Back to the stitching.

Its taken me a while to get back to posting again. Apologies to anyone reading this.

The image shown here is "Face". I have been working slowly away at this for some time. It can definitely be called a WISP (Work in Slow Progress).

"Face" is a collage of various layers of light and wispy fabric overlaid with a variety of machine embroidery and hand embroidered stitches. I have recently been trying to add more definition to the stitched outline I had started with, adding some coloured gauze. Adding the dark shade has overbalanced things a little with the nose (to the left) looking far too dark. The top of the head needs adjustment too (towards the top of the photo). However, playing with this image is teaching me such a lot about colour values. Before starting this piece, I had never tried using such flimsy fabric - just loved touching it....

"Face" is just one of a series of WISPs which I have haunting my sewing space.

Those promised photos.

At long last, photos of the projects I have been working on lately.

Firstly, the paisleys. There are three of them:

This is Paisley One - hand-made felt with rather too much machine embroidery I really feel less would have been better with this one. However, I shall not be unpicking this one just yet.

The next photos are of Paisley Two. Again, the hand-made felt. (Thanks so much for teaching me Ruth!) This time the motifs were made using fabric scraps with much fun being had stitching through dissolvable fabric. The background design is an all-over paisley motif.

The third design, Paisley 3, has an all-over paisley motif background. Onto this I have placed a stumpwork paisley motif. I hope that I can give the name stumpwork to this technique. It was made using the same method, but has interwoven threads for a centre. Anyway, see what you think:

The next photo is of my new figure - Serenity. Not to be seen at her best, yet. She still needs some more work to finish off the body and then that chaise longue..... Well, I have drafted a design, but we will have to wait and see how this project gets on.

The last two photos show my dear friend Coco, who is snoring merrily on the chair next to me as I write. She has decided that she rather likes felt - I've found that its difficult to dislodge a cat when wanting to work on a piece she is sleeping on.

Seasons Greetings

Hello everyone!
Rather late, but I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and a very Happy and Creative New Year.
No photos this time, but I am beavering away with a number of projects at the moment - completing the Black, Red and White Block of the month quilt; Paisley 3; catching up with Paisleys 1 and 2 when I can fit this in too. Oh, and then there's Serenity, my next figure.
I shall be a bit stuck after finishing the machine quilting of the quilt-as-you-go blocks. The fabric I intended for the sashing just will not do. I shall have to go and get something else. The red is just the colour I need, but it looks so dull!! I shall get something with more of a printed texture to it. The quilt would get far too "busy" if I added some embroidery to the red I have got. But that is an idea worth thinking about.....
Paisley 3 is an experiment on the Paisley theme. I should have started this after completing the felted versions. But I got this rather intriguing idea - all based round a stumpwork version of Sharon's rather beautiful paisley designs. I shall be placing this on top of an embroidered fabric decorated with an all-over free-machined design of paisley images. I've already finished the fabric - photos safely in my camera - but I now need to extend the area of the stumpwork piece. The whole thing needs balancing.
This is the link to Sharon's excellent website:

http://www.inaminuteago.com/blog/

To see her gorgeous designs you will need to go to the entry for the 30th August. Yes, I know I do work rather slowly.... But I do get so easily side-tracked.
Serenity is another of my figures - see "Gard" earlier on this Blog. The last entry showing him is the 13th August. My little figure is now named after one of my mother's uncles. I really couldn't resist since it seemed so appropriate.
At the moment Serenity is waiting for her chair. I have the image of a chaise longue in my head, but whether it will turn out to be this I do not know. I need the chair so that I can plan how her clothes will drape. I have some pieces of silk noil, ribbon and other items which will make her clothing and hair. I really ought to start making figures which stand, it might be easier.
Thanks for reading my Blog this year. I hope you have a really enjoyably creative 2007.
My very best wishes to you all.

Encrusted Crazy Quilting 2.

I have fallen way behind with Sharon Boggon's Encrusted Crazy Quilting course - just finished "week two", and the course has already ended! No matter, I am enjoying myself and the beautifully written instructions mean that I am able to carry on at my own (snail-like) pace until both my pieces are finished. Thanks Sharon. It really is nice to find such well-written instructions and feel fully confident that you can finish no matter how long it might take.

http://www.joggles.com/onlineclasses.htm

More exhibitions.

Went to the "Art of the Stitch" exhibition last weekend. What a wonderful selection of textiles. So varied too: From the body printing "Purge" with its amazing fabric and stitch details (by Colin Jenkins); to the stitched picture, "The power and the glory" by Helen Fletcher; to the truly amazing cartoon strip in applique with stitching, "Perseus Chapter One" by Zara Merrick.
I wish I could show you photos, but no photography was allowed.
The exhibition is a biennial presented by the Embroiderer's Guild (UK). It is a travelling exhibition which I saw in Birkenhead, at the Williamson Art Gallery.

http://www.embroiderersguild.com/

On my way home, I popped in to visit the embroidery and craft shop, Voirrey. They had a small and interesting exhibition too - by the Chester branch of the Embroiderer's Guild. The following photos were taken in the car park. It was a beautiful windy day.

http://www.voirrey.com/

Cranford Exhibition and ongoing projects.

The Cranford Exhibition was held yesterday in the delightful surroundings of Knutsford Methodist Church. Many congratulations to all those who had work on show. The whole exhibition showed quilting of a very high standard which was enjoyed by all who came. Well done! The newly repainted building gave everything displayed a warmth as well as space, in which even the largest quilt could be admired to full advantage.
Many thanks are due to those who put this show together to such wonderful advantage. Thankyou so very much.

Now on to something far more basic.






















My first felt picture. I decided to try out the paisley design currently part of a challenge by the Stitching Post. The next stage is to add the embellishment - I shall be adding quite a lot of stitching to this piece before it is complete.

And now an update on my other piece of felt.
















I have added two paisley motifs, but have not washed the dissolvable paper off yet. Hopefully, with the rest of the motifs added as "ghosts" around these two, it will start to improve.
The next photo shows the back, giving details of the stitching so far.

Red, black and white.

Its been rather too long since I last added to this Blog. Sorry to those of you who drop by hoping to find something new. Work has been getting in the way just lately.
Never mind, I recently finished the ninth block of the Red, White and Black quilt. It was nice playing about with the blocks and trying out what they might look like when I finally put them together. The sashing will be red, unless I find it doesn't work as well I hope it will.
The final three blocks are now cut and ready to sew, but will have to wait for a few days more. I am helping out at the Cranford exhibition this Saturday, so won't have much time to sew this weekend. Never mind, it will be a lovely day with friends. I might even find the right red for the sashing I need.



These are the completed blocks for the quilt - nine of the final twelve.



These are nine of the blocks made for the backing, just to give a feel of what it may look like. The sashing here may be red or even black, rather than white. The red from the front would show through too much.