Vintage inspiration.

Inspired by the Gwen Hedley online workshop ,Viv had repurposed a vintage linen hand towel.

She painted and made marks in egg yolk yellow and clear blue .It was then cut up at random before being pieced back together .She then added hand stitch to enhance the shapes.This was then edged with a blue fabric to make a runner for her table.Not another one like this in the shops.

While preparing for some redecorating at home this remnant of a previous wallpaper had been uncovered .

It gave Viv the  inspiration to start  a new piece to work on .With this in mind she used some old, but still active , dyes to colour various fabrics in vibrant yellows

and soft greens.

The Savages have opened their doors to women and Viv has been admitted as a guest to exhibit...How exciting !   She attended a play morning just recently and started to sketch ideas and cut out some shapes for appliqué.

It looks very promising.

 

Embroidery styles.

In March we met in the Guide hut to bring together our work for selection for the forthcoming Bristol Guild Exhibition in May.We had our usual show and tell ,lunch then business , though not all members had brought work to share .

Debby had attended a workshop at Quilters Guild.It was run by Angela Knapp who produces some exquisite work.This was creating a robin with fabric and machine embroidery.They were all supplied by Angela so that everyone taking part achieved a finished Robin.Debby enjoyed the time spent making but felt it was more prescriptive than she usually likes to work. 

She also showed this Chinese skirt and top she had been given.We pored over it and thought the Embroidery was stunning.The 'skirt ' had obviously been altered probably to fit a child for dressing up, as a 'petticoat' had been added .This was also of some age.

We decided that even though the colours were similar in top and skirt they had not always gone together.

 

Amalgamate?

Sally had continued working on her theme of doors and windows.This time photocopying her images before cutting them up.

She has then applied them to fabric and begun to stitch.

We thought that there was a close relationship between the work she did on the Gwen Hedley workshop.

                                                                                                                             

The colour palette is similar and the blocks are self made by Sally. They are her marks ,observed and internalised over years of looking and recording.

As she disliked the piece we thought it might be integrated with these ,cutting up and adding stitch and maybe more print.

 

Stitch club offers more inspiration.

After doing the Gwen Hedley workshop Viv decided to join Stitch Club.

Her first workshop was by Jessica Grady making  what she called 3D sequins

Some were squares scored and folded ,above while others were discs with added stitch ,below.

More were made by trapping foils in bubblewrap .This was ironed between baking parchment to seal then it can be cut into shapes to incorporate in work.

Carole is also a member and she had taken 'A Walk on the  Wild Side ' with Monique Day -Wilde moniquedaywilde.co.sa/

creating these beautiful botanical prints

Carole was going to teach a workshop to members of Bristol Stitchers and had brought along her samples.Using the metal found in puree tubes she planned to 

show them ways of stitching ,embossing ,colouring and making beads to enrich embroidery.You can see some of the work produced on Bristol Stitchers instagram account.https://www.instagram.com/bristol_stitchers/

 

Mixed media fabric book.

Debby had been to another of Sue Brown's workshops 'Mixed Media Fabric Books'

They had explored the use of Gum arabic printing, seen below, stencilling ,monoprint , use of Koh-i -Noor and expandaprint

It all adds up to a feast of techniques that can be explored and exploited in a host of ways.

The 'book' is folded from one piece of fabric 

revealing delicious little nuggets inviting the turn of the page .

The pink would not have been Debby's normal choice but in small areas it adds a certain zing.