The Surface Above and Beneath

This is the title of the Embroiderer's Guild Regional Day which this year is held in Norwich at the John Innes Centre on the 7th July. There will be trade stands and exhibitions by Michael Brennand-Wood and Linda Monk whose work on muslin paper I love so am looking forward to that.

They are running a competition and initially I wasn't going to enter but then had an idea so did a couple of experiments using shells and couching which I love. They are meant to represent the sea above and beneath, abstract of course which is my way of saying you can read into it what you like.

Had so much fun doing these that I went for a bigger which I'm going to enter and yes, it is supposed to be tatty at the edges with various threads hanging off.

In a couple of weeks I am going to be helping some of the ladies at the Hardingham Textile Group with machine embroidery and wanted to show them something suitable for all levels so thought we could make flower bowls. These will be on show at our exhibition at Hingham in September. We also have a couple of spaces for members if there is anyone near that is interested.

The petals are from cotton and silk and it is worked on spider tulle which I got from Minerva Crafts and Fabrics. I think it works better than the one below which is without the tulle.

Just in the process now of making a red one which is poppy like although think I need to dye some silk red and cut into more poppy shaped petals.

Endless Landscapes

Endless landscapes were invented around 1820 by a Frenchman Jean-Pierre Bres and John Clark of London took up this idea and created a series of 16 landscape cards with interchangeable views. His second series was produced in 1824 and is probably the source of the modern landscape made by Tobar Ltd.

Ann who runs Hardingham Textile Group decided that making endless landscapes in textile would be a good project for our exhibition which runs alongside the art group at Hingham church in September.

We all purchased the same size canvas and were given a set of colours and proportions which in theory should all match along the edge with everyone's so that when they were placed in a line in any order the colours will runs across from one to the other. Any design could be placed in the centre as long as the edges matched.

Initially I found this rather daunting as I had never done a landscape and had to root around my stash for colours that matched but once I got into it found it really fun and can't wait to do some more.

The initial layout of the fabric with the water made from layers of organza and Angelina fibres.

Made a tree from free machine embroidery on water soluble film and added some chain stitch to give depth.

Scrim added to the mountains for texture and some threads couched with some distant trees added with machine embroidery.

Added embellished wool and a few rocks made from organza stuffed with toy stuffing. Some hand stitching added.

The finished landscape with some hand stitching, cow parsley free machined onto organza and cut with a soldering iron and leaves made from ribbon.

All in all I am quite pleased with the final result and can't wait to do another which will be easier as I won't have to match it to anyone else's.

Drought, What drought?

Really wish it would stop raining although I know we need the water. The grass needs cutting badly and its so cold.

Had a day representing the Hardingham Textile Group at the Flower Festival yesterday. It was a long, cold day in a marquee with very few visitors but got some very positive comments and it would have been a lovely spot if the weather had been better. The church was beautiful and just the sort of place to go sketching.  Should have taken some pictures of the church.

Never mind a good excuse to stay in the warm and make things.

Been making more books using muslin paper and embellished felt.

These were filled with matching paper made from lining paper and could be used for sticking pictures etc in.

Covered with felt made on the embellisher.

Also made a few more mobile phone cases, two in the same technique as I use on my purses and two with Suffolk puffs which I think are very pretty. Might put some of these onto lavender bags and purses.

Little boxes

As promised a picture of some boxes I've just finished. They are 3 inches square ( sorry for those that work in metric ) and made from pelmet vilene, with transfoil and tissue bonded onto it before a coat of pva and acrylic wax. The embossed metal has been aged by using embossing powder and of course couldn't make one without my usual dragonfly.

First post 2012

Can't believe I haven't posted at all this year but hate the winter and don't feel inspired to do anything much. However today is a glorious day and it even makes me feel like cleaning...or maybe I'm just sickening for something.

The winter wasn't entirely wasted as I've been making a few brooches and had a day with the WI on Saturday showing them how to make the large flower ones. It was a very enjoyable day and they nearly all finished one. I had to prepare all the fabric backgrounds as it takes ages to do and consists of a layer of velvet, batik and merino wool all embellished together on my embellisher.

The brooches below have some of my glitzy fabrics and hand stitching on.

At my Monday textile group we have been making muslin paper which consists of a layer of muslin and crumpled tissue with lots of PVA. There are other versions which use transfoil and I have used this to make some boxes which I'll show in the next blog as I am finishing them off. I have however covered an address book with the original method and added a metal leaf for effect.

Christmas Challenge Results

Further to the pictures of my box which was to be entered for the Christmas Challenge here are the entries for it. We are a small group with not everyone entering.

I'm really delighted to say that my box won first prize and I received some lovely threads and beads as the result. 

Hardly a test of my skill amongst such a small number of entries but still not bad for someone who hated sewing all their life, gave it up in the second year of high school back in the dark ages to take up cookery  and who in April 2009 was looking on Youtube to find out how to thread a sewing machine.

Latest ramblings

Finally finished my craft fairs for this year, bit of a relief really as the house is a bit of a tip after spending so much time sewing but there are more exciting things to do than housework. Need to think of some new lines for next year but my first craft fair isn't until Easter so there is plenty of time but feel free to send me any ideas you have as its great to get feedback.

Getting on with my last project for the City and Guilds on walls. Had a bit of a writers block on the subject at first but the ideas are starting to flow in and think I've decided what to make for it. Need to do some background work and experiments first though and probably won't get round to making it until after Christmas but the last day of the course is 11th January so need to get on with it.

The Christmas Challenge is going to be judged by the chairman of the Embroiderers Guild on Monday so fingers crossed.

Just made a box as part of my daughter in law to be's present. I was lucky enough to find a beautiful triple dyed Batik with butterflies on and used it as my inspiration.

That's it for now, happy crafting.