LINO CUTTING KIT ARRIVED

I don't know if I will have time to use this before our workshop next week but I look forward to experimenting with it.  

ART IN ACTION WORKSHOP

We had a two hour wood cutting workshop during our first day at Art in Action.

These are the results, not too bad for a first attempt!

INDIGO DYEING IN MALVERN

Hazel set up a vat of indigo whilst I was staying with here and the results are in the photo attached. I need to get to work and make something with it. 

I hope to incorporate the beads into something creative which  Hazel gave me.

COPTIC BOOK NUMBER 3

Busy today practicing the stitches. Think I've got it now.

BOOKMAKING LONG STITCH AND COPTIC

Two sessions with Joan resulted in the books shown, with my own design papers.

Last Sunday we worked on long stitch and these are my efforts for the day.

Yesterday was Coptic Stitch 

Completed in class and very pleased with the result thanks to Sue MW's Perle thread.

Number two produced when I returned home to ensure the process was reinforced in my brain!  This one is a better overall colour combination but I put the back cover on upside down, learning point when making holes with my jig! 

BOOK MAKING IN APRIL

Pamphlet stitching this month in various forms.   We had a busy day completing them all.

Dos-a-Dos

Two sewn as one with pamphlet stitching.

Hard backed pamphlet stitched.

Looking forward to next meeting when we are making design on our paper.

COLDSTONE CUT INSPIRED

"

Coldstone 1 reflecting the heather in the moorland, need to add a few beads to give the mica glints to the background. 

Coldstone 11 based on winter autumn, again a few beads needed.

Trying to decide how to mount them, thinking about a piece of slate as a natural background.

The two pieces of felt made with a mixture of English wools and merino, I was attempting to get the look of rock and the layers .  I then embellished roving onto hand made felt and embroidered the background with variageted Perle threads.

BOOK MAKING AT THE WEEKEND

Japanese stab stitched books made on Saturday. 

Yotsumi Toji, Noble binding or Kangxy Toji, Hemp Leaf, and Tortoise Shell.  Thoroughly enjoyed Joan's class.now to begin my homework by creating another stitch using the same method.  The small book was an attempt at one but I'm not happy with it. 

NOSTALGIA

I have had family photographs on fabric for a while and decided it was time to do something with one of them. My father's older brothers and sister with their mother, probably during WW1. There were three more children after these five my dad being the last one in 1922.

Daylight photograph improvement on the one taken in the evening

Experimental this week

I have been playing with old silk floss and Aquabond this week to make a background. Intend to use to make this into leaves as these are in my head at the moment. 

It needs a further rinse in water as too stiff at present. I intend to mix it with felt and toning fabrics to create individual stitches.

Leaf stitching complete

Awaiting inspiration  for my intentions for this piece.  I've just been amusing myself with herringbone, blanket and fly stitch with a few long stitches between.

STAR BOOK FROM JOAN'S CLASS

I had an enjoyable day at Number 6 on Saturday, lovely to see Joan looking so well.

Amazing how we all used the same process to make many different books in shape and size. Here are my three examples.

Keeping myself amused this week

I have been experimenting with different stitches on leaves, three complete so far.

Attempted a box earlier in the week which is partly complete, not impressed with the instructions in creative with Workbox, therefore trying my own process.

LAST WEEK'S FINISHED HANGING

A hanging for my Canadian cousins, this will be going to Maple Ridge, Vancouver next week. Family photos including our grandparents, based on the kiwi trees in the garden when I visited in September using fabric brought back belonging to my aunt and uncle with fabric I bought in the amazing shops in BC. A small amount of my mum's silk scarf in the fallen leaves too.

I hope the like it when it arrives.  Must admit I struggled with it as the background is a colour I rarely use!

The front followed by the reverse which very few will see.

MESSY DAY

Got my Jelli plate out today, time I did something constructive.  Acrylics at the ready, will have yo sort them out as some too stiff, had them too long! Any tips for thinning them gratefully received?

This one gives the best effect I want, holiday photo my start point of an old building.

Not quite there with this one no purple to give definition. 

New Year New Start

I have been intending to make a hanging for my younger cousin in Canada since I came back in September but got overtaken by making Christmas runners, mats and trees.  This is the beginning of the piece based on the kiwi trees in Ann's garden in Maple Ridge.  I have family photos to add plus hand stitching too.

 

This is keeping me occupied whilst I recover from a tummy bug picked up after New Year. 

Good news arrived last week from Joan she will be starting classes again at the end of the month, her recovery must be progressing well.