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.