Even with just a tiny amount of attention this white piece is evolving. Last night, a couple of hours, a looped gimp seam was finished, two scraps of white lace found their way onto the surface and one bumpy bit was added. All in all a successful couple of hours.
I do love that seam. Prepare to see a few more of those in the future....not on here but on other things. It's fiddly but very rewarding. It's tough to get your needle through at times but it's worth it. The white scraps are just that, little scraps, offcuts from something else which I saved. it's obvious now....they were waiting for me to start this piece.
My recent ''pocket itch'' has now been scratched......a pink and lemon spotty pocket has been placed into a seam on my gingham and silk coverlet. That makes three little pockets on this piece up to now.....there will be more.
Embroidery on this floral silk panel was finished before it was damp stretched and added to the rest of the cloth. The floral silk piece measured 19 x 9 inches and now that is attached the whole piece measures 36 x 19 inches...it's growing....
I have no idea how big I want this to be.....I'm just going to keep going. Later today I will put another gingham section together, that will mean another seam, (eventually) and of course another pocket.
We will be doing something similar to this in my new class ''wrapped and bound in stitch'' which starts in four weeks. You can take a look at that hereand here. When I say similar I mean similar in terms of a cloth, a cloth created form smaller pieces of embroidery. Surface embellishment will differ from this....my class cloth will be ''encrusted'', tactile , highly textured....at least that's the plan.
I received this email today, such lovely words. (and I didn't pay her...lol)
It came at a very appropriate time too as today is the day I list my new class, wrapped and bound in stitch.
You have become a loyal and faithful "Online" friend to me and many others. You provide understanding along with a depth of stability to your students, and are always there to offer your wisdom and knowledge. It is calming and beneficial to the mind and body to find such an inspirational teacher who offers integrity and loyalty at all times
The new class begins on September 5, four weeks from now. You can register here.
A wrapping cloth, a wrapping cloth with a story bound up in stitch.
Beginning Monday September 5 for 16 weeks.
*** ''The wrapping cloth series evolved from my research into Motherhood and these pieces serve as a tribute to women who throughout time have used cloth as a tool of comfort for their families.'' ***
Two posts a week on a private password protected blog. A minimum of two hours video per week.
Learn how to embellish cloth, decoratively embroider seams and create adornments before incorporating each of your embroidered pieces into one cloth, a wrapping cloth.
Using process which date back to those used by our stitching ancestors the aim of this class is to create an encrusted and embroidered wrapping cloth created from smaller, embellished cloth pieces which will be joined with richly embroidered seams. Inspiration for my cloth will be drawn from fairy tale stories, childlike imagery, simple shapes and delicate patterning.
***Inspiration for your cloth can be drawn from any source of your choosing and I will assist you in identifying pattern, colour and shape from your chosen imagery if it differs from mine.***
There will be pockets, there will be surface adornments in the form of buttons, Suffolk puffs, beads and knots. Fabric will be manipulated with pleating, ruching, cutting and tearing. We will couch gimp, we will create bullion knots, French knots, chain stitch, cutwork and applique ......
Access to all resources, 'videos and blog posts' is permanent, forever.
A list of suggested materials will be sent to you on registration.
Please allow 24 hours from registration to receipt of all class information.
**you do not need to have participated in any of my previous online learning programmes in order to participate in ''patched pockets.''***
No prerequisites. Suitable for the beginner and the more experienced stitcher.
In addition to a private blog you will be given access to a private Flickr group where you will be able to interact with other members of the group, upload images of your work, receive feedback, give feedback, share technique, hints, tips.....
Previous online learning programmes I have hosted have resulted in the formation of a tightly knit group of like minded people who share the creative process in a relaxed and informal atmosphere. It's almost as if groups ''hold hands'' throughout. For me, this is one of the most appealing and rewarding aspects of these classes.
(I am also aware that some people prefer to work quietly with minimal interaction. That is OK too.)
There are no deadlines, no set tasks. You are under no obligation to create what I am creating. Many people in previous classes have merely taken notes in order to apply ideas to their own work. Please take as much or as little as you wish from this programme, tailor my demonstrations to suit your own creative needs.
A bit of a different post today, a mini show and tell of some precious ''bits'' which I guard with my life. These aren't all of the things which fall into that category, these are just a small selection that I thought you may like to see.
Above.....a scrap of lace I inherited from my Great Grandmother. The lace is also in the next image alongside her nursing cap. My Great Grandmother (Florence Garstang) was a midwife for many, many years. During World war Two my home town being a shipbuilding town was bombed daily yet Nurse Garstang continued to go out and deliver babies in the most trying and risky of circumstances. After the war she was awarded a medal for her efforts.....the medal was displayed in the local museum for many years before being gifted to my cousin who has made a very successful career out of nursing, very fitting I think.
The next image is a scarf, (a kind of chiffon like cloth). This scarf belonged to one of my Grandmothers, I called her Nanna. I am guessing this scarf was bought in the 1950's. I doubt very much there would have been the means to purchase this kind of item during war years when she had a young family to raise.
Next, cloth I have been gifted. I know nothing of its history I just know my heart skipped a beat when I received it. Perhaps you know?
These buttons.....I am sighing.....these buttons were inherited from my other Nanna, (not the scarf Nanna) They are so very precious to me that I never leave the house without them. I carry them in a tiny jewellery case which sits in the bottom of my handbag. I do know that Nanna bought these in an Antique shop in the 1960's, prior to that I have no idea about their origin.
I am emotionally tied beyond measure to the cloth in this last image. This cloth is the cover from my children's Crib, their bassinet....it lives neatly folded in a tiny cabinet next to my bed. It's irreplaceable.
You haven't seen this piece for a while....it has been neglected really, waiting for me to create more of the cloth surface in order to extend it. Meanwhile I had a hankering to add more lace to an edge.....a compulsion, an urge.....it did me good handling it even for this short amount of time......I fell in love all over again.
Aside from classwork these are my ''in progress'' pieces. You saw the white for the first time here and the floral piece is to enable me to extendthis piece and if you remember, to scratch my pocket itch.
The white piece has three new cutwork motifs since you last saw it, cutwork with a reveal of lace and some ''twiddled'' gimp which I added. This one may be left for a little while now though as I am desperate to finish the flower piece so that I can add it to the main body of the cloth and give myself an excuse to make another pocket....who doesn't love a pocket.
In other news....my computer is sick. If I disappear there is no need for a search party but I would be very grateful if you could send a nice man to fix it.
Moving samples forward, mixing them up, joining different surfaces....all in the name of experimentation with a hope it evolves, informs new samples. For now these three pieces are just pinned. I will add stitch to the seams and most likely leave it at that. By doing that though I am hoping to gain more ideas for more samples, more ideas for cloth and paper combinations. Sampling is ongoing, it never really ends.
I'm early today....there is a family celebration to attend later.....and yes, there will be cake.
Last night I pieced a little white together. Cutwork has been worked on here as have bullion knots, French knots and there is a gimp seam in progress. I was inspired to gather white yesterday after receiving an e mail from Nancy who bought this pillow from me last year.
Nancy gifted this and it has since been used as a ring pillow during a wedding. When I saw the images she sent my first thought was ''wow, did I make that?''. Hence my quickly putting another white cloth together to check I am still up to the job!
Thank you so much for the images Nancy ....... the photograph is copyright George Scintilla.
Another piece of lace has had embroidered silk appliqued to its surface for the stand alone piece which is evolving from my current class. Both pieces are laid together here so you can see how they will look once joined. I used a different lace for this section, that's the beauty of this process, it allows you to use almost any lace so long as the difference in colour and pattern isn't too stark. I am ready to join these two pieces now before adding gimp to the surface.
Yesterday if you remember I was very excited at the prospect of having a full day and evening to myself for all things embroidery related. So what did I do? Suffered a brain freeze is the answer. I tore some paper and put some lace in a hoop...big plans....I then completely lost interest, became uninspired and did some housework instead. So I have nothing exciting embroidery wise to show for my freedom.....I do however have a very clean house.
It looks like I have spent a week chained to the table......I have. I don't think I would rather be chained to anything else. I have also developed a deep love for my Postman.....he keeps bringing me packets of beautiful thread which I must have accidentally ordered.
I have a free day today...an ''on my own all day'' day. No cooking, no people to worry about, nobody to feed. Now all I need to do is decide what to do with the time.....I have too many options. It will be sewing related. I'll make a decision after I have put the kettle on.
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...
