I received some very beautiful lace fabric in the post this week, a gift. It made me want to get out my sewing machine and cut little snippets from the lengths to make lace cloth. That is why the sewing machine figured in my plans for yesterday afternoon. Here it is, I did it, a tiny piece of lace cloth that was cut short by a hankering for pin tucks. That isn't a negative however, never. Pin tucked silk is a gorgeous surface to work on. Basically I had a plan for one piece and at the end of the day I had two pieces, two very different pieces. I will doodle on these with my needle.
Last night I started on the silk piece. I used lemon and white.
Yes,these tiny pockets were for the hankie cloth. The Hankie cloth is now backed and tied. It has two pockets at the moment but needs more. The buttons aren't attached yet either, I also need to make more of those. I do love it, it feels so good on your lap and it creases as soon as you look at it but I don't mind. It will be used and it will be loved daily. What's a little creasing between lovers?
I'm now going to spend a little time with my sewing machine. Although I used it to back this piece it's been a long time since I did anything truly creative on there. My free machine embroidery foot will be exhausted by five o'clock!
Five buttons created to titivate a pillow, this pillow, this unfinished pillow. I have plans, this will be finished quicker than you think. It won't be rushed, don't think that, it's just that I will have more time to devote to this soon. There may also be puffs, I haven't decided yet.
I do have a growing obsession with these things that have wiggly stems so you should probably prepare to see more of those.
I'm still having trouble with this related posts thingy at the bottom of every post. Some days you get them, some days you don't. Sometimes you get the same one ten days in a row....it appears to be poorly. Never fear, I have a few linked posts in the top right hand sidebar if you need something else to read.
p.s.
I have been asked to ask you if anyone coming from the USA to my London class is travelling alone? If you are could you please let me know as someone may want your company. Also, can any of you recommend a hotel in London for someone who is travelling. I am loathe to do this as it would be hearsay from me as I always stay with my daughter. I have stayed in Chelsea before in a posh hotel a few times but always with a ''deal'' which made it cheaper. Thanks.....
Everywhere I look I see design sheets. That's not a compliant. This one has been added to but it's still not finished. If you don't want to follow that link it's the one here with the zip, the all white one. It prompted me to get out some others, just to look, actually just to get excited all over again. Now I have a zillion ideas for new design sheets whirling round in my head but I don't need the distraction. I need to focus. There's a pillow to finish, a hankie cloth to finish, more pockets to make, buttons to cover and of course I need to finish this all white sheet too. I need to give myself a stern talking to.
I'm guessing it will be quiet on here today. Everyone will be eating turkey and things. Happy Thanksgiving to those of you who celebrate. Save me something tasty!!
You were promised pockets and pockets you have. Two tiny pockets, equally as decorative front and back, fully lined and edged with buttonhole lace. They measure 3 1/2 x 3 inches and 3 1/2 x 5 inches. Small is the key word here.
These will be added to the surface of a cloth, movable, that way the back can be appreciated too. What am I going to put in them? Nothing. Nothing tangible anyway. I put a lot of love into making them and that's what they will hold.....just love.
In case you missed it....exciting things are happening in January. A new year, a new class,
Aside from pockets, paper, hankies and zippers I've got dots and gingham on my mind. I kind of started thinking out loud with cloth, piecing, playing, mixing, folding, adding snippets of embroidered edges. What i'm doing is considering options for new pieces which could take shape during ''swathed in stitch''....same pillows, same pouches? I'm not so sure. I have a hankering for a happy cloth, a bright, cheerful, pleated cloth of gingham and lace and spots. This is the first audition.
This morning I made a tiny pocket, the girls in five are going to see that shortly. I will share it with you tomorrow and who knows, I may even have auditioned more cloth for the ''happy, pleated'' piece which is yet to come.
Thesecame today, my very own piece of an art instillation and a tiny part of history in my front room.
My ''to do'' list......it's long but it's not an unwanted list. It's a very happy list. It includes more work on paper and the creation of the tiniest pockets I have ever made. It includes being prepared...being prepared for Christmas because I am going away in two weeks and being prepared for 2015 too. It also includes being prepared for going away which scarily doesn't seem to be getting as much attention as it needs. Oh well, if the worst happens I only need to chuck some clean unmentionables in a bag.
First of all, this work today, these images. I am officially in love. Paper, give me paper. Give me a few beads and some bullion knots.......happiness is....
This afternoon I am going to move this forward, add more, stitch some bullion knots on an edge, tack a zip fastener, punch a few holes.
And now, ''Swathed in Stitch''.....
Swathed in Stitch has no deadlines, no set tasks. Groups which are formed through my online learning programmes are communities, friendly, interactive, supportive communities. It is my hope that each individual course takes place within a relaxed, informal and ''comfortable'' online environment.
You are welcome to dip and and out of our experience as and when it is convenient for YOU. Access is permanent....forever.
============================================== Access to a private blog with regular, minimum twice weekly blog posts which will be created specifically for this group included. These posts will NOT appear on my public blog, they will be exclusive to this group. Video posting weekly minimum.
==============================================
Commencing Monday January 5 2015 for 12 weeks, Swathed in Stitch is my latest online learning programme born from a desire to embroider and create, to fill my days with inspiration and inventiveness. This online creative experience will take the form of a very relaxed and gentle forum where creativity will occur using cloth, thread, paper, lace and embroidery. Those who have an affinity with handling cloth, working with cloth. We will embroider, I will discuss my plans, my inspiration and I will demonstrate the preparation and creation of embroidered cloth sharing technique and process throughout. I can guarantee that there will be embroidery, embellishment, manipulation of cloth. There will be pouches and pillows, there will be larger, considered works. I will share thoughts along with the more tangible sources which drive me. I will doodle, you will be encouraged to do the same.
It is my hope that you bring your own work along with you, to share and discuss with the group. We will guide and support each other, sharing tips and process, a gathering of girls for ''online'' afternoon tea.
You are welcome to continue and /or begin your own projects within the forum of this class. You are also welcome to observe and plan work around the pieces I create. If you do not wish to embroider then that is fine too. You can just follow along with us as I record my personal, creative process. You will be given access to me, my day, my embroidery with demonstration, discussion and instruction throughout.
*** There are no deadlines. There are no set tasks. This is an informal and relaxed process which is purely concerned with enjoyment and companionship.***
Video will be hosted on our private pasword protected blog and there will be a dedicated flickr group where you can upload images and interact with your peers by means of private discussion.
Upon registration you will be sent a brief e-mail listing suggested equipment.
I don't know about you but I have little piles of stitching scattered about the house all of which need finishing, final titivation's added. The pocket top is from one of those piles, there is another one to do too.
The body bag piece, that evolved late last week. I am on a mission to finish the body bag for London and it won't happen on its own. By my reckoning I need at least five more panels, (this is a panel here), at least ten tabs, (I will show you a tab later in the week) and an armful of pleated muslin. I am determined.......
There is a link hereto a video. I couldn't embed it in the post but please take a look. It is just over one minute long. I'm not a doll maker, I don't really have any interest in making dolls but trust me, on 56 seconds there is an illustration of process that made me go weak at the knees, working on net. And......One minute 15 seconds......that cloth....the drape....oh dear. I need a lie down.
Tomorrow I will show you what is happening in Doodle, gather, create, I am very excited and don't worry girls, your videos are imminent.
It's a pillow top, the one from here. Progress is quite slow but it's progress all the same. There are bumps and loops and knots along with a little bit of colour.
As well as this piece I have been working more on the body bag over in 5, colour abounds there too but later today I am going to be playing with white. I often get a hankering for white, scraps of lace, old cottons, just mixing and matching, piecing little scraps. Today's white will be worked alongside paper, for the doodle class. I will share that with you as soon as I can.....
Doodles, stitch, paper, beads......almost finished. These are my first two sheets from class. The third is underway, more of the same except for beads and perhaps something new in that one too.
Today is the start of a more relaxed week I hope. It's been hectic this past few days. I've had two days away from home, left two pre scheduled blog posts, yesterday and Tuesday and am playing catch up. From today I promise you will have my undivided attention until December 9....I hope that's OK.
I'm making good progress with this work, with these 7 inch embroidered squares for a new cloth book of embroidery. The paper piece featured in my last post and I...
