Work is going well (Am getting lots of work done and this makes my supervisors happy) and I've been finding new sources of inspiration for my artwork.
In a recent edition of stitch magazine (the Embroidery Guild Magazine) there is an article on stitched bowls and thats been making me think about fabric containers - bags, boxes, bowls etc.
I have been trying to come up with ways of manipulating fabric to create such containers and trying to think of ways of stiffening fabric to make them.
Can anyone give me any ideas?
I even made a felt bowl at my monday evening class, though I am having to saturate that with PVA and then will stitch on it to get it to hold its shape. Will do a photo as soon as its dry!
The tutorial I found asks for coat weight wool. Unfortunatly my main problem is finding coat weight wool! Nowhere seems to sell it these days. Does anyone know of a source?
More soon!
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Sunday, January 28, 2007
My TASTal disaster.
Am still fine!Work is talking over somewhat while I get used to being back at work for 8hrs a day (10 if you include the traveling!)
I lasted all of three weeks with TAST! I had such grand plans as well! But with the advent of a 'proper' job there is also the advent of a reality check. I no longer have the luxury of more than an hours sewing time a day - thats if I'm not so exhausted that I don't know what to with myself!
So I have made the executive decision that although I am going to follow the rest of you on your TAST journeys mine has taken a rather major detour!
Shall try and update a bit more now things are starting to settle down.
I lasted all of three weeks with TAST! I had such grand plans as well! But with the advent of a 'proper' job there is also the advent of a reality check. I no longer have the luxury of more than an hours sewing time a day - thats if I'm not so exhausted that I don't know what to with myself!
So I have made the executive decision that although I am going to follow the rest of you on your TAST journeys mine has taken a rather major detour!
Shall try and update a bit more now things are starting to settle down.
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Am fine!
Just to let everyone know that as far as the severe storms here in the UK are concerned me and mine are currently all safe and sound!
Thursday, January 18, 2007
First day at my new job
I'm working for a computer games company. Its a really good place for me from what I've seen so far. Had a really good first day.
Am off to spend the rest of the evening on the sofa watching TV and trying to get some of my TAST sample done!!!
Am off to spend the rest of the evening on the sofa watching TV and trying to get some of my TAST sample done!!!
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
For Your Information...
Posting may become a bit sporadic for a while as I hopefully start a full time job in the next few days!
While this will cut down on crafting time it does mean that I won't be worrying about money and bills so much and I can afford lots of shiny materials like wool tops and tyvek and fabric paints and...and...the list goes on!
So, hurrah for my hopefully rejoining the mainstream workforce in a non shop floor capacity! (I hate shopfloor retail - my back just isn't up to it!).
EDIT:
EEP! I start my new job tomorrow!! This is a little daunting!
While this will cut down on crafting time it does mean that I won't be worrying about money and bills so much and I can afford lots of shiny materials like wool tops and tyvek and fabric paints and...and...the list goes on!
So, hurrah for my hopefully rejoining the mainstream workforce in a non shop floor capacity! (I hate shopfloor retail - my back just isn't up to it!).
EDIT:
EEP! I start my new job tomorrow!! This is a little daunting!
More felty goodness!
This is what I made at Monday nights class.
I'd been thinking about it on the way to my class about what sort of colours I wanted to do and I decided I want to make a piece which is relating to the elements; Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit or Aether.
This piece is Fire.
This piece is Air. I've just realised its also the right colours for the first part of Project Spectrum!
Water will be blues and greens, and Earth will be Orange, Brown and Green.
Spirit/Aether shall be Purple because I am making this and as its my favourite colour am guessing that Spirit is probably purple in my book ;)
Hopefully I will be able to make all three next week if I work really hard!
And these are some felt beads I made which will be made into a necklace for my mum.
Am going to wait till I have all the bits of felt made before I start on this project and it also means I won't get too distracted from TAST!
I'd been thinking about it on the way to my class about what sort of colours I wanted to do and I decided I want to make a piece which is relating to the elements; Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit or Aether.
This piece is Fire.
This piece is Air. I've just realised its also the right colours for the first part of Project Spectrum!Water will be blues and greens, and Earth will be Orange, Brown and Green.
Spirit/Aether shall be Purple because I am making this and as its my favourite colour am guessing that Spirit is probably purple in my book ;)
Hopefully I will be able to make all three next week if I work really hard!
And these are some felt beads I made which will be made into a necklace for my mum.Am going to wait till I have all the bits of felt made before I start on this project and it also means I won't get too distracted from TAST!
Monday, January 15, 2007
Experimental experiments!
Over the last day or so I've been looking at tutorials for various techniques and getting up the courage to try them. Well, yesterday I did.
This is my first piece of fabric paper that wasn't a unmitigated disaster! After Arlee was kind enough to answer some queries I had about the tutorial, I set to work and this was the result.
I'll add more paper than fabric in my next attempt but its come out pretty well.I have a interesting piece of netting on the front of it.
I used this tutorial by Arlee at Albedo Design Journal.
This is Clingfilm fabric made using FaeryDi 's tutorial over on her blog FaeryDi's Fibre Feats or "Fiascos". Her's seems to have worked better than mine. Mainly because mine didn't seem to be melting together particularly well. At the moment I have fabric in a clingfilm shell and am not sure what I can do with it as it looks like it will all fall apart if I try to cut it or anything.
She was using Saran Wrap which I'm guessing has a different compostion to UK cling film. I am going to try some different brands of Clingfilm before discounting this technique though.
This is a second piece of clingfilm fabric.
This was made using a polythene document pocket. I cut down the seamed sides, opened it up and put bits inside and then ironed it through greaseproof paper. This is a technique my mum and aunt use.
This is a second piece capturing thread in it. I really like this piece.
Finally we have a Bondaweb Sandwich - If you click on the link the specific tutorial second from the bottom. I find it easier to read by highlighting the text with the mouse - Which is acrylic organza with threads inside with the top layer melted through to expose the threads.
Although a lovely effect I achieved this by forgetting to put the greaseproof paper back on the top and getting melted plastic all over my iron.
Anyone know how to get it off again?
NOTE: All the techniques mentioned that involve ironing plastic/sythetic fabrics etc, need to be ironed through greaseproof paper/baking parchment. All substances that are melted can release nasty fumes that could be dangerous to those with breathing problems.
Anyway, back to work with me! Hope you all enjoy these, and any helpful suggestions at what I can try or am doing wrong are greatfully appricated!
This is my first piece of fabric paper that wasn't a unmitigated disaster! After Arlee was kind enough to answer some queries I had about the tutorial, I set to work and this was the result.I'll add more paper than fabric in my next attempt but its come out pretty well.I have a interesting piece of netting on the front of it.
I used this tutorial by Arlee at Albedo Design Journal.
This is Clingfilm fabric made using FaeryDi 's tutorial over on her blog FaeryDi's Fibre Feats or "Fiascos". Her's seems to have worked better than mine. Mainly because mine didn't seem to be melting together particularly well. At the moment I have fabric in a clingfilm shell and am not sure what I can do with it as it looks like it will all fall apart if I try to cut it or anything.She was using Saran Wrap which I'm guessing has a different compostion to UK cling film. I am going to try some different brands of Clingfilm before discounting this technique though.
This is a second piece of clingfilm fabric.
This was made using a polythene document pocket. I cut down the seamed sides, opened it up and put bits inside and then ironed it through greaseproof paper. This is a technique my mum and aunt use.
This is a second piece capturing thread in it. I really like this piece.
Finally we have a Bondaweb Sandwich - If you click on the link the specific tutorial second from the bottom. I find it easier to read by highlighting the text with the mouse - Which is acrylic organza with threads inside with the top layer melted through to expose the threads.Although a lovely effect I achieved this by forgetting to put the greaseproof paper back on the top and getting melted plastic all over my iron.
Anyone know how to get it off again?
NOTE: All the techniques mentioned that involve ironing plastic/sythetic fabrics etc, need to be ironed through greaseproof paper/baking parchment. All substances that are melted can release nasty fumes that could be dangerous to those with breathing problems.
Anyway, back to work with me! Hope you all enjoy these, and any helpful suggestions at what I can try or am doing wrong are greatfully appricated!
Felt experiements
Well, I started off with these:
Sample A
Sample B
And ended up with these:
Sample A: Hand embellished with backstitch in black and lilac perle, purple metallic thread and wine coloured wire spirals couched on with purple beading thread. Am torn between putting this in my sketchbook or putting it on the wall!
Sample B I used for Machine Stitching experiements. I have a very basic Huskystar 207 which I love dearly but its somewhat limited in its stitch range.
The first two are using Zigzag stitch on the left and straight stitch on the right.
On the right is using one of the ZigZag options which has large and small zigs and zags. The piece on the left was my trying out all three to make a spiral pattern.
Of all of these I really like the effect of the regular zigzag stitch the most.
Well, its felt making class again tonight so lets see what I come back with this time ;)
Sample A
Sample B
And ended up with these:Sample A: Hand embellished with backstitch in black and lilac perle, purple metallic thread and wine coloured wire spirals couched on with purple beading thread. Am torn between putting this in my sketchbook or putting it on the wall!
Sample B I used for Machine Stitching experiements. I have a very basic Huskystar 207 which I love dearly but its somewhat limited in its stitch range.The first two are using Zigzag stitch on the left and straight stitch on the right.
On the right is using one of the ZigZag options which has large and small zigs and zags. The piece on the left was my trying out all three to make a spiral pattern.
Of all of these I really like the effect of the regular zigzag stitch the most.
Well, its felt making class again tonight so lets see what I come back with this time ;)
T.A.S.T Week 2 - Buttonhole
This rather minimalist offering is my Buttonhole T.A.S.T for week 2. There are two reasons for this - a) I got distracted by playing with other fabric bits and pieces and b) I really don't like Buttonhole! Its the one stitch that i get obsessive over spacing etc and forget to enjoy stitching it!
On the rows we have;
Top Row L-R: variagated height buttonhole, high low button hole, short buttonhole, tall buttonhole.
Bottom Row L-R: Whipped buttonhole, Two rows facing each other like a zip, slanting buttonhole and two varigated height rows of buttonhole back to back.
In the lower part of the section we have a buttonhole bar in the top left corner, some buttonhole wheels, a button hole flower and on the extreme right a woven buttonhole wheel - the only part of this weeks T.A.S.T that didn't get me stressed or annoyed (I cannot explain why i don't like this stitch, it just doesn't do anything for me!)
It takes up a third or so of the fabric section on the frame so to save fabric I will fill the rest of this sheet with Week 3's stitch. Onwards and Upwards!
On the rows we have;Top Row L-R: variagated height buttonhole, high low button hole, short buttonhole, tall buttonhole.
Bottom Row L-R: Whipped buttonhole, Two rows facing each other like a zip, slanting buttonhole and two varigated height rows of buttonhole back to back.
In the lower part of the section we have a buttonhole bar in the top left corner, some buttonhole wheels, a button hole flower and on the extreme right a woven buttonhole wheel - the only part of this weeks T.A.S.T that didn't get me stressed or annoyed (I cannot explain why i don't like this stitch, it just doesn't do anything for me!)It takes up a third or so of the fabric section on the frame so to save fabric I will fill the rest of this sheet with Week 3's stitch. Onwards and Upwards!
Friday, January 12, 2007
The reason i haven't started T.A.S.T. yet is.....
I started playing with thread on one of my felt pieces. It started out like this:
So far I have done 3 black perle double spirals, some lilac perle stars , some metallic purple lines and lots of metallic purple spirals. Its backed with a piece of muslin to stop the threads pulling through and to give it some extra stability.
Am really enjoying this medium!!I love the way the thread pulls down the fibre making it even more textural than it was.
Full detail:
Detail of top left hand corner:
Detail of middle with black spiral, metallic purple lines, and metallic purple spirals.
More metallic purple spirals.
I WILL get started on T.A.S.T. ASAP!
So far I have done 3 black perle double spirals, some lilac perle stars , some metallic purple lines and lots of metallic purple spirals. Its backed with a piece of muslin to stop the threads pulling through and to give it some extra stability.
Am really enjoying this medium!!I love the way the thread pulls down the fibre making it even more textural than it was.
Full detail:
Detail of top left hand corner:
Detail of middle with black spiral, metallic purple lines, and metallic purple spirals.
More metallic purple spirals.
I WILL get started on T.A.S.T. ASAP!
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Inspirations
There are two blogs at the moment that I am finding really inspiring!
They are Dianne's FaeryDi's Fibre Feats or "Fiascos" and Carol's Postcards and Stuff.
The first of these is FaeryDi's Fibre Feats. One of the things she's been doing is some very interesting 1 inch square pieces, some textile tags, and some fabric charms! Lots and lots of purple !
I really like format of the 1 inch square pieces!
Postcards and Stuff is wonderful. I think Carol is doing the stitched textiles C&G I am interested in doing. This piece on felt and tyvek is interesting as is this range of pieces. She does really interesting stuff manipulating the fabric with a heat gun.
They are Dianne's FaeryDi's Fibre Feats or "Fiascos" and Carol's Postcards and Stuff.
The first of these is FaeryDi's Fibre Feats. One of the things she's been doing is some very interesting 1 inch square pieces, some textile tags, and some fabric charms! Lots and lots of purple !
I really like format of the 1 inch square pieces!
Postcards and Stuff is wonderful. I think Carol is doing the stitched textiles C&G I am interested in doing. This piece on felt and tyvek is interesting as is this range of pieces. She does really interesting stuff manipulating the fabric with a heat gun.
Presents!
This is the very nice crocheted hat my friend Tinks sent me last week. It is incredibly warm and even more comfy! I really love this hat!Its sitting on top of the new printer I bought with my Christmas money (BF's printer is dying and mine gave up the ghost some time ago). Its one of those fancy Printer,Scanner,Copier all in one types. Thank god for January Sales or it would have been way out of our league!
Textile Techniques - and the need for people to teach them
This is a bit ranty and I don't apologise for this at all.
So, whilst pottering around on blogs recently I've come across some techniques/materials that really interest me. Felting is odviously one of them!
Some of the others are Needlefelting, Heat Setting Fabric, Using heat guns on fabric, Using embossing powders, fixing dried hot glue shapes to fabric. using glue as a resist for batik type work,Tyvek, free machining and free motion embroidery(is this the same thing as free machining?).
Trying to find information on some of these isn't easy. Its like the information I was trying to find on Fabric Paper - The craft magazines feature them but those same magazines cost around £10 ($19 or so USD. They are all American Import magazines. The UK craftworld at the moment seems stuck on knitting, cross stitch and scrapbooking) - and thats money i need for the materials.
At the end of the day I DO have a limited income (though I am trying to do something about this) and therefore I rely on the willingness of others to teach for the sake of sharing a skill. This seems to be a dying art.
Back in October 06 Rissa did a wonderful post on her blog called Each one, reach one, teach one.
This very simple saying completly sums up my own ethos in regards to education and teaching ( I think part of this is from my Quaker roots) that people with skills should pass them on to those willing to learn. My willingness to learn is overflowing but I can't find people willing to teach!
I can't afford to do my C&G and therefore that route is cut off from me at present. My felt making class was only booked due to some money I recieved at Christmas.
I know I shouldn't but I rely on the willingness of people to share!
Rissa highlights how crafts suffer from fashions the same way clothing does.
Trying to find books about creative textile techniques is hard and the few that the local library have are either missing or have waiting lists that span months. The textile craft section at Borders has been relagated to one bookshelf and they are no longer getting most of the american craft magazines in.
Another problem I've been having is that like a lot of people, I learn by seeing, by visually experiencing a procedure or technique. In this essence, pure text instructions are wonderful but are more likely to go in if they are accompanied with pictures.
The stupid thing is I would happily create tutorials for things but I'm still trying to get access to skills I want to learn!
Excuse me while I go and suffer from creative frustration....
(Please note, I know people are willing to teach these skills for money, and that is their right. I am just saying that there are many willing pupils out there who just don't have the means to learn that way.)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
On a seperate note, I am yet to start the Buttonhole T.A.S.T. for this week as I spent last night helping cheer up a friend who is in the midst of a post breakup low. Hopefully I can get to it later as I need to start embellishing on my felt samples as well!
So, whilst pottering around on blogs recently I've come across some techniques/materials that really interest me. Felting is odviously one of them!
Some of the others are Needlefelting, Heat Setting Fabric, Using heat guns on fabric, Using embossing powders, fixing dried hot glue shapes to fabric. using glue as a resist for batik type work,Tyvek, free machining and free motion embroidery(is this the same thing as free machining?).
Trying to find information on some of these isn't easy. Its like the information I was trying to find on Fabric Paper - The craft magazines feature them but those same magazines cost around £10 ($19 or so USD. They are all American Import magazines. The UK craftworld at the moment seems stuck on knitting, cross stitch and scrapbooking) - and thats money i need for the materials.
At the end of the day I DO have a limited income (though I am trying to do something about this) and therefore I rely on the willingness of others to teach for the sake of sharing a skill. This seems to be a dying art.
Back in October 06 Rissa did a wonderful post on her blog called Each one, reach one, teach one.
This very simple saying completly sums up my own ethos in regards to education and teaching ( I think part of this is from my Quaker roots) that people with skills should pass them on to those willing to learn. My willingness to learn is overflowing but I can't find people willing to teach!
I can't afford to do my C&G and therefore that route is cut off from me at present. My felt making class was only booked due to some money I recieved at Christmas.
I know I shouldn't but I rely on the willingness of people to share!
Rissa highlights how crafts suffer from fashions the same way clothing does.
Trying to find books about creative textile techniques is hard and the few that the local library have are either missing or have waiting lists that span months. The textile craft section at Borders has been relagated to one bookshelf and they are no longer getting most of the american craft magazines in.
Another problem I've been having is that like a lot of people, I learn by seeing, by visually experiencing a procedure or technique. In this essence, pure text instructions are wonderful but are more likely to go in if they are accompanied with pictures.
The stupid thing is I would happily create tutorials for things but I'm still trying to get access to skills I want to learn!
Excuse me while I go and suffer from creative frustration....
(Please note, I know people are willing to teach these skills for money, and that is their right. I am just saying that there are many willing pupils out there who just don't have the means to learn that way.)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
On a seperate note, I am yet to start the Buttonhole T.A.S.T. for this week as I spent last night helping cheer up a friend who is in the midst of a post breakup low. Hopefully I can get to it later as I need to start embellishing on my felt samples as well!
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Project Spectrum
I just signed up for Project SpectrumFrom Febuary through September there will be a group of three colours every 2 months.
Feb/March - Blue, White, Gray.
April/May - Green, Yellow, Pink.
June/July - Red, Black, Metallics.
August/September - Brown, Orange, Purple.
The idea is to make something using these colours in that two month period and blog it. Its sort of a craft along. You can make one or as many objects as you like in that period.
I think it will be fun!
My First Felt Making Class!
Last night I attended the first of the 3 felt making classes I'd signed up for at The ArtSpace in York.
I made these!
First Piece:
And the second piece.
They are made from Merino tops on a base of white cotton sliver tops. All I have to say is felt making is amazing! Its addictive as well, so as soon as I've saved up enough I'm going to get some wool tops and start making it at home! It does use rather a lot of wool but if I save I should be able to start making some soon.
Apparently Felting is a particularly ancient way of making fabric and has thought to have been around for for several thousand years.
Felt is made of wool fibres that has been compressed with heat and agitation. Wool has natural tiny 'scales' on its fibres and when these are rubbed together they sort of latch onto each other and as you work it it shrinks down into a matted sheet. The use of pressured abrasion - rubbing - is very important. Its what happens when you put a wool jumper in the washing machine at a hot temperature!
Some of the others were making felt beads - Balls of wool fibre, wettened and rolled into a tightly packed ball.
This is a great technique and has visible results really quickly!It can be made into all sorts of things and doesn't fray when you cut it.
I'm going to use the pieces I made last night as the base for some stitch and bead samples in my sketchbook.
I'll see if I can take my camera next week and take some 'in progress' shots!
I made these!
First Piece:
And the second piece.
They are made from Merino tops on a base of white cotton sliver tops. All I have to say is felt making is amazing! Its addictive as well, so as soon as I've saved up enough I'm going to get some wool tops and start making it at home! It does use rather a lot of wool but if I save I should be able to start making some soon.
Apparently Felting is a particularly ancient way of making fabric and has thought to have been around for for several thousand years.
Felt is made of wool fibres that has been compressed with heat and agitation. Wool has natural tiny 'scales' on its fibres and when these are rubbed together they sort of latch onto each other and as you work it it shrinks down into a matted sheet. The use of pressured abrasion - rubbing - is very important. Its what happens when you put a wool jumper in the washing machine at a hot temperature!
Apparently the best wool to use is Merino - I believe this is an Austrailian breed of sheep?
Some of the others were making felt beads - Balls of wool fibre, wettened and rolled into a tightly packed ball.
This is a great technique and has visible results really quickly!It can be made into all sorts of things and doesn't fray when you cut it.
I'm going to use the pieces I made last night as the base for some stitch and bead samples in my sketchbook.
I'll see if I can take my camera next week and take some 'in progress' shots!
Monday, January 08, 2007
Felt
I just got home from my felt making class! Its fantastic!
Shall tell you all about it tomorrow complete with pictures of what I made! (Its drying on the radiator at the moment!)
Shall tell you all about it tomorrow complete with pictures of what I made! (Its drying on the radiator at the moment!)
Sunday, January 07, 2007
T.A.S.T 1 - OTHER PEOPLES WORK!
I know sharon is doing a round up of what people are doing for T.A.S.T. but I wanted to highlight some of the work I've really liked!
Pat did a wonderfully sinuous herringbone design.
She is associating the gem colour for the months with her stitch pieces. January is Garnet.
Peri has done a very interesting circular piece.
Susaneta at her blog TextileXplorations has done some lovely purplely pieces - I can't help it! Its my favourite colour!
Julita at The Pin Gallery has done a traditional themed sample using citrus tones.
Peg has done a really interesting piece doing shadow work. This is a method of embroidery where your stitches are UNDER the surface of the fabric so the shorter stitches are on the front of the fabric. Its on my Techniques to try list. if anyone can tell me any more information about it I'm very interested.
Friday, January 05, 2007
T.A.S.T 1 - Herringbone Stitch
Well, here it is! My Herringbone sample for T.A.S.T. Its A4 sized, stitched on thick linen with DMC, Venus and Pegasus 6 strand embroidery thread and DMC Cotton Perle.
It was also the first time I have completed a piece on my stretcher frame (though I desperately need one which hasn't got a warped roller!).
If you click on it it will take you to a larger photo.
I worked this in shades of blue as I started it on me and my partners first anniversary of being together and his favourite colour is Blue.
OK, in the bottom left hand corner we have my first two rows using the thread I had fixed my fabric to the frame with and some DMC.
I then used the end of a circular paint palette to draw a curve and stitched along that, using longer stitches on the inner curve.
Next to that we have a mass of irregular herringbone in variegated Perle thread. I really enjoyed doing that part and plan to do some more! I love the effect and texture and thickness it produces!
Next to that was an attempt at curves but its more diamond shaped!
Above that is a row of double herringbone using a dark and light DMC using all six strands.
Above that is 3 patches of stacked herringbones all embellished with beads. I might do another piece with the butterfly beads. The stacking in that particular section reminds me of chain-link fencing or fishing net.
To the right of that is a braid herringbone using 2 strand of thread in three colours.
The circle was created by drawing around a 2p piece and a 5p piece and then stitching between the two lines with shades of thread with semi-irregular stitches.
to the left of this is a short piece of threaded herringbone.
The large patch is a group of irregular arm herringbone in 3 strands of thread surrounded with a frame of herringbone using 1 strand.
At the top right is an area of diagonally stacked herringbone and a diamond shape comprised of four stitches.
below those are two areas of diagonal stacking herringbone (which took me hours to crack but I did it!)
And of course, the name of the stitch - not in herringbone. I am NOT a masochist!
I really enjoyed that. It really was like doodling with a needle and thread! And Herringbone now has potential I never realised it had before!
Am looking forward to the challenge of next week's T.A.S.T.!
It was also the first time I have completed a piece on my stretcher frame (though I desperately need one which hasn't got a warped roller!).
If you click on it it will take you to a larger photo.
I worked this in shades of blue as I started it on me and my partners first anniversary of being together and his favourite colour is Blue.OK, in the bottom left hand corner we have my first two rows using the thread I had fixed my fabric to the frame with and some DMC.
I then used the end of a circular paint palette to draw a curve and stitched along that, using longer stitches on the inner curve.
Next to that we have a mass of irregular herringbone in variegated Perle thread. I really enjoyed doing that part and plan to do some more! I love the effect and texture and thickness it produces!
Next to that was an attempt at curves but its more diamond shaped!
Above that is a row of double herringbone using a dark and light DMC using all six strands.
Above that is 3 patches of stacked herringbones all embellished with beads. I might do another piece with the butterfly beads. The stacking in that particular section reminds me of chain-link fencing or fishing net.
To the right of that is a braid herringbone using 2 strand of thread in three colours.
The circle was created by drawing around a 2p piece and a 5p piece and then stitching between the two lines with shades of thread with semi-irregular stitches.
to the left of this is a short piece of threaded herringbone.
The large patch is a group of irregular arm herringbone in 3 strands of thread surrounded with a frame of herringbone using 1 strand.
At the top right is an area of diagonally stacked herringbone and a diamond shape comprised of four stitches.
below those are two areas of diagonal stacking herringbone (which took me hours to crack but I did it!)
And of course, the name of the stitch - not in herringbone. I am NOT a masochist!
I really enjoyed that. It really was like doodling with a needle and thread! And Herringbone now has potential I never realised it had before!
Am looking forward to the challenge of next week's T.A.S.T.!
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Intimidation and T.A.S.T.
Two completly seperate topics ,let me assure you!
Apologies for not posting yesterday but it was my anniversary yesterday so we were out and about.
T.A.S.T. started this week - though the first thing I have now learnt is that Tuesday morning in Australia is actually monday night in the UK!Fancy being so far ahead of us!
I've been playing with this weeks topic of choice - Herringbone Stitch and am really enjoying it! Spent several hours on it last night and will try and do some more today/tonight and show you all tomorrow! The diagonal method of herringbone that sharon had tried refused to do as it was told so I had to keep at it till its done what I wanted but I have now tamed it!
I'm working on A4 sized pieces of off white heavyish linen which will then be stored in a folder. I'm treating it as a fabric/thread doodle pad ;)
Theres been a lot of talk lately on a couple of my lists about people feeling intimidated and 'not good enough' about thier skills.
There seems to be an general atmosphere of people not having confidence in thier skills these days. I admit to having suffered it myself. This is partly due to self confidence issues but also due to attitudes of other people - I had one ex who couldn't stand the fact I was more talented than him (even if i had the self confidence and self belief of the ugly duckling) and therefore did everything he could do to undermine my confidence in myself and my abilities. Am finally learning that I actually DO have some talent and that I can use it.
The talent of many of the people on my lists has often intimidated me. Especially those who do some of the more complicated types of embroidery. I do have occasional flashes of 'I'll never be as good as them so why bother' but have learnt to come back with 'You may not be, but at least you've tried!'
There have been people, who only know me online, who have taken it upon themselves to teach me, encourage me, and make me recognise that I do have inherent talent!
(FYI I've got another one of my ranty posts in the works about art and talent etc)
Anyway, I have come to the conclusion that it is better to try and possibly fail than be intimidated and not try at all!
Photo's soon, I promise!
Apologies for not posting yesterday but it was my anniversary yesterday so we were out and about.
T.A.S.T. started this week - though the first thing I have now learnt is that Tuesday morning in Australia is actually monday night in the UK!Fancy being so far ahead of us!
I've been playing with this weeks topic of choice - Herringbone Stitch and am really enjoying it! Spent several hours on it last night and will try and do some more today/tonight and show you all tomorrow! The diagonal method of herringbone that sharon had tried refused to do as it was told so I had to keep at it till its done what I wanted but I have now tamed it!
I'm working on A4 sized pieces of off white heavyish linen which will then be stored in a folder. I'm treating it as a fabric/thread doodle pad ;)
Theres been a lot of talk lately on a couple of my lists about people feeling intimidated and 'not good enough' about thier skills.
There seems to be an general atmosphere of people not having confidence in thier skills these days. I admit to having suffered it myself. This is partly due to self confidence issues but also due to attitudes of other people - I had one ex who couldn't stand the fact I was more talented than him (even if i had the self confidence and self belief of the ugly duckling) and therefore did everything he could do to undermine my confidence in myself and my abilities. Am finally learning that I actually DO have some talent and that I can use it.
The talent of many of the people on my lists has often intimidated me. Especially those who do some of the more complicated types of embroidery. I do have occasional flashes of 'I'll never be as good as them so why bother' but have learnt to come back with 'You may not be, but at least you've tried!'
There have been people, who only know me online, who have taken it upon themselves to teach me, encourage me, and make me recognise that I do have inherent talent!
(FYI I've got another one of my ranty posts in the works about art and talent etc)
Anyway, I have come to the conclusion that it is better to try and possibly fail than be intimidated and not try at all!
Photo's soon, I promise!
Sunday, December 31, 2006
My New Year Resolutions/ A to do list!
Resolutions
* To commit more time to my creative activities, even if that means having dedicated creative time once a week.
* To reestablish a portfolio of work.
* To sell a piece of artwork/embroidery.
* To try and blog at least twice a week if not every day.
* To carry on losing weight!
* To work on realising the goals I made in this post:
1 Keeping the visual journal/sketchbook - Am undertaking this one already.
2 Having regular craft time - perhaps one or two afternoons a week?
3 Having my own work space.
4 Documenting my work.
5 Better utilizing, and hopefully reducing, my time online excluding the time I am working.
Things I am planning to take part in 2007
* Take A Stitch Tuesday
* Felt Making Class at The ArtSpace
* Sketchbook sessions at The ArtSpace
* (possibly) Art Jam at The ArtSpace
* InternationalCQ swap
* last part of the Birthday swap.
I think that will be more than enough things to do!
Main To Do List
*Art meme pieces, Baggies for Birthday swap, International swap and Halloween Contest - I haven't forgotton about these, I really just haven't had time!
* UFO's. These are probably going to remain UFO's for a while so shall be putting my part of the UFO challenge on hold while i recognise the need to do some of my B.U.R.P.'s - Blasted Un-Realised Projects, otherwise they will continue to nag at me!
We are off to marks sisters for new years celebrations in a few minutes, I still have the lurgy but enough mead should kill any germs!
My love and good wishes to all my friends, wherever you are in the world and enjoy the new year celebrations.x
* To commit more time to my creative activities, even if that means having dedicated creative time once a week.
* To reestablish a portfolio of work.
* To sell a piece of artwork/embroidery.
* To try and blog at least twice a week if not every day.
* To carry on losing weight!
* To work on realising the goals I made in this post:
1 Keeping the visual journal/sketchbook - Am undertaking this one already.
2 Having regular craft time - perhaps one or two afternoons a week?
3 Having my own work space.
4 Documenting my work.
5 Better utilizing, and hopefully reducing, my time online excluding the time I am working.
Things I am planning to take part in 2007
* Take A Stitch Tuesday
* Felt Making Class at The ArtSpace
* Sketchbook sessions at The ArtSpace
* (possibly) Art Jam at The ArtSpace
* InternationalCQ swap
* last part of the Birthday swap.
I think that will be more than enough things to do!
Main To Do List
*Art meme pieces, Baggies for Birthday swap, International swap and Halloween Contest - I haven't forgotton about these, I really just haven't had time!
* UFO's. These are probably going to remain UFO's for a while so shall be putting my part of the UFO challenge on hold while i recognise the need to do some of my B.U.R.P.'s - Blasted Un-Realised Projects, otherwise they will continue to nag at me!
We are off to marks sisters for new years celebrations in a few minutes, I still have the lurgy but enough mead should kill any germs!
My love and good wishes to all my friends, wherever you are in the world and enjoy the new year celebrations.x
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