Textile Tantrums

Creativity Course and Dyeing Fabric

2007-07-26T10:17:00.000-07:00

Went along to my monthly class at the Bramble Patch with Brenda Boardman (http://www.brenboardman.com/) on Saturday and had a really relaxing day. Work has been very stressful at the moment and will continue to be for the next month at least. I ddin't really feel like getting my stuff together and driving to Northampton but I'm really glad I did - good company and lots of fun!
I thought I wouldn't get anything done - just a chance to unwind and soak up the atmosphere but I managed to get all my fabric in dye and then washed it all out on the Sunday. I've found that Vince is actually very well behaved when you are busy doing things - it is when you are sitting down that he doesn't like it!!
Here's a shot of the fabrics I dyed - colours based on the shells from the Zoology museum. Hoping to make a very simple, contemporary quilted hanging in these colours (fuschia / red, black and more of a cream than yellow - this fabric may be too dark). Thinking of using some simple strip piecing and machine quilting with some simple hand stitching added.

Fabrics include silk velvet, cotton and cotton sateen.

Shell Sketchbook

2007-07-10T12:41:00.000-07:00

Well I missed last month's 'Creative Potential' class as we picked Vince up the day before and I was too exhausted to drive there. Really disappointing as the topic was sketchbooks which I love! I am always looking for new ideas / kick starts to help me fill a sketchbook. After speaking to Kaye(http://marmitesmuddlings.blogspot.com/) and Sarah (http://sarahquilter.blogspot.com/) and getting some more info off of Brenda I made a start on my sketchbook on the theme of shells.

Original inspiration came from these beauties seen at the Zoology museum in Cambridge

and the humble mussell shell on Newquay beach...

Paper printed with roller, oil pastel lines and then painted twice with black Koh-I-Noor dye. Acrylic paint was stamped over this using a foam spiral stamp from a DIY shop. Black pen was used to outline the spirals and glitter gelly roll pen was also used. I've ripped this piece in half and am hand stitching on top of it.

This page was monoprinted then marks were made with oil pastels and black Koh-I-Noor washed over the top. This is one of my favourite pieces and I'd like to print it on fabric / tissue and stitch into it.

Another monoprint with oil pastel and Koh-I-Noor washed over the top (2 layers). I've then added some black outlines

More pages to come later in the week....

Puppy Update & More Medieval Madness!

2007-07-09T14:05:00.000-07:00

Here's our little baby Vince! He's been with us just over 2 weeks now and turned our lives upside down! I had no idea that having a puppy was such hard work! I have gone back to work today after spending 2 weeks with him. He has settled in really well (it took longer for me to adjust!) and is happily roaming around his new territory. Had his 2nd injection today and will be able to go for walks / puppy classes next week, though he needs to overcome his fear of 'the lead' first. He hates having it put on and when you hold it he has a hissy fit!!

Here's Vince relaxing on his first night with us - it's a hard life being a pupsie!

Onto textile stuff now....

I have read Traci Bautista's fantastic 'Collage Unleashed' book and watched her DVD Retro Rags. I can THOROUGHLY recommend them and they have really inspired and kick started my sketchbook. I took one of her techniques and applied it to fabric rather than paper. Basically you put a layer of gesso down and then scratch / print into it (I used my medieval cathedral lino blocks). I then painted over this with metallic acrylics / fabric paints (a mixture of lumiere and Setacolour). I have started to highlight the motifs with stitching and may add some sheer fabrics / paper to the surface. i also plan to rub markal and gold leaf / foil over it. This would make a good technique for a hanging or book cover - quite sturdy.

BTW the fabric is cotton drill or something from Dunelm - really cheap! I found that when I stamped on the gesso it went through to the paper underneath so I plan to paint that with gesso / inks and get 2 for the price of 1!!!!

WIP medieval hanging

2007-06-03T02:45:00.000-07:00

I really can't work out how to get my pictures in order - they all want to sit at the top of the post!! So here are some pictures of 1) wallhanging / collage in progress on the design wall and 2) more cathedral prints that I plan to use in another hanging

Textile pictures at last!!!

2007-06-03T02:28:00.000-07:00

For those of you that hate dogs....back to the textiles!

I have finally finished stitching my cathedral piece and have been debating what to do with it. I used a really nice multi coloured metallic with a black core (madeira) for the stained glass windows - absolutely gorgeous when you scribble with the machine!

Anyway I had thought to use this on a book cover or maybe a box lid but when I went to Brenda's creative potential class she suggested I incorporate it into a wall hanging. I had a pile of painted / screen printing / block printed fabrics and papers all around a medieval theme. Unfortunately because I lack the space at home (and was too scared to start!!) I hadn't started to put them together. Having read Traci Bautista's fantastic book 'Collage Unleashed' I decided I wanted a random collage type hanging. I usually work very symmetrically and I was keen to move away from this.

Brenda (as always) was a great help and at the Bramble Patch I was able to get all my pieces up on the design wall to see what I had. I started putting the pieces together...

Having trouble with picture will have to add later!!

Puppy Update...introducing Uno

2007-06-02T14:01:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who commented on the cuteness of the puppies - they're gorgeous aren't they! Well we went to visit Carol and the pups last Sunday despite the awful weather and me suffering from a terrible stomach ache.
Carol had recommended little Uno as the best pup for us and we were besotted so he will be coming home with us in just under 3 weeks (and counting).

Here I am giving him a cuddle

And having a nap...it's a tiring life being a pup!

Today I bought a new digital camera so I can take action shots of him as he grows without just getting a blur!

Puppies!!

2007-05-26T11:25:00.000-07:00

I AM SO EXCITED!!!! Having wanted a dog for over 10 years we are finally in a position to get a puppy!! We met Carol and Simon (http://www.casiat.co.uk/) back in March when we attended a malamute/husky rally in Thetford. Our aim was to research Alaskan malamutes with a view to owning one in a few years. Then we found out that Carol and Simon also own collies and were expecting a litter at the end of April! Having seen the mum, Lucca and fallen in love we decided that we would have a collie now and get some experience with training and owning a colliebefore moving onto the more demanding malamute!! We are off tomorrow to see the pups who are now 4 weeks old and make our choice!!!!! Then we have another 4 weeks to go until we can pick our little bundle up! The waiting is awful, especially as I've been waiting since March when Lucca was not even confirmed as pregnant! Anyway...now for the cute pictures.........

This is Blueboy.....too cute!

Here are the 2 lilac boyr, Uno and Mr Roo! We think we might be having Uno - he's the cutie on the left, nibbling his brother's neck!

6 little boys having their milk....

Here's Summer the malamute guarding the pups! You can just see little Uno's head squashed behind his brothers.

Cathedral Sample - picture at last!

2007-05-07T02:50:00.000-07:00

So this is one of the thermofaxed images that I have started to work on. I screened xpandaprint through and heated it with an iron on the reverse. I then dabbed gold lumiere paint onto it using a stencil brush. To dull it down a bit and add more depth I dabbed on some liquitex bronze acrylic paint. I have started to outline the shapes with a dark gold thread - will post more pictures as I go along!

Creativity Course and Cathedrals

2007-05-07T02:42:00.000-07:00

Using the thermofax screen I printed LOTS of cathedral arches on different fabrics, papers etc. I used hand dyed cotton, black discharge cotton velvet, black cotton sateen, undyed cotton, abaca tissue, coloured papers from C&G. I used discharge paste on its own and mixed with gold paint, I used a lot of black setacolour transparent fabric paint and also xpandaprint through the screen. One thing that I would like to try but didn't get round to is putting glue through the screen (PVA) and then using foil over the top (you need to wash the screen immediately so the glue doesn't block it)

Creativity Course and Navel Gazing! - part 1

2007-05-07T02:24:00.000-07:00

Back in January I started on a day a month course called 'Explore you Creative Potential' at the Bramble Patch in Northants. This is run by Brenda Boardman and covers lots and lots of different techniques and ideas with the aim of you developing your own work and style. Brenda is a great mentor and tutor and I have been really enjoying these classes. I come back really fired with enthusiasm and often spend the next day working on what we did in class. Sometimes this is all the time I spend on my textiles in a month and it keeps me going until the next month.

I am a perfectionist and a control freak (lucky me!) and am one of those people that are always beating themself up about something! So I feel bad that I spend more time buying the materials and reading about textiles than actually doing! Brenda said something to me that was really helpful - she said that I need to learn (and accept) my own way of working. So for some people doing a bit each day works for them - I would like to do this and have tried it before but realistically with a puppy coming home with us in 2 months (more on that later!) this won't work. It seems that I work best just after the monthly class when I am 'on a roll' and then I work somewhat sporadically throughout the month. THe ideas are never far from my thoughts but putting them into practice doesn't always happen. Work also affects this - the busier and more stressed I am at work, the less sewig / creating I do. This is why I am trying to nip my work stress in the bud as I have only been there 5 months and it is starting to escelate! I blames this on mean but when I think logically it seems that if you work hard and are conscientious people think you can cope with anything and jsut do more and more and more!!

Anyway, enough philosophising - get to the pictures!! I have been working on medieval for a while now. I went to my creativity course with a sketchbook full of ideas, doodles etc but no real samples or progression in fabric. Brenda made some suggestions and I have started to move forwards. One week we did thermofax screens (GREAT FUN) and I created a design based on the arches of Notre Dame in Paris.

And not forgetting Ely Cathedral...

2007-04-16T12:35:00.000-07:00

My pictures ar e in the wrong order!!

2007-04-16T12:33:00.000-07:00

Here's St Chappelle in Paris (that I mention further down the page in an earlier post!)

Sorry the last post was so long

2007-04-16T12:21:00.000-07:00

...it rambled on a bit!! But I have to say I found it really useful as a way of getting my thoughts and ideas out. Looks like I will be using this blog as an online diary - even if no one else is interested or reading I will be!

I have to say a big THANK YOU to the ladies on the Textiles Challenges group as it was their encouragement that gave me the push I needed. Actually starting to work with fabrics and samples has got my ideas flowing again!!

Forgot to mention - this felted fabric is quite sturdy but malleable - would work well for a 3d structure or vessel. I've been looking at Janet Edmond's book 'The beginners guide to embroidered boxes' and that has given me more ideas - especially the book boxes at the back.

Medieval Madness

2007-04-16T11:57:00.000-07:00

After some discussion on the online group 'Textile Challenges' about different ways of working I decided to dive in and start playing! I have filled a sketchbook with designs and scribblings on the theme 'Medieval' but had struggled to move forwards. Having gone through GCSE and A level art, along with City and Guilds I am indoctrined to believe that the design comes first. So without a working design I felt lost and unable to start sampling. After some encouragement to 'have fun' and 'break the rules' I have started making some backgrounds for my medieval designs.
Usually I work with bright colours and very simple stitch - this work is a complete change for me. Some bright jewel colours but lots of deep reds and purples with gold and black accents. In addition there is lots of layering and machine stitching. For that added glitz (that I love!) some samples have sweety foils...they'll be posted later!

So...onto the pictures....

I started with a black felt background and felted some wool and viscose slub fibres onto it using the embellisher (Pfaff). I then embellished a diamond grid design over this using purple funky fur wool (the type that has has long straggly fibres). I placed black chiffon over this and machine stitched over the diamond grid design using gold thread. I stitched alternate rows of diamonds - one is black and metallic red, the other is gold and metallic purple. I am now going to burn it back with a heat gun. I have added more stitch in some areas so that less chiffon burns back there (hopefully!!!!)

What you can't really see here is that the surface has become wonderfully dimensional - some diamonds are pushed back whereas others are raised. this has given me further ideas for exploiting this with quilting or stuffing. The design would also work very well with applique, sheers or cut back techniques. I am also looking at ways of breaking up the symmetricallity (is that a word?) of the design - cutting areas back could also work....layering same design but different colours over it? Or individual diamonds / different motifs could be laid over the top - separately or linked into another design - to give the idea of layers. I'm trying to represent the layers of rich ornamentation in gothic cathedrals such as Saint Chappelle in Paris (see below) but also the way that this contrasts with decay and the neutral greys of the stone.

Also found lovely example of this in a tiny section of Ely Cathedral...

Finished ATCS - ready to send

2007-04-15T13:47:00.000-07:00

Here's all bar one of my ATCs finished and ready to send......

Loved doing these and i'm going to try the 1" square 'inchies' next as I think they have lots of potential - you can use them on cards, journals, bags etc etc

In keeping with my love of all things pink I got a new PINK Nokia mobile phone today - yummy!!!

My first ATC!!

2007-04-12T09:58:00.000-07:00

Here's the first ATC that I have made - I can see why these are so popular - they're addictive! I have about 5 more to finish and I still have a copuple to swap so if anyone's interested......

Fabric for ATCs

2007-04-10T13:06:00.000-07:00

Well I started working on Deb's ATC at last! I am making a bigger piece of fabric so I can cut a few more out of it. It is based on the same techniques I used for my masterclass exhibition board - reverse applique and slashing in my favourite acid greens and hot pink!

If anyone else would like to swap ATCs with me I should have at least 3 spare - just let me know.

Inspirational Postage Stamps

2007-04-03T13:26:00.000-07:00

In addition to the lovely ATC Deb sent me a little card of one of her quilts and even the stamps on the envelope were inspirational.....

Giving me more ideas for stripes. These will be going in the new journal that I've started.

My First ATC Swap

2007-04-03T13:20:00.000-07:00

Here's the first ever ATC I have received - and isn't it great!!!! I saw this on Deborah H's blog (http://akquilter1.blogspot.com/) and asked her if she'd like to swap. She agreed and here we are. Unfortunately I have been bad and haven't started mine yet...but with the Easter break coming up that is top of my to do list.

Some more photos from the exhibition

2007-03-30T12:45:00.000-07:00

Here is some more of the work in the exhibition - I didn't manage to get shots of everyone's as I only took them quickly before I had to rush home and get ready to go back again for the preview! I can't remember everyone's surnames so I may have to just use first names.

The picture above is one of Gina Ferrari's boards (I remembered her whole name!). Gina is a machine embroidery tutor and teaches classes at Missenden Abbey and various other places. You can see more of her lovely work at www.ginaferrari.co.uk and better, close up photos of her work from this exhibition.

What can you do with pink and green?

2007-03-30T12:39:00.000-07:00

Here's my display board for the exhibition. I only took this one picture really quickly and will take some more close ups when I collect it tomorrow. Can you tell my favourite colour is pink?

I absolutely love the combination of pink and green - especially fuschia and lime, for me they really 'pop'.

I still have so many 'samples' and ideas I want to try out with these colours and stripes, then I want to move onto blue and orange!

Will go to AVG tomorrow and collect the board and my sketchbook. I found it harder leaving my sketchbook behind as it is so personal and precious to me. It is the first time in ages that I have filled a sketchbook in such a short space of time (a year!) Will post pictures of some of the other work as well

Exhibition at Art Van Go

2007-03-18T13:19:00.000-07:00

All those of us who took part in the Ruth Issett Masterclass at Art Van Go this year and last have work in an exhibition at Art Van Go, entitled 'Journeys through colour'. It is on now until 31st March and I think it is open everyday except Sunday - have a look if you are in the area!

I'm back!

2007-03-18T11:04:00.000-07:00

Hi

Been ages since I last blogged but I've had real problems moving to the new version of blogger. Finally got it to work today so NO EXCUSES NOW!!!!

I've got lots to post but as it's been a really busy weekend I'm off to have a bath and read my new Ian Rankin book.

I'll be back....

I'm so excited!!!

2006-12-11T12:59:00.000-08:00

Don't know if any of you are subscribers to Maggie Grey's Workshop on the Web (WOW) but she has been collecting books to auction off for charity. Various embroiderers such as Dale Rollerson, Sherrill Kahn and Maggie herself have produced books for sale. I placed a bid for book no 12 (http://www.workshopontheweb.com/bookaid/bookaid.htm) and found out yesterday that I won! I've posted the cheque and am eagerly awaiting my tunnel book! Looks really interesting and can't wait to get it in my sweaty paws. It will be the first piece of art / textile related work that I own. I will post more pictures once I have it.

I'm behind!

2006-12-09T01:56:00.000-08:00

Only just finished lesson 4 for personal library of stitches and even then didn't spend as much time on it as I would have liked! We are now on the final lesson, 6 and I haven't even read 5. This is all despite having a week off work as I finally left one post (yay!!!!!! it was the worst year of my life) and am starting a new role on Monday. Managed to get most of my christmas shopping done though and spent a great day with my friend Sue watching drawing DVD and talking textiles!
Here's week 4's sample which looks at density using cretan stitch. Although I am not that happy with it I do really like the bottom section where I have built up a dense 'carpet' of stitches. i have never achieved this before so am really liking the way it has turned out. I cannot praise Sharon B enough for her class - it is excellent value for money and I am really learning lots about the stitches. On to lesson 5.......

More painted papers

2006-11-26T12:50:00.000-08:00

The top one is my favourite paper of the day.

Painted papers

2006-11-26T12:40:00.000-08:00

Preparation for Ruth Issett's Masterclass

2006-11-26T12:28:00.000-08:00

I am going for the final 2 days of Ruth Issett's masterclass at Art Van Go at the end of this week. Well they were meant to be the last sessions but they have added 2 days next year for those who want to participate in an exhibition. I haven't signed up for this and am still debating as I feel very out of my depth in this class. i think I mentioned before that others on the course had either been on many of Ruth's courses, completed C&G part 2 or were tutors themselves!!! Once I decided to just take this as a learning opportunity and ignore the dreaded words MASTERCLASS I got on a lot better and enjoyed myself a lot more.

Today I have been dyeing in plastic bags. Some of the fabrics had already been printed with coloured leaf shapes and the others had been monoprinted with white paint. These pieces are drying in the tumble dryer (I have nowhere for them to dry naturally).

I also decided to paint some more papers for collaging and design work and managed to utilise the one kitchen work surface available to me.

Week 3's second sample and help with Blogger!

2006-11-26T12:22:00.000-08:00

I can't get the photos to go beneath each other or the writing in blogger - they keep ending up next to each other so I end up posting separate posts that go backwards! Can anyone help and tell me what I'm doing wrong? I'm using the old version of Blogger I think.

Anyway - onto the second sample for lesson 3. I spent a quiet evening watching what I wanted on tv (very rare I can tell you). I watched Green Wing, followed by my absolute favourite, Casualty and then the film Undcerworld (I love vampire stuff). Whilst all this was on I managed to complete sample number 2. Really enjoyed using cable chain and loop stitch!

Personal Library of stitches - week 3

2006-11-26T12:10:00.000-08:00

Well I am still behind but I have finished my lesson 3 samples at last. yesterday was the last meeting of the Hemingford embroidery group and I took my lesson printout and threads and got the sample below completed. We had a lovely day and all took something for lunch. It was a yummy lunch with many of my favourite things - quiche, chesse and biscuits, kettle chips and salad. I really enjoy getting the chance to spend a whole day on textiles whilst talking to like minded people!

Lutrador aerial map!

2006-11-23T12:53:00.000-08:00

Final sample (this post has been uploaded backwards - I still can't get the pictures where I want them!)

This piece of lutrador had something called 'perfect paper' spread on it first. Perfect paper is a medium that looks like handmade paper - it's amazing! you can spread it out smoothly on plastic and then peel your piece of 'paper' off!

Anyway, I laid this piece on some felt and machine stitched contour lines around the paste. This was then painted with dynaflow which gives this lovely contoured geographic effect. I am going to do further machining to try and distort the felt, might add some hand stitching.

Next I want to try sandwiching a piece of fine finger knitting between 2 sheets of lutrador and some bondaweb. Paint, stitch and heat back. These are just some of Jackie's ideas (I have to stress that all the creativity stems from her!). i can really recommend a workshop with her. The handout explained all the samples with extra ideas to try.

2006-11-23T12:49:00.000-08:00

Thicker threads / wool / braid was couched onto a piece of lutrador. Mainly natural fibres were used with a small bit of syrnthetic. In the gaps between couching I did various free machine stitiching. This was then painted with dynaflow in purple and yellow and heated with a heat gun when dry. I really like the colours - not my usual taste.

More Lutrador Samples

2006-11-23T12:44:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the blurring but this piece isn't flat and I scanned it! This is a painted piece of lutrador (same paints as before) which I then machine stitched and burnt back with a heat gun. Gives a lovely lacy effect but where the acrylic lumiere paint has been used it has resisted the heat.

Lutrador and garnet gel sample

2006-11-23T11:47:00.000-08:00

First sample is of lutrador with Golden garnet gel painted on. Some machine stitching in the areas without gel and then painted with lumiere paint and dye-na-flow. This is my favourite

Lutrador Samples

2006-11-23T11:38:00.000-08:00

Oh dear, I've definitely been slacking with my online class work this week. I didn't get anything done at the weekend with all the birthday fun and have completely lost momentum! The next lesson has come out today so I will take both to the Hemingford stitching group on Saturday and hopefully get lots done there!

But..... I did go on a lutrador workshop at Art Van Go with Jackie Russell. Jackie has just finished her diploma at Windsor under the tutelage of Jan Beaney and Jean Littlejohn! She is a lovely lady, really friendly and generous with her information and supplies! I had to borrow her machine as my poor Elna has given up on me and refused to do free machine embroidery (I have had it serviced and bought a new bobbin but the tension is still wrong).

Here are some pictures of the samples we did - I plan to add some hand stitch to them. Jackie uses lutrador to make gorgeous hangings that look like rust. She bonds, paints, and stitches the lutrador, burns it with a heat gun and soldering iron and then waxes it! I think it would make lovely book covers and pages. You can run it through the printer, paint it, hand stitch on it....

Another sample!

2006-11-16T13:51:00.000-08:00

Just finished this tonight in time for week 3's lesson! This has taken a few nights of dedicated stitching. The design topic this week was 'point' and how stitches can be used as points and focal points. I have really enjoyed this sample as I love woven wheels and french knots - shame about the blurry picture. I can't work out if it's my technique or the camera is on the blink but pictures seem to be worse than when I first got it. Also the colours aren't quite right. The background fabric is a dusky pink kunin felt but it looks slightly orange in the picture.

Well off to bed soon and then I'll start reading lesson 3 tomorrow.

Very excited at the moment as it's my birthday on Sunday and have lots of nice things planned for the weekend and nice presents to look forward to! I'm like a child (despite being about to turn 30) and I am all fidgety and can't sleep. Wait until Christmas - I get so excited I make myself ill!

Personal Library of Stitches - week 2

2006-11-11T03:41:00.001-08:00

Managed to get week one's sampler finished on the day that week 2's instructions were released! Lots and lots to explore in week 2 so I made a quick start this time and completed one sampler last night (these postcard sized pieces are great!)

I started off with fly stitch, the top row is 2 fly stitches on top of each other in variegated stranded cotton with a bead in the middle.

Below that I started making patterns with the fly stitch using thick silk thread, stranded cotton, perle and rayon. There are some bullions in there and beads.

Then I looked at tying the fly stitch down in different ways - bugle beads, bullion knots, french knots, seed beads. Like the little pattern at the end - think I could use this as I like geometric patterns.

I made a cross design using fly stitch and added moss stitch in the gaps. I'd never tried moss stitch before and really liked it so moved onto that. I was really pleased with the little grid of moss stitch on the right hand side - I use silk thread and perle.

I moved on to try moss stitch in stranded cotton and then to do 2 knots going vertically and horizontally - think this would look good with a bead added on top but ran out of space (and my fingers were sore!!!)

Lastly I went back to the fly stitch that I had started with but made this a continuous row - like this a lot!

Well this is only the beginning of week 2's exercises and I am back to work next week, but I would like to try out the woven wheels using various stitches and beads, washers etc.

Online Class - Personal Library of Stitches

2006-11-09T14:41:00.000-08:00

I have just started an online class at Joggles called Personal Library of Stitches. It is taught by Sharon B of 'In a minute ago' bloc. I have just finished my sampler for the first week (see below). This lesson was 45 pages long! I spent the first night just reading it! I have decided to work on postcard sized pieces. I am going to punch a hole and put an eyelet in the corner and then thread these on a ring so that I can flip through them easily in the future.
The top four bands are all variations of guilloche stitch which I had never heard of before. Great fun doing this, adding beads and thicker threads.
These are followed by Portuguese stitch which I couldn't really get the hang of. Not sure why I must have read the instructions wrong but it doesn't seem to lie correctly.

Bottom band is using zig zag chain stitch for couching with some french knots added - I like this.

This has taken me a whole evening to do so I'm glad I didn't go for a bigger sampler. The evening has flown by. Plenty more suggestions in the printout to try but not enough time. I'm going to move onto lesson 2 now and come back to this later.

Not sure about the colours I chose. Planned to go with pink and green which I love but the lime cotton is very vivid!

Lesson 1

2006-11-09T14:35:00.000-08:00

Help with mini tag punches

2006-10-21T09:48:00.000-07:00

Does anyone know where I can get a really teeny tag punch? I have already got a small one from the woodware punch collection but I would like an even smaller one like Dale and Beryl Taylor use to add tags as embellishments. I have searched the web and can't find any so suggestions welcome!

Here is a very fuzzy scan of the punch I already have.

Moonglow Sprays - where can you buy them?

2006-10-21T09:43:00.000-07:00

A few people have asked me where you can get these. I'm afraid I'm not very good at adding links etc to my blog, but I'll give it a try...

Dale at the Thread Studio in Australia stocks the whole range

http://www.thethreadstudio.com

In the UK you can get them at the following:

http://www.thestampman.co.uk and

http://www.thestampattic.co.uk

Hope this helps

Moonglow Spray - part 2

2006-10-18T12:48:00.000-07:00

Moonglow also make 'Glitz Spritz' this is a sparkly spray without the walnut ink so it is brighter and more glittery! The sample shown is some paper that I have sprayed with Tim Holtz' Adirondack Colour Wash, medieval gold glitz spritz and moonshadow mist in violaceous violet!! I think this would look lovely on silk. It sayd that you can use the Adirondack on fabric so I thought I would mainly use that and then a bit of glitz!

One of my themes at the minute is medieval and gold and purple feature heavily!

Moonglow Sprays - don't ya just love em!

2006-10-18T12:36:00.000-07:00

Joanna was asking me about Moon shadow mist sprays. These are really great! They are walnut ink with sparkly mica powder added so when it catches the light you get a sparkly gleam - yum! You can use them on paper and card, I haven't tried them on fabric yet. The picture here shows the technique I mentioned in my last post. I had some kitchen towel that I had painted already with walnut ink. I bonded this to felt and then rubber stamped on this with metallic acrylics. When this was dry I machine stitched or stamped and embossed, then I sprayed with the moonshadow mist. This makes the brown even darker to give an aged effect but you still get subtle glitz. I then coated these with acrylic wax as the ktichen towel was starting to fall apart!

Goodies from The Thread Studio

2006-10-17T05:32:00.000-07:00

Look what came in the post.....

More yummy moonglow sprays - these are really great. i have been using tissue paper and kitchen towels, painted with walnut ink, bonded to felt. I then rubber stamped and embossed onto this and machine stitched. Finally I sprayed them with the moonshadow mists - yummy! I will psot a picture when I have finished. Also got some copper tissue here - a really fine, thin copper shim. I've got a kit to make Australian leaves using water soluble fabric - can't wait to try it.

A close up of the collage

2006-10-14T03:30:00.000-07:00

Here's what happened to the goodies....

2006-10-14T03:21:00.000-07:00

Well i was dawdling along nicely with this and then suddenly realised on Wednesday that yes, the deadline was Friday! Aarggh! I got the picture emailed off to Patricia at QA but I'll let you in on a little secret...the edges still need zig zagging round and the collage needs to be fixed to the canvas! Must make myself do this this weekend or it will sit on my desk forever more as a UFO!

Anyway...here's what I did. I bonded the habotoi onto silk (this makes a lovely background for hand stitiching into - I think I will use this to practice hand stitches). I stitched a grid onto this amd made little fabric collages in each square (inspired by the work of Beryl Taylor and her book). In the goody bag there was a dyed coffee filter paper, I stamped on this and used copper embossing powder. I then sprayed this and the piece of wallpaper with moonshadow mists which are my absolute favourite thing at the minute! I made paper beads out of the dyed paper strips in the bag. I added my own abalone buttons from Canada and beads etc. I really enjoyed just playing and stitching with no real plan. I am then mounting this collage on an artists canvas that has been painted with lumiere paints.

The goodies......

2006-09-19T12:02:00.000-07:00

Quilting Arts Blog Challenge

2006-09-19T11:47:00.000-07:00

Look what I found in the mailbox today! What a lovely surprise when I got home from another gruelling day at work.
Quilting Arts editor Pokey Bolton asked people to comment on her blog about the textile technique / area that they were focusing on at the moment. The first 30 to reply received a lucky dip bag of goodies. Using these we have to make something and send a piccie in by 13th October! Suggestions from Pokey include - fibre art postcard, tiny quilt, handmade book, series of ATCs, fabric bowl or fabric house. Decisions, decisions, decisions.
I have a gorgeous piece of turquoise silk, some lovely dyed lace scraps and various other fabrics / papers. There is a coffee filter that has been dyed and a lovely piece of glittery paper - not sure what that is. Yum! Just need to make something now...that's the hard part.

New computer desk!!!!

2006-09-05T13:53:00.000-07:00

Now that we have broadband and it works better downstairs my other half decided we could move the computer into the living room (giving me more room in the spare room - yippee).

First off we picked a disrceet cabinet that would house the computer behind closed doors in the corner of the room. Then Paul remembered how much stuff I have around the computer and decided that big is best! He picked the biggest (but not the most expensive) desk in the shop and it took him over 4 hours to put together! I have to say I live with the Flat Pack King!!! He didn;t swear once. So here is a slightly blurry picture of my new computer area (before i add my clutter!)

2006-09-03T12:42:00.000-07:00

This hasn't scanned that well!

Lime green fabric

2006-09-03T12:40:00.000-07:00

Discharging Fabrics with Ruth

2006-09-03T12:33:00.000-07:00

Well what a busy few days. On day 1 with Ruth we tried devore, thickened procion dye and direct dye painting. Then on Friday we tried discharge printing and more direct dye painting. I really enjoyed the discharge technique as I have wanted to try it for ages but never dared. I thought that it would be really messy and smelly but it wasn't that bad. Ruth is really good a showing how you can achieve a lot in a small space and without a dedicated dye room with lots of sinks! We worked on laminated sheets and cleaned everything up with baby wipes! My favourite tip was using baby wipes to clean up!!!! I will definitely be trying more dyeing stuff at home now that I have seen how easy it can be to do in a small space and how easy you can clean up.

Anyway, enough of my waffle here are some pictures of the fabrics I discharged. One is cotton that I had dyed lime green and the other is black discharge velvet. In both cases I have printed with plain discharge paste and then printed with magenta textile paint added to the discharge paste.

The only thing that disappointed me was that everyone else had made really abstract blocks that worked really well and I had leaves! I went on to try some more abstract images as well but I do quite like these canna leaves.

Getting ready for Ruth Issett Masterclass

2006-08-30T11:22:00.000-07:00

Off tomorrow to the second part of the Ruth Issett masterclass being run at Art Van Go. Last went in May and had loads of time to prepare but for some reason a lot of it is left until tonight in a mad panic! Need to cut lots of fabric into A4 pieces and soak some of it in soda ash solution. Also need to paint my print blocks with white acrylic paint (this is hoping that they are not covered in cat hair stuck to the carpet tape I used!!!)

Tomorrow's session is colour on cloth! When I have my computer connected with my printer I'll put some piccies up!

The photo below...

2006-08-27T02:48:00.000-07:00

Picture below was the finished piece from lesson 2 of the online class 'self expressions'. FOr this you had to take a material / item that you really loved and had been saving for a special occasion (I have lots of these!). The idea was to actually use it and work through the fear of ruining it until you had a completed piece.
I had a small piece of fabric and bag of scraps sthat I bought at the Festival of Quilts in 2004 from Heidi Stoll Weber! Gorgeous colours in a soft, shimmery cotton sateen, yum.
What was very new (and scary) for me, is that I didn't work from a sketch or planned design, I just played around with the fabric. I reaaly enjoyed this and was actually quite pleased with the results (a first for me)!

Quilt University Self Expressions Online Class

2006-08-27T02:46:00.000-07:00

Broadband at last! But for how long?

2006-08-25T15:06:00.000-07:00

At last we have got broadband working - but we have been here before and then it suddenly stops working, so I am going to try and put a picture up quickly to see how long it takes. Might as well enjoy it whilst it lasts!

Quilted vessel

2006-01-25T13:45:00.000-08:00

I want to join the art quilters blog ring so 2 of my 5 posts must be about quilting, so I thought I'd mention how I made my 3D vessel. As the segments are made of 5 layers, techniquely it is a quilt!

Each piece was made and stitched separately and then joined together at the end. In the middle of each 'segment' is pelmet vilene which helps it keep its shape but also allowed me to bend the shapes into curves. On either side of the pelmet vilene there are 2 layers of fabric. One is a dark brown/orange taffeta and the outer layer is hand dyed cotton. I have used reverse applique and lots and lots of machine stitching. It became rather like a production line, sewing multiple segments in the same pattern. This was one of the only C&G pieces that I was actually pleased with!

A photo at last?

2006-01-25T13:25:00.000-08:00

That only took half an hour to upload! This may become the shortest blog in history

Embellished Quilting with Laura Kemshall

2006-01-25T12:54:00.000-08:00

My local Embroiderer's Guild had the fantastic Laura Kemshall along to give a lecture and dayschool on embellished quilting (as mentioned on Sandy's blog http://smarcoux.blogspot.com). It was a fantastic day and Laura shared lots of tips with us. My aim now for the future is to be able to afford one of her quilts - prefarably a poppy one! Anyway, this was my first real attempt at free machine quilting, and boy is it hard! I decided to be difficult and go for Laura's angular stippling rather than the vermicelli that I have done on my embroidery course. I also picked a thread that stood out rather than blended with the background - probably not the best idea for a beginner. I really enjoyed it though and it's amazing how much you get done and how time flies on a dayschool.

I am going to post a picture of my sampler (if I can get it to upload - I hate dial up!). I need to add some more yellow stitching as that one area pings out a bit at the moment. Laura said that she was glad someone had used 'dangerous colour'! That's me - I love bright, acid colours and my favourite combination is lime green and hot pink. Yum

Having trouble with photos...

2006-01-23T11:50:00.000-08:00

It uploaded at last but I had already published the post so don't know where the photo is - floating in cyberspace!

Here we go again!

This is my 3D assessment piece for City and Guilds certificate (part one). The design source is pacific american/canadian artwork. There are some goregeous abalone buttons on it that my relatives from Canada kindly brought across for me last year.

Another way for me to procastinate!

2006-01-23T11:15:00.000-08:00

So...after months of reading everyone else's blogs and not getting any creative work done, I have finally given in to my inner demon 'the procastinator' and decided to do my own blog. My aim is that this will embarass me into actually doing some textile work to post...
Have spent my day off work snivelling with cold after by DB has given me his 'man-flu' and decided that as I can't get any sewing or housework (yuk) done I will start a blog!
Anyway, enough self pity and a bit about me. I am a textile obsessed 29 year old who has regular 'textile tantrums' about the fact that I can't create what I want to and nothing is 'good enough'. I seem to spend more time buying the gizmos and materials and reading the books than I do at the sewing machine. This might be a rebellion against the 2 years of City and Guilds I did which I found quite stressful with a full time job. Anyway, embroidery certifcate complete it is time to have fun and try to find my own way!

So to start the pictures off, I'll be very brave and show you some of my city and guilds work.

...except I don't have broadband and can't connect to blogger at the moment! Will have to try the photos from my dad's computer (with broadband).