Indigo and Shibori

I finished this wall hanging out of all the Shibori and Indigo Dyeing.

I had made in previous sessions. 

I have been teaching 101 ways of stitching, tying and folding

fabric for dye patterns.

See more of what is going on in the studio 

HERE

See a Shibori video on my Art Tech Blog HERE

Preparing for Norfolk Open Studios

City and Guilds Creative Textiles

The above embroidered pictures are made by Bev as part of her

Level Two City and Guilds for Machine Embroidery in

Creative Textiles.

Nineteen Level Two students have passed with me this year.

So, Congratulations to them for a year of fun, hard work and

experimenting.

See more of the students work by visiting 

HERE

I teach City and Guilds Creative Textiles in 

Machine Embroidery and Patchwork and Quilting from Level One 

through to Degree.

Courses are available throughout the year, so if you are interested

please contact me.

I now teach the courses at The Old Art Room Swaffham

in my fully equipt Art Studio at The Art, Craft, Antiques and Cultural Centre

in Swaffham.

The centre was once the old Sixth Form College.

Textile Metal

We have had a couple of weeks embossing and stitching metal.

Everyone started with a drinks can but the results

are all different!

They are embossed with plastic plates through a Cuttle Bug or

by drawing with a ball point pen.

The metal is then coloured with Acrylic Inks, Staz On Ink Pads,

Glass Paint or Nail Varnish.

The metal is then cut out in so many different and applied with

the sewing machine using a variety of stitches to textiles.

Many made cards, brooches, bookmarks and bags.

I will be teaching more of these creative metal work and recycle

days this summer.

See more examples by clicking the written or photo posts below.

Embroidery Friend

I met Jamila at The Kings Lynn Embroidery Guild,

last year.

We have become firm friends and meet up every month,

on what we call 'Retreat Friday's'. 

We share life and how we are progressing with out textiles

we have also become critical friends too.

Some one you can discuss those issues of improvement and how to 

move through stitch and life!

We share techniques and exploration all in a lovely haven.

I feel very protective of our time and always come away

ideas buzzing but a sense of calm.

Thank you!

Jamila has a fantastic blog about her development

with her Embroidery Diploma.

Visit HERE

Denim Wall Tidy

Sue was inspired and brought in a Denim Tidy she made for her

grand son. She has made a lots of Denim bags 

and had a collection of pocket left over, 

so this was an ideal way of using them up.

Instead of folds for each pocket, Sue explained

you put in two tiny darts, this allows the pockets to stay open

and they are able to hold things.

It was so funny, as she showed us she explained

 she had whipped the tidy off her

grand son's wall and neatly placed all the contents across his 

bed so she could bring it to class to 'Show and Tell'.

Now he is 12,  hopefully there wasn't anything too

embarrassing for a grandma to find!

She assured us not.

When she got back, he was quite ok with her showing us and

they put everything back in.

What a great idea for a tidy! 

Lace Wall Tidy

I was asked by a friend to design a pocket holder based on 

a shoe holder she had been given at Christmas.

She has it by the side of her chair to hold the 

necessities of daily life in. 

It was made of different plastics and soon began

to wear and tear.

I took up the challenge and had seen one on the internet

somewhere? Made of cream material and lace.

I had been given some upholstery fabric and I have

lots of old family lace and I thought this was

the ideal opportunity to use it. 

Mine, would also then hold all the lovely lace 

I wanted to use in the future.

I finished both and delivered them,

she was thrilled and immediately 

reached over and pulled her plastic one off the wall,

contents, nail and all!

Really, some people can't wait!

 I had taken a nail, hook and hammer just in case!

Good job!

After I hung up the tidy we put in all her

goodies and medications into the relevant pockets.

One of her carers came in and was really

inspired. 

What we both like is she is no longer looking at what

medically sustains her but a pretty and inspiring hanging tidy.

I have noticed on my last visit her chair area has really 

changed and she and he carers can find everything.

I am so pleased.

Since showing it at classes, many have taken the pattern.

I drew mine on some lining paper to work out

all the folds and edges.

See more of my lace makes on my portfolio site

Art2Inspire 

Star Strip Piecing

Helen had found this pattern and had always  wanted to try it.

Its a technique where you join the strips of fabric together

 on the angle and and then cut them into the square size.

The squares are then arranged so you form a square in the

middle and if you do this throughout the quilt you will have stars

where the large squares join too!

A really effective pattern once you get round the 

angle thing!!

Table Runner

Helen has made this Autumnal Table Runner using

The Card Trick pattern in the squares. It is one of those

patterns that look so effective but you have to be

careful of points and how you put it together.

The table mats just add to the collection.

Well done Helen. 

Thinking of you :)

see more table runners by clicking the written label below.

Twisted Square Japanese Inspired Cushion

Val used Japanese inspired fabric charm pack to make twisted squares

for the centre of the trellis pattern in her cushion.

It really showed off the technique really well.

The twisted square has been really popular.

Sandra's rose fabric cushion (top picture on the right)

uses the same twisted square pattern but it gives a totally 

different effect.

To see more twisted squares and items,

click the written label below. 

Textile Tuesday

Textile Tuesday always have wonderful 'Show and Tell'.

We do this as a start to the session so that people can share 

what they have made and also so I can add the tips and extended ideas.

Carol and Pat had both made cushions out of 

upholstery fabric and charm packs.

Beryl made yet another lovely bag and also the flower

looked wonderful as an embellishment.

See more by clicking the tags below.

Metal Embossed Tag

Continuing the metal theme I made a tag to put on the side

of the metal sketchbook.

It is a piece of tomatoe puree copper tube.

I embossed a pattern by drawing with an embossing tool

on the shiny side. 

Put some scraps of fabric on the back and sandwiched

this with a piece of water soluble dissolvable plastic, 

longer than the tag so I could stitch all round several

times and then made the frill by continually stitching up and down.

The plastic was dissolved with warm water and then

allowed to dry.

The frill will be a bit stiff until it has been in use for a while.

Metal Sampler

This is a Metal Sample of techniques.

I coloured the metal drinks can with a blow torch.

Embossed a design with a ball point pen,

drawing the design on the label side.

I then punched out the circles with a craft punch.

These I put onto small pieces of felt and stitched.

The dyed felt background, I ironed on fusible webbing 

and then sprinkled on Rose Gold Flakes. 

Ironing them between parchment paper.

I then put the main metal piece onto

the felt background with the metal knitted net trapped underneath.

This was then machine stitched into place.

The circles were trimmed and then fee machine stitched into place.

Lots of techniques and lots of fun!

Some of the ideas come from 

Sarah Lawrence's book,

'Shimmer and Shine'.
I recommend her book to really get inspiration on
using metal and metallics.

Embellished Flower Brooches

While we were having our textile session at Cancer Care

Beryl popped in with some of her Embellished Flower Brooches.

For the Centre to sell at their coffee morning which they hold once a 

month on the last Tuesday.

Beryl has been coming along to textiles for 18 months and her first 

session with me was on the Embellisher Machine,

she fell in love with the technique and got a machine immediately.

She is now a master and her Embellished Flower Brooches

 don't stay unsold for  long, 

as you can see by the hand coming into the photo!

See Beryl's first session with me HERE

See more Embellished Flowers HERE

See Embellished Flower Cards HERE

See Embellished work on my portfolio site HERE

Click the written labels under this post to see more embellishments.

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

Memory Quilt

I often get asked to make items from clothing as Memory Keepsakes.

This cot quilt and bear are Memory keepsakes but  are little different.

The grandma of the new baby girl who has just arrived, 

asked if I could make a Cot Quilt and Bear from her son's

favourite shirts.

Sadly, he died last year from a brain tumour.

He knew he was going to be a Dad so it made it a very

special commission for me. 

It was also difficult emotional cutting the shirts up but

once they started forming into a cot quilt and bear they 

made me smile. I am sure the new little girl is going to love them.

I also made a small hand bear that can be sucked, chewed and washed.

Best wishes to all.

See my patchwork bear made from crazy patchwork and stitch

HERE

Classes at Cancer Care Dereham

I have been teaching Textile Thursday

 at The Cancer Care Moving on Project,

since 7th March 2013.

Two sessions on the Thursday. 

10am until 12.15 and then 12.30 until 2.45.

See HERE for more information

The atmosphere is lovely and everyone is so friendly.

We do lots of Textile projects and it for beginners to experienced alike.

There is inspiration each week and help with your own projects.

It is £8.50 per session and half goes towards the centre as a donation.

It is a great way of showing our support.

I feel so lucky to be able to support charities while I work and share.

There are different things going on each day at the centre.

The volunteers are all trained and 

are there to help anyone touched by cancer.

Pop in and see what the centre is doing 

and if you can help support events.

See their website

HERE

16 Squares Make a Bag

Brenda has made this bag for her friend for the Summer.

Its beautiful!

Its made out of 16, 5.5" squares and laid out similar to the 

table runners I teach.

There has been a steep learning curve on how to put the

squares and lining together and turn it inside out so that

it looks professional. 

A great gift.

Well done Brenda!

See one of my favourite square bags with a purse

HERE 

See more bags by clicking the written labels below. 

Folded Strips

Every week at classes I teach different techniques to 

encourage participants to look at different ways

of creating textiles.

Here are a selection of the folded and twisted Strips.

They start off with a 3.5" wide strip as long as

you can handle and then box pleats.

These can be use for add 3D interest on textiles

and make great handles for handbags.

Often it is making the new or having a go at

techniques that inspires other projects that you want 

to do but not had the courage to try.

I am also into keeping brains healthy and

origami is a healthy brain and body activity.

Jennie Rayment is a real inspiration,

I have to translate the techniques so I can do them :)

Visit her site HERE

See this video of her having some fun 

HERE

Also you thought pleats could be so much fun

watch this video HERE

Christmas Every Month

Some of us are making gifts for Christmas throughout the year

so we can take are time and make what we would really

want to give. 

Sylvia was asked by a friend if she would make her a

Striped Christmas Runner with all the ribbons she had been saving

 from gifts and chocolates. 

Sylvia has made many of these now.

I teach Christmas Runners from the start of September,

so they can be made in time for Christmas. 

I add and demonstrate a new pattern each year at classes.

I already have an idea for this years!!!

Click on the written label below

to see a collection of table runners.