Foliage and stitch.

After doing lots of embellishing on her machine Sue felt she needed a break so turned her attention to her sewing machine .Many of us with sewing machines stick to the same techniques and stitches so much is left underused.Sue decided she would address this and set about seeing what she could produce with red velvet and self coloured threads.She found she could  create lots of textural stitches ,there is potential here for much more exploration .

She had also found these delicate drawings she had made of grasses ,as they are fleeting it is difficult to dry them and keep them intact .She wondered at the different types of grasses and their lovely seed heads.We are guilty of thinking of them as just grass but they are as varied as the flowering plants.these would provide a lovely basis for some stitch .

Viv had carried working on her Iris piece and it is now awaiting framing .It will be on exhibition with the 1904 group.She has such a way with fabric and stitch that bring the flowers to life .We doubt it will be around for long.

 

Another look at 100 day book and rock weaving!

It is so interesting to see how different people respond to the same technique.Like Carol ,Fumi is participating in the 100 day sketchbook challenge.Her response couldn't be more different . She has taken offcuts of fabric left from other projects and  is  adding 15minutes of stitch a day to what takes her interest.

On a walk along Clevedon beach she picked up some rocks and stones .Not content to handle and display them she has used them as a base for some weaving.

They make an interesting background to the woven patterns .

The colours chosen blend or contrast with the colour of the rocks themselves.

what an interesting and unusual thing to do.

Her final offering is a long concertina book which has been ongoing and is in response to prompts.The materials used are very varied ,including Quality Street wrappers.......who wouldn't be prompted if it meant a chocolate treat !

 

Taking a Thread

Sue D. is entering a piece with a London group she has connection with. She had chosen a photograph taken on a holiday ,resized it and transferred it to fabric. She used silk paints to add colour to the background then heavily machine stitched . Here is the finished piece in its frame. It should do very well, it evokes the place .

She is planning another Kinoptic piece for U3A. She brought along her starting point of trees.

These two images will be cut into strips, then assembled together in a zigzag formation so they form one image.Lots more work to do but we'll be interested to see the final piece.

She had also followed the Gwen Hedley workshop on Textile Artist and was at a bit of a loss how to move it forward.

Several of us had done it last year , Viv had used her painted fabrics to create a table runner.

We had a play with rearranging her remaining pieces and 

suggested she kept moving and adding and something would emerge.

 

Stuck !

Kirsten had decided to enter a competition run by the International Feltmakers Association. It had the title 'My View' but was quite short notice as it was to be submitted before the end of February.She had sketched out her ideas and begun to try out some in felt.

She wasn't satisfied with the outcomes and wanted some suggestions.We thought the idea of using her  tools ,her usual cuppa and the view across to the Severn estuary with the pier was good. We thought  it was too much in a line and cut in two with the pier.We offered some suggestions and hope she made the deadline !

She had begun creating a Jackdaw making the body with needle felting ,then making a flat felt piece for the wings .the feathers were cut out and applied. He looks rather magnificent.

She also brought along a jumble sale find ,several books based on the folded threads books used by the Miao .They are now rare so a super find.we wait to see what she does with them.

 

FATT courses.

Liz's first piece is  her contribution to a commission by Louise Gardiner for Marchmont House in Scotland.She is creating a 'cape of empowerment 'based on the oak.She has asked for oak leaves and acorns to be embroidered.They will be left in the hoop and displayed hanging from threads with the cape.It is very poignant as Louise may not see it completed as she has terminal cancer.

In other workLiz has  been continuing with the online course with Sally Tyrie .She has been working on perfecting her prints using Sally's technique for paper lithography.

She has been getting great results in colour and monochrome using photos taken in her favourite St Ives.

She has loads and is now tackling what they will be turned into.

Jenn has also been following an online course with Shelley Rhodes ,with the same provider Fibre Arts Take Two .She had created some tiny  hand - stitched pieces created from small fabric fragments .She had used some silks ,lace and net in her chosen colourway with torn fragments from her printed and painted fabrics.

Some detail.

lots more inspiration to be explored .