I'm back.....did you miss me? I'm a bit 'all over the place' today. Not quite sure what to do, not quite sure what I want, not quite sure what I need, not very sure about anything really. I know some people get these days a lot. Me? Not too often and I don't enjoy them one bit. Tomorrow will be better. That's not just wishful thinking it is in fact an order, non negotiable....today isn't bad as such, more irritating.
Anyway enough of my unstable mood. I have been creating cutwork, hexagons and lots and lots of knots. This cloth is growing rapidly, taking me by surprise. I think this one may well be finished before embroider, embellish, create even starts....now that would be a first!
Meantime...are you checking out the blogs of my Alchemy group? They are listed at the bottom right of this page. I wish I could send you to the flickr group as there is so much amazing work in there but if you drop in on some of the blogs I am hoping you will get to see some of what's happening with this very talented group.
Actual embroidery has been thin on the ground over the past 24 hours. Thinking about embroidery has been present in abundance. All I can offer you today are my thoughts, my plans, an indication of what I hope to achieve on cloth in the near future.
I am expecting a call from the travel agent tomorrow...
I want you to know that I am grateful for all your comments and mail. I promise I will be responding to everyone, visiting blogs before the week is out.
Yes, I now have eyes to go with my hooks. Truly I can't contain my excitement because now I can play with things like this. There are two separate things here...a new page for doodle doo and a French knot seam that I embroidered last night whilst I was having an NYPD Blue marathon....I love that show but then that's another story.
Going back to the doodle doo work..............I say another page but I'm not sure. I may have this one as a 'stand alone' piece of work inspired by doodle doo..........the jury is still out on that one. I will know better when it has progressed.
I keep wondering if I should have a Christmas break and if so when. Of course I won't be here on the actual day but at what point do I stop for the holiday? Do I even need to stop for the holiday? Class is technically finished although I will still be involved there on a casual basis. My gifts are mostly bought. My tiny house may need a little clean but that won't take long. I intend to stitch even on Christmas day. Perhaps I don't need a break at all. I do know that I don't consider this to be work and definitely not a chore so you may be stuck with me.
Doodle doo has been receiving more attention. I have permanently placed things into the book that until now were just loosely inserted and I have been embroidering bullion knots for the next page. Later today I hope to cut the next page and place these blocks of knots into their permanent home. I am hoping to have doodle doo part two on video for you tomorrow. Basically it will be a recap of the work I have done in here up to now. It will help me to focus, help me decide where to go next. This afternoon I am also planning to work a little with my veil/festooned thingy. There is scrim with lace tacked on it ready for the sewing machine. That will be followed by mirrors and titivation this evening.
This next bit is kind of like a public service announcement......I am going away on Monday.....for five days, to London. I will be staying with my little girl, shopping in heavenly establishments where I hope to buy lots of glorious vintage bits and bobs and if I have any money left after I have seen to my needs I will also get some Christmas presents....I know...I'm selfish. What can I say, who can resist vintage???? Anyway....Alchemy 2013......it is almost full.....I will de list tomorrow as I can't forward the mail to you if you buy when I am away. If you have already been in touch asking to sign up later then you don't have to worry. You will still be able to do that but whilst I am away I cannot stand behind the metaphorical shop counter so have to pull the shutters down.
I will however be here tomorrow...hopefully with a video.
It's a long one today so put the kettle on and make yourself comfortable....first things first, embroidery and a very short video. I worked more on edges last night, not many edges as I had unexpected visitors. Nevertheless, an evening isn't complete without a little titivation. I even damp stretched it for you so it would be all crisp and lovely....as opposed to wrinkled and a dogs dinner. I talk more about this piece in the video but basically I am explaining the origin of the cloth....please watch the video, pretty please...it won't send you to sleep I promise.
Then we have ''Alchemy''. My new, long thought out, longer in the compiling and quite (very?) exciting new class. ALL the information is on here. For me it is a little daunting, from my perspective and considering my intended role it is a huge commitment. But I have faith, I am excited, it is a challenge, it has the potential to be an amazing experience for everyone.
Alchemy
2013
The medieval
forerunner of chemistry, based on the supposed transformation of matter, esp.
that of base metals into gold.
Aims
and Content
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.
A
knowledge of basic embroidery is required for this class.
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.
Practical
demonstrations will be built into the 12 week programme alongside regular
appraisals of work in progress. Demonstrations will be determined by the needs
of the group, driven by individual requirements re technique and process.
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 demonstrate specific techniques you may wish to use, 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.
Demonstrations
These 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
Demonstrations 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***
Starting
Points
Listed below are
suggestions regarding starting points for your work, suggestions for images or
objects you may wish to investigate for inspiration and development. You may
choose any of those listed here or alternatively you are welcome to select an
inspirational source of your own.
Reminiscence
Childhood,
motherhood, school books, birth certificates, heirlooms, children’s drawings,
fairy tales, dolls houses, family photographs, vintage domestic cloth.
Domesticity
Cutlery, whisks,
crockery, floral furnishing fabrics, painterly wall coverings, framed artworks,
home baked bread, cakes, cups and saucers, teapots, pans.
Innovation, new
technology, computers, modern architecture, sound waves, kaleidoscopes, mobile
phones, graphic symbols, signage, techno textiles.
Natural
World
Coral, shells, sea
life, animals, moss, plant life, volcanic rock, fossils, rock formations,
agriculture, oceans, weather, cloud formations.
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.
Boy I'm late today. Trust me you don't want to know about my morning. The sooner that one is forgotten the better. Positivity reigns....it's onwards and upwards. There is a video today....to clarify the scrim muslin thing. I have opened up a can of worms with that one....think I should have kept my scrim to myself.
Back to the purpose of this little rambling forum however and embroidery. I put together a patchwork of sorts last night using all my new cloth. The idea is to sample them together, overlaid, cut through, withdrawing threads and revealing things. That's the plan....fingers crossed it happens. Thirty seconds of the video is devoted to that so you can watch it if you want to get a different perspective. I was taking my pictures this morning and I thought.........hmmmmm...bullion knots. They are always there aren't they. Is that bad? Does it show a lack of imagination? Are you sick of them? Sometimes I wonder. Anyway I have pieces to pick up from earlier so I can't linger.
Don't switch off you haven't come to the wrong blog. Yes, it's raspberry pink silk dupion...applique and a little embroidery. This was Sundays plan worked on Monday night. I have quite a lot of this silk but hardly ever use it. It never quite fits with my plans but when I do get to use even a small amount it lifts me...it is so vibrant. In truth it doesn't show up as well here just how rich this colour is, you will have to trust me on that one.
We are in our last week of school over at ledgers...I really would love for you to look at the amazing work my girls have produced so if you have a spare moment then please go here.....pretty please.
I am continuing to embroider with cotton perle on my white cloth whilst I stalk the post man. He hasn't been yet...In case you didn't know I am waiting for coton a broder...I have been waiting a LONG time. This piece was picked up last night after I had finished ''ledgering''. Up to now there are bullion knots, web stitches and the start of a little cutwork....
I am more than happy with how my own ledger is evolving, new inspiration, different colour and I shall let you see more of that next time. If you want to see the great stuff being produced in class then just go here....leave a comment or two if you want. I know the girls would appreciate the input.
Don't be fooled...I am still up to my eyes in it. Well at least I should be. I made good progress yesterday when I was gone but there is a lot of ticking off the list left to do. I am on it...honest. I even have a lot of housework I want to do, yes WANT to do. It makes me feel good if I manage to do a little of the domestic too.
I really missed you yesterday though so that's why I didn't disappear for longer. I am such a sap......a proper wuss. This is where I am up to with my ''festooned'' cloth...it's coming along very nicely. I am more than happy.
and please pop over here to see what the girls are doing...they would love that.
In my quest to transfer from the old place I have added a new page today...questions and answers. Just look up, it's at the top under the picture. It is quite long...you may grow a beard but hey just read until the boredom sets in.
In the embroidered world......this piece is now finished. You will be seeing a lot of this kind of thing from now on as I have a plan. A wrapping Cloth created from sections of this...at least that is the ''plan''...fingers crossed that I can pull it off. I envisage a cobweb like structure, light, airy, glittering with mirrors and festooned with bullion knots....
fes·toon
(f-stn)
n.
1. A string or garland, as of leaves or flowers, suspended in a loop or curve between two points.
2. A representation of such a string or garland, as in painting or sculpture.
tr.v.fes·tooned, fes·toon·ing, fes·toons
1. To decorate with or as if with festoons; hang festoons on.
2. To form or make into festoons.
Maybe I haven't used the word in it's most exact form...but I like it and it's my blog.
What will I do with it when it's finished? Haven't a clue......but I will have it, it will exist, that's enough.
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...
-st
n
)