Linda Monk

I have followed Lynda's work for sometime.

I love using 3D medium on Lutradur and then heating it

to get the lacy effect. This is then painted in many different ways.

Lynda was demonstrating her technique at

'Textiles in Focus'.

It was great to see her in action.

I brought her book.

"Exploring Creative Surfaces"

and highly recommend it. 

Visit Lynda's blog and see more of the exhibition 

HERE

If you would like to buy her books see below.

Textile in Focus Exhibition

The Exhibitions and Demos at Textile in Focus,

were fantastic. Sadly as I said before there were no 

photographs allowed but postcards and goodies.

These cord sculptures were made by Jenny Furlong,

Visit their website HERE

Goodies Brought at Textile in Focus

I had a fun time at Textile in Focus and I alway stock up

on inspiration, reading material in the shape of leaflets and books.

From the top, Sandra Beech is a local Textile Dyer,

and we all love her threads and fibre papers.

At the Colourious stand I brought some papers, stamps

and the authentic shisha glass mirrors and some

bling embellishments for a book cover I am working on.

Visit their website HERE 

After a cup of tea with friends.

Art Van go is always a stop off for me and  as you can

see by the bottom photograph lots of acrylic inks

this time, a stencil, some Angelina fibres, foils and

some stamps.

Visit Art Van Go HERE

Textile in Focus

Textile in Focus at Cottenham near Cambridge 

was on 15th, 16th and 17th of February this year.

I went on the Friday as usual and was bright and early as it opened.

Did my usual go round taking everything in,

I met up with lots of friends  and caught up on the latest projects.

Brought lots of goodies which I will post later.

The Exhibition in the sixth form was outstanding and the demonstrations

by artists such as Linda Monk and Jenny Furlong were

very informative and inspirational.

Above, is Sharon Osbourne in action.

She is so inspiration and her made books are out of this world.

There is a no photograph rule now at Textile in Focus

but Sharon always lets us as she thinks its important to share.

What do you think about this, photographs or not?

More Quilts

These two quilts have been slowly coming together over
the last couple of weeks.
Eileen has chosen just vibrant colours to wrk with,
it's fantastic.
Janet is making the fan quilt for her Grand Daughter.
See more quilts and textiles by visiting my portfolio site
Art2Inspire
http://www.art2inspire.co.uk

Ros's Quilt

Ros is making this quilt to take out to her

 home in Cyprus.

It is so fresh and crisp it will look great on a king size bed.

More Dorset Buttons

More Dorset Buttons are being made each week and

they are getting bigger and more ornate. 

These ones were made by Bev.

Lots of beading and sequins are being added,

I wonder who is influencing the BLING!

( me, never!).

HERE is a good article for making a Dorset Button,

if you haven't tried yet.

I stitch using the stitches of the blanket stitch inside the

hoop ( blanket stitch then twist the stitches on the 

hoop into the middle).

 Rather than wrapping the spokes it still

gives you great effect all the same but you need to wrap tightly.

Enjoy having a go.

Button Sampling

At City and Guilds some of the samples need to include using the

machine feet and attachments. I encourage students to 

use the buttonhole foot and try some of the machines 

pre-set button hole shapes. 

Sara also tried different size buttons on her sample 

to really learn how to use her machine.

Other fastenings are being added.

its well worth experimenting and stretching yourself

so you learn new things with your machine,

or return to those techniques you aren't sure of.

Bead and Button Making

This month at classes I have been teaching all about 

Circles, Beads and Buttons and as you can 

see by the above pictures some have had a real

play and made them out of unusual materials.

Just by wrapping a long triangle piece of fabric around a 

knitting needle and securing it with thread or wire.

You can then heat gun it or use a soldering iron.

(Remember to be careful!).

Layers of sheers and man made fabrics work really well.

When cool slip them off and you can use as embellishments

 on your work.

Add paint foils and powders to really get effects.

See more in previous posts and I am sure there will be more to come.

Moda Sampler Quilt

Jenny has been making the Sampler blocks week by week.

The quilt is for her Grand Daughter. 

She chose a Moda Jelly Roll to make the blocks from

and chose a cream sashing to highlight each block.

I love using Jelly Rolls and Charm Packs as you have all the fabric you need

to make some spectacular quilts.

Patchwork Bag

Helen saw this bag pattern called "Autumn Days" in 

the Popular Patchwork magazine.

It was designed by Sara Jaskiewicz and Sadie Yeomans.

Helen liked the look of it and decided she would make it with

a charm pack of fabric she had been stashing! 

She found the instructions quite clear and as you can see 

by her bag it turned out well.

Instructions are always a bug bear and it is often making an item

and sharing it you decipher what they mean and

 what alterations you would make next time.

I often have to translate patterns because they are not as clear as we 

would wish.

I went out a purchased the magazine as I liked the bag shape too!

Working my way through my bag as I blog.

Will show you the results shortly, with my alterations.

If you would like to visit Popular Patchwork's website

click HERE

Textures With The Soldering Iron and Stitch

As some of you know who follow Quilters Cottage Norfolk

and the classes we have been doing a lot of 

layered work, using different fabrics, stitch and the 

soldering iron!

Above is two very different items, a purse and a book cover.

Both using the technique but then adding their unique 

creativity to it.

See more by clicking on the labels below.

Folded and Twisted Hexagon Flowers

These are some of the Folded and Twisted Hexagons that the participants on 

Textile Tuesday made. The fabric hexagon is one that fits an A4 width of paper. 

You need them large to begin with because the hexagon

flower will end up half the size.

It was a real morning of concentration due to all the folds and 

needle techniques.

I had started with the easier Twisted Square to begin with

so they weren't overwhelmed by all the folding.

Some went away and made enough to make a bag!

You join each hexagon flower by putting right sides together and

 over sewing.

To see how they are made visit a video on my tech site 

HERE 

Jo's First Creative Textiles Session

Jo has not long moved to Norfolk and has come along to her first 

Textile Tuesday Session @ The Art Room.

She brought along a quilt to show us, which we all admired 

and she was soon joining in with 'Twisted Squares and Hexagons'.

We also admired her very neat sewing bag which is a recycled 

car cleaning bag. Very nifty and such a good idea.

Jo admitted the car cleaning kit is long gone but the bag is great.

We all love to see how others store and arrange their sewing supplies.

Thanks Jo and lovely to see you.

Monday City and Guilds Textiles

City and Guilds Creative Textiles is half way through now and 

everyone has lots of work to show and are really cracking on 

with their projects. There is techniques to learn each week

 and students also bring in items that they 'Show and Tell',

that is relevant to the session. This week it was buttons,

Hence the buttons on the bag and Twisted Squares and Hexagons.

I started teaching with origami and then went through to showing 

how to make the fabric folded squares and hexagons.

Everyone has enjoyed the challenge and like the little bit

of 'magic'.