix of paper and lace.
(I have laid them on an embroidered cloth for photography purposes)
The white pieces are for my 'stash' tier over on Ko-Fi, my new online teaching platform.
There are three levels of learning offered with the most basic at 5 GBP per month giving monthly access to an hours worth of hand embroidery videos.
I have also recently added a free 'past' class to all subscribers and you can read about that here.
Things are a little hectic at home so my presence here may be a little hit and miss for the next few days.
Hopefully I will be back sooner than I think!!
09/13/2022
free (past) class for subscribers
There was a very unexpected response to my images last time I was here.
There was 'lovely embroidery' but mostly there was 'tell me about the background'.
The images here are from the same body of work as that background, work completed during a past class, 'Ledgers, a record of stitch'.
It just so happens, this work came up in our monthly Zoom meetings yesterday too. (Zoom meetings for my online learning subscription groups)
Because of that, because of the benefit access to this class will obviously add to my groups I am now offering access to this class free of charge with all subscribers at any level on my subscription site.
You can read more about that here.
Now....I have more white to embellish.
09/11/2022
white on a paperwork background
Work on white continues....these pieces are a mix of paper, old cloth and lace all hand embroidered and hand embellished.
Today I laid them on a paperwork background, it helps with the photographs.
Next time in Sewing Circle we will begin to explore paperwork and the piece today has given me a few ideas of where to start.
09/07/2022
hand embroidery
It's not paper and it's not lace, it's cloth which you haven't really seen much of lately.
This work has been happening in the background whilst I have been sharing my white paper and lace work on here.
With French knots, little patches, piping cord, bullion knots and a few dangly things these pieces are from my hand embroidery project over on Ko-Fi.
It's almost finished and will hopefully be completed in my next monthly post for my subscription learning groups.
09/03/2022
hand embroidery and surfaces for stitch
Hand embroidery continues, some on paper, some on cloth.
The main piece here is paper, just paper.
I have also been creating new surfaces for hand embroidery on my sewing machine, a little lace cloth and a piece with net and silk velvet.
09/01/2022
eleven pieces of white
I now have eleven pieces of hand pieced and hand embroidered white, a combination of cloth, paper and lace.
I'm not sure how many I need for my stash tier but it'll be a simple count and I don't think I am far off.
The latest piece is the prominent piece in the second image.
I doubt I will ever tire of work like this.
08/30/2022
three finished and two recently pieced
There are three finished, purely paper pieces here along with two larger pieces which were put together this morning.
The larger pieces are a mix of paper and cloth and as yet are just pinned.
I get a lot of pleasure creating bigger pieces from scraps.
My advice? Never throw anything away.
08/28/2022
gathering
I know I said yesterday that I would show you my latest paper stitching next time I was here but that is not quite ready yet.
I wasn't intending to post today but I thought I'd share some bits I have been gathering for more paper/cloth/lace compositions.
I hope you're having a lovely Sunday.
08/27/2022
five buttons
Finishing touch, five hand wrapped white buttons to complete this piece you last saw here.
These white pieces you have been seeing for some time are all part of my new subscription learning programme as are the pieces you saw here.
This new way of teaching means you can sign up anytime and automatically get access to everything posted to this point without the need to wait for an email from me. It happens just like magic.
Back to embroidery though, I'm a little bit in love with each of the white pieces and hope I don't have trouble parting with them when the time comes.
Last night I began work on something similar but different. Similar because it's mostly white but different because it's purely paper (the other white pieces have small amounts of lace in them) it's also a lot smaller, it's teeny. I will show you that next time in fact I am hoping to have more than one by next time.
For the last few days I have been here with most of my family for a beautiful wedding.
I really didn't want to leave.
My boys enjoyed it too and very nearly upstaged the bride!
08/22/2022
this and that
I have quite a few things 'on the go' at the moment, all tied up with my subscription learning programme.
The work with white continues, this piece is almost finished and the hexagon piece is a follow on from something I am working on with all my membership levels.
I am enjoying the more relaxed pace of this new way of teaching.
It will be a while until my next post here as I am going away for a few days with my wider family.
There will be a wedding and there will also be cake.
08/20/2022
two white
As you can see, white is still dominating here.
I'm piecing papers, lace and snippets of other things to create these little compositions which are then embroidered by hand.
(they are laid here on backgrounds I created some time ago to help with the photos, white on its own is horrendous to photograph)
The piece on the left in the first image isn't finished yet, there are still a couple of edges which need adorning.
That will happen later as will the piecing of the next one.
08/18/2022
embroidery and pages
Paper, folded and stitched pages, cloth, hand embroidery.....so much going on.
I'd like to stitch and fold more pages to be honest but I have a pile of things waiting for a needle and thread and the last thing I need is another distraction.
Have a little self control Karen!
08/16/2022
stitched and unstitched
The collection of embroidered pieces for my 'stash tier' is growing.
I only hope I am able to part with these when the time comes!
Yesterday I had two wonderful sessions on Zoom with members of my subscription learning programme.
If you would like to join us you can read about the different subscription levels here.
08/15/2022
weekend
This was the normal part of my weekend, making a video about notebook stitching and artist books for everyone in my membership tiers.
We discussed these processes again this morning in a Zoom meeting and found a way forward with something completely unrelated! Very productive.
The rest of my weekend? Well....no mains water for 32 hours, major pipe burst, the entirety of two towns waterless on one of the hottest weekends of the year.
I now have water. I'm not sure if it's mains water or water from one of the many water tankers lining the streets and I'm not sure how long I will have it for so if you could all do a water dance or something it would be appreciated.
08/13/2022
08/12/2022
froth
Happy days! My sewing machine is back from the sewing machine hospital.
I am now on a lace cloth making mission.
08/11/2022
lace cloth and embroidered paper
The paper on the left of this piece was stitched on the sewing machine before French knots were added to the gridded area. There is also lace cloth here along with some decorative, soft paper.
I'm actually making more lace cloth today too as my sewing machine has only just come back from the sewing machine hospital and I fell behind, my stash ran low.
This new piece is laid across open artist book pages for photography purposes. Don't imagine for one minute that sunshine is your friend when photographing white!
It definitely helps if the camera has something 'solid' to focus on.
08/08/2022
two finished
Remember in this post I was considering finishing touches for these embroidered pieces? Well not much from that collection made the final cut, only the off white pompoms.
In addition to those I hand wrapped some tiny buttons, finished a couple of edges and hey presto.
It's busy here at the moment, the best kind of busy.
My daughter is here from London with Stanley and Sonny is here a lot to play with his big cousin.
These boys light up my days.
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