"Concepts and Meanings" Eastern Region Textile Forum Exhibition

Visited Dragon Hall yesterday for a textile exhibition by the Eastern Region which continues until 9th October.

There are also workshops and courses running at Dragon Hall until November and these cover such subjects as Art Clay Jewellery, Felt Work, Textile Art, Drawing ect.

Works shown included Norfolk Triptych an embroidered landscape by Jacqueline Glyde.

A felt wall hanging by Laura Guida

This realistic work called The Mark of Time by Sue Blackburn

Sorry didn't get this artists name

Joy; Three women expressing joy through femininity by Glen Gerrard Joy.

Regeneration by Gina Ferrari who I was lucky enough to chat to as she was stewarding at the time. I love her machine embroidery work and her blog is well worth a visit.

Love this couched tree bark by Sue Blackburn.

Off to a coffee morning tomorrow in aid of Macmillan nurses. I have given the organiser some of my pieces for the raffle and am looking forward to the lovely cakes they have there.

Really looking forward to next Thursday when I am off to Alexander Palace for the Knitting and Stitching show. Pictures to follow.

'Donut' Shibori

Another technique I use when dyeing cloth is 'Donut' Shibori. It was taken from a brilliant book called  Shibori for Textile Artists by Janice Gunner. Take a length of fabric, not too big as the dye needs to penetrate to the centre, and some string a little longer than the width of the fabric.

Roll the fabric round the string fairly tightly leaving some string poking out at the ends.

Gather the fabric tightly into a donut and tie the ends of the string. Put into dye and leave at least a couple of hours.

Effects like this can be produced.

Dyeing Day

Did some dyeing with my group yesterday and continued at home today as it's very addictive. You never know how things are going to turn out and 2 pieces are never the same. Collected all my equipment, fabrics and threads together. I love to use silk but I'm sure most people don't appreciate that I use lots in my bags and hand dye most of it myself. Maybe I should put up a very large sign.

Some of the fabric I tray dye although it often looks like a slushy mess until rinsed off. I'm really getting into jades and blues. Although I use procion dyes technically I should use acid for silk as its a fibre which comes form an animal but its such a pain to use. Also being a veggie I should reject silk but I can't help it I love the stuff so try not to think about it too much.

If you wrap fabric in net bags you can get some lovely effects, see below.

Tray dyeing can produce a watery effect, see below. I much prefer the fabric to look like this rather than having a solid colour, hope everyone else does too.

Latest bag and purse

After dyeing fabrics in the appropriate colours I decided to continue along the dragonfly theme and make a bag and matching purse. Tomorrow at my textile group we are having a dyeing day so I'm going to be doing pink, purple and green for a butterfly bag and purse.

Hardingham Textile Group Exhibition, The work

Had a very successful preview evening yesterday when many people enjoyed the work of both the textile and art group.

Our work was divided into the various subjects which we have covered this year the amount of textiles exhibited was double that of previous years. Here we go with some pictures.

Interpret a picture section with close ups.

Needle felting, mostly all the work of Rachel who got carried away with it and produced some stunning work.

A wonderful silk paper bowl which was sadly not for sale

Various pieces of work including printing

Various bags

Goldwork Beetles

Using one stitch

Banjara Bags

Christmas crackers

As you can see some wonderful work has been produced and the exhibition is on until Saturday if you are in the area.