I've been playing again, moving pages around, moving pieces around, adding things. These were all made separately yet they all live well together, at least I think they do. I think I could do this all day every day. Create mini design sheets, one after another.
Next on the list today is my sewing machine. I have a plan involving colour and paper and perhaps a little lace. I don't have any housework to do today, a rare day indeed so I am making the most of it.
I hope you're all working hard in school, SS4 and Alchemy, there will be videos later today.
What a day so far.....appointments and the arrival of the tent which hasn't been opened yet. It doesn't look very big??? Husband may have to get his own, I need enough room to ''drape'', fragrantly and serenely.
Typepad appears to be behaving but if I do disappear you will find me you know where. (in around an hour when I've attended to other, pressing things)
Today's pictures? A glimpse for you of what is happening over in Karen's Global Embroidery School. A swaddling band is taking shape over in SS4which will remain open for registration for ages because it's easy to dip in and out. In Alchemy we are creating mini design sheets, well I am creating mini design sheets...everyone else is way ahead of me!! Registration for Alchemy is closing soon , very soon....
The swaddling band? Lace, lace cloth, delicate, fragile, precious, bullion knots, French knots, hand made ties, concealed text, transfer prints.....and on and on.
Oh boy, I hope you're not in a hurry today. There are lots of pictures from my phone, taken over the last week or so.
As you can see my table features prominently in my days....every day. And we eat on here, as a family, every day....hence the salt and pepper and the butter dish! Don't begin to wonder how they get used in my embroidery. There's also a look at my bedtime reading....
I washed and ironed my Marimekko cushion covers, never a chore. The floor gets quite a bit of action too. It's been covered in design sheets most days, old design sheets brought out of mothballs for Alchemy.
Speaking of Alchemy, I'm putting out a final call. It's still listed but not for much longer. I created a page, a glimpse of what's happening over there. You can see that here.
A glimpse for you of everything in progress. Well, not everything but a sizable portion of it. I have been busy with Alchemy, there is a tiny view of that in the top three images along with lace from ''4''. It's the early stages of a design sheet, I'm cracking the whip over there. They're all exhausted bless them. It's not too late to join us....go hereif you're considering, are tempted, or just want to browse. We only started yesterday so it would be quite easy to jump in.
I've also pinned these little sections into the bigger cloth. It's like a jigsaw puzzle....then, not visible, out of camera shot is the body bag.....it's making a comeback, I'm working on it as we speak. There is also more lace.....more blue and white......I hope you are keeping up because I'm not sure I am......
I've had fun this morning. It started with an extra hour in bed, just couldn't get my bones out from under the duvet what can I say. Despite that I made videos and I played with bits and pieces, composition, arranging and rearranging. There will be a lot of that happening in Alchemy you see, I need to practice.
Have you noticed the buttons? I was inspired to make more, lace ones this time. They will fit along an edge of one of these delicate samples.....I feel a new addiction coming on.
(if you are registered for Alchemy 2014 I will mail you this evening with a short video concerning privacy and images. Sign in information for the class blog will be sent tomorrow)
I am very taken with this piece...this red and white piece that almost shouts, almost screams ''look at me''. This one especially is far removed from my usual understated white, lace, off white combo. A change is as good as a rest they say and I have been looking at contrasts a lot lately, I would say we have a measure of that going on here if only with the colour. On this surface are bullion loops, cross stitches, and applique circles with some piping thrown in for good measure.
There are tabs made, at the ready to be added along a seam....tonight I hope.
Alchemy is back. It's almost a whole year since the first run. It has been requested, enquiries were made........
Alchemy 2014
Start date May 5 2014
The medieval forerunner of chemistry, based on the supposed transformation of matter, esp. that of base metals into gold.
***Please note....weeks 8 and 9 are free weeks. I will be away. By that time I think a break will be good for you too. A time for reflection perhaps. Because of this we have a timetable of 14 weeks, not 12.***
Aims and Content
Do you dream of creating that one special piece of embroidery, a piece of textile art, or of finishing a long neglected project, combining your ideas and developing them into that special piece of cloth? If so then Alchemy is the programme for you.
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. Built into our twelve week timetable are regular visual critiques, using images of work in progress that you upload to our online forum.
(a video detailing the ''upload'' process will be forwarded to you shortly before Alchemy begins)
A knowledge of basic embroidery is required for this class.
Please do not be concerned if you are not comfortable with ledger work, drawing or painting. ''mark making'' is a process which evolves from many media including cloth and thread. Alongside suggestion for drawn and painted work will be alternative process for creating reference to colour and pattern using cloth and thread.
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.
This process will be critique led with any practical demonstration built into the 12 week programme as and when the need arises.
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 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.
You have a responsibility to source information yourself and to familiarise yourself with new creative technique that you may wish to use.
Demonstrations
Please note......this course is not a ''how to'' process in terms of embroidery technique.
Demonstration 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
Video 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***
Prior to the commencement of class I will provide video instruction on how to upload images to flickr in private mode for those who are unsure of this process.
Starting Points Prior to the commencement of Alchemy begin to gather starting points for your work. These items could take the form of postcards, images from magazines, colour swatches from paint charts or similar. Collect images relating to the work of other artists who inspire you....textile art, sculpture, oil painting. This is a ''personal'' project, it centres around each individual, their aesthetic and creative preferences. If you are struggling for starting points then I will assist you, guide you. You are very well supported throughout this process and I am available as little or as much as you need me.
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
Yesterday I came home and did absolutely nothing so this morning I had to face the dreaded supermarket run and you wouldn't believe the pile of dirty washing I have. Mere trivia however compared to the embroidery I have planned. I am happy to be home but would have been just as happy to stay away if that makes sense.
I closed the shop when I was away but have re opened this morning so if you have been waiting to register for lace class which starts VERY soon or Alchemy then you can now do that.
Phew.....now I have to go and make a video for the embroider, embellish, create girls. If you are listening girls I am coming to flickr shortly so get your pencils sharpened !!
I came up with a name for class. I decided against cryptic preferring just to say it as it is...Lace. A surface for embroidery. I am ready. My lists are ticked. My e mails are composed. My dates are set. Along with the new lace class I have re listed Alchemy for its next run. You can read more about Alchemy here and today's video is a descriptive chat about the content of Lace. You can also read more about Lace here.
Now that's all sorted out back to the rest of my life. I had my feet done this morning, always a relief. Later today I am making the cheesecake. I have to or we won't eat later. Last night I added mirrors to piece above...very therapeutic. I checked in on class earlier and the group just gets lovelier and lovelier. I am popping back later to make sure they are still on their best behaviour.
Now put the kettle on, get your feet up and listen to me rambling on for five minutes or so....
This week in class has been all about paperwork....of the pleasurable kind. There are a few glimpses here for you of that and I have big news! Drum roll.......there is now a page at the top of this blog where you can see some images from the Alchemy group, the first public viewing. I really hope you love those. Everyone is working so hard over there that it's about time the wider world got to see their efforts. I have enabled comments over there so please leave a few words. I am sure the girls would appreciate your thoughts and if you do have a look you will see what a diverse range of work there is going on.
Today has been hectic, I don't know where the time has gone. I have made a video about my cloth for tomorrow and I also made a video for the group that worked alongside me on that one. You should have that tomorrow too. I have taken tons of photographs so I must edit those first and then upload the video etc, hence the slight delay.
Yesterday evening I started more cross stitch, the same as I am using for my new cloth but this piece is for a completely new piece of work that I hope to share soon. As you can see it's all go here, housework getting ignored as usual.....and very soon the family will be wasting away with hunger. All in the name of embroidery.
