Quaker Tapestry Exhibition

After The Textile and Focus Exhibition, I went into Ely to see

The Quaker Tapestries at Ely Cathedral.

I first had a lovely lunch in the Almonanry Tea Rooms.

I have a real soft spot for Ely as

Stewart and I met there 27 years ago.

The Tapestries were beautifully made and were

so intricate and shared with so many across the world

not only in their making but in the exhibiting.

I was listening to the personal audio when

a lady I did my City and Guilds Embroidery with

over 14 years ago

and is also from the Shetland Islands, came over and we

had a lovely catch up chat. We admired the tapestries together.

Ely Cathedral felt even more special.

I went around the Cathedral and saw many more things

I haven't noticed before.

I sat and reflected for a while as life has been great

but hectic and the calm of the Cathedral was really regenerative.

Quiet contemplation is always good for the soul,

where ever you find that quiet place.

I count my blessings everyday and feel very

very lucky.

Textile in Focus 2012

On Friday 17th February I took myself off to

the 'Textile In Focus' Exhibition at Cottenham College

near Cambridge.

I can't show any photos as Photography wasn't allowed.

This was disappointing as we all love to share events and

celebrate what inspires us.

I always ask before I take photos no matter where I am

and when I did at the show some of the artists

said they didn't want their work put on the internet

or for people to copy.

Which is fair enough but I am still on the side of sharing!

There is enough art and ideas in the world to exchange!

and everyone does their work in an individual way.

Not everyone uses the same techniques

and their outcomes may resemble but will never be identical.

You may learn by coping but it is that, a copy and if your work is to

stand alone and inspire it will show it's soul by the hard work

you put in to develop the ideas and make it your own.

I do ask the question out there to you,

"Why Exhibit if you don't want to show anyone?"

Visit the Textile in Focus website

www.textileinfocus.com

Knit Wits Quilt Making

Some students at Knit Wits are making a quilts,

so it is taking many sessions to complete.

Jenny is making hers out of recycled fabrics.

Jenny has never made anything this size before so it takes

encouragement from all.

It was lovely this week to be able to lay out

the large blocks and start to join them together to form

the strips. It wont be long now before Jenny is layering her quilt

ready for quilting.

See more by clicking the labels below.

I have had several students who are just visiting Norfolk

for a short while, on holiday, visiting or on leave.

Vicky has been on leave for a couple of weeks and

this year has challenged herself to learn patchwork and quilting.

Mum had signed her up for a class with me and I

managed to squeeze her into another one because she

was so enthusiastic.

She got straight in there making a folded bag, got inspired

by 'Show and Tell', making a large pincushion!

A bit of a giggle in some groups because so far Shirley

had the biggest one!

Vicky also made a pocket wall hanging over the week and then

made a piece of strip patchwork to cover a

sketchbook to take her notes in.

She has been so inspired she brought the machine

that she has been working on in the workshop!

That shows real dedication.

Well done Vicky! and keep in touch.

See more students work by

clicking the labels below.

Photo Transfer at Knit Wits

As you probably know I have been taking my

printer and prepared fabric to all of my classes

so students can transfer their photos onto to fabric for

projects and keepsakes.

All of the photos have had wonderful stories behind

them and have taken many down memory lane.

They will make another leap into life with the

items that they are being made into.

It's been like magic! seeing the images

emerge onto the fabric for all of us.

See more by clicking the labels below.

Knit Wits Quilt Class 16th February 2012

The classes at Knit Wits has Inspiration Topic every week

and students are working on their own projects.

Claire and her husband went to Canada seven years ago and picked

up a pack which had the fabric and 'some' instructions

on how to make a table runner inspired by the bears.

She has been putting it together over the last couple

of weeks and now she is ready to quilt it.

It looks great and what a lovely memory of

Canada.

Visit Knit Wits website

www.knitwitsdereham.co.uk

Alveva Quilters Meeting

On Wednesday the 15th of February Alveva Quilters had their first

evening meeting for 2012. We have held Coffee Mornings

and Work Days during the day since December

because of the Winter Weather.

These meetings have been really lovely for members to get together

and share making and skills.

The evening was based on all the news, 'Show and Tell' from members

and the topic,

"What or What Inspires You?".

Everyone joined in and there was a real variety of ideas

and items.

My favourites were the quilts and an art book,

Carol shared with us written by

John Clare and Carry Akroyd.

It is all based on landscapes and animals.

I was so inspired I ordered it from Amazon.

See more of our meetings by clicking the labels below.

Dressmakers Card

Wednesday morning it was Card Making Class

with Kim @The Gallery.

I have had a couple of weeks off and I have missed

the card creating.

It is so relaxing and creative, it's lovely being a student

sometimes!

Kim is really clever in how she makes her

cards and shows us how to create ones

with her inspiration but our images.

I want to add a safety pin in the top corner

and then I feel it is finished.

Visit Kim's Blog site

www.kimcrop.blogspot.com

Steam Punk Mixed Media

Jeanette is starting a new mixed media piece.

This one is for a gift for a friend.

The dress was printed onto paper, coloured and then

photo transferred onto fabric and then re coloured and

sewn and embellished.

We will see how this becomes layered and

embellished over the weeks.

Autumn Leaves

Jeanette finished this mixed textile last year and has

had it framed by Haydn @The Gallery.

It looks amazing, sadly I couldn't get a really

good photograph due to all the lights in the

workshop room.

It will be hanging in The Gallery this week,

so well done Jeanette.

It's lovely too as Jeanette doesn't like painting

fabrics!

Visit The Gallery

www.thegallerydereham.com

Transfer Your Favourite Photograph

Here, are another Mother and Daughter enjoying

creating their textiles together.

Both transferred their pet photographs onto fabric and

developed them into cushions.

I just love Maria's sheep dog cushion.

As they left Maria brought in her

10 month old puppy into the doorway,

he was so soft and cuddly!

and wooed the class.

This month has been lovely so far seeing all the

photographs being transferred onto fabric

and projects full of memories are being

created.

Corset Making

Due to half term, I had Mother, Daughter and Grand Mother

as students @The Gallery.

Here, you can see Mother and Daughter in their corsets that

have been made at class and the bags at

the top were made by Grand Mother and Grand Daughter,

using the corset stamp that Grand Mother had brought with her!

They had a good time sewing and

enjoyed the time creating and sharing !

Floral Wall Hanging

Carol has been wanting to make a Textile Wall Hanging

for some time for her living room. Over the last few weeks she

has been piecing and appliqueing the flowers

in different stitches to it using an embroidery machine too!

It is really looking something.

Well done Carol!

See more by clicking on the labels below.

Crimped Quilt

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Barbara has really got the hang of quilt making with

recycled materials.

This is her Crimped Cut Edged Quilt, made from

recycled pyjamas and t-shirts.

It is a really cosy quilt and feels so soft.

Well done Barbara!

Using the Lace

With Lace and Embellishments being some of the inspiration

this month these items use the it in different ways.

The cushion uses the lace that Jane had painted the previous

week. It looks really chic.

Sara had been trying to decorate the lace folded purse

in class the previous week and it took some

working out.

It is based on a Japanese Purse which I translated and

made my version of decorating.

See a video from an Australian lady

on my tech site making her version.

www.art2inspiretech.blogspot.com