These pieces will form part of the embellishment pockets each member of my stash tierwill receive twice yearly.
There are a couple of places left in that tier if you are interested in joining 'sewing circle'.
The basic tier where I post monthly stitching videos has unlimited membership and for only 5 pounds a month members of that tier receive at least one hour of demonstration video monthly.
You can read more about all three of my 'sewing circle' membership tiers here.
Yes, lace, lace cloth, it's consuming my days. That's not surprising when you consider lace class has just finished and my personal 'Alchemy' project will centre on lace.
The pieces today are from lace class. I'm hoping to draw them all together in artist book form. As yet I haven't given much thought to the 'book' aspect of this, I'm still titivating.
In the background lots of embroidery and design work is happening for our first 'Alchemy 2020' post but of course I can't show you that, not yet.
Alchemy 2020 begins next Monday. I have copied the details at the foot of this post in case you missed it.
If you are already registered you should have received email from me today. Please let me know if you haven't reveived that.
Later today I am going to have a think about the 'artist book' aspect of the work you see here. I'm actually wondering, it just popped into my head....will this work live happily in doodle doo.....hmmm...do you remember doodle doo? If you haven't the foggiest what I am talking about then there is an old, short video at the end of this post which may enlighten you.
Alchemy 2020
The medieval forerunner of chemistry, based on the supposed transformation of matter, esp. that of base metals into gold.
Begins October 12 for 12 weeks. (A two week break is built in to this schedule meaning class length will be 14 weeks in total. Schedule details are given further down in this overview.)
*Aims and Content*
Have you ever wanted to create that special piece, the one piece of embroidery which has eluded you for years as you didn't know where to start? You didn't know how to approach decision making re colour, pattern fabric and thread? If so then this online learning programme is for you.
You decide what to make, you decide which techniques to use with the knowledge that I will be there to explain, to guide, to support.
I will use this class as a vehicle to develop my own work providing demonstration of each step taken to build a reference, a library of design ideas for my own finished piece.
In addition to video demonstration of my own investigations I will provide weekly video feedback in a private forum on works and sampling created by the group as and when those works are uploaded for consideration. I will guide you, prompt you, encourage and support you each step of the way.
Please note, you will not be expected to upload images on a weekly basis for feedback/mentoring. Upload these at your liesure. There will be no pressure from me for you to do anything other than work at a pace with which you are comfortable.
Following the completion of this 12 week self directed learning package it is envisaged you will have all the information required to 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.
Suitable for beginners and the more experienced embroiderer.
The early stages of this programme will reinforce the importance of 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*
Outside of my personal sampling which will be shared and recorded for the group other demonstrations 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***
I will provide basic IT support. This is not an IT class and I am not an expert on that subject. I will provide basic information for you on the use of Flickr and accessing our dedicated class blog.
*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 please take a look at the suggestions below. I can also assist and guide you should you wish. You are well supported throughout this process and I am available as little or as much as you need me.
*Suggestions for starting points*
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.
A video will be provided in your welcome mail where the design ledger will be discussed.
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 use of pencils, pens, paint etc is not compulsory. It is unlikely I will be using any of that media preferring to record my ideas in fabric and thread)
*Timetable*
Built into this 12 week programme are two free weeks which will allow space for Christmas making this course 14 weeks in length. By that time I think a break will be good for you too. A time for reflection perhaps.
Video will be posted at least once weekly dependant on the needs of the group.
October 12. Class begins. Active week.
October 19. Active week.
October 26. Active week.
November 2nd. Active week.
November 9. Active week.
November 16. Active week.
November 23. Active week.
November 30. Active week.
December 7. Active week.
December 14. Break
December 21. Break.
December 28. Active week.
2021
January 3 Active week.
January 10. Active week. (final week)
*Registration*
Upon registration you will receive further information in e mail form where suggested equipment for the course is discussed along with a video where options for your design ledger are considered. (please allow 24 hours for this to arrive)
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.
Please note, for me as mentor Alchemy is a huge commitment which consumes my creative life for its duration. For this reason a minimum number of participants is essential. In the unklikely event that minimum registration numbers are not met this online learning programme will be cancelled and all moneys refunded in full.
Refunds will not be given however should you decide to leave the class once we have begun.
You may contact me at any point prior to class beginning if you have any questions or queries.
Similarly, should you have any questions before registering for this class please do not hesitate to get in touch using either the Big Cartel contact form or by emailing me at
This piece from lace class is almost finished......yay!
More embellishment is needed on the lower layer, it requires finishing at the edges but the very time consuming stuff, the edging of holes and cut lace applique is done.
When I say time consuming I mean time consuming. The girls in class will vouch for that I'm sure.
I never usually have an issue with time consuming, I actually mostly embrace it but we're talking deadlines here, class deadlines.
This piece, (the piece on the left) was put together in hankie class yesterday. Cloth was cut, pinned and basted before I started the process of stitching my fingers to the bone in order to get all the layers of my embroidered bag embellished before the end of next week. It's a big task. There is one more panel which is pinned and basted waiting to be embroidered too.
My favourite thing about this one is the small offcut from the front edge of a vintage nightgown, it's the pointy piece lower centre with the pink sequins clearly visible in the second image. It's made with very soft fabric which is a lovely contrast against the lace and cotton which lays alongside it.
The other panel in the second image will form part of my layered bag too. All the pieces embroidered up to now will be overlaid, secured and titivated a little more before the straps are attached. I am getting there.....
Embroidery on lace cloth...lace cloth which was made for my workshop in France last year which is ''spare''. It hardly seems like over a year ago. Picking this cloth up again and adding a few more stitches took me back, happy memories.
This piece and the other pieces left from that workshop probably won't ever become ''anything''. They will be part of my stash though and we all know how useful a stash is don't we. Some may be snipped off for artists books, some may be used to lay behind open areas for cutwork, this could even be used to cover buttons or padded to make puffs, it could be rolled into toggles or even stitched over with more snippets of lace.
What you get when you make lace cloth is a unique surface, a yardage of fabric which is unique to you. You can then treat it like any other yardage of fabric, the difference being nobody else will ever have any exactly the same.
The next step in the sparkly experiment is well under way. Lace cloth has been made and titivation's have been added. There are beads, there is purl, there is silver leather.....this one has mileage. It feels amazing to hold. The base is very delicate, almost weightless. Once the beads are added it gives it weight, a contrast, fragility and weightlessness against solid and heavy. I definitely see more of this in my future.......
I'm going out now, up North,.....it's my mothers birthday. There are gifts to deliver.
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 typing with fingers crossed, (quite difficult), my toes are crossed too....and my legs. All of this in the hope that we don't disappear today, enough already.
I am going to cary on as if nothing at all could go wrong...ignore it, bury my head in the sand. All that could of course change if during the course of today something goes awry....I will be you know where if that happens.
These pictures, this lace....sigh.....work from ''4''. The first images are of my newest piece, the others of the collection that is rapidly growing. There are more...in a ledger....but for today it's just these. I am actually considering changing the name of my house from ''Ruane Towers'' to ''sample central''.....I am surrounded by them. I know that when I'm gone, (in around 100 years), I know that all these will end up in a skip, a dump or set light to with a match, I just know it. I won't really care I don't suppose because I won't be here and I have to say I do feel sorry for my kids with all the stuff they will have to sort out but for now....I'm here, staying for longer than I ought and I love being surrounded by this ''stuff''.
I went off topic a bit there didn't I? Sorry about that.....
I am off to London first thing Monday morning. I will post tomorrow and Sunday, of course I will, I can't keep away, but.....Alchemy will not be available after Sunday basically because I won't be here to send out the mail and PDF documents you get when you register. I will list it again when I come back I'm just not sure yet which day that will be, it could be Friday...we start a week on Monday. You can read more about Alchemy here and see some of the brilliant work from last years group.
I'm going now....I made a mess. I dropped a whole half pint of double cream on the kitchen floor and I did clean it up but I'm thinking some may have gone under the cooker so I'm off to check.
I've been playing with lace over in Simply Stitch 3. I have joined lace, embroidered lace....almost titivated lace to death and I'm not finished yet. So far there are bullion knots, French knots, buttonhole lace, a fair amount of layering, some cloth peeking through various open areas.....it's never ending.
Stand by for the next installment. Who knows what will have been added by then.
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...
