Stroud Part 1

I feel that I really didn’t do justice to the Stroud Textile Festival as I was only able to get there on the last weekend but here are a few photos of the work I saw.

In the Lansdown Hall and Gallery the work of Corinne Gradis and Elodie Watanabe was on show. Initially inspired by a herring bone motif on an African cloth and basketry motifs their work was both intricate and eye catching. There was also a mouth watering display of textile related books by The Chrome Yellow Bookstall. I resisted, because like many I know I can get books so much cheaper on line; which is a shame but true.

The South West Textile Group was showing in the Subscription Rooms with the theme Talisman. They obviously enjoy their textile work and were extremely welcoming and ready to describe every step and dyed thread used. They reminded me of myself when someone shows some interest in a piece I am trying to sell on a craft stall.

The students from Somerset College shared design briefs to produce their very professional pieces.

 I was interested in the piece below as I am attending a workshop based on fabric manipulation in the summer.

In the Museum in the Park was a collection of work by some well known artists, some of whose work, like that of Tilleke Schwarz, I have only seen before in magazines. Sorry no photos. I particularly liked some of the small pieces of slate and stone held together by stitch, shown by Clyde Olliver.There was a large wall displaying a thread and pin installation by Debbie Smyth whose work I have seen before at Origin. The amount of work and detail is breathtaking.Here is a video of her working.
Also interesting was the work of Jessica Turrell who uses vitreos enamel to make what are decribed as veils of word; I was fascinated by the text and the shadows cast by the pieces.

What I most missed seeing was the open studio of Matthew Harris, whose work I really admire. Here is a link to his website, if you have not seen it before.

The Flickr Response Project (VS) will be exhibiting at MadLab Manchester from 3rd to 16th June;here are details of the exhibition entitiled 'User Generated Content'.
Most importantly Sarah of Guerilla Embroidery would like people to know that this is only the first venture, if you want to take part you may still do so and there will be more exciting projects to follow.
See my links bar.

Textures

I have been away last weekend at the Stroud International Textile Festival. We missed the Open Studios and some of the other events unfortunately due to it being late on in the Festival. There will be a few photos to follow.

 In the meantime here are a some shots of textures from around my studio, or rather the small room with a view which serves as my studio. I should not be like that as having seen, at the weekend, some of the actual  small studio spaces which people work in I am really quite lucky. I am always envious of those studios though; the work always appears to be so focused. Anyway, the point of the photos is that I have been practising with my new lens and I am really pleased so far.

Cathy Cullis kindly included me in last weeks’ Mosaic Monday. If you have not seen her mosaics they are usually interesting, and worth a look, as is her work if you are not aware of it.

Finished piece - The Lay of the Land

Finished piece - The Lay of the Land, a photo by Guerilla Embroidery on Flickr.

Take a look at the finished pieces on Flickr.

Guerilla Embroidery vs Stitchworks Jackie WIP

Guerilla Embroidery vs Stitchworks Jackie WIP, a photo by Guerilla Embroidery on Flickr.

Take a look at how the Flickr Response Project is coming along.

Rare Bird

Trying to be good and contribute to the groups’ bird theme, I decided to subscribe to Spirit Cloth’s Patchwork Beasts video series. I admire her work,which is informed by her skills in illustration, and her general approach very much. Mine is I hope a humorous little bird. The videos can be watched at any time which is nice if you just want to dip in and out. I had made some sketches for a series of funny birds, but I doubt this is going to happen.

I have a new lens for my camera which is something I have wanted for a long time but it is proving a steep learning curve. There is a danger of becoming distracted with reading about how to take pictures, particularly on the net, rather than actually taking them, which I am sure is the way forward.

On Friday I am off to Cirencester with a plan to visit the Stroud Textile Fair on Saturday, which should be good as it was interesting and very varied last year.

 By the way,I can highly recommend DMTV which is excellent, great entertainment, informative and with plenty of new content added regularly.  Instead of a binding on this piece, I have followed their instructions for adding a tidy facing.I dithered for some time about treating myself to a subscription but I think I am hooked now.

If you want a laugh on a Sunday morning, picture this, I am back from last nights Hen do, partying with a group of beautiful young Polish girls, all dressed as Pirates complete with parrots, and then there was me with my plastic cutlass - a rare sight!

Manuscript

I was asked by Sue Bleiweiss to contribute to her forthcoming book which will be linked to the popular 2011 Sketchbook Challenge. If you haven’t had a look at the blog the idea is that a theme is set each month and then people share their efforts via Flickr. There is always something new on the blog and it’s usually very entertaining and informative. There is also a monthly set of prizes which can be won via tagging one example of your work for the monthly draw.

The book will have a similar idea with each contributor working on a sketch book to a set theme and then producing a piece of art related to the sketchbook work.

It was quite a tight deadline to work to, but I like that as it gets me focused. The sketchbook and stitched piece was sent off to America, and now Sue has put it all together and the manuscript is on its way to the publishers.
Contributors are:
Carol Sloan, Jane Davies, Leslie Tucker Jenison, Lynn Krawczyk, Laura Cater-Woods, Jackie Bowcutt, Jill Berry, Judi Hurwitt, Lyric Kinard, Jamie Fingal, Diana Trout, Kelli Perkins, Jane LaFazio, Kathyanne White, Kathy Sperino, Violette Clark, Carla Sonheim
Susan Brubaker Knapp, Tracie Lyn Huskamp, and Kim Rae Nugent

We have to wait until this time next year for the book to be published.
Don’t worry, I will let you know when it is, as I shall not be able to contain my excitement

Can't Resist -Sketchbook Challenge

Can't Resist -Sketchbook Challenge, a photo by stitchworks-jackie on Flickr.

May Challenge. Acrylic medium as a resist.

May Day

Apart from all the holiday distractions, not to speak of the Royal Wedding, I have been making a start on my submission for this years’ ‘We Love Your Books’ exhibition, which has the theme of ‘Crop’. I need to submit that by the start of June and feel that I am well on my way with it now. This year it will be an online exhibition only. I am quite pleased with my idea and hope the execution will be OK. You will get to see it here whether I am accepted or not; lets wait and see.

I have also been messing with bits and pieces of felt and working on some machining to raise the surface following Lisa Klakulak's  methods. She uses a ‘leg lifter’ on her machine but as I don’t have one I use my embroidery unit foot which has a very small hoop on the end. I have done a few small samples, and I think I need to make sure my prefelt is a little more substantial than in this piece. It is nice and tactile.