December cards

We had our customary December meeting but at Viv's instead of the Guide Hut as we were fewer than usual.We each contributed something to our lunch and exchanged our hand made cards which are pictured above.It was a bitterly cold day but the company and surroundings kept us cosy .

 

Jenn

Jenn enrolled in a Fibre  Arts Take Two course with Shelley Rhodes which she is working through very sporadically , there is a lot of content.She chose to take the Harbourside as her inspiration.Below are some fragments from colours and marks observed there.

Recently she spent a weekend away with Stitch Textile Artists ,who have taken Collections as a theme.

Jenn has been using some beautiful tools to work from .After sampling and trying out ideas she decided the direction her pieces might take.

Perhaps a  panel of three and two dimensional tools taken from the actual tools but made in tissue and cotton organdie ....

and a tool bag made of organdie with cut up and pieced sections from 'drawings' of  the tools .

 

Remembering and upcycling !

Sally's contribution this month was this embroidered cushion cover.It had given her an idea of a way to use some of the 50-60 pieces of work she has 'lying around'.

Her thought is to cut them up into similar sized pieces then assemble the blocks to create a 'one of a kind 'cushion.

Viv had been making her weekly drawing, the prompt 'Remember Remember'.

Instead of  going down the Firework route she had chosen the herb Rosemary.

 

In motion.

A number of years ago Sue created a fine Cockerel and recently she had been looking at and thinking about him.She had decided he was very sedate . In his next incarnation she has plans to introduce more movement and wacky colour for his legs . This initial stage already looks promising.

She also brought these observational pen sketches capturing perfectly the environment around her .

 

new and not so new stitching.

Carol had followed up on a stitch club class by Jo Hill-

a very simple ,but oh so effective play with basic shapes.

 Circles ,squares and triangles are cut from chosen fabrics, 

then they are cut apart and moved to create flower like shapes.

They are applied to the base fabric then free machine 

embroidery is added to create stems, leaves etc. The one below has

 been finished with a zigzag edge and mounted to create a card .A lovely 

idea that can be framed for a gift.

Deryll had been looking through her various leftover samples and projects to put to some practical use. A tote bag and plant pot and plans for a very useful draught excluder .

 

November........stitch and print

Debby hasn't been around for a few meetings . Despite this she has been busy ,busy !

She is taking part  on November 26 and 27 trail by northbristolartists.org.uk  as  usual and has been adding to her stock.This bird piece was first printed then is being worked into with stitch to add detail.

Her hand stitched wool berets always sell well with their individualised hand stitch.

In other stitching this little 12" quilt has been inspired by a favourite Peter Gabriel song "Red Rain '.It is for the Chairman's Challenge at Bristol Quilters,and uses handed fabric with Kantha stitch.

With an eye to more stitch and print Debby picked up this bundle of fabrics dyed by Lizzie Godden at a recent talk given by her.

Debby has been spending much time getting into using printmaking .She has attended a course with Stephen Fowler at UWE exploring Tetra-Pak printing.A great way to recycle these packs.

The packs can be cut to shapes and two colour printing is also possible .

The joy of printmaking is to exploit the natural quirks of the substrate so with Tetra Paks the creases can form an integral part of the resulting print.

The surface is easy to mark as shown here and holds to ink very well.

Lino is another material where the carved lines add to the character of the print.Here there are two plates so Debby can introduce more than one colour.

This is a finished piece incorporating Chine Colle  ,another way of introducing extra colour and interest.

She was also fortunate to attend a course held in Badminton School.This used stencils which were laser cut from the participants designs before being used to print.

This piece is printed on Cotton Organdie and layered over the piece below .

Such a delicate use of the method.

How can any of us follow this post !

 

Continuation.........windows wallpaper

Sally has decided she loves to make books so is going to turn her windows pieces into one.

These ,if you recall ,come from many photos and sketches taken on her travels over the years and documenting the many styles of windows observed.A concertina book could be double sided she has so much to work from.

Viv has continued working on a piece inspired by some very old fragments of wallpaper uncovered while redecorating.She was auditioning some red strips of fabric to frame the interior and will create a soft hanging rather than a framed piece. A delightful way to capture a piece of her house' history.

She continues to be inspired by the 1904 group.

The latest prompt being 'Changing Times' which she interpreted as the dried out  riverbed of the Thames.We thought she could isolate part of this piece and also interpret in stitch.

 

Pokemon ?

Kirsten and her son had been creating some felt 'Bulbosaurs'.

We had no idea what they were .....but apparently they are from POKEMON.

This one is very sweet with his large eyes. 

She also brought some garments she thought had been stitched by her late relative.They were very finely made .Obviously from a very different time with tiny stitches and  precise details.

She was also delighted to have found a 'new to her 'sewing machine in a charity shop.With a new motor and free embroidery foot she has it working ,as you can see from her samples.

A very happy and satisfied Kirsten.

 

3-dimensional stitch.

Carol had followed the instructions on Stitch Club, given by Bethany Duffy, to create this lovely stump work piece .It required a shell with a hole, some padding and shaded threads.It uses  Long and short stitch finished with lots of French Knots.It really evokes the gush of the surf .

For her other contribution she brought a work in progress begun on a workshop given by Sheila Davis of Celyn Textiles.The theme was 3-Dimensional stitching which utilises all sorts of bits and pieces to help raise the stitches from the surfaced give them structure .Carol had used plastic tubing ,washers and large wood beads.

The fabric was first painted and the aim is to completely cover the surface with stitches before using the finished piece as maybe the lid of a box.

We will await the next instalment.

 

Too good to resist.

Sally and Viv visited the World Textile Day which has been held in Saltford Hall for many years .Despite bothof  them giving the majority of their pieces Miao textile collection to the Museum to hold for posterity ,neither could resist buying pieces on sale .

Sally purchased this piece ,which would have been worn as a Festival apron It is created from silk feltwhich would have  been cut into these shapes ,then stitched by hand with black thread.Tiny pieces of metal are fashioned into tubes and attached for additional decoration .

The fabric is indigo which acquires its sheen by being beaten and egg white applied . 

Sally and Viv visited the village on one of their trips ,below a page from Sally's  account of their visit.

Viv bought a headscarf ,decorated by hand by the most exquisitely tiny cross stitch .Motifs are all Miao symbols.This photo showing how it would be worn  , again taken on one of their visits.

The embroiderers  must have incredible eyesight and such skill .