Wax and more.

I just bought WaxWorks’ West DVD about Encaustic on Paper. A real impulse buy. The ladies give an awful lot of information, but I really had not thought it through, I was taken by the idea of wonderful waxed papers, and the emphasis is on encaustic, using lots of equipment I don’t currently own – though I could be seriously tempted. If you read this regularly you will know how fickle I can be. So a bit of a disappointment, which is not really to do with the DVD but my expectations. Anyway, it has encouraged me  to play with the wax pot again. I have decided that on the whole I prefer beeswax to soy wax, although the latter has great advantages when working with fabric and is environmentally good, but it does have an unpleasant smell; at least I think so

These are some papers I have worked on. My favourites are the coffee filter with holes and graphite powder, and the pattern on teabags using a batik tool.

Here is a link to some lovely work by patti of Missouri Bend Studio. I particularly like the beaded book page; I like the work so much that I am jealous that I didn’t make it. By the way she does have an etsy shop:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/missouribendstudio

Here is another link to some experimental knitting by' Wax and Wool' on ordinary objects such as bus tickets ,take away cups etc. which is fascinating. She has a new blog so drop by and leave a comment.
This is the very last chance to book for the course starting on November 3rd at the National Needlework Archive. If you are anywhere near come and join in; it’s a real bargain and hopefully lots of fun. I'm just about to go round the house taking down the mud cloth, kuba cloth etc. to use as our design inspiration.

'Stitchworks' book on Blurb

Untitled

Make Your Own Book

 
 
The first few pages of my blurb book. Available over at Blurb.

Collage and Stitch

At the start of the month I went to the first session of the Contemporary Textile Workshop I am attending twice a term. I went on the train and got thoroughly soaked before I found the college, but apart from that it was a good start.

We were asked to take a colourful object and then to draw and paint a still life from the grouped objects. We went through the process again from a different angle and added one colour to each piece of work by the other participants before joining and cutting up our collages into four six inch pieces.

I printed out two of the ‘designs’ using ink aid and added some hand and machine stitch.

On the second one I added some pieces from old book pages using gel medium.

A while ago I was given some T-shirt transfer paper and as I had never used it thought I would have a go using the other two ‘designs’. The outcome was not so good as the colours are not true and the texture strange, but I have used them to make a small book. I sewed the pages onto cable ties using the method I learned for medieval binding.

The Found Object

I started this piece after reading Cas Holmes’ new book ‘The Found Object in Textile Art’. I used her basic process of layering papers and fabric onto a piece of cotton using wallpaper paste.

I have a fairly large collection of sweet papers etc so it was no problem finding the papers. My theme is Dubrovnik in case you had not guessed and I used one of my sketches, machining from the back which is one of her tips. Another suggestion from the book was to soften papers by using a form of a Japanese kneading method called 'momigami'; I used this on a piece of brown paper which had been layered with paint and acrylic wax, and it did take on the feel of fabric.

I also used foam stamps of faces for the crowds which are ever present in the old town.

At this point I really didn’t like it, so having added a layer of net in places to knock it all back a bit, I then followed the advice in the book and cut it up. Val Campbell-Harding would have been proud of me.

I used a layer of Japanese tissue from Faulkiners in the gap and have now machined and hand stitched a new image of the cathedral emphasising the crosses made by the building planks. I will have to leave it for a while now to hang on my wall and see what I think when I come back to it.

Workshop at Greenham Common

For anyone in the right area you may like to come along to this five week course in which we will use a collection of ethnic textiles as a design source for designing and making an embroidered panel.
For the first session all you need is paper,drawing materials,a camera if possible, and an apron.
The first sessions will play with design methods which could be applied to any source.
I want people to be creative and have fun.

Ethnic Inspiration for Textiles

Five weeks.


 Starts 3rd November 2010


10.30-12.30pm  £60

Details here.



The Old Chapel Textile Centre


Newbury


Tel: 01635 38740 email: octc@live.com

More stamps.

My husband was fascinated by this fisherman, who seemed to come down to the harbour in Dubrovnik every day with his rod, a bucket and a cat. We never worked out if the cat followed him for the fish or was his own cat. It was a good ‘friendship’ as the cat regularly got fed.

I am still enjoying playing with foam stamps which have so much potential.

These are the goodies which I received from Diane in the USA for the paper and ephemera swap. Not sure how I will use them at the moment, but at some point they will be just what I need.

I went with a friend to Origin last week and admired all the wonderful craft work on display. I also managed to buy some presents, lucky people. Spitalfields Market is much posher than when I last went, and I do suspect it may have been tidied up too much.

Scene in Dubrovnik

Some of the people eating at the cafes or round the statue in the square
 just below our apartment in the old town Dubrovnik.

 Congratulations to Blogger for dealing with the large amount of spam which has been causing a problem over recent months, for now, at least, the spammers seem to have given up. The new uploader for photos is also good, but placing them is a bit of a nightmare. Perhaps I just haven't got the hang of it yet.

Dubrovnik

As requested a few pictures from my recent holiday, already becoming a
 distant memory.
I did some sketches for my homework whilst I was there, but I still find it intimidating to sketch outside in public. Fortunatley we had plenty of life and activity in the market square just below our window.

A view down Stadum which despite the huge volume of crowds every day remains quite breath taking and beautiful.

Many of the roofs had to be rebuilt after the city was shelled in 1991, and from the walls you can see the contrast between the old roofs and those that have been replaced.

Either someone preserving their summer crop or doing a bit of solar dyeing.

There is plenty of design potential here and below it looks like the washing has been colour co-ordinated with the walls.

The day that a man came round to feed the pigeons; I missed the best picture as a cat pounced on the pile of pigeons feeding on the grain.

Guess who swam the Channel!

You are so right, it wasn't me.
I'm just the proud mother. After a years' training and lots of hard work
 my son's relay team of 6 completed the swim in just over 16 hours.

With jelly fish,container ships and the dark to cope with I sort of hope he doesn't try it again.

A lucky day to be called Penney or even Penny.

Thank you to everyone who joined in the Summer Giveaway. I made the random draw today and strange to say but both winners are called Penny, but the first out of the number generator was:
Penney from Woodlawn, Virginia, USA. I will send you this piece when you let me have your address by email (see my profile). As you may know the material came from Ger and I have added stamps and writing by her. You may like to add something of your own.

Second was Penny from near Victor Harbor, South Australia.

Again let me have your details so I can forward this Birdie Pin.

'Summer Giveaway' last chance.

This is the last chance to join in the ‘summer’ giveaway.

Scroll down to the post for August 9th to see how to join in before I draw the two winners on September 13th.

I came back from my holiday in Dubrovnik in Croatia last night.
We stayed in an apartment in one of the main squares and it was great to see and hear the fruit and vegetable market setting up every morning but like NY Dubrovnik never seems to sleep, so I must admit it was good to be back in my sleepy part of the world.
I will post some photos later.

These are pictures of what I will be sending for the Vintage and Ephemera swap this month; I don’t regularly contribute but thought it would be fun this month and just collected bits and pieces over a few weeks and then this little book came together. See the link in my sidebar.

Waiting on my doorstep was my copy of ‘The Found Object’ by Cas Holmes, which I had preorderd. I opened it in bed this morning feeling quite excited. A book about all the things I love to do, collecting papers, printing, stitching. I wondered if it would disappoint, as at first it seemed quite a slim book, but page after page seems crammed with information to stimulate even more creativity. I started by just looking at the images, which are almost enough in themselves. I like to eat my boxes of chocolates slowly and savour every mouthful, and that’s how I plan to enjoy this book, if only I can stop myself from being greedy.

(e)motive

(e)motive
Originally uploaded by stitchworks-jackie

Exhibition at Milton Keynes until 25th September 2010.
For more images and details see:
http://weloveyourbooks.com/page15/page15.php

Stamps

I have been working on my sketches, but I do get carried away. I have been using

some images from my Life Drawing Class to make stamps from ‘fun foam’. It nice and easy to cut and gives plenty of scope to play around with the shapes.

 I have used an ink pad, gouache, printing ink and acrylic. Acrylic has the advantage as you can put a wash over it easily. The ink pads are very tempting as they are so easy to use, but as I only have one colour this limits me. I have plenty of paint so I should stick to that.

 For lots of information about stamp making you can look at Melanie Testa’s blog and a video by Diana Trout  on You Tube

An issue you may like to remark on, I have a new Stats Counter now. It’s always fun to look where readers come from. One of the categories that can be tracked is the material which readers download. I was surprised to find how often this happens, I have never thought to download from a blog but I have done so lots from Flickr; especially when ‘gathering’ images for a project to show people with whom I work. I must admit to not having always thanked people, although I do try to do so. I am pleased readers like my images enough to want to keep them, and they are there for anyone, however, my point is that I now notice that readers regularly come along, download an image and never even comment. Thank You is recognisable in most languages I think. Moan over. The good news is that Blogger is now making an attempt to stop and track spam, which has become more of a problem recently.

Definitely my last post for a while, so don’t forget to sign up for the Summer Giveaway on the August 9th post before I draw in early September.