Fun Christmas Cards

I have not been able to do any encaustic work so I played around with some cards I had made earler.They are encaustic on fabric which I have seasonally embellished.

Postcard swap continued

I received this postcard from Zoe.
The background was created by stitching small squares of blue fabric together with gold thread. It has been over laid with a seasonal ribbon and the snow man motif to finish off. Finally it has a couple of very pretty buttons attached.

Postcard Swap

I have just posted this postcard for a seasonal challenge on the textile challenge site. The centre was done using tumble dryer sheets. I layered them up with Angelina stitched together and then slit the liners between the stitching to reveal the Angelina. I did the stitching in different directions. I cut it into strips and then turned one up the otherway. This makes the light catch the Angelina more.

EMBELLISHER

Yesterday I bought a Pfaff Smart 350p embellisher and just had to have a little play. I was just trying out different fabric types. I managed to break a needle and then another but that was because I had not put it in properly. I am quite busy this week so am not getting the chance to play properly. Maybe Saturday I will be able to get creative.

Postcards

I have been busy sorting out my scraps, ironing them and using them to make postcards. I found this quite satisfying and theraputic. I hate throwing anything away! Here is a small sample. Enjoy.

Upcott Valley Challenge

Upcott Valley members decided to have a fabric challenge. While at the Festival of Quilts they each looked for a fat quater. That evening they voted on their favourite and the next day bought enough for each person to have a fat quater(red), along with a contrasting fabric (lime green)
While packing and sorting my paperwork before we moved house recently, I found the excercises I had done on a workshop with Sandra Meech. "Taking a line for a walk" would be the perfect technique for this fabric.






First I made a full size drawing 18"x22" A template was made for each shape from freezer paper. The challenge fabric was laid on the wadding as a border contrasting fabric shapes were cut using the templates and added. It was all stitched to the wadding. The line was made from twisted black fabric which was zigzagged. This was stitched over the shapes using the drawing as a guide. I quilted over all the shapes, added the backing and quilted more. It all took me a lot longer than I had hoped.

Watch this space

I am working on the designs for the exhibition next May at Rosemoor. This is a picture of Arch Angel Gabriel, who is looking very pretty at the moment. Gabriel can be male or female but I think maybe not quite so pretty, only time will tell.

I am back!

Hi,
I have moved and have just got my computer up and running so am trying to get some kind of normality back in my life. I hope to be posting again soon. Here is a picture of the cows passing my work room window to kep you going while I get inspired!!

Moving

I am moving on Wednesday so may be missing for a while. We have to get the phone connected and get back on broadband. While all this house moving is going on I am also taking part in the open studio exhibitions which are running throughout the whole of Devon in September. I took some pictures but most of them were blurred. I was very greatful to Val for helping me set up and I am very impressed with the work she created as a result of her visit. Unfortunatley I have had problems again when trying to comment but I expect you will read this. so once again a big thankyou and hope you had a good day on Saturday. The turn out for the exhibition was very poor perhaps it will pick up next weekend.
The move is only a short tem one but the house is very quiet and rural the only passers by will be cows. I can't wait and you must come for a cup of tea Val.
I will sign of now and I hope to be more productive textile wise when i get settled.

I was busy working in my room when there was this huge noise. I rushed to the window to investigate and found a helicopter at the bottom of the garden! We live out in the sticks and if you need to get to the hospital quickly the only way is by air ambulance. It was all very exciting for us but I hope the person they took away will be alright.

As they have featured Inches in the latest Quilting Arts Mag. I thought I would post my small collection. It is very quiet on the net at the moment. I guess you are all enjoying the sun ( in England) I prefer to stay in and admire it from the window and then go out when it is cooler.

TEXTILES

My First Art Doll
I have just redone my first doll. She was not properly stuffed and was very floppy. I have also wired her head. She is made from calico which I have painted. Her hair is sheeps wool. She has pipe cleaners in her hands and arms which means they can be bent into different positions. Her hands are a bit untidy and one day I may re do them too. Her dress is made from cheese cloth which I have stiched Tyvek, beads and sequins. Her head dress was free machine embroidery with felt leaves. Her shoes are also made of felt which have been covered in various odds and ends including Angelina and a bit of netting from a lemon bag. Her wings are made from two layers of organza which have been machined together.

Music

Our village decided that it would like to have a music festival which we did in June.Despite the weather it was very successful. Some musicians got together to form a band especially for this event. As we practiced in the kitchen we became "The Eclectic Kitchen Band" which developed into"Within Exceptable Limits" We have an unsual mix of instruments. I play Clarinet, Native American flute and two types of drum. It went down very well so we hope to continue. Although it is quite sad that two members are moving to France we have two new members a fiddler and a guitarist/singer/songwriter. Other members play Flute/Native American Flute/drum, Mandola/bass guitar/drum. The picture is not very clear but it would apear that everyone was so busy enjoying themselves not taking pictures,however the whole event was filmed by Exeter University.

Digital Art

Digitally Manipulated
I am preparing work for
an exhibition to be held in
a mill in September. The
other participants are
audio visual artist. Their
work is going to be based
on the surroundings of the
mill. I decided to take
photographs of the mill as
my starting point.

The Original Picture

Photography

Red Sky at Night
Shepherds Delight

I have just taken these
pictures in the garden.
There has been a bell
ringing competition for
the last 4 hours. Its nice
when it stops!!

Textiles

This is the last of my calendar pieces,
again I had to scan it. They are all 12"
square,so there is a bit missing from
this one and the last one. I drew the
design on white cotton and then painted
with expandable paint. The background
was painted with various fabric paints
from my Sherrill Kahn Travel Painting
Studio. I then outlined the details with
machine stitching. There is also a bit of
glitter sprinkled on.

Textiles

THE GREEN MAN
This is the second of my calendar
pieces. I had to put it through the
scanner as I was having problems
taking a picture. I painted the
Green man on calico, then layered
it with chiffon, stitched it and burnt
it with the soldering iron.

Textiles

The Wild Swans
Four friends known collectivley as Kindred Spirit are preparing for an exhibition at RHS Rosemoor next year.We are each producing three works for the calendar. The Wild Swans is the first of mine.