I pinned this edge on camera in this post. Last night I embroidered along the seam with bullion knots. It made me think of paper, it had me wondering if I could use it in a bigger piece with paper alongside it somehow. This morning I had a look, thought about it...
Now I'm thinking ......maybe not this actual piece of cloth but something similar in terms of texture along with the lace cloth which I used as a base for this. something along the lines of this piece.
I've got a lot of samples to create, a lot of thought doodles to get down on paper. I'm excited by the prospect of replacing greens with white, replacing silver kid leather with lace cloth...watch this space.
(the sample with the greens was created around 5 years ago. It has been carefully stored and cherished.)
36 x 25 inches refers to the size my coverlet will be when this final strip is added. For the sake of cohesion and consistency I have continued with the applique/ cutwork theme here. The gimp on this section is edged with French knots, long clusters of white pink and green which mirror some seams across the whole piece. When I get round to attaching this strip to the main section there will be more little pockets just like the green and pink ones you might be able to pick out in these images. As for the reverse, the backing......my indecisive head is still arguing about that. I have nothing in my stash but am being tempted by a pale grey and white gingham I have found online. What do you think? and......look at all that temptation!!
The last time you saw this I had merely pinned these pieces together on the video at the end of this post. (it's a repeat, you saw it before)
It has now been stitched together with buttonhole lace used to join each seam. I made three little, plain buttons and added those too. It's a sample, an exercise, a pass the time activity. Something to do whilst thinking about something else.....you know what I mean. (I know that you know, you do it too).
I started a new artist book last week....do you remember? I said it wouldn't be ready soon......it won't. I will put pages together whenever I have a half hour or so in which I feel inspired. That happened this morning when I glanced at the fabric I bought last week from the Festival of Quilts. Three fabric swatches and a row of French knots equal a simple, quick page exercise.
More paper samples, experiments, investigations....the cloth laid here was created for use with the paper, to compliment and extend the paper. This one is different to the last one which you can see here. At the moment there is no firm plan, I'm just playing and at the same time thinking, wondering, allowing ideas to come as I create these samples.
I have been working on my gingham coverlet too, trying to finish embroidery on the final section. Once that is complete I will have seams to titivate before I can back it, before I can finish it.
Since you saw her last Clara has acquired a rather lovely backpack and a very trendy hat along with a matching embroidered cloth...tape measure related. It's been such a happy thing to do, this exercise, this class, a children's story and embroidery. Happy images, happy colours and very happy pieces of stitched cloth.
Of all the things Clara owns I covet the back pack. I am hoping to go some way to having one equally as lovely with this piece I showed you the other day. The surface patterning is different but the connection is there.
More work on the paper piece from a couple of days ago. Scraps of blue and white embroidered cloth are now secured behind open space and inside defined areas. beads have been added too. Whilst I was working on this more ideas came to mind, more ideas for sampling with paper. This one isn't finished, it needs more. There will be more work on the surface, in the white space and it may also find itself attached to another piece, extended.
A reminder for you of my new class.....not long now.....
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.
Do you remember this post about Clara, the post where I showed progress with my story book from class? Some of the patterning which has developed during class is now being used to make a drawstring bag for my story book. Up to now there is a single embroidered dress appliqued to a silk surface along with clusters of French knots which will form another pattern further down the line.
Another embroidered dress has been started and in terms of more patterning to go along with the dresses I am thinking buttons, button shapes and maybe some Suffolk puffs.
Thank you for the concern yesterday....I no longer have cold feet....I managed to have a quite good sleep last night but I still have a very annoying and ''wear you down'' cough. It will pass.....(it had better pass).
I said ithere.....I have a hankering for a new paper collection, paper samples, experiments, playtime bits of white paper with a little stitch, a little fabric and perhaps a little blue. This is the early stages of that hankering, a tiny amount of new work on paper laid with possible ideas for contrasts, patterns and complimentary pieces. There's a long way to go....
I'm feeling sorry for myself today...cough, cough, cough....all night last night. No sleep....yawn, yawn and the worst thing of all is this new day and living through it as if I am in some kind of twilight zone....brain not working, timing off, plans adrift.....oh dear....
and to cap it all.....my husband is sleeping after a night shift. I have cold feet. My socks are in the bedroom. If I go in to get some I will wake him. Looks like I'm going to be having a cold feet and coughing kind of day.....
Gimp secured with bullion knots, strips of French knots, French knots seams, pockets, lace.....surface adornments on the final panel of my gingham coverlet. I mustn't forget the cutwork and applique either.....
Yesterday I went to the Festival of Quilts. Obviously I went to look at quilts however I also went to shop. I intended to buy fabric to back this gingham coverlet.....sadly I got distracted by the most exciting sewing needles I have ever bought. I couldn't resist. A little fabric did find its way home with me too but I'm keeping that for my new class. (it starts very soon!) I guess I will just have to mail order something for the back of this and I still can't decide....bright or white? Answers, suggestions very, very welcome.
