Update on progress.

Carol ,Sally and Debby brought their workshop pieces from Wendy Dolan's workshop.They had been adding to them.All three have produced a lovely piece,it was voted a very good workshop by a very professional and experienced tutor.Looks like there is mileage in this idea.Her book was in evidence for us tp peruse too.

Jane had worked on her pieces from last time and decided to mount them on the backing but not flat.Not really easy to see in this photos but the yellow stitched piece stands away from the background.It's much better "in the flesh"

More from Jane,I think.She likes to keep throws for her sofa and this is a new one she has been working on.A lovely colour palette and fiendishly difficult triangular patches expertly put together.

Quilts galore.

Carol and Debby had entered the Quilters Guild challenge to produce a quilt relating to some aspect of Bristol.You can see the back and front of Carol's appliquéd quilt,above and below.Hers cleverly spells out BRISTOL with her landmarks .

 A little aside to show you her necklace created from Kaffe Fassett ribbons,as inspired by Janet Haigh's book.

And Debby's quilt using the famous cranes outside M shed as her inspiration.She painted hers before stitching to add details.

Can you guess who did this? Kirsten ...... lucky recipients were being given them instead of Christmas cards.

She too ,had been making quilts.

This was destined for a gift

and these just because she could!Aren't they fun?

Finally ,a little look at 

some teeny quilts.These are made for the premature baby unit at Southmead and each is given to the family to take home.This is just a taster as there were a lot.Debby had had a making session!

Jewels.

Patricia brought along a selection of her jewellery pieces.She makes the focus beads by combining threads,ribbons and beads,wrapping and embellishing.These are then matched with commercial beads,often semi precious,before she strings the necklaces or attaches earwires for earrings.

Each piece is truly individual and make lovely gifts for self or others.

More jewel- like surfaces from Ira,using acrylic paint and printed with her own blocks.

By the time she has added her trademark French knots,stitching and beads these will be totally transformed.

These have been cut apart to create some small pieces.We thought they would look very precious mounted in deep frames and all hung together.

And this "jewel" presented by Deryll is destined to be part of a larger piece.She came across it while sorting .It has been stitched and small pieces of fabric applied before being covered with a plastic film and heated ,this caused it to shrink and pucker.Can you guess what she intends for it?

SEASONAL GREETINGS.

Our traditional giving of a home made card continued when we met up at the beginning of the month.

We had a quick show and tell,of which more later,a round up of business before getting on with the main event.........our lunch.

Viv's lovely centrepiece,all from her garden.

Our table with some of the mouthwatering dishes.

W hope you have enjoyed our year and that you will continue to visit in 2016.

HERE'S WISHING YOU ALL A HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND A PRODUCTIVE NEW YEAR!

Flora.

Liz had been working hard to get her exhibits ready for the South West Quilt and Textile Show so she brought along some of them to show us.They are eco -dyed with fallen leaves then stitched and quilted.Sorry if you missed the show but it was worth a look.

She also brought some of her work begun in our workshop.She has printed on the Gelli plate,used a home made stamp  and collaged paper.They make a lovely set of work especially as they are colour related.

Liz is very involved with World Textiles and had purchased this vintage Kantha piece to add ti her collection.

A more detailed view below.

Jenn has been doing a printmaking course at THE YARD ARTSPACE in Cheltenham with Sue Brown.This has used safe methods of aquatinting.The plates are made using card,glue,silk.Oil based inks are used to print and are cleaned with nothing more than vegetable oil!

She has used seed pods as inspiration .Above the collograph plate is flanked by an ordinary print on the left and a viscosity print on the right.A viscosity print is when the plate is inked and wiped as normal ,then a roller with thin ink is passed over the surface ,followed by a roller with thick ink .The inks resist areas creating the print when passed through the press.

These plates above and below are  flanked by Chine Colle prints.

This is where tissue paper is introduced to the plate after it is inked but before passing through the press. Jenn is experimenting with using them to print on fabric and adding stitch to create works for our 2016 exhibition.

Liz keeping busy

Liz is currently exhibiting some of her rust printed cloths and papers  at Centrespace Gallery in Bristol with 6 other artists, including a contemporary knitwear designer who has reconstructed 3 jumpers using delicate Swiss darning. 

Centrespace is a beautiful urban gallery set in an old chocolate factory along a medieval lane in the centre of Bristol. It's a lovely space in which to exhibit textiles, alongside stunning paintings, 3d collagraph structures and prints. 

Hope you have time to visit, before the exhibition closes on Wed 2nd Dec at 5pm.

Wendy Dolan workshop.

Three of us went to Wendy Dolan’s workshop run by the Embroiderer’s Guild which we thoroughly enjoyed.  The subject was Architectural Textures and Wendy took us through every stage with great attention to detail, even giving us an excellent lesson on machine embroidery.  We all thought we knew everything about machine embroidery, but everyone there had something to learn and discover about their machine and the techniques!

A brief idea of the process:   From a simple door or window photo we traced the image with a black felt pen eliminating some detail.  From a selection of light coloured fabrics we layed pieces onto a background of calico, pinning them down and then machining round the edges.  This was backed with Stitch and Tear or vilene.  The image was traced off onto a second piece, making sure it was reversed, placed on the back of the work and machine stitched.  There was only time to stitch the basic outlines to be enhanced later.

Further work will be done at home.

Carol's tracing

Carol's work

Debby's tracing and work

Close up of Debby's work

Sally's tracing

Sally's work