Wednesday 10 April 2013

Corset Bag




Sara has made this Corset Bag for the 3D object for her
City and Guilds Creative Textiles. It is a beautiful piece of work. 
incorporating many techniques. The bodice sections
are equisite pieces of textured embroidery and beading.
The handle is made with a twisted strip with made cording through it. 
It is lined and has a zipped inner pocket.
Just fantastic. See more of Sara's corsets HERE

Mixed Media Textile Samples



Lots of layering of textures and textiles make for interesting
backgrounds ready for main pieces to be applied to them with
various techniques. 

Mousehole Cat's Dream Catcher



 Gill has really enjoyed doing Creative Textiles City and Guilds Part 2.
This shows in her depth of research and detailed pieces and samples.
Here, is a  Smaller Dream Catcher a section of her Mousehole Cat's Dream Catcher.
It is going to be a large Dream catcher with smaller 'bubbles' or dream catchers inside.
The one above being one of them.
It was made using the top section of a fisherman's keep net
and then lots of mixed media textile work.
The origina idea came from Gill's exploration of Dorset Buttons.
See HERE
If you don't know about the lovely Cornish story about
a Mousehole Fisherman Tom Bawcock.
Written by Antonia Barber and
illustrated by Nicola Bayley. 
'The Mousehole Cat" click HERE   
to see a small illustrated clip of the video.
or watch
This is a video of the Mousehole Cat read by Sian Philips&nbsp ;
The Mousehole Cat Part 1 from Shakespeare Junior School on Vimeo.

I am really looking forward to seeing the completed piece.



Stained Glass Patchwork Fuchsias


Judith's Fuchsias are made using the stained glass patchwork technique.
It takes a bit of planning and drawing out but as you can
see the results are stunning.
Judith decided she wanted to use vibrant silks and this
technique is great for this as it covers the raw edges but also
gives the impression of a window shining. 
I drew a pattern out of the design first, 
sometimes students just want to start then and there,
so I have to be pretty inventive!
 Using this outline drawing Judith traced each
piece onto freezer paper and then each piece was numbered and labelled.
The drawing was labelled and numbered as well.
You then make a background fabric for all the pieces to go
onto. See Judith in this post HERE 
beginning the process.
It is a case of starting from one corner
and laying the pieces down making sure you overlap
where necessary and consider how you are going
to place the black bias binding so it neatens edges and 
covers edges.
This is Judith's first wallhanging like this and it
is beautiful. The striking pink edging has really put a wow
to the finish.

Girls Day Out Bag



Helen brought in her bag that her
"Girls Day Out Quilt" goes in. 
She made it from all of the scraps left over.
It is so lovely and has the charm of the quilt itself.
To see Helen's inspiration and quilt click HERE
The quilt is such a labour of love and beautiful to see.

Busy Sewing






We are starting to call Sylvia an 'Elf'.
In the nicest possible way of course as she comes to class with a 
bags full of goodies she has made or has been finishing off.
She is also making her Christmas presents each month and as they seem
to be seven or eight at a time due to her many friends,
hence the term Elf!
The little gift purses are ideal for a gift card, jewellery, small
gift and a little note. Each are unique and they are
beautifully finished with the embellished fasteners.
I have been encouraging the finish of items especially with
fasteners. You can make an item look far more by
adding just simple finishes touches such as,
instead of just sewing a pop stud on. It makes an
item look hand made. If you decorate a circle
of felt or fabric and then sew the pop stud onto this it
makes the item look more crafted and expensive. 
It also draws less attention  to the press stud!
Which often because of its nature stands out in not a good way!
Sylvia had also made a Kindle Bag and Cot Quilt for a
new baby!
Busy lady and a lovely Elf!

U3A Patchwork and Quilting Workshop




In March I taught the Down Market U3A Patchwork and Quilting Group
Twisted Squares and Folded Patchwork, shapes and strips.
(U3A, "university of the third age").
Every hour, there was a new technique and ways of continuing them
on, into patterns which could be parts of wallhangings, cushions or quilts.
Some, liked the Twisted Square,  a bit of magic. Others like the 
folded hexagons these can make your eyes and fingers go twitchey. 
The Cathedral Windows made as doubles and the Twisted Strips 
something different!
Origami in fabric is always a good exercise because you are taking a 
2D flat fabric surface and making it into a 3D with folds, tucks, pleats and
stitch. The manipulation of the fabric add another dimension 
you can't get any other way
Everyone enjoyed the day and you can see by the table of samples,
lots of good results. It also opened many boxes in the brain
 that hadn't been opened for a long time.
I like stretching the brain muscles with simple exercise
that turn out great results.
From this the group decided to make a block up from the squares
for the Sampler Quilt they are each making.
I was asked if I would teach the block
"New York Beauty"
 at the next workshop in June.
See more of the folded patchwork 
by clicking the written labels below.