Swap

My first swap all the way from Winnetka arrived this week from http://missellz.typepad.com/missellz . A lot of thought went into it, including researching liquorice allsorts - she contacted me after I had commented that some of her small felt pieces looked like sweets - so she made me some felt ones. I have already used two of the unique cards; all in all it was a great pleasure to receive.
I hope you are impressed that I have managed to put a picture in the blog title. This took many hours and assistance from the help files, as I really don't know anything about computer code. It made my head hurt, just like my maths homework used to do. The satisfaction when I got it in place was enormous.

A Gemini

I have been on leave for a few days for my birthday. Most days have been sunny; on a very hot day I decided to make another felt bag to prove to myself that I could complete it without the tutor standing over me. It was hard work but I made the bag without the fastening in a morning,

I visited the Windsor embroidery show and particularly enjoyed the Diploma textile work; once again it made me aware that I really need to be more disciplined ,to draw more and to start with an idea rather than a technique, but being a Gemini I have a good excuse for getting so easily distracted.

We briefly visited the National Gallery on Friday on the way to lunch with my very busy son. It was amazing to stand so close to Van Gogh's Sunflowers and to really see the texture in the layers of paint.

Tissue Paper Poppy 3

I have finished the final poppy embroidery now. This involved making a small print block and twin needle stitching over some strips of Mawata Cap silk dyed with silk paint.











I used Bokhara Couching stitch again and machine embroidery with some satin stitch blobs. Now all three are mounted and I hope at least one will be in a local summer exhibition, which has given me the incentive to work them through. Its nice when inspiration comes and the work just seems to come together.

Felt Making

This weekend I have been on a 3D felt making course, both the course and the venue were excellent. The tutor was Mary Chandler, highly recommended. We all worked very hard on a really hot day and as you can see made some lovely bags.

The setting was the Gridshell building at the Weald and Downland Museum in West Sussex. This is the home of a number of historic houses and agricultural buildings. The Gridshell itself is an awarding winning construction of green oak laths. I don't understand much about the building principles but it is a lovely space to be in; I think the photo below will give you some idea.

Workshop on the Web

The June workshop arrived and this weekend, just for fun, I have tried two of the projects. Two pieces are the first part of a book and the next issue will have the rest of the instructions to make a keepsake book. The background paper is done
following the technique http://tryittuesdays.wordpress.com. I can't share the techniques from the workshop, but do have a look at my link if you don't already know about the web workshop. Has anyone else been trying the workshop ideas?

This is an idea you may know for using thicker threads - I use a topstitch needle. I only managed to get it to work recently, perhaps I found the right size jam jar!

Paradise Lost

'The World was all before them, where to choose

Thir place of rest, and Providence thir guide:

They hand in hand with wandring steps and slow,

Through Eden took thir solitarie way.'


John Milton