Stitch.

Sue had finished and mounted her 'circular 'pieces. and had been thinking about whether they could be set against a background fabric . She had pieced and chosen some striped and spotted cottons.In the end we thought they could hang against a plain wall as they were.

Viv had been spending her time watching a variety of Stitch Club workshops .She had also  exhibited with Bristol 1904 Arts as a newly admitted female .She was delighted to reveal she had sold a piece ,such a good result for her first outing and good that textiles was represented.

Deryll had been sorting and unearthing past pieces .She said she had found rice stitch and become fascinated with it, playing with colour in this seat pad.A very useful outcome as well as really good practice.

 

Miao textiles and paint.

All the hard work of cataloguing the collected Miao textiles by Viv and Sally is finally nearing its conclusion.Bristol Museum is taking them ,and we will hopefully soon be able to search them in their online catalogue and perhaps see an exhibition mounted .

The majority are going to the museum but Sally has kept a few for herself. The top photo  shows the back of the piece above .It is of folded silk and is so very meticulously done .

This is long stitch in a blend of colours and portrays animals.

This piece is indigo which has been treated with oxblood and egg white to create the polished surface.

This is evidence of Sally's hard work in photographing and cataloguing each sample ,though she thinks she might have to redo some ......labour of love .

Sally had recently  been to the Holburne Museum to see the Tudor exhibition and couldn't resist buying the accompanying book, below.

The artists 'skill in capturing the embroidery of the clothing worn in the paintings  was extraordinary.

 

Self paced course.

Jane is always up for a challenge.This time she has signed up for an online course  to do with dressmaking but as always with Jane it is not straightforward! This is about shaping your fabric and works from half size bodice blocks before progressing.The photos show the paper and fabric practice blocks for the Pleats ,tuck and layer elements .They look very complicated but Jane will find her way and no doubt we shall see her wearing the results sometime.

She is also fascinated by maths and related ideas.This book caught her eye .it is in two parts, the photos showcase the art, then part two explains the maths behind it.

It is full of the most amazing work,

 

Books and magazines to inspire.

Like most of us Kirsten likes a good book and frequently looks out for an inspiring title.This signwriting one was a birthday gift she requested .Lots of fabulous pages to drool over and maybe try out!

Sheila Paine ,who died in March ,produced books on World textiles.This one on Amulets inspired Kirsten to make her own.She chose to use a scissors and teacup as this represents a lot of her working day.

These close-ups show the complicated stitches employed along with shisha mirrors and buttons added as embellishments .

She also brought along the Feltmakers magazine 

including an article she contributed giving instructions for a needle felted heart .

During Lockdown the British Wool Association created a book .

On the back cover is pictured one of Kirsten's birds and 

inside an article picturing several of her pieces.

She is truly multi talented.