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.

Norton Priory Exhibition

I got a shock when I looked at the date of my last post. It has been such a busy month plus this time of the year is gardening time. The warmth and rain are ideal conditions for growth of everything. My first poppy of the year last week and foxgloves everywhere. Welsh poppies are so bright and cheery but so invasive that I have just spent an hour fulling them up before they seed everywhere, I do leave a few for next year's show!


The pics below are of the preview of the Outside In exhibition at Norton Priory by Textile 21. I've not given too close up a view as I'd rather you go and see it yourself!!

Three ladies admiring my 3 seed head pieces and the man in the back ground with the stripy shirt is my hero David, he also is my hubby.

This is Rita my dear friend from Silk-n-Threads. My informal mentor I usually run most of my pieces by her before signing them off. Such a stylish lady. She is inspecting my work!

Sue and Maria in the foreground having a chat. Both are members of Textile 21 with exhibits well worth seeing.David again but this time chatting about the RAF with Cliff, Pauline's husband. The large batik on the back wall depicts the sculpture in the garden of the Kneeling Monk.

Finally Claires's felt hats being admired by an invited guest with Elsa's three panels on the far wall.

Detail of one of Claire's felt hats

The preview was well received and the exhibition runs until the 14th July. The walled garden at the priory, open each afternoon after 1.30 is well worth the visit.

TIF and Pink Explosion

Finished February TIF, I used the given colour scheme and the concept of What I could remember - Cornish holidays in the 1960s! Didn't have too much time for this challenge so it is a minimalistic version but still effective.

This is what I have been working on most recently. Strips of silk woven into painted tyvek and then blasted with heat gun. this was then FME and machine wrapped cords and beads added as embellishment. It is for the Silk-n-Threads exhibition at Tatton Park 15th march to 1st June entitled 'Year of the Garden'. I wanted to create that overwhelming feeling when there is so much colour in some flower beds during the summer. I think I achieved it.
Close up shows the FME flower heads

Health Update

Latest in the saga of my health. Just been 'released' from hospital after a week of suffering the inconvenience of an acute inflammed gall bladder. Not nice. Lots of morphine, anti sickness tablets and liquid low fat food. Lost more weight, shouldn't complain! but now I have to now wait for the call for key hole surgery. Now that it has been diagnosed with hindsight I can see that I have been 'under the weather' for months now. Nagging back pain on the rightside especially at night, general uncomfortable torso pain, feeling seedy, and drinking lots of peppermint tea! So hopefully when the offending organ is removed I will feel like a new women, here's hoping!!! Hubby is expecting his wife back!

Must get back to my workroom soon as I can get rid of this fatique. I did manage to do some stitching whilst in Hospital, Silk-n-Threads are having a Christmas stocking competition this Friday, although I won't be able to attend I intend sending my entry, this is how it is looking at the mo. Embellished base fabric using silk velvet and silk which is them hand embellished, first side finished, may have to use a plain second side to save time.

embellished base

hand embellished first sidedetail of surface embellishment