Australian stitching project

 It’s been a while since I posted here so here is what’s in my holiday sewing pouch. 

I’m in Sydney on the last lap of our month ‘down under’. 

As I look out over Sydney harbour and the iconic Opera House I am attempting to finish this indigo piece before we travel home. 

 

I am using up left over pieces of indigo dyed natural fabrics by weaving them, attaching to a base fabric and then slow stitching to hold it altogether.  

I love the variation of colour that can be achieved with different fabrics. I use a synthetic vat, I find it more convenient as I don’t do a lot of indigo dyeing and when I do it is quick and easy to organise. All the threads are natural, cotton and silk. Well known choc ice sticks recycled. 

 I am finding slow stitching is so relaxing and as I listen to some Barbara Streisand I can let the fabric and thread tell me which stitches and tone to use.  If you have liked what you see please hit like and or leave a comment so I know you passed by. 

TIF latest

Photo of my design book for TIF's January challenge. I played around with the images of gall bladders and came up with the design top right. It will be postcard size and the base fabric will be commercial craft felt.

The cream fabric is pinned down for the top right, pleased with the shape, I will attach it down by couching machine wrapped cords, see below.

I machine wrapped three different coloured cords for the edging of the cream shape.

This shows one night's work, I couched the three cords separately and used seed stitch on the cream fabric, I might put some pale lilac on this later if I feel it needs it.
Close up of couching and seed stitch

Generally pleased with the first session of stitching. The next task is to create a loose linear effect on the purle felt, will have to go back to my TAST library for inspiration.

Health report

Thanks to everyone who has passed on their best wishes through this blog, my Flickr and by email.
I came home from hospital 36hours after the op and have been well looked after by DH so far but I think he is looking forward to going back to work next week. Today has been the first day that I have felt like 'creating' so just paid a visit to the recent posts about the TIF challenge and made a start on my design so hopefully will be able to commence stitching at the weekend.

Back Again!!

Been somewhat indisposed recently. Firstly I was very busy creating for two exhibitions that Silk-n-Threads were holding, both going very nicely up to date, see link on right. Then I managed to get a rather bad bladder infection due to some grit that scrapped the inside of my bladder. Both very painful and resulted in a trip in an ambulance to A&E and a visit from the emergency doctor. Two doses of strong antibiotics later I now feel better but if you have ever had to pass bladder or kidney stones you know what I went through.

However back to my workroom and finishing off all those pieces that have been sat around for far too long.

Firstly the finished book cover made from the fabric paper that I made back in early September. Pleased with the result as it is just the right size to fit in my larger handbags!


Back of the book cover.

I finally got around to having the Patchwork of Life embroidery mounted and framed ready for the exhibition at the Bollington Arts Centre.

Closeup of the stitching on Patchwork of life. I completed this as part of Sharon Boggon Sumptuous Surfaces course in the summer.

Patchwork of Life - almost there

My second and final piece for the Sharon Boggon Sumptuous Surfaces class is almost complete. Most of the squares are complete, I just need to fill in some gaps here and there but generally pleased with the result.

Concept of patchwork of life is reflected in the half empty/half full sections, the emptiness & gaps in ones life, the isolated squares, the purity of new life and the richness and closeness of family and friends.

The green squares represent the green grass that tempts us but is no where as rich and full filling as life.Tonal change reflects the wealth of knowledge and wisdom gained throughout life.

Now that summer has at last reached the UK I am off out to the garden so I don't know when I will finish it completely!!!!!!!!1

Sumptuous Surfaces Piece # 2 - Half Way

I have finished the first low relief layer of my patchwork piece. The base of each square was green non woven fabric that florists use, I increased the number of layers to help with the tonal changes needed. The one inch square pieces allowed me to use a range of stitches. Click on photo to see in gretaer detail. The main challenge was to create a gradual change in tone as I progressed down the piece. Alot of squinting took place and unpicking but I think I am happy with the result so far. I expect that I will need to remove or add after the top high relief layer is finished. I have started this at the top, lilac triangle! This shows some detail of the bottom four squares, mainly dull so that they will receed rather than jump out of the piece.

Sumptuous Surfaces Week New Concept

The brief this week was to think in colour. When I think of colour at this time of the year it has to be my garden. The lime green of 'Ladies Mantle' aka Alchemilla Mollis is so prevalent and with the pinks/purples of the fushia, geraniums and pertunias the complementary colours on the colour wheel come to life.
Thinking beyond that India and the richness of life in colour has to be a second best. I've never been but after googling India I couldn't help but be impressed by the saris and dyes. The use of primary colours and the matching of complementaries in saris and textiles generally is so breath taking.
Finally I thought of the work of Kaffe Fassett. I am a great admirer of his use of colour in patchwork, tapestries and knitwear. I have three of his books and they never fail to inspire me.

So I put all this together and came up with an idea of using a basic patchwork design to show off the use of colour. The first colour scheme was blue and yellow, but this was disregarded and one that reflected my garden at present was chosen. Below are the colours I found in my stash.

I played with this range both in paint and thread.
Above are my expts with altering the value of the colours as I want to change the tints and shades throughout the piece. Tints at the top and increasing in value towards the base. The sketch below shows my first attempt at a design based on patchwork squares.
Too basic I thought so moved on to playing with the grid and the sketches below show some of the more acceptable results. The top line shows the grid altered to produce a more pleasing silhouette. In the second line I have introduced triangle shapes to break up the right angles and introduce an additional geometrical shape. I introduced negative shapes in the final line and the final design is an combination of all of these ideas.

Final design incorporating patchwork squares, triangles and negative shapes as well as the colour value increasing towards the base. The stitch plan is to have the green areas in low relief stitching and minimal embellishment. The fushia coloured squares will be in high relief stitching and increasing embellishment towards the base. They will also overlap the green to soften and minimise these areas. Haven't decided how to outline the shape yet or in fact whether to at all.
Off now to transfer the design and get stitching!!!!!!!!! Looking forward this this.

Sumptuous Surfaces Sea Urchins Finished

Spent all my free time over the past few days completing my sea urchin embroidery as part of the Sharon Boggon Sumptuous Surfaces class. Took longer than I anticipated but I think well worth it. I am particularly pleased with the recession and the way I managed to use a range of different stitches to capture the texture and surface of the urchins. I had never used drawn thread stitch in this random way before and will definately use it again.

Week four is about a new concept and design process so I'd better get started.

Tast latest

Soooooooo behind with TAST so here are four samples to almost get me up to date, just satin and french knots to go.




Wheatear Stitch. Tried something different by making it into a filling stitch. By varying the size and thickness of stitch interest is gained.
The isolated stitches also work well.

B
Butterfly Chain Stitch completed on a piece of painted calico. The range of effects are, movement, symmetrical patterns, isolated, bunched. Variation in thickness gives interest.



Crossed Buttonhole Stitch.
Very linear this design on a piece of painted calico. Interest added by overlapping the stitches


Basque Stitch. Great for both formal and more random designs.

My stitch book is starting to look very colourful now!

TAST latest samples

The last two weeks of TAST challenge samples. See all of the samples so far on my flickr account.

OYSTER STITCH this took some time mastering but it flows easily from the needle. Works well as a bulk/filling stitch as well as a movement and more structured stitch. I used some of my Oliver Twist variegated threads.


BONNET STITCH this stitch allows for movement and in different thicknesses of thread it can be used in many ways.

Embellished Postcard

This postcard has been completed from a piece of embellished felt on my Xpression. I used mainly wool rovings but there are other fibres in there. The embroidery was to represent the colours of March. This year everything is so green and so early. Fresh greens and the new shoots of bulbs, grass and shrubs. The postcard was my March contribution for the 6x4 lives flickr group. I am not totally happy with colour repo it is actually much brighter/richer than this.

NUNO FELT WORKSHOP

Thoroughly enjoyed this workshop last Saturday. For full details of the whole day's events go to the Silk-n-Threads Blog. Here are my finished results.

Two pieces of white silk chiffon trapped white and green wool rovings in a grid pattern. In between the gaps in the grid pattern circles of green wool and pink silk tops. The ends of the rovings used for the grid can be seen at the edges of the four sides. If you click on the picture you can clearly see the crinkly effect achieved when the wool shrinks and is pushed through the chiffon.
The finished result is strong and has a great tactile appeal. Cushion or Wall Hanging, can't make my mind up!

In these two pieces a predyed piece of silk chiffon had wool rovings and silk tops arranged on top before felting using a traditional wet method. I feel an embroidery or two coming on!






FUSHIA

OCEAN

TAST Up and Down Buttonhole Stitch

This the latest TAST challenge - Up and Down Buttonhole Stitch. I particularly liked this one as it allowed for movement. To see more of these samples done by other bloggers see http://www.flickr.com/groups/56846286@N00/ .

February Fabric Postcard 6x4 lives

This postcard was inspired by a row of bare trees from the Sunday School window. The low winter sun was shining through and I thought I am sure I have a piece of painted bondaweb somewhere that looks like that. Here it is! The crocus carpet was to represent a small piece of local ground that always has an early display of crocus and brings spring to many who pass it on their way to and from work.I am a member of the 6x4 lives group on flickr and we post a monthly postcard that represents our life during that month. Click on the link on the right.
In addition my local group of textile artists Silk-n-Threads are completing a postcard swop in April. See http://silk-n-threads.blogspot.com for results later in April.

Barred & Alternating Barred Chain Stitch - TAST

Many TAST members found this stitch boring but after a while I mastered it (not having done it before) and it was very good at creating bulk, top of sample, and lent itself to movement as the curvy sample at the bottom shows. I have at last caught up with all 10 weeks of the challenge. I have posted them on my Flickr page, see link on right.

First Post - Paisley Sampler

After much deliberation I have finally sorted out this blog page. It has taken me so long that I have not managed to finish a project for the local Embroiderers Guild. It is due tomorrow so tonight might be a long one. Each member was given the same paisley design and had to embroider it in one or many stitches as they wanted. I am in to metallic threads at present hence the choice of rich burgundy and gold. The introduction of some orange was to add a dash of complementary colour, not sure where else I will put it yet.

The design was marked out with a fading pen on a predyed cotton that had a variegated effect


Close up of tail of paisley design, the fronds are created by buttonhole stitch in two different shades of stranded thread.