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I am otherwise engaged today. Yes, I am most likely eating cake. Yes, I am most likely sitting around not doing much at all. I've got a cold, a sore throat and there's a party of sorts to be had. I will struggle through.
Happy Birthday to the best boy I am proud to call my son. We love you James.
This is the first swatch of my second ''sample embroidery swatch book''.....the first swatch book is coming together in ''embroidery school'' and is almost finished. This one, the second one is being informed by that one, inspired by that one. I am taking ideas forward, altering pattern and placement, moving edges around, swapping fabrics and embellishments.
There is more surface embroidery needed on this but so far we have a double bullion loop seam, one row of bullion loops has added sequins, (no surprise there then). There is a row of cross stitch hearts, a little paper and lace cloth scrap and a lovely lace hankie corner. Next up for this is an ABC.
(Videos are almost ready for embroidery school. Stand by your computers girls!)
You may remember these little things from here. They have been added to the edge of this sample which is now finished and ready to be placed into my sample, swatch, book thingy. I am hoping to have the swatch/book/sample piece finished later next week and I have already started another one because this one makes me so happy. The coloured sequins you can see on this edge were a gift. They are the most beautiful little things. You won't be surprised to hear I am using them on the first piece I have begun for the next swatch collection. You will see that very soon....
The sample/swatch/book piece is being created in ''embroidery school'' which finishes next week. I will be listing that as a ''work on your own'' class in the next few weeks but if you register now you will also get access to the private Flickr group. That access is not included in the ''work on your own'' class. You can read more about ''embroidery school'' here and see some of the work I have created during class demonstrations by following this link.
A reminder too about my new class ''Artist Books'' which begins in just over one week. You can read more about that here.
I have happy stitching plans for my weekend....I hope you do too.
You might remember that I had a few days away from here last week, partly due to family stuff but also because I taught a workshop in London last Saturday. I thought i'd let you see what was in the workshop packs for that day. There were stitched papers, stitched cloth with added paper and scraps of fabric both vintage and new. A few days before I left for London I collaged huge sheets of white papers...(third image) and a piece of that was included in each pack too.
I think it was a successful day.........there were many beautiful pieces of work created, a lot of coffee consumed and lots of cake eaten....perfect.
(there are two short videos here and here on my Instagram feed taken during the workshop)
These little pieces of embroidered and folded cloth measure no more than 3 inches in height, one of them is a mere inch and a half. They are adornments, titivation's for an edge. They will run down the side of one of the pages of my sample, swatch, book thingy....the one I spoke about yesterday. I will show you when that is done.
Later today I am going to gather some cloth and create the first page of my next swatch book, stitch seams, embellish and most likely get carried away with sequins.
There are three embroidered pockets available for sale. I haven't put them in the shop because I thought I would give you first dibs. If you're interested drop me a mail. (contemporaryembroideryathotmaildotcom) The first one, the pinky one with sequins and Suffolk puffs measures approximately 9 x 6 1/2 inches. The one with cabbages (gimp ball buttons) the second one, measures approximately 6 1/2 x 6 1/2 inches and the one with toggles and hankies, 8 x 6 1/2 inches. All hand stitched by moi.....and a pleasure to create from start to finish.
Plans? Plans for what to make next? I don't have any. I am working on things for ''embroidery school'', hoping to finish my ''sample swatch book thingy''. I have a hankering to work with tiny scraps for ''artist books'' but am trying to restrain myself until class begins. I am so in love with my''sample swatch book thingy'' that I might start another one.
My schoolwork, embroidery school....I don't think you have seen the piece with the zip fastening for a while and if and when you did see it last it definitely didn't look like this. It now has one edge bound with Liberty fabric , a header of vintage cloth with bells attached (I am fast falling in love with bells) and it has a lace cloth edge with sequins and beads. The other piece was started just as something to mindlessly stitch, a sample of sorts with no connection to class. I have decided now though that it will live happily with my other class work and next up for that one is a header. (you last saw it here, there has been much more added since then)
Technically''embroidery school'' finishes this week but you won't be surprised to hear that we will be carrying on because yours truly is behind with her work. If you want to sign up now it still isn't too late. You will get access to everything from day one along with access to our group forum over on Flickr. The Flickr option will not be available when class finishes. Go here to read more.
Registration has also reopened for my new class ''artist books'' which begins on April 17. You can read more about that here.
Finally I would like to say thank you to Susan, Alison, Barbara, Judith, Janice, Lesley, Christine, Jillayne and Liza for a wonderful weekend, you're amazing.