11/22/2012
Thursday's ironing board.....
Today's
ironing board and tomorrow, Friday, you will have yesterdays ironing
board. Back to front enough for you? The ironing board is up a lot
lately but fortunately not for ironing. For some things it's the ideal
height to work on and if anything does need a little steaming with the
iron I am ready, prepared. Of course that only applies to un titivated
cloth but it has to be pristine before the needle and thread goes in so
it's best to be ready.
Some of this work is me being exceptionally well prepared for Alchemy...or practicing things that may arise during the course of Alchemy. The remainder is for school...pay attention girls. So it's been a productive Thursday so far. I have made videos, been to the petrol station, made a couple of brews, eaten lunch, and provided a taxi service for my son.......I hope Father Christmas is taking note.
I'm thinking it may be quiet in cyber space today as a lot of you will be munching Turkey and having a ball.....if you are then enjoy the feast and Happy Thanksgiving!
11/21/2012
sorry.....
I know.....you're sick of them now. I'm not making any today I promise. There are other, more pressing things on today's agenda but these hand bound buttonholes are from last night. If I didn't show you these all I would have an image of is my coffee cup as aside from making these all I did was brew up and these deserve an outing as they were so difficult to make. The cloth is vintage and actually disintegrated in my hand as I was working with it. Good thing I like a challenge...there was a huge sigh of relief when I finished them I can tell you.This morning I have been titivating on the ironing board....and not buttonholes. Despite this new love of mine I do have other things that I want to do. The ironing board titivation will have to wait until Friday before it gets on here though as it's something for school. Later today I will be making hexagons...now that's exciting. Did I have those on my obsession list? I can't remember.
How long is it since you were last here? Did you miss Alchemy? I was thinking about putting a newsletter together but there isn't any news apart from Alchemy so it would be pretty boring. I am getting my hall decorated next week...now that's news! The shoe situation has improved. Do you remember that conversation? So next week, providing my wallpaper arrives a very nice man is coming to titivate my hallway. That isn't newsletter worthy really though is it. So if you did miss the announcement re Alchemy 2013 then you can read it here. It has it's own special page.
Finally...I have a new toy. If all goes to plan and I have half a brain then you should see 'related posts' at the end of this....who knew.
11/20/2012
seven.....
Yes, seven hand bound buttonholes....draped casually on top of my veil/festooned thingy. I haven't forgotten about that by the way. I keep it close so that when it shouts ''please don't forget me'' I can hear it loud and clear. Anyway I digress. Seven hand bound buttonholes on white silk. These will go in my ledger just as soon as I stop drooling on them. I have more plans for these. Not these actual ones but the process. Maybe tomorrow, I can't promise as I have a million other things to do but believe me I am going to try. My mission for the day....make time for hand bound buttonholes.
Alchemy 2013 now has its own page, just look up, skywards. There it is under the header image. I will post on there when I sell out....wouldn't that be nice.
I just popped over to flickr to check class was behaving itself. You have been so good today!!! Lots of pictures. I will be back later to compliment and shower you with praise, meantime keep an eye on your mail because I have a video for you.
11/19/2012
Obsession.....
You know my obsession? Which one I hear you say...I know, there are lots. Pockets, bullion knots, French knots, white, damp stretching.....I could go on but I will spare you. It's just that I think I have a new one......hand bound buttonholes. I say this as a warning, I care about you and your visual sensitivities. I think you will be seeing a lot of them in the future so delete me from your bookmarks now, in advance.
Today I feel like a small child in a sweet shop. There is so much to play with and I don't know what to pick up and fiddle with next. Doodle doo is there....and cutwork. Look girls, (embroidery school girls....it's cutwork!!) I thought about you when I was doing this last night. Practice what you preach Karen. Then there are hand bound buttonholes, insert a big sigh here. Actually I do know what I am playing with next, hand bound buttonholes. See, I made a decision, I can do it.
Thanks so much for the interest in Alchmey 2013. It astounds me that you actually have faith in me it really does. I promise I won't let you down. If you haven't a clue what I am talking about then you can read about it here. Eventually it will have it's own page....when playtime is over.
11/18/2012
Alchemy 2013
It's a long one today so put the kettle on and make yourself comfortable....first things first, embroidery and a very short video. I worked more on edges last night, not many edges as I had unexpected visitors. Nevertheless, an evening isn't complete without a little titivation. I even damp stretched it for you so it would be all crisp and lovely....as opposed to wrinkled and a dogs dinner. I talk more about this piece in the video but basically I am explaining the origin of the cloth....please watch the video, pretty please...it won't send you to sleep I promise.
Then we have ''Alchemy''. My new, long thought out, longer in the compiling and quite (very?) exciting new class. ALL the information is on here. For me it is a little daunting, from my perspective and considering my intended role it is a huge commitment. But I have faith, I am excited, it is a challenge, it has the potential to be an amazing experience for everyone.
Alchemy 2013
The medieval forerunner of chemistry, based on the supposed transformation of matter, esp. that of base metals into gold.
Aims and Content
During the course of this 12 week self directed learning package you will produce a unique piece of embroidered art with inspiration, technique, process and final outcomes determined by you, the artist. Your art piece can be created using virtually any media such as cloth or paper. I will serve as mentor, guiding and advising you at each stage.
A knowledge of basic embroidery is required for this class.
The early stages of this programme will reinforce the importance of drawing or ‘’mark making’’ and visual reference as a precursor to design for embroidery. Following initial investigations within a ledger concerning pattern, shape and colour it is envisaged that you will sample ideas with stitch as a means of identifying preferences regarding technique for use in your final piece.
Practical demonstrations will be built into the 12 week programme alongside regular appraisals of work in progress. Demonstrations will be determined by the needs of the group, driven by individual requirements re technique and process.
My Role
I will serve as mentor, guiding and advising you where appropriate, perhaps suggesting artists for you to study where I feel this is relevant to your own investigations. I will demonstrate specific techniques you may wish to use, appraise your work in progress and advise on surface design and colour choices. This is not an exhaustive list, merely an indication of the commitment I will provide to you and your chosen path.
Ownership
Your personal connection to this project will be its driving force. This process belongs to you, is self driven and all creative investigations and final outcomes should speak of you.
Demonstrations
These will be provided as and when required depending on the needs of the group and the individuals within the group. The requirements regarding the demonstration of specific process and technique will not be known initially but will become evident as the course progresses.
Forum
Demonstrations will be hosted on a dedicated, password protected blog. It will not be possible for video to be downloaded. All videos will have to be viewed through the
medium of the class blog. This is to ensure my copyright is protected. I hope you understand the importance of that particular aspect of this class.
A dedicated flickr group will be available where it is hoped you will post images allowing me to assess your progress and appraise/advise. Due to the nature of this programme the flickr group will be private, accessible only to those invited to join the group...in essence only those who have paid for the course. I anticipate certain comments will contain content which should only be available to those who have paid to participate in the class. This will provide protection not only for my copyright but for you and the monies you have paid to participate in the group.
You are more than welcome to post images of your work on your own blogs etc without divulging any of the process provided as part of the class.
***to clarify.....Images within the group will remain private, hidden from the wider flickr community. This is to protect the privacy of any comments I may make on your work***
Starting Points
Listed below are suggestions regarding starting points for your work, suggestions for images or objects you may wish to investigate for inspiration and development. You may choose any of those listed here or alternatively you are welcome to select an inspirational source of your own.
Reminiscence
Childhood, motherhood, school books, birth certificates, heirlooms, children’s drawings, fairy tales, dolls houses, family photographs, vintage domestic cloth.
Domesticity
Cutlery, whisks, crockery, floral furnishing fabrics, painterly wall coverings, framed artworks, home baked bread, cakes, cups and saucers, teapots, pans.
World Community
Global living, travel, natural fibres, folklore, ethnic art, Peruvian, Mexican, Japanese, Inuit, Aboriginal, rich embellishment, shisha work, kantha work.
Future Living
Innovation, new technology, computers, modern architecture, sound waves, kaleidoscopes, mobile phones, graphic symbols, signage, techno textiles.
Natural World
Coral, shells, sea life, animals, moss, plant life, volcanic rock, fossils, rock formations, agriculture, oceans, weather, cloud formations.
Expected Outcomes
It is anticipated that by the end of our 12 week run you will have a greater appreciation of the design process which has led or will lead to the completion of your finished piece. In addition it is hoped that you will have created an informative reference in the form of a working ledger alongside a collection of embroidered samples.
Ledger
Your Ledger will document your progress throughout the course and is a crucial element in the creation of your finished piece. A record of your experience, the ledger may include sketches, thoughts, diagrams, notes, photographs, artist/designer images that inspire and influence you, computer generated imagery, printed fabric, embroidered samples. This is not an exhaustive list, you may add anything of your choosing to your ledger which connects you to the work.
Registration
Upon registration you will receive further information in e mail form containing a brief outline of our weekly plan along with a list of suggested equipment for the course.
Access to all resources is permanent. There are no deadlines. I will remain available to you after the conclusion of our 12 week period in an advisory, appraisal role...however...new video demonstrations will not be provided after the 12 week period has ended.
Commencing January 7 2013
11/17/2012
edges and doodle doo
I had a real dilemma today....so many images. Should I leave some out for tomorrow? Which ones should I leave out? Indecisive to the last I included them all. Last night I worked an edge and I worked more in doodle doo. Last nights edge is the double French knot thing on either side of a small, miniscule piece of trim visible at the far right of the second image. That really didn't take long at all..........it is very small. Aside from that edge we have bullion's and lots of them, a few web stitches and some prairie points.
If I were in a decisive mood as oposed to an indecisive one I would hazard a guess that this wrapping cloth is almost finished...that's decisive me. Indecisive me thinks the recipient deserves more blood sweat and tears....a wrapping cloth has to be drenched in effort and consideration. They all are, I know that, but for some reason this one has evolved quickly and I can't quite put my finger on why. So I will continue...it may well be huge by the time I decide enough...we are done. Tonight there will be more white, embroidery, titivating, cogitating, looking for decisiveness. Wish me luck.
Embroider, embellish, create has just moved into it's third week. For that reason I am going to list it as sold out some time tomorrow. Coming in at this point is do-able, any later and you will miss too much interaction. I also don't want to be distracted from my other plans which I hope to have ready within the next 24 hours....so just a little heads up for you. Join us now if you are pondering or it will be too late.
What about doodle doo then....two more pieces for that, more traditional, recognisable forms. Imagine these are hanging over a rail....does that work for you? I am cranking my grey matter in order to come up with a different format now, incorporating these into the ledger somehow, more integrated within the page. As of yet...zero, zilch, nothing. Well actually I lie, I know what I want to do it's how to do it that's the problem. Must work harder Karen, keep the brain ticking...I am hoping it hits me like a blinding flash. If it does you will be the first to know.
11/16/2012
cross stitch.....
Cross stitch survived the kitchen floor.....this is last nights work if the boss is watching. I stitched my fingers to the bone until midnight. Covering a section of my latest block, this measures only around 6 x 8 inches....it takes time but it's more than worth it. You can tell from these images that I have quite a few things on the table today. Yesterdays work still needs to be put in doodle doo. There are old sketchbooks open for inspiration and another piece of scrim with lace tacked on ready for the sewing machine. (it's just about visible at the top of the first image) That particular piece is to add to my veil/festooned thingy.
This morning I have been to the ....and I'm going to whisper it.....supermarket. I have parted with enough money to reduce the deficit all on my own. I did buy one or two things for the C thing. I am loath to mention it as it comes round too quickly. I have also hoovered and believe me that particular novelty has worn off. Now I'm here chatting to you. At the risk of boring you to death my Friday chores await...bathroom...lounge...laundry...but never fear, I am planning a pleasurable weekend. There will be embroidery...of course. There will be videos made, maybe even one for you if you're good and I will be adding final titvations to my NEW class......I bet that shocked you!
11/15/2012
paper doodle
It's still all about tea towels here....white paper ones today with stitch. Should I be surprised at how many of you covet silk kitchen cloths? probably not......This work is being picked up and then put aside at regular intervals. It is being picked up to keep it at the front of my consciousness, so it doesn't get forgotten or finish up as one of those things that never quite made it.
My immediate priority is class, the girls over at eec...I hope you paid the group a visit this week, they really are doing some lovely work. This morning I have been titivating the next class which goes out tomorrow. Can you believe we are starting week three....that went by so quickly. Later today my tea towel investigations will again be put to one side so I can work more with cloth, white cloth. Now I need to decide which stitch I feel fits with my day....cross stitch is winning at the moment, it is relaxing, it is therapeutic. There is time for that to change however...it depends on how relaxed I feel after washing the kitchen floor.....
11/14/2012
a promise is a promise....
Doodle Doo is back.....yesteday evenings work, just a little pencil drawing and some embroidery onto metallic silk tissue. I actually struggled to get this ready for damp stretching before I went to bed last night. This morning I had all the ''putting together'' to do before I made a video for class. I made it through my chore list with time to spare however, more happy accident than good planning I'm thinking but happy is definitely what I am.
These drawings are tea towels, kitchen towels...I'm planning a series...yes an actual series of towels. What for? Well they won't be used. They will be silk with silk tissue embellishments, so why? Well just because I want to. It's OK sometimes just to do ''what you want'' without a reason...Isn't it?
(wonder if that applies to the pile of ironing that I want to ignore.....)
11/13/2012
continuing....
White
continues, some lace snippets that I didn't throw away....I created an
edge instead. That edge now forms a boundary for web stitch flowers.
There is another piece in progress too, at the moment it is merely
tacked together and has bullion knots, two very precise circles of
bullion knots.
Later today I hope to work more in my doodle doo book. If everything goes to plan I will share that tomorrow....meanwhile I don't know if you followed the conversation in yesterday's comments. Essentially it stemmed from one of Henrietta's colourful, wonderful and very descriptive tales.....that conversation resulted in memories of this......I love it and once again harbour a desire to live in the wallpaper.....
11/12/2012
it's white, it's got lace and it's titivated to death.....
Shall we talk about embroidery first? Another section for my cloth with lace and more lace and even more lace that I will show you tomorrow. Actually, my cloth has grown without me even noticing. If I added all my sections together I would hazard a guess that I am almost finished. Originally I had discounted having this ready to give as a Christmas gift, now I'm not so sure.
This was finished and damp stretched late last night after I returned from the party weekend. Yes, the party......what can I say? It was amazing, really amazing. Good food, great people and most importantly the happy couple had a ball. We are all exhausted, 2 am bedtime, early rising for a full English breakfast, long drive home but it was more than worth the effort. The names which need a thank you are far too numerous to mention but you all know who you are. As for me, well I socialised and then socialised some more. I must say that I am now all socialised out and that is it for at least ten years. I am not what you would call ''sociable'' being that I never leave the house and am mostly covered in cobwebs but I tried, I think I succeeded and up to now there haven't been any complaints.
So that's it....all over....lots of good memories and the bonus? there was cake left over to bring home. Now it's back to school. I'm itching to get back to class and pay attention girls, there will be homework on Wednesday. Meanwhile the flickr page has been filling up....they are so well behaved!!! So if you want to see what's going on in Karen's Global Embroidery School then just pop over here.
11/09/2012
surface......
White remains the focus here, web stitch and French knots placed in tiny cirlcular areas marked out on bought Broderie Anglaise cloth. I should mention that this cloth is laid over some ''paperwork'' from a while ago. The focus is the same...white and mark making in white.
I'm not stopping long today, I have stuff to do in order that I remain calm and serene for the weekend. I did however want to say a massive thank you to all of you who have commented and mailed this week You have no idea how much I value each and every comment I receive on here. I normally make it my mission to respond to everyone but sadly that hasn't been possible this week. I am hoping that you don't mind waiting a little longer for your reply. Normal service will resume next week I promise.
11/08/2012
edges and bumps....
Some pre pleated vintage cloth found its way into my latest white block....thanks again Barbara. I couldn't ignore those beautiful fragile edges so I adorned them with a little buttonhole lace and some running stitch. It kind of emphasises their presence, they won't be easy to overlook and they won't miss out on a drooling gaze in times to come when I am looking again at this piece.
The bumpy bits are finished and stretched now too, they have web stitches dotted amongst them. How about plans for the rest of the day? Well I have tacked more lace and scrim together ready to work with on the machine in order to progress my veil thingy. There is more white in progress, I have to check in on class and make sure they are working hard. Tomorrows lesson needs to be compiled and there is ironing to do for the party. The star of that particular show, my little girl, has been sent to Paris for something work related and will not return until late Friday evening. I guess I have passed the panic baton to her now....she won't have long for her own personal titivations when she returns will she?
11/06/2012
just embroidery
Befuddled of Lancashire here.....oh my, so much to do, brain not operating normally, chiropodist this afternoon, the feet need work now the roots are done. It's a never ending round of body repair, can't imagine how the glamour models find the time and I did hear mention of shoes.....what are they? As of now I am done....no more repair or titivation of myself. Take me as you find me, can't be bothered, haven't got the time.
My time is best spent with this....white, cloth, stitch, embroidery, adornment, embellishment, encouraging my girls, gazing at gorgeous cloth. Don't you agree? There was mention of a convent yesterday in the comments. Aren't there convents where you spend all day embroidering cloth? I'm sure there are, get my name down. Last night was white again, work that is yet to be damp stretched. Little circles of knots and webs that will be added to this work...
11/05/2012
bumpy things
Doodle Doo has been put away for the moment. It is now all about school, for the next few days anyway. Very soon I will give you a link to our group and you can see for yourself how many talented people there are in the world.
White is making a come back in my living room....lace, knots, bumpy things.....
I'm in a bit of a tizz today....
tiz·zy
(t
11/04/2012
doodle doo...
Phew....I made it. I don't know where the morning went. I made videos and I took pictures and here we are with the day half gone. There is a video about this book today and my girls in school have their video too so my list is getting ticked. This afternoon I will make more video for school, there will also be stitching, cross stitch to be precise and there is the small matter of my roots to attend to. My hubby will expect a full Sunday Roast and there is laundry .... all of this with Robbie Williams serenading me in the background. I'm not quite sure how I manage to remain composed with so much excitement in my life.
update.....go here to buy a doodle doo book from US ebay. Thanks Deanna
11/03/2012
the book.....
Yes, I'm still ''on'' the book. Two more samples damp stretched and mounted. There is a little applique with metallic silk tissue and some hand bound buttonholes. Somehow the buttons in the image aren't going to fit. Then again they don't have to. This will never be used as a 'fastening' thingy. It will remain here to be gazed at adoringly. I was going to do a little viedo about this book today but it needs more. It needs images of the inspirational kind and it needs artwork, drawing and such.
By tomorrow I hope to have those added, then it will be ready to be seen on film. By tomorrow I will also have cutwork for my embroider, embellish, create girls and they will have a video too (not cutwork, that is for Friday). They don't know about this video, it's a surprise.....
11/02/2012
colouring book
I have been cutting and sticking this morning, well after I returned from the supermarket I have. More things have been added to my colouring book. The pages are quite bare but will have other stuff added eventually, this is very much a work in progress. This weekend I am planning to do more in here, probably some drawing and adding inspirational images. There is a method going on here, a process, a reason but I can't say too much until it's clearer in my head...there is a mental tick list in progress.
I went ''up North'' yesterday, I ate cake, I visited, I drank coffee, I ate dinner and then I came home with the gift of an apple pie!! The drive was hideous, dark and wet with way too much traffic on the road. I don't know about you but I get zero pleasure from driving now, it is always far too busy, too many wagons, too many trucks, too many people actually....... all wanting to drive the same time as I do. Don't they have anything better to do? A little embroidery maybe?
10/31/2012
more....
Happy Wednesday everyone! More pictures for you today of my time spent on holiday with my new hoover. I'm beginning to think that my new hoover was a good investment, I feel positively inspired.
I worked some more with my new cloth....this is only a sample and I don't really have an idea yet of where I will go with this. Truth be told it probably won't get anymore attention for some time as other things are gaining momentum. School is back on Friday and I MUST do more work on my veil thingy. Then there is the new colouring book come ledger that I have to make progress with. Busy is good though, no thumb twiddling going on here, just embroidery and hoovering.
I will be abandoning you again tomorrow. Sorry about that but I am going ''up North'' to eat cake.
footnote
(most of you can ignore this)
If you are signed up to embroider, embellish create you should have received two mails from me this morning. One concerning flickr, the other containing our weekly plan. Please mail me if you didn't get these.
10/30/2012
progress
Another piece that received a lot of attention whilst I was away playing with my new hoover. If you have no idea what I am talking about then yesterday's post explains the hoover reference. Remember I made a video? Last week? I cut up some embroidered cloth? The plan was to attach it to my veil thing? You do......then here it is attached. I think I said in the video that I wasn't going to put lace in the seam. Well I changed my mind, there is lace in the seam, a very delicate piece of vintage lace, thank you Barbara.
The big news though.....I haven't hooverd today.
Spotlight Posts
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Paper doll playSurface design...paper doll.
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Inspirationsurface design
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Sketchbookssketchbooks, design for embroidery.
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Paper sampling, a video.Stitched paper samples.
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Scrim, silk tissue, silk velvet.Scrim, silk tissue, silk velvet. A surface for hand embroidery.
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