The stash is sorted and excitements

Its taken a long time (a whole week!) to sort out the studio, but at last its done. As a reward for all my hard work dh took me on a trip yesterday to The Festival of Quilts in Birmingham ( UK). He very kindly did all the driving.

Following this vehicle on the Fosse Way in the Cotswolds, we both commented that it was like being on Safari. This landrover had obviously been to the Sahara, however we were hoping to get to Birmingham! Mind you the fields around us were badly scorched by the recent heatwave and drought, so the Saraha might have been an apt description.

However finally we were getting closer to Birminham on the M42.

When we finally arrived at the NEC, dh then came in with me too. That man deserves a medal!

On the approach to the doors following lots of ladies, he said to me " You are not grey haired enough for this Festival..........we'd better go back home!" Still not sure if that is a compliment or not!

Anyhow, just before we went I also did manage to finish my colour quilt, so I was really pleased with myself. So imagine what a joy it was when I saw that Helen Deighan had a stand at the FOQ and I was able to tell her all about my dying and making her style of quilt from her book Magic Dyeing. See my previous entries of how I did it - here.

I also visited the Bernina stand, I have had my 170 since 1997 and thought I would have a look at the newer models to see what they do. They had some very well trained staff, (I was impressed) who told me I did not need to upgrade as my machine does everything the newer ones do anyway. I have to admit that made me feel really good and I thanked her for her honesty too. That is what I call service!

Have loads more to tell you and pics for you, but will carrry on in a little while.

Sorting the Stash

This is one of the sculptures at the V & A, I love it.

No time to blog yesterday as I have started sorting out the studio, and the stash and all the UFO's. Really need to downsize the quantity of "stuff".
I have also been looking for some decent tables to work on, a long run of tablespreferably. At the moment I have two desks, both different and an old dining room table with drop leaves.
Happened to go into Staples locally yesterday and they had a reception table in the Sale for £44.99,which is a good deal. the desk is a right angle and the 2 long sides measure 160X140 cms. So pleased, but I have spent the rest of last 2 days sorting out. Two of the fingers are still out of action, so its a bit of a nuisance, but I am managing.

Have finished all the machining on the colour quilt, just have to finish hand sewing the sleeve on the back.

So back to sorting out. Cannot decide what to do with the stuff I have "outgrown" seems a shame to dump it, suppose I ought to try and get people who would like it to take it away. Know anyone??

Day trip to London

Have had a wonderful day today in London with daughter and granddaughter, the plan was to be culture vultures. The coach dropped us off right outside the Kensington Museums and the weather was fantastic.

So to the V & A , first stop was the conveniences which is accessed via the British Galleries. GD was enthralled by what she saw there, especially the Latton Jacket and the interactive music from the Tudor period and Stuart periods. Took us quite a while to get to the conveniences!!
Eventually we ventured into the Sixties fashion exhibition, and it was pleasing to see some of Ossie Clarks fashions featured, as my wedding dress was made by him! I was also surprised to see a collection of paper printed dresses.


Those paper dresses.......Talk about a walk down memory lane! I can recall "Vilene" asking the College I attended, to print and develop some designs - block printing "Vilene" . I can remember the brief being to create designs as disposable childrens clothing- we had to create the design of the garments as well as the surface decoration and then make them as well. One of my original designs still resides in my loft space somewhere, the College and Vilene kept the rest. As you can imagine the work was totally original. That was how it was in the sixties though wasn't it?It was great fun and the results of our work went on display at the RCA and I can recall feeling very proud, I really had no idea how prestigious the RCA was in those days.......The innocence of youth.

So today I was the butt of a few jokes about clothes etc, we then ventured off to have lunch. The courtyard garden is now open and very pleasant it is too. Loved the sculptures in the garden as well. I had planned to go to Tate Britain to see the Constable Exhibition, however the little person with us begged to go to the Natural History Museum next door. So that's where we went. Not my sort of place at all!!! All dinosaurs and beasties! However squeals of delight from the smallest member of our party! I did find the section on rocks and minerals fascinating though.

Had bought GD a small notebook and on the journey home on the coach, she was writing about her day in London and drawing pictures of dinosaurs and beasties. Natural blogger?? Need to get her started on her own blog methinks.

I was going to post a few more pictures, but blogger is not co-operating...sorry folks.

Colour Quilt update

Have been working some more with the colour quilt and with expert guidance!!! Pictures tell all.

Siamese is fed up with Schnauzer stealing all the limelight with this colour quilt, so thought he would supervise the stitching on the machine!

Takes a lot of concentration this stippling.

Chief supervisor also wants to get in on the act. She is totally deaf, but certainly knows how to keep a siamese kitten under control.

All these wonderful bits of paper and fabric in the studio soon distract the attention of Siamese.

So its playtime.

So whilst Siamese is busy playing, the quilt is nearing completion, bindings nearly on, stippling all done. As you know I have been really unsure about "sleeves" but I must give a big thank you to my quilting pals for their help and assistance, especially Briony. I now know how to do it. thanks Briony, also she gave me some good advice about naming and recording the quilt. Brilliant.

The studio is in a right mess though, however I have some ideas for that........more later. I have to go and prepare for a day out in London tomorrow, I am going to be a culture vulture!

Planning to see the 60's Exhibition at the V & A, and then I want to go to Tate Britain and see Constable, and the cups of tea in the National Gallery are good. Should be a good day out.

Talking of Exhibitions, please remember to go and see the Exhibition of Contemporary Art Quilts , at Uffington until the 13th of this month, and then it goes to Wales and the start of next year in London. I have just found out that Jennifer and Carol create this wonderful Exhibition without funding or support from anyone, so please give them your full support, by visiting and buying the catalogue. Its only £5.00 and worth every penny. Above all enjoy it as much as I did.

Uffington Exhibition

Part Two of the pictures.

Here is Sandra Meech's that I tried to blog yesterday without success!

Margit Kupsch

Sue Tarbitten. Most unusual installationion, you really need to see the pieces of work I have posted today. The photos do not do them justice, the surfaces are wonderful.

Annette Claxton

Annette Morgan

Need to go and do some of my own work now. I am in the middle of Vermicelling my colour wheel quilt, quite chuffed with myself. Will post some pictures when its done. I was asking Sandra Meech for advice about these hanging sleeves on the back of quilts, she advised me to make a gusset . If any of you have advice or can direct me to some beginners help....please let me know.

The computer is going to be updated shortly, and I have more pictures to post. If you return and find it is not updated , please don't panic.........it will just be a short break, whilst the computer is sorting itself out!

Visited the country today

Did not drive very far, it was a beautiful day about 27C, the air con in the car was welcome though expecially as Schnauzer came too.

This is the foot of the Berkshire downs ( they happen to be in Oxfordshire since 1974 - don't ask -its political!) we were going to the village of Uffington, better known usually for the White Horse up on the hill. We were however going to something much more important. The contemporary art Quilts 2006. Fantastic -get there if you can its running until the 13th August at the Thomas Hughes Memorial Hall. This is a juried exhibition and 33 were chosen forthe touring xhibition. The Jurors were Diana Harrison a quiltartist, Jennifer Newman artist and furniature designer, and Audrey Walker, artist

This is a felt quilt by Bailey Curtis, Bailey has a fantastic eye for colour.

Linda Colsh.

Heidi Foerster.

Of course with all this excitement - we had to stop to have refreshments a cup of afternoon tea and a slice of Victoria Sandwich ( cake). Had a long chat with Sandra Meech, she had just finished teaching at the long weekend of quilting at Hartpury, her quilt was lovely. looks like I will have to upload the image of Sandra's quilt tomorrow, as blogger will not play anymore! If you wish to catch this exhibition you have until the 13th August at SN7 7RP which is Uffington

You can also see it at the Minerva arts Centre in Wales, from 21 August to 23 September 06 ( SY18 6BY)

Or

Morley College Gallery, London. 12th January - 1 February 2007 (SE1 7HT)

Next circle

Have just finished attaching the next lot of colours to the circle. I attached them with Bondaweb. It was so easy! I think this is what many quilters call fusing?

These are the basically the same dyes but with the addition of a small quantity of black. At first I didn't want to use them, as I was pleased with the colour circle as it was. Then I thought I would just lay them out to see what it would look like. I have to confess I like the subtleties of colour.
Does however mean I will have to do a lot more explaining to my students, as the pigments used in paints do not react in exactly the same way as dyes.

Next is the scary bit, putting in some wadding and a backing and stitching through all of them. Thought I would do machine stitching and use that wiggly stitch beginning with V. The word is like those chocolate strands you put on ice cream........you may realise the word escapes me at the moment! Then will need to hold the edges in with some sort of binding. This may turn out to be a proper quilt! Anyone any advice???

Playing the blogger game!!

I am seeing if I can dupe blogger, I am in the middle of writing a post about my work and blogger will not accept any more pictures, so I am writing this whilst saving my original entry as a draft, and then if I publish this one first and then my original second, will I have duped blogger??? Clear as Mud eh???? Lets see now.

This is how far I have got with my coulour circle after all the dying. This is only pinned to make sure it all fits together! I have no faith in my Maths or accuracy! I am standing on a chair to take this photo as I have the work laid out on the table, what you cannot see is theSchnauzer taking the opportunity to clean my feet with his tongue.......it tickles and the photo is a bit wobbily!!!

I have been keeping notes as well about how I have created the se colours. I would like to do some more dying and do not trust my memory to get the colours right. Unlike painting which is easy to change colours, dyeing is such a long process. Time for lunch now, and to change the dressings on my fingers, and then some housework and finally time for fabric again................

Well that's cheered me up looking at some of my work, but I am still disappointed about the cancellation.

Blogger won!

Didn't work ......sorry, read the last 2 posts in reverse order please...will make sense in the end!

ups and downs of artists

First of all the "down"..........very disappointed to find out that the coach company have cancelled the trip to the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham in a couple of weeks time. What is wrong with the quilters in Wiltshire??? How are they all getting there?

On the "up" side, I have managed to get a few things done this last few days. So a quick resume to cheer myself up!

I have finished stitching this by hand in the Kantha style whilst watching TV. I am on holiday so the TV gets watched quite a bit! Here's a close up.

Have also been using my embellisher a bit more, with a background of white wool felt I have been laying on a varitey of different fabrics for their textural qualities and then needleing them with the embellisher. Finding a lot out about different fabric qualities.

I particularly like the way fine silk reacts under the needles of the embellisher.

Wonder what dyes I can use on this mix up of fabrics, as I would love to add some colour to this. Any ideas welcomed? Normally I would probably use paint, but now I have had a real "go" at dying, there must be a way of colouring all the different fibres in one go?

This idea of using different fabrics has evolved from some work I did with Yvonne Morton, the example above is machine stitched and hand stitched and I just love doing this technique, so to be able to do it on the embellisher is a real bonus.

Here's what I am handstitching at the moment another of my Kantha's.

Anniversary

Seems to come round every year, our anniversary!!!!! Had a great time, as eldest son and his wife took us out to dinner at a local hostelry. Lovely meal and chauffeur driven too. Spent the morning with my daughter, she is a childminder, and had a session with her "charges" and tye dying on calico and silk, they had a great time. Lots of excitement today as they could unwrap the tying. Doing another session next week with them , for the second tye and dye. Will try and get some pictures for you all.

I have been busy stitching today, fingers are still a bit of a problem, but luckily are healing nicely. Received some really lovely ATC's through the post recently. Thanks Dale for sending them.

This is by Diane in Australia. Lovely colours.

This one is by Sally, she is in NSW Australia, and she has used papercaly/paint/beads/stitch and sheers. Awonderful mixture of textures.

T

his is created by Margaret Bullock also of Australia, wonderful sparkling blue, reminds me of the sea.

This is called " missing New Zealand" and is by W.I.Cook, it reminds me of the New Forest, here in the UK. Truly beautiful.

The last one was from Dale, as featured on her blog and is made on her embellisher machine. Many thanks for sending me a little art made in Australia Dale.

Dying ....24 hours later

Very impressed with myself, have left the dye bags for 24 hours, did not know I could be that patient!

So today, not quite so early as I overslept, started on the rinsing and washing. Was a little worried how the fingers would cope, but they are Ok. The tetanus injection has made my arm very sore though, and I seem to have a slight rash. I will survive am sure. Results of the dyeing are Ok, except for the yellow going into orange ...its too dark for my liking. I used Magenta for the red and think it overpowered the lemon yellow too much. Anyone else had experience of this?

Someone had to sit down on the job again today, too much hard work, but able to supervise the hanging out!

Overall though I am pleased with the results. These pieces (above) have a small amount of black added....quite exciting.

Just finished the ironing of the last few pieces of fabric before the family arrived for the BBQ. Fortunately the rain held off, and then it was only a light shower, temperature is still in the 20's C, but there is a hefty breeze which is most welcome.

Dying time...........

Oooooopps did I forget the "e" in the title??

Up early this morning, 7.00am. It was very cool only 22C so a quick breakfast, and get out the stuff for a dying session on the terrace before the sun comes round. Of course had woken someone else out of their slumber, so had plenty of willing paws!

Had already made the soda and salt solutions, but still needed to prepare the dye solutions, so that took a little while. Finally sorted.

Still getting lots of help, the four pawed variety. Had cut the fabric yesterday, so donned the rubber gloves and set to - dying in the bag. You may recall from a previous post I have promised myself to make a colour wheel quilt for my new room in the new school. As it's impossible to do housework with bandaged fingers, all I have left to do is my dying!!! Yeah right!!!!

So here is my work - this is about half way, and I am feeling pretty good about how it is going.

Someone else though (with four paws) is in desperate need of a rest, all this work so early in the morning.

Time for a quick cup of coffee, then its back to work, got a lot of colour mixing to get the full colour circle......now starting to hope it works OK!

Am running out of space in the cat litter trays, need to improvise as I still have 10 bags to go.

Finally finished and the finger bandages are still clean. I cheated and put the surgical glove underneath my yellow marigolds. That way double protection, but very sweaty fingers. So eight fingers and four paws managed to stay dye free!!! How clever is that? Dyeing finished before the sun came round at 11.00am as well. Very pleased with myself. Tidied up and now have to wait 24 hours to see if the results are OK.

Someone cannot cope with the pace......had to have a rest!!! I'm not naming names of course, but a picture is worth a thousand words!

Packing Injury

Have finished the great pack at school.......finally. Not without injury unfortunately. With still about 2 hours of work to do, I cut 2 of my fingers very deeply, still don't know with what, as it happened whilst putting some paper into the cages the removal company gave us. When the bleeding finally stopped, I bound the fingers very tightly with plasters, so that I could finish the job. Have refrained from posting a picture of the wounded fingers, in case you are of a delicate disposition!

I had been advised by my work to go the the hospital and have them stitched. I was so dirty,dusty,sweaty and tired when I finished after the hottest day of the year. I just could not think about a long wait of 4 hours or more at A & E with lots of ill people.

Lunchtime today I took the tight plasters off to give the wounds some air, and was not happy about the wounds, so went to the nurse at the doc's to have it checked. She was lovely, as by time I got to the surgery there was a lot of blood. This was one time I wish I had an automatic car, each time I changed gear, it got very messy. She sorted me out, and gave me a tetanus injection. This is now combined with Polio and diphtheria boosters, so that was interesting. Just to prove to some of my Artful dodger friends that I am well and truly sorted - some pictures of the bandages. Didn't the nurse do a great job?



Explained to the nurse I needed to do some dying and so kindly gave me some rubber surgical gloves, as I need to keep it all dry. When I got home I cut up the calico fabric ready for the dying, might do that tomorrow, as I have a headache at the moment.