EMBELLISHER - FIRST ATTEMPT

JUST GOT MY HANDS ON MY NEW TOY!
My Janome Xpression has just arrived and I couldn't wait to try it out. I went to the NEC at Birmingham last week to the Stitching for Pleasure exhibition and tried out as many embellishers as I could whilst there. Came home with lots of samplers. I had done research beforehand as to cost, delivery and guarantees over the internet, as well as ask as many bloggers as possible as to which they would recommend based on their usage of the machines. I decided on the Janome as it has an easy to reach separate compartment for the large amounts of fluff. It has five needles which can be removed separately with pliers to replace, I was assured, and I have already tried to do this successfully. So my first attempt was to create a motif for a denim bag that I have had for many years, my daughter was going to throw it out! I used a grey felt as the base and wool rovings, net, silk tops and novelty knitting wool for the design which evolved as I worked on it. After completing the motif I then needle felted it to the denim, it was so much easier than I thought it would be.

This closeup shows the variety of threads and fibres used and how they felt so well together. I learnt a lot from my first attempt and the potential for creating new fabrics and embellishing with embroidery seems endless. Watch this space for more creations.

TAST - Couching & Knotted Cretan Stitch

Slightly behind with posting this sample. I used a combination of threads to couch and several stitches to actually couch with. The Chevron stitch works particularly well as a contrast.
I used 'Oliver Twist' threads for this group of Knotted Cretan stitches. An excellent stitch for grouping together.

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.

More Needle Felting and Tyvek

This embroidery is a combination of needle felting, Tyvek and beads and entitled 'Metallic Fantasy'. It is mounted on a piece of silk. I used wool for the needle felting and the Tyvek was painted before being distressed with iron and heat gun. My husband says it looks like a drunken man staggering home and a friend can see a sorcerer! What can you see?

In this closeup the distressed tyvek is clearly visible in the foreground and the Christmas glitter fabric pulled until it looked interesting.

Needle Felting sample

This is in response to Doreen who also posted a piece of needle felting she completed a while ago. Mine is a mixture of wool and silk fibres. A word of warning if you haven't yet tried silk fibres in needle felting by hand be very careful as I broke five needles the first time I attempted this technique. As silk is a very strong fibre you have to use them very sparingly and ensure that the needles are at 90 degrees to the fabric. I learnt to use wool as the base and then intermix silk along with the wool on the surface. The shiny more lilac sections are the silk fibres. I have started to machine embroider the piece but it is a WIP (work in progress) as many of my other LWOA (little works of art) are. It needs some more embellishment, hand embroidery and beads I think.
All I need to do now is to decide what to do with it, the current front runner is an evening bag.
Must go and complete my TAST sample for this week