Ardmair Bay
This is the latest in a series of work inspired by my visit to Ullapool and the surrounding area last June. This particular piece is based on a photograph I took at Ardmair Bay looking out to sea. The base is vilene, painted with Inktense and layered with sheers, netting, muslin and a little Nuno Felting. The pebble beach is made from cocoon strippings and unknown fibres. Size 22cm x 34cm.
I’m currently working on samples for a heat manipulative mixed media workshop with the theme “Forest Floor”. This is the first sample in the series in which I’ve used painted and heat distressed Tyvek and Lutradur, combined with natural tree bark, a leaf and hand embroidery.
The first of the workshops will be held at Simply Stitch, East Keswick on April 7th & 8th. On day one we will be painting on, and experimenting with, various heat manipulative materials. Using an iron, soldering iron and heat tool we will be working with Tyvek paper and fabric, various weights of Lutradur and polyester. There will be the opportunity to include hand and machine stitching in your work.
On day two we will use the samples we have made, or create new ones, adding stitching and found objects to build up a layered, highly textured piece of work inspired by the “Forest Floor”.
Autumn Leaf skeleton made from Lutradur
On April 25th I will be running a one day “Forest Floor” workshop at All Sewn Up by Debs in Horncastle. For this session we will be using the iron, soldering iron and heat tool to manipulate Tyvek paper and lightweight Lutradur. Once they’ve been distressed these materials will be combined with natural tree bark and hand stitching to create our beautiful, layered Forest Floor. This class is suitable for all abilities and is a great introduction to working with Lutradur and Tyvek.
It’s been a terrific two days at Simply Stitch and I’ve been blown away by the standard of work that the ladies have produced!
We were joined on day two by a new lady, Jen – the pressure was on for her to catch up with what she missed on Wednesday and she did a great job of it!
Here are a few more “work in progress” photos featuring Ruth, Janet, Jen and Carole…..
and the fabulous finished (or almost!) pieces…..
Once again, thank you to Nicola for inviting me back to Simply Stitch and being such a great host! Also a huge thank you to all the ladies who took part in the workshop for their enthusiasm and hard work over the two days. It will be great to see you all again at our next class in the New Year.
It’s a hive of activity at Simply Stitch in Wetherby this morning…..the snow is falling fast outside so the ladies are stitching like fury in order to finish their quilts before we get snowed in!
We’ve just come to the end of day one of my “Tall Trees” art quilt workshop at Simply Stitch near Wetherby. There are thirteen ladies taking part, over two days, working with paint and stitch, layering sheer fabrics and netting to create beautiful backgrounds for their painted Vilene trees. We have some fabulous quilts taking shape, this is how they are doing so far…….
Even our host, Nicola, is making time to join in with this workshop!
We had a very intense day today at the Alford Craft Studio with seven ladies learning new techniques and using them to create a mini art quilt. I based the workshop on my Three Tall Trees design but participants were encouraged to use their own creativity to make their quilt their own.
Two of the ladies created beautiful pieces with their own designs while the other five chose to stick more to the original but, as you will see from the photos, each one has its own distinct style and beauty.
Katie is basing her design on a photo taken in Italy
Alison working on her trees
Kate has the background trees stitched
Rose’s quilt
Kate’s quilt
Sheila’s quilt
Annie’s quilt
Alison’s quilt
Katie’s quilt
Jean’s quilt
Everyone worked really hard throughout the day and produced some terrific work but, with so much to fit into the workshop, none of the pieces are quite finished……I will post updates as and when I receive images of the completed quilts.
Earlier this month I found some small Nuno samples which I decided to stitch into and frame. The first was this blue, green and yellow sample……
And after trimming down and stitching…..
Nuno Landscape
The second was this pink, orange and brown sample…..
And after a little stitching…..
Autumn Sunset Landscape
On 3rd November, at the Alford Craft Market Studio, I will be running a workshop using the techniques and materials which went into making my Three Tall Trees art quilt. This will be a one day workshop so in order to get the piece finished (or as near as possible) we will be making a mini version.
To create a beautiful forest scene we will be painting, layering and hand/machine embroidering. For the foreground trees students can choose to work entirely on their own design or I can provide templates. This workshop is suitable for all abilities including those who have not yet tried free machine embroidery.
I will provide all fabrics but students will need to bring: Colouring medium i.e. fabric paint, Inktense blocks or acrylic paint plus brushes. Sewing machine with a normal foot and free machine foot. Basic sewing kit. Selection of different coloured machine threads including black, grey, cream and greens.
The studio in Alford is small so workshop numbers are limited. This makes for a lovely friendly atmosphere and means I get to spend more time with each participant.
For more information on classes at Alford, or to book a place, please see their website http://www.alfordcraftmarket.co.uk/alford-craft-market-centre.html or call Lynne on 01507 463341
Nuno Landscape
At the weekend I was a having a clear out and came across some little Nuno samples I made a couple of years ago at Artvango. I decided they were too good to put back in the drawer so I’m making some small pieces of art with them, this is the first Nuno Landscape. It was felted with Merino, two of the fabrics are Viscose and the third (central section) was cut from an old wool scarf. The stitching has been done using Perle and a variegated thread I dyed while I was up in Ullapool. I just need to find a suitable frame now.
I’ve done it again….too engrossed in “doing stuff”to remember to log my recent activities so here we go with a catch up of my creative adventures in the Scottish Highlands, early June.
I had booked a place on Jan Kilpatrick’s textile workshop, A Sea of Stitches, which would take place in her studio in Elphin. I took a leisurely drive up, stopping the first night near Loch Lomond and the second in Drumnadrochit on the banks of Loch Ness.
On the third day I reached my base for the five day workshop, the Eileen Donan guest house in Ullapool. The B&B was lovely and the town itself turned out to be very unspoilt, quiet and peaceful. For the first two days I was there it was also very grey, wet and chilly but that did nothing to dampen our spirits.
The following day at 10am I met Jan and the 6 other participants in a park down by the beach. After introductions and a brief overview of the workshop Jan sent us off to make personal records of the images, colours, textures and patterns from Ullapool’s beach and harbour and from the open and sweeping pebble beach at neighbouring Ardmair.
After about an hour of beach combing in torrential rain we moved up to Ardmair Beach, still pouring with rain, where Jan greeted us dispensing much appreciated flasks of hot drinks and home-made cake from the boot of her car. I had to stick to using my camera as, by this time, my hands were so cold I couldn’t grip to use my pencil!
This image will become a textile piece when I get the time!
I just love the varying shades of grey…..
The rest of the week just flew by. Each day we began a new piece of work, inspired by our research on day one, using a different method of mark making on fabric. This included painting, dyeing, burning, hand and machine stitching.
The outdoor “messy” area
Some of Jan’s work on display
By the end of the five days we had all amassed 100’s of photographs, a stack of small coloured fabrics and a head full of ideas for future projects.
Show & Tell…..Jess
Show & Tell…..Anne
Show & Tell…..Carola
Show & Tell…..Margaret
Show & Tell…..Sarah
Show & Tell…..Jane
Some of my samples
All in all it was a very inspiring week with spectacular scenery and excellent company.
Lincs In Stitches 