Play Day with Thread and Shutter

Once again, Thread and Shutter members have had a day playing with fibres etc - the thing they like most of all.

This time we decided to make some silk paper.  Last year I had purchased some silk fibres to make silk paper at a Context workshop but at the last minute couldn't go, so I was really keen to have a go myself.  Fortunately, everyone else wanted to too!

Several years ago I bought a silk paper kit from a show and had come home and made two pieces of paper straightaway.   This was then put to one side so when we decided to have our own workshop, I found them and shaped them over a bowl and cup to make two vessels.   I did try to machine embroider one of the pieces before I shaped it but it was too thin so I just made the bowl.   What I should have done was use some water-soluble fabric - maybe next time!

I'm pleased with both the results but feel they need some stitching and beads so I will do this at some time in the future.

 

 

 

 

 



 This time round, I made two pieces of silk paper.

This first one was made from layers of silk hankies with other silk fibres, silk rods and gold flower petals added for detail.   Unfortunately I wrapped it in cling film to bring home and when I unwrapped it, the cling film had stuck to the paper and wouldn't come off!  To try and save it, I put another silk hankie on the top which on the whole has worked okay.  I love the edges that the silk hankies give.

Not too sure what will happen with this so watch this space!

The second piece was created with silk tops in red and purple (definitely not my normal colour range!) with sequins added to finish.   I am going to make this in to some form of vessel, lining it with some dyed fabric and sewing it together with beads - again, watch this space.

 

 

Using the silk hankies again, I made another vessel.  I love the edges around the top of the vessel and again, I'm going to stitch in to this one and add some beads.

 



 

The final piece was made by weaving some stripped silk carrier rods with pieces of cocoon added.

 

Again this needs some stitching on it - add it to the list!

 

 

 

A very productive day all round leaving me with lots of stitching to do!





Good news on this year's Targets

Work on my targets for this year have continued with more items going on Folksy.

The even better news is, the application to Green Tree Gallery to sell my work has been a success!  I had a reply a couple of weeks ago and although they were not interested in the smaller items I sent them because they already had a range in the Gallery, they were interested in my quilts.   They had also looked at my work on Thread and Shutter and have asked me to put together a collection of work that will look good together as they liked the idea of the way I had worked on a theme.

I met with the owner, Victoria Lovell, to discuss what they wanted and what was expect of me and I am so keen to get the collection together.  It should be going up in April so I will confirm the dates as soon as I know.   In the meantime, I will be taking some quilts down in the next few weeks.

Anyone in the Sussex area, do make a trip to Borde Hill Garden, just outside Cuckfield, where Green Tree Gallery is situated in the Car Park.  They have some truly wonderful items for sale!

Challenge Update - and it's not good!

The South Downs National Park Challenge is due in on 8th March and I have to admit, I have not enjoyed this one.

Spurred on by my friend Jo (who's imagination needs a much tighter control!) I had the idea of making a walking boot, combining felt and patchwork.

As you've seen from previous posts, I made the felt by hand and dyed the fabric all ready.  At this point I even decided to make a quilt to go with the boot!   I needle felted some flowers around the to of the boot and shaped it on a wellie and thought everything was going fine.   I then patched together the green fabric I had dyed in a field-like design, getting my inspiration from aerial photos of the South Downs.

Then came the difficult bit - putting the two together!   I have now made several attempts which have only resulted in the felt having to be re-done as the thinner bits were not up to the manhandling it was having, plus a very disgruntled textile artist.

Having put the 'boot' to one side, I went on and made the small quilt to match and I'm very pleased with the result so it all else fails, that will be my entry.

In the meantime, Jo is coming to visit next week and guess what?  She will be given the task of putting the two elements together!



Toe of boot with needlefelted flowers and machine stitching

Section of quilt with hand stitching and machine quilting

 

 

More news, and hopefully photos later.

Challenge fabric ready

After an afternoon dyeing fabric, I now have the fabric ready to continue with my South Downs Challenge 'boot'.

I always use Helen Deighan's Dyeing in Plastic Bags method, mixing my own colours from primary coloured Procion dyes.  I use two different shades of each colour - turquiose/cobalt blue; golden yellow/lemon yellow; and magenta/scarlet - and although my mixing etc is not a precise as Helen's, I am usually pleased with the results.   If I want a particular colour I will use that colour dye.

My fabric is usually a bit mottled but I'm happy with that look as it really looks hand dyed.

Straight out of the dye solution

Washed and dried ready for use

I also dyed some cotton perle so I would have matching thread for any handstitching I may add.

Threads ready to dry and be untangled!

Now to plan the next stage.

South Downs Challenge

Just in case you think I'm taking part in anything energetic, don't!

The 2013 challenge from Context was entitled "South Downs National Park" with the challenge to create a quilt with measurements between 2 and 5 metres or a 3D item inspired by this fairly local Park  I know it's 2014 but it doesn't need to be finished until the AGM in March so there's still plenty of time!

My idea straight away was to create a 3D boot using a combination of felt and quilted fabric so with time ticking away, this morning I made the felt that will hopefully be the basis of the toe of the boot.  I've never been terrible keen on the actual making of handmade felt as it seems like too much hard work but decided it would be the best way of constructing it so gave it a go.   It is a lot of hard work and I have to confess that I didn't roll for as long as I should and I didn't turn as often as I should but it's turned out okay in the end.

The first photo shows the fibres layered ready for wetting.  I had already put the net over and had started to spray with the water when I took the photo.

I'm very please with the result and can't wait to get started on the next stage.



You may have noticed the lack of red, white and blue blobs on the finished piece compared with the first one.   These were put on to represent flowers which I plan to have around the edge of the toe but they just would not stay attached to the felt so I discarded them.   I had been worried about the scale of them as I find to difficult to allow for the amount of shrinkage.   The plan now is to needle felt the flowers on and possible add some machine stitching too.

My plan for this afternoon is to dye the fabric ready for the quilted part so more news of that later.

Targets on Target!

Had a good few days taking photos of all the little creations I want to sell on Folksy and have this afternoon uploaded 6 items!   I will add more over the next few days.

I've also sent my application to a local gallery and will just have to sit back and see what happens.

Feeling really organised and positive about what I have achieved so must carry on and not be disappointed if things take time.

A few photos of my creations.

 

 

Really feel the urge now to get back to the creating so that's my plan for tomorrow.

Resolutions

This year there will be no New Year Resolutions!   Instead I'm going to set myself some targets instead!   Probably no difference but somehow targets don't seem as pressurised!

So the targets:

1.   Add regularly to my Folksy Shop
2.   Set up an Etsy Shop
3.   Submit my work to a local gallery for possible selling
4.   Work in my sketchbooks at least 2 or 3 times each week
5.    Post regularly on my blog

I may well add to this as I go along.

Just have to see how it goes.