Mark making and stitch.

Jenn bought a book during Lockdown ,"Expressive Stitches" by Jan Dowson, that prompted her to create backgrounds.She used' All-in-One dyes', available from Colourcraft , to colour silk sari ribbons .She then pieced these onto a background using running stitch to attach them.She has started another but this time using  seed stitch.She has an idea to maybe print over the top but we shall see.

She did an online short course with Joanna Veevers at West Dean College and produced some post card size collages made from various papers  created from  rubbings and monoprints.She was looking at them and decided it might be an idea to reproduce the marks in neutral applied fabric and stitch as a development.

 

Flower inspirations.

Sue brought along a variety of pieces all inspired by flora.these first two were done on a course at UWE .The fabric was first coloured using transfer dyes, then overprinted with screen prints utilising original drawings of plants.They are beautiful and delicate ,she could work into them with touches of embroidery or enjoy as they are.

Next came some attempts to capture the beauty of irises in her garden.They are such statuesque flowers with wonderful form and colour.She used coloured tissue collage and some pastels.She was disappointed to lose the vibrancy of colour on the green background as it sucked the life out of the colours used.

Finally , she decided to add some individuality to a plain linen tunic .The bright colours she used for the

Lazy Daisy hit just the right note ,enlivening but not too overpowering.

Perhaps she might find another item clothing with a pocket and capture an Iris?

 

Geometric Stitch

Viv is continuing to dip into Textile Artist Stitch Club picking up those workshops which interest her .

This particular one was by JeanRill Alberto .She called it Geometric Stitch meditation .It was created on paper, a needle was first used to pierce the paper in order to stitch the outline shapes .Once these were done doodling within  allowed shapes to be filled with stitch.

The second one employed paper appliqué with different paper shapes before adding stitch and embellishments.They are very effective and show how versatile paper and stitch can be.Viv recalled visiting an exhibition of work in Tate St. Ives by artist Noel betowski.com .This technique reminded her of his work.

Carol had her trapunto leaf to hand to show ,another from a TextileArtist .org workshop.

 

Ukraine.

We decided we would support Ukraine by making a variety of Sunflower items to sell at our Guild exhibition.These are Sally's .

She first drew out her flower with a Frixion pen before adding some colour.

She has then used a mixture of appliqué and machine embroidery to complete this little study.

You'll see it in the Guild ,there's only one so if you want to own this unique embroidery you'll have to be quick ! 

All proceeds will go to the Red Cross appeal.

 

Holiday project

Jane has continued to explore weaving with her new loom.This was a holiday project which went wrong !

The yarn is a lovely tencel with a silk like sheen and beautiful drape.She had ordered a cone in each colour way of the three greens but it proved to be too little to complete three scarves .

It is a learning curve ,but very disappointing after all the work of setting up the weft then the weaving itself. Incidentally we learned that the weft is just one colour with the variations coming from the warp yarns and the chosen weave patterns.Ever resourceful she  is already working out ways it can be rescued

 

May meeting and a visitor.

We had a lot to remind ourselves about for the imminent exhibition.It has been a long time since we did anything like this ......and we have two in short succession.Details of the Cheddar exhibition to follow.

 

Our visitor was very well behaved ,sitting quietly while the meeting was in progress .As he was passed around he felt the urge to whisper some secret but it wasn't divulged to the rest of us .

Silliness over ,you might have guessed this is one of Kirsten's latest creations..... a Dodo.His head is needle felted with a hollow body over a wire frame .Such a huge amount of work goes into these .

The 'feathers 'were made individually and attached later

He looks rather coy here .His feet are wired and covered in  hand- dyed crochet cotton.He will sit on a branch and will be at the Guild from this coming Saturday should you like a quiet word!

We think this might just be her largest creation to date and every single one has such character.

Sunflowers for Ukraine.

We decided to have some items for sale at the Guild Exhibition with  all  the proceeds going to the Ukraine Red Cross Appeal

There will be a mixed selection of Sunflower brooches , 

framed pictures and cards.We hope you will come along and support us.

 

Channelling Kurt .

Jenn had been working on some small pieces based on Spring flowers in her garden    

and inspired by the little posies painted by Kurt Jackson.They are a little larger than postcard size and are destined for the Guild.

 

'UP '

The Gwen hedley free workshop keeps giving .Viv had used it  to create this useful little book wrap.

She also showed us her latest piece ,commissioned by her decorator for his partner .

It is not Viv's usual style but she gamely took it on.It is based on the Disney film 'UP' but not a copy as that would breach copyright laws.We thought it was delightful and hoped the lucky recipient would be just as delighted to receive a unique piece.

 

How to display ?

Sally had completed her small squares based on the doors and windows seen on her travels.She had thought to frame them individually in small frames as above .

Some suggested they might be mounted together in a square format or in a line , or even in a larger frame with more space around.

As always the final decision falls to the individual ,but sometimes a remark by someone not so close to the work gives cause for reflection .Time is of the essence now with the exhibition opening on May 21st.

 

Published .

Carol continues her recording of Stitch club workshops in a detailed notebook.She can refer back at any time to remind herself of what was covered.This latest was by artist Julie B. Booth ,and was working with sheer fabrics and trapunto.The difference being the use of any recycled scraps to stuff the shapes created.Carol had taken  a leaflet worked extremely well and is another good use of traditional and modern technique.

Carol's brother is fond of poetry and had written a nonsense poem about a mole in a fruit bowl .He has published it under the pseudonym Stanley.B.Bear . 

Using her skills Carol had made an adorable Mole to accompany the book

and to dress him appropriately to match each line of the poem in his fruit bowl adventure.

 

April

We were very thin on the ground this month with two down with Covid and another nursing an infected wisdom tooth.

Sue had been sorting through various textiles and came across this ,an unfinished length of ribbon lace .The back ,above ,with its marked out pattern ,showing the tacking stitches holding the ribbon in place and the front face .

There was the book of instruction with patterns to follow and a ball of ribbon.She offered it to anyone who would like it ....needless to say there were no takers ,far too fiddly and intricate.

She also brought this slow stitch piece and a pile of fabrics we shall no doubt see in her embellishing at some point.