EMBROIDERERS GUILD TALK

I was approached by Chelford Embroiderers Guild to give a talk at the back end of last year and before I knew it I said 'Yes'. I started the process of writing the talk about 2 months before the due date of 16th May. It was a most enjoyable task as I visited many memories that made up my life and realised how rich it had been both emotionally and creatively. These aspects helped to minimise the negative physical blips in my life. Having taught for 30 years meant that the presentation held no worries for me but the content was the issue. I suppose most of us don't consider ourselves as experts and tend to hide our achievements making excuses before we even show our work. The ladies at Chelford were very welcoming and I was kept talking for over half an hour at the end with many members exchanging email addresses.
For a picture of the night go to http://chelfordstitchers.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/margaret-steeden-moving-on-may-2012.html this was a piece of machine embellished velvet that is covered in bits from my bit box, I will do something with it one day!!!!

Busy at the moment preparing for Holmfirth at the end of the month, I have been making brooches this year from wool and charms, hopefully post some pics when finished. Also for Silk-n-Threads' exhibition at Bradbury House also at the end of the month. http://silk-n-threads.blogspot.co.uk/

Busy Month!!!!!!!

Latest Silk Works

 This is the bag that I made from a new fabric made from silk rods. During the latest workshop I lead at Silk-n-Threads we used both silk hankies and silk rods to make new fabric surfaces from  which we made purses, needlecases, hearts and backgrounds for embroideries and silk paintings.
http://silk-n-threads.blogspot.com/ is the link to the Silk-n-Threads blog where the pictures of the goodies made by members.

The bag has a silk dupion lining  and finished off with a machine wrapped cord and handle.

I will be leading a workshop at The Threshing Barn, Leek, later in the year. Details later.

SKETCHBOOK CHALLENGE

These are some of my February 'Close up' sketches for the Sketchbook Challenge' I decided to do February in monotone and as it happens March's title is Flowers so I can go for colour colour colour this month. I have started and will post soon.Leaf Skeleton

Cross Section Dog Rose

 Pea pod

Rhodo Bud Section

click the badge to the right to find out details of the challenge.There is also a flickr page for related uploads. http://www.flickr.com/groups/sketchbookchallenge/

SEWING BOX

 Back in 2007 I went on a workshop to create a collage that was printed on to fabric, I came away with two collages of my parents and they sat in my UFO box for over 3 years. I spent along time deciding what to do with them and then when my youngest daughter gave me her old sewing box I decided to cover it with the said collage after embroidering it with items relevant to Emily and Bert.It was my way of creating an heirloom that hopefully one of my daughters will cherish.

Mum was a seamstress all her life and career and this cover reflected that.

They married on the 20th March 1949.

Bright Summers Day

How about this for memories of summer.

I have been experimenting with new ways of using silk in my work. Just painting it had lost interest for me so I have started to manipulate it first and then paint it. Very pleased with the result. I orginally intended to complete the centre using thread and silk cocoons but time ran away with me and to finish it in time for the latest Silk-n-Threads exhibition I had to use acrylics instead.

SKETCHBOOK CHALLENGE

I have been taking part in the Sketchbook Challenge set by Sue Bleiweiss http://sketchbookchallenge.blogspot.com/2011/01/sketchbook-challenge-begins.html and this is my first page of doodles under the title 'Highly Prized'. I also made the sketchbook to house the sketches and I am very plesed with the effect gained by stencilling over an old purple disposable tablecloth with Markal oil sticks and Treasure Gold products. To protect the surface I acrylic waxed the final result.

THE PRESIDENT - CLEMATIS

                                                                          It has been a while since I last posted but I have been busy creating and just to prove it here is a silk embellished picture of a clematis that used to climb throughout a quince at our last house. Sadly it is no longer there as the new owner has pulled up most of the garden for an extension!! So glad I have a reminder of this stunning clematis 'The President'. I've bought a new one for a trellis at our new house.

This closeup shows in more detail the texture I achieved with the embellisher and the finishing off on the sewing machine as well as the beaded centre.