You know my obsession? Which one I hear you say...I know, there are lots. Pockets, bullion knots, French knots, white, damp stretching.....I could go on but I will spare you. It's just that I think I have a new one......hand bound buttonholes. I say this as a warning, I care about you and your visual sensitivities. I think you will be seeing a lot of them in the future so delete me from your bookmarks now, in advance.
Today I feel like a small child in a sweet shop. There is so much to play with and I don't know what to pick up and fiddle with next. Doodle doo is there....and cutwork. Look girls, (embroidery school girls....it's cutwork!!) I thought about you when I was doing this last night. Practice what you preach Karen. Then there are hand bound buttonholes, insert a big sigh here. Actually I do know what I am playing with next, hand bound buttonholes. See, I made a decision, I can do it.
Thanks so much for the interest in Alchmey 2013. It astounds me that you actually have faith in me it really does. I promise I won't let you down. If you haven't a clue what I am talking about then you can read about it here. Eventually it will have it's own page....when playtime is over.
It's a long one today so put the kettle on and make yourself comfortable....first things first, embroidery and a very short video. I worked more on edges last night, not many edges as I had unexpected visitors. Nevertheless, an evening isn't complete without a little titivation. I even damp stretched it for you so it would be all crisp and lovely....as opposed to wrinkled and a dogs dinner. I talk more about this piece in the video but basically I am explaining the origin of the cloth....please watch the video, pretty please...it won't send you to sleep I promise.
Then we have ''Alchemy''. My new, long thought out, longer in the compiling and quite (very?) exciting new class. ALL the information is on here. For me it is a little daunting, from my perspective and considering my intended role it is a huge commitment. But I have faith, I am excited, it is a challenge, it has the potential to be an amazing experience for everyone.
Alchemy
2013
The medieval
forerunner of chemistry, based on the supposed transformation of matter, esp.
that of base metals into gold.
Aims
and Content
During the course of
this 12 week self directed learning package you will produce a unique piece of embroidered
art with inspiration, technique, process and final outcomes determined by you,
the artist. Your art piece can be created using virtually any media such as
cloth or paper. I will serve as mentor, guiding and advising you at each stage.
A
knowledge of basic embroidery is required for this class.
The early stages of
this programme will reinforce the importance of drawing or ‘’mark making’’ and
visual reference as a precursor to design for embroidery. Following initial
investigations within a ledger concerning pattern, shape and colour it is
envisaged that you will sample ideas with stitch as a means of identifying
preferences regarding technique for use in your final piece.
Practical
demonstrations will be built into the 12 week programme alongside regular
appraisals of work in progress. Demonstrations will be determined by the needs
of the group, driven by individual requirements re technique and process.
My
Role
I will serve as
mentor, guiding and advising you where appropriate, perhaps suggesting artists
for you to study where I feel this is relevant to your own investigations. I
will demonstrate specific techniques you may wish to use, appraise your work in
progress and advise on surface design and colour choices. This is not an exhaustive
list, merely an indication of the commitment I will provide to you and your
chosen path.
Ownership
Your personal connection to this project will be its driving
force. This process belongs to you, is self driven and all creative
investigations and final outcomes should speak of you.
Demonstrations
These will be provided as and when required depending on the needs of the
group and the individuals within the group. The requirements regarding the
demonstration of specific process and technique will not be known initially but
will become evident as the course progresses.
Forum
Demonstrations will
be hosted on a dedicated, password protected blog. It will not be possible for
video to be downloaded. All videos will have to be viewed through the
medium
of the class blog. This is to ensure my copyright is protected. I hope you
understand the importance of that particular aspect of this class.
A dedicated flickr
group will be available where it is hoped you will post images allowing me to
assess your progress and appraise/advise. Due to the nature of this programme
the flickr group will be private, accessible only to those invited to join the
group...in essence only those who have paid for the course. I anticipate
certain comments will contain content which should only be available to those
who have paid to participate in the class. This will provide protection not
only for my copyright but for you and the monies you have paid to participate
in the group.
You are more than
welcome to post images of your work on your own blogs etc without divulging any
of the process provided as part of the class.
***to
clarify.....Images within the group will remain private, hidden from the wider
flickr community. This is to protect the privacy of any comments I may make on
your work***
Starting
Points
Listed below are
suggestions regarding starting points for your work, suggestions for images or
objects you may wish to investigate for inspiration and development. You may
choose any of those listed here or alternatively you are welcome to select an
inspirational source of your own.
Reminiscence
Childhood,
motherhood, school books, birth certificates, heirlooms, children’s drawings,
fairy tales, dolls houses, family photographs, vintage domestic cloth.
Domesticity
Cutlery, whisks,
crockery, floral furnishing fabrics, painterly wall coverings, framed artworks,
home baked bread, cakes, cups and saucers, teapots, pans.
Innovation, new
technology, computers, modern architecture, sound waves, kaleidoscopes, mobile
phones, graphic symbols, signage, techno textiles.
Natural
World
Coral, shells, sea
life, animals, moss, plant life, volcanic rock, fossils, rock formations,
agriculture, oceans, weather, cloud formations.
Expected
Outcomes
It is anticipated
that by the end of our 12 week run you will have a greater appreciation of the
design process which has led or will lead to the completion of your finished
piece. In addition it is hoped that you will have created an informative
reference in the form of a working ledger alongside a collection of embroidered
samples.
Ledger
Your Ledger will
document your progress throughout the course and is a crucial element in the
creation of your finished piece. A record of your experience, the ledger may include
sketches, thoughts, diagrams, notes, photographs, artist/designer images that
inspire and influence you, computer generated imagery, printed fabric,
embroidered samples. This is not an exhaustive list, you may add anything of
your choosing to your ledger which connects you to the work.
Registration
Upon
registration you will receive further information in e mail form containing a
brief outline of our weekly plan along with a list of suggested equipment for
the course.
Access
to all resources is permanent. There are no deadlines. I will remain available
to you after the conclusion of our 12 week period in an advisory, appraisal
role...however...new video
demonstrations will not be provided after the 12 week period has ended.
I had a real dilemma today....so many images. Should I leave some out for tomorrow? Which ones should I leave out? Indecisive to the last I included them all. Last night I worked an edge and I worked more in doodle doo. Last nights edge is the double French knot thing on either side of a small, miniscule piece of trim visible at the far right of the second image. That really didn't take long at all..........it is very small. Aside from that edge we have bullion's and lots of them, a few web stitches and some prairie points.
If I were in a decisive mood as oposed to an indecisive one I would hazard a guess that this wrapping cloth is almost finished...that's decisive me. Indecisive me thinks the recipient deserves more blood sweat and tears....a wrapping cloth has to be drenched in effort and consideration. They all are, I know that, but for some reason this one has evolved quickly and I can't quite put my finger on why. So I will continue...it may well be huge by the time I decide enough...we are done. Tonight there will be more white, embroidery, titivating, cogitating, looking for decisiveness. Wish me luck.
Embroider, embellish, create has just moved into it's third week. For that reason I am going to list it as sold out some time tomorrow. Coming in at this point is do-able, any later and you will miss too much interaction. I also don't want to be distracted from my other plans which I hope to have ready within the next 24 hours....so just a little heads up for you. Join us now if you are pondering or it will be too late.
What about doodle doo then....two more pieces for that, more traditional, recognisable forms. Imagine these are hanging over a rail....does that work for you? I am cranking my grey matter in order to come up with a different format now, incorporating these into the ledger somehow, more integrated within the page. As of yet...zero, zilch, nothing. Well actually I lie, I know what I want to do it's how to do it that's the problem. Must work harder Karen, keep the brain ticking...I am hoping it hits me like a blinding flash. If it does you will be the first to know.
Cross stitch survived the kitchen floor.....this is last nights work if the boss is watching. I stitched my fingers to the bone until midnight. Covering a section of my latest block, this measures only around 6 x 8 inches....it takes time but it's more than worth it. You can tell from these images that I have quite a few things on the table today. Yesterdays work still needs to be put in doodle doo. There are old sketchbooks open for inspiration and another piece of scrim with lace tacked on ready for the sewing machine. (it's just about visible at the top of the first image) That particular piece is to add to my veil/festooned thingy.
This morning I have been to the ....and I'm going to whisper it.....supermarket. I have parted with enough money to reduce the deficit all on my own. I did buy one or two things for the C thing. I am loath to mention it as it comes round too quickly. I have also hoovered and believe me that particular novelty has worn off. Now I'm here chatting to you. At the risk of boring you to death my Friday chores await...bathroom...lounge...laundry...but never fear, I am planning a pleasurable weekend. There will be embroidery...of course. There will be videos made, maybe even one for you if you're good and I will be adding final titvations to my NEW class......I bet that shocked you!
It's still all about tea towels here....white paper ones today with stitch. Should I be surprised at how many of you covet silk kitchen cloths? probably not......This work is being picked up and then put aside at regular intervals. It is being picked up to keep it at the front of my consciousness, so it doesn't get forgotten or finish up as one of those things that never quite made it.
My immediate priority is class, the girls over at eec...I hope you paid the group a visit this week, they really are doing some lovely work. This morning I have been titivating the next class which goes out tomorrow. Can you believe we are starting week three....that went by so quickly. Later today my tea towel investigations will again be put to one side so I can work more with cloth, white cloth. Now I need to decide which stitch I feel fits with my day....cross stitch is winning at the moment, it is relaxing, it is therapeutic. There is time for that to change however...it depends on how relaxed I feel after washing the kitchen floor.....
Doodle Doo is back.....yesteday evenings work, just a little pencil drawing and some embroidery onto metallic silk tissue. I actually struggled to get this ready for damp stretching before I went to bed last night. This morning I had all the ''putting together'' to do before I made a video for class. I made it through my chore list with time to spare however, more happy accident than good planning I'm thinking but happy is definitely what I am.
These drawings are tea towels, kitchen towels...I'm planning a series...yes an actual series of towels. What for? Well they won't be used. They will be silk with silk tissue embellishments, so why? Well just because I want to. It's OK sometimes just to do ''what you want'' without a reason...Isn't it?
(wonder if that applies to the pile of ironing that I want to ignore.....)
White continues, some lace snippets that I didn't throw away....I created an edge instead. That edge now forms a boundary for web stitch flowers. There is another piece in progress too, at the moment it is merely tacked together and has bullion knots, two very precise circles of bullion knots.
Later today I hope to work more in my doodle doo book. If everything goes to plan I will share that tomorrow....meanwhile I don't know if you followed the conversation in yesterday's comments. Essentially it stemmed from one of Henrietta's colourful, wonderful and very descriptive tales.....that conversation resulted in memories of this......I love it and once again harbour a desire to live in the wallpaper.....
Shall we talk about embroidery first? Another section for my cloth with lace and more lace and even more lace that I will show you tomorrow. Actually, my cloth has grown without me even noticing. If I added all my sections together I would hazard a guess that I am almost finished. Originally I had discounted having this ready to give as a Christmas gift, now I'm not so sure.
This was finished and damp stretched late last night after I returned from the party weekend. Yes, the party......what can I say? It was amazing, really amazing. Good food, great people and most importantly the happy couple had a ball. We are all exhausted, 2 am bedtime, early rising for a full English breakfast, long drive home but it was more than worth the effort. The names which need a thank you are far too numerous to mention but you all know who you are. As for me, well I socialised and then socialised some more. I must say that I am now all socialised out and that is it for at least ten years. I am not what you would call ''sociable'' being that I never leave the house and am mostly covered in cobwebs but I tried, I think I succeeded and up to now there haven't been any complaints.
So that's it....all over....lots of good memories and the bonus? there was cake left over to bring home. Now it's back to school. I'm itching to get back to class and pay attention girls, there will be homework on Wednesday. Meanwhile the flickr page has been filling up....they are so well behaved!!! So if you want to see what's going on in Karen's Global Embroidery School then just pop over here.
White remains the focus here, web stitch and French knots placed in tiny cirlcular areas marked out on bought Broderie Anglaise cloth. I should mention that this cloth is laid over some ''paperwork'' from a while ago. The focus is the same...white and mark making in white.
I'm not stopping long today, I have stuff to do in order that I remain calm and serene for the weekend. I did however want to say a massive thank you to all of you who have commented and mailed this week You have no idea how much I value each and every comment I receive on here. I normally make it my mission to respond to everyone but sadly that hasn't been possible this week. I am hoping that you don't mind waiting a little longer for your reply. Normal service will resume next week I promise.
Some pre pleated vintage cloth found its way into my latest white block....thanks again Barbara. I couldn't ignore those beautiful fragile edges so I adorned them with a little buttonhole lace and some running stitch. It kind of emphasises their presence, they won't be easy to overlook and they won't miss out on a drooling gaze in times to come when I am looking again at this piece.
The bumpy bits are finished and stretched now too, they have web stitches dotted amongst them. How about plans for the rest of the day? Well I have tacked more lace and scrim together ready to work with on the machine in order to progress my veil thingy. There is more white in progress, I have to check in on class and make sure they are working hard. Tomorrows lesson needs to be compiled and there is ironing to do for the party. The star of that particular show, my little girl, has been sent to Paris for something work related and will not return until late Friday evening. I guess I have passed the panic baton to her now....she won't have long for her own personal titivations when she returns will she?
