Machine Perspectives

I do love sewing machines, whether they are very old or very new.... I think they are wonderful. I know many of my friends collect shoes, some handbags, but for me its the sewing machine.

They do tend to be a bit pricey, so that does tend to curtail my collection of them.

At any show, such as the knitting and Stitching or the Festival of Quilts, you will find me hovering around the sewing machine stands. I think I inherited this obsession from my father, who always took great pleasure in visiting the motor show at Earls Court to see the latest inventions to be found on the motor cars.

At the K & S show in London this year, I was very impressed by the stand and the work on show by the Manchester School, showing machined examples of their students and teachers. You might recall, I wanted to buy the accompanying book, but unfortunately it was so heavy I was not able to carry it home. So I have just received it from Amazon... and am absolutely thrilled with it. Its the sort of book I like, I can dip in and out a chapter at a time. Lots of interesting information. Of course it is also lovely to see one of my ex students featured in the book... wonderful.

The studio is progressing, lots of painting going on and the electrician is here this morning to wire up and give me the necessary certificate. I ordered the flooring yesterday, but they cannot fit it until Wednesday......Arghhhh.... never mind ... will give me a chance to sort out the present workroom.

BBC Wiltshire Radio and my studio

My studio is progressing very fast now, water is plumbed in and the storage units are going in. Do not think it will be long before I move in...... however today I took a day off and went to my daughters. As you know often in the holidays I work with the grandchildren on arty crafty stuff. Today it was pouring with rain, so a good day to stay in and enjoy ourselves.

Yesterday was grandsons 7th birthday ( where has the time gone?) and we had to finish off the cake as well!!

However we had a very entertaining guest come and visit us at lunchtime, Mark O'Donnell, one of the presenters on Radio Wiltshire.
He talked to us about the fact we create things together, in fact 3 generations of us and have some real family fun as well.
He happily posed with 2 of the grandchildren and a friend who came round for the day for this photo. He is also clutching a pencil case we made for him. This was today's activity. Mark is clutching one of the pencil cases we made as a present for him. He was thrilled as he has somewhere to keep the spare batteries for his radio microphone now.


First of all the drawing on plain paper, using transfer crayons and paints. We filled a whole A4 sheet of paper with art work. Every ones was different and so were very individual.

Then the designs were ironed onto synthetic velvet, and the colours shone beautiful and backed with plain calico for strength.

Then to keep the layers together, we stitched using the Willcox and Gibbs chains stitch sewing machine, and even 3 year old took a turn at stitching. Look at the speed the handle was turning.... the photo is blurred!

Then 7 year old birthday boy had a go, supervised by older sister, total concentration. I forgot to take a photo of the finished pencil cases..... sorry!

Have to say I stitched the zips in for them.

I will let you know when the interviews are broadcast... then you can listen in to hear what the children had to say.

Promises

As promised I am showing you some of the hand stitching I have been occupying my time with. It is for the Meadow Larks exhibition in Cirencester Museum next month. I am, trying to depict some of the textures found in the mud in the field and on the riverbanks and the footsteps of visiting wildlife.

This piece is to show the flowers and seeds sinking themselves into the ground ready for the next cycle of growth. This is handmade silk paper with flower heads embedded and free hand quilting by machine. I really must get this piece to the framers. I rarely frame my work, but think this one needs it. No glass though.

My large piece I have already framed, and have had it put behind glass.... I am not happy with it... and cannot photograph it now without reflections. Sometimes I do not think things through properly.

Studio action today

When I got up this morning... this is how my new studio looked.. it was very cold, but at least it is not raining outside.

Then the action started.. pretty impressive huh?

By afternoon tea break ... progress is pretty fantastic!

Studio is happening !

When I got home this afternoon from my GWE stitching group.... the electric points were in, the raised floor was finished and.............

the wall opening is ready for the bricks arrival tomorrow........the window is already stored in the other garage waiting for the wall to be built. Muscular men are on call for tomorrow to help take out the heavy metal garage door.......I'm elated!

Thanks for all your lovely comments, I am doing some hand stitching, and will show you when I have done some more.

Car shed to Studio- The transformation

This is the shed for the car.... well formerly.... its ages since we put the car in there as it was more of a storage garage. So I have cleared all the gear out of there, sold a lot of it on eBay.. like my Mum's 3 knitting machines and a spare exhaust for hubby's motorbike to name just a few items.

I am having the space transformed into a downstairs studio. Very exciting.............. but also very dusty. Builders dust seems to penetrate the whole house. Its looking wonderful and I am very excited about having my studio downstairs.

Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace

Julia Caprara 1939 to 2008, a Retrospective - was the highlight of the show at Alexandra Palace for me. It was fantastic to see her work and sketchbooks all together in one space. It was a very crowded space, but when I returned later in the day, it was calm and almost empty. I took a number of photos, and realised how much I miss her mentoring. It was wonderful to have the opportunity to catch up with Alex again.

I also enjoyed the work on display by the Wessex Textile Artists: Not Set in Stone. My artist friend Lynn Prosser is a member of this group, as is another stitchy friend Maggie Grey. Great to see so many visitors flocking to the stand to have a look at their work.

However I was very surprised and very pleased to see an ex student of mine exhibiting in the Alice Kettle and Jane McKeating: Machine Stitch Perspectives. Well done Louise Charles. Brilliantly colourful piece of work. I wanted to purchase the accompanying book, but unfortunately they did not have it in paperback, and the HB was quite heavy, and I had to consider travelling on public transport.

I had a good look around the The Global Paper Exhibition from Holland, it was in a lovely large space..... but paper really does not float my boat..... I found it hard to be very enthusiastic. It was a good display though.

I had never visited on the first day of the show before, and it was good to see lots of students visiting as well, notebooks at the ready. I only made a few purchases, which is so unlike me. Returned home very late .. 10pm... and very tired body and legs... but well worth it.

North Meadow, Cricklade

I have been working on my designs for the Meadow larks Exhibition at Cirencester in November 2010.

Here are some close up photos. It has been a long road of deliberations, and unusually I have not created much in my sketchbook yet..................!

I must get along to the meadow again soon and take some more photos before the animals leave.

If you want to know more about this ancient water meadow... click here

Stroud Today

This was my first Port of Call on my visit today, the window of the Kendrick Street Gallery. The group of whom I am a member, have their exhibition in the Gallery on the 3rd floor.... well worth climbing the stairs, as not only is the work wonderful, but the views over Stroud are pretty good too.

This is my piece of long work..... called Mekong Delta, When I was a child I flew over the Mekong Delta, and it is an image I have never forgotten, This is made of rust dyed silk and cotton, onion skin dyed fleece, and the fabric was created on the embellisher machine. Walking around Stroud, many of the shop displays have a reference to the Textile Exhibitions, and certainly there were lots of people admiring the textiles and of course shopping. Good to see.

Here are some of the lovely members of Brunel Broderers as well as a good stitching buddy Louise, who also lives locally. I promised to link to their new blog too.. so click here

(Louise)

After a lovely carrot, leek and potato soup for lunch, I visited the Subscription Rooms to see the Cork Textile Artist exhibition. Loved the quilts, thought they were wonderful.

Back to collect the car from the car park, and off to the museum in the Park, here is the view across the entrance.. just loved it.

Just loved the welcome to the Museum railings.

Gave my new camera a good work out.... so what do you think of the photos?

Stroud International Textile Festival 2010

Spent most of Thursday setting up the Losing the Thread exhibition at the Kendrick Street Gallery in Stroud, others did the finishing touches such as the labelling on Friday. So all was ready for Saturday May 1st -- official opening day of the Textile Festival. I shall go a long on different days to steward, would be lovely to see you there.

Do leave me a blog comment if you manage to get along to the Festival at Stroud.

Back to reality

First chore in Cirencester today was to get some petrol in the car, thank goodness it is not a particularly thirsty car, so not a frequent event for me. Just as well with petrol now £1.20p a gallon-- (well spotted Gill... I did mean a litre!! You are a wonderfull proof reader.). Have a number of car travelling activities today and for the rest of this week. So needed this car juice.

Here is a photo of the wonderful Spring scene from the car park at the first port of call today-- delivering some stuff to the hospital.

Recently had a call from the Museum, telling me they wanted my submission .. so please could I deliver the work today... so that was chore number 2 or is it 3?

On the way home I called in at North Meadow in Cricklade again. The frittlliaries are almost over now... but wow the meadow is still fantastic..... really magical.
Here is the river Thames, it runs alongside the meadow, about 4 miles from the source.... quite a different view than that of the Thames at Oxford or London.


After lunch at home, another outing.....such excitement for a trip to the tip with a load of garden refuse. I saved you the embarrassment of photos of the place!

Tomorrow it is off to Stroud for an early start assisting in setting up the Losing the Thread exhibition at the Kendrick Gallery, Stroud, for the Stroud intenational textile Festival, which goes on until the 23rd May. Phew.... the car might need petrol for fuel but I need chocolate!!!!

Quilts Victoria and Albert Museum London

Took a tranquil train trip to London Yesterday with my dodger mate Gill. We both took tickets in the " quiet " carriage, and so were talking in whispers! Amazingly at Didcot ( unnoticed by me ) a colleague and his son boarded the train and sat behind me. They had a good excuse for them both to be truanting from school, the young man has made the final 10 for the position of Oliver in Drury Lane. Wished him the usual greeting of "break a leg"... and hope to hear soon how the final audition went.

As usual I digress. The purpose of our visit to London was to have a five dodger meet and take in the quilt exhibition whilst we were there. There is so much to see at the V & A and especially as I also wanted to have a look at the newly re-opened Medieval Gallery. We met up with Sue K at Paddington station, and shared the luxury of a taxi to the V & A.... a brilliant decision. London was looking wonderful in the spring.. did I take a photo?... nah.. to busy admiring!!!

Of course had to buy a few goodies from the shop, the fabrics..... and l bought a few, and of course the postcards!


We met up with Lynn- no - blog and later Helen and mini dodger who are in London for a few days.

Of course we had to have our dodger photo in the loos..... the mirrors are wonderful, and are a wonderful photo opportunity.... here are the tiles!!!

It seemed all too quickly we were saying good bye and returning to Paddington, and then before I knew it I was saying good bye to Gill when we reached my station. Great day, fantastic company. Home, tired and happy.

Lydiard Exhibition is extended

GWE exhibition at Lydiard House and Park has been extended to May 24th by popular demand. Wonderful news. I have met some lovely visitors whilst stewarding the exhibition.

We have also had wonderful coverage from the local press and local BBC radio. Lydiard House staff have also been so enthusiatic and supportive. It certainly has been a lovely experience working with them all.


From May 1st to 23rd I also have some work at Stroud International Textiles Festival - click here for details. I will be exhibiting at the Kendrick Street Gallery with Losing the Thread

It has been a very busy few months for me and has left little time for blogging. I have also been making some journal quilts.. but more of that later.... and have entered a couple of competitive exhibitions. Will let you know if I am successful. Its all been great fun.

Cricklade North Meadow

Cricklade is a very special place and the fritillaries today are outstanding...

If you would like to find out a little more about this special meadow, then click here.

The embroidery group I am with, is working closely with Natural England and we will be exhibiting at Cirencester Musuem in November 2010.

A crochet day

Did you know anyone can crochet? As you can see someone cannot wait to get started on the task in hand, having already run off with the wool!
When I mentioned to my son in law that his wife was becoming a very expert hooker, he looked at me with a dubious expression. I also mentioned his young daughter was also showing talent.... at that point he was looking very concerned.

It was a little while before the penny dropped and he realised I was talking about crochet.

With a lot of concentration and practice, we have now mastered ch,dc,and tr as well as ss. Just left the girls practising granny squares.... quite apt really.

Then it was back to the painting.

Evening sky

Wonderful colours... wondering how to catch those colours in dyed cloth?

What can I say?

Lydiard House and Park

The sunshine this morning when I arrived at Lydiard park for a meeting about our next exhibition, really was a pleasant surprise. So I could not resist taking this shot across the fields to Swindon in the distance. The temperature was +1 C.... almost a heatwave these days!

The meeting was very inspiring and the exhibition is due to open at Lydiard house on the 22nd March 2010.

By the time the meeting had finished, the sun had diappeared... but this is a photo taken from the front of the house. Would love a front garden like that wouldn't you?

Marlborough Branch of the Embroiderers Guild and Swindon GWE

Had a very productive time at the Marlborough EG today. A special workshop had been organised for any members who subscribe to Maggie Greys WOW.

Most stitchers were working on the re-cycled project, but I decided to try something different.

I took along my new portable sewing table - a Christmas Present.

It was wonderful and made the stitching so easy.

My plan is to use pfd calico, seamed together in strips, and then made into a finished quilt. Using the design in my sketchbook for the next Lydiard exhibition with the GWE. I propose to paint the picture onto the quilt with dye. I just hope the idea works.

I now have to decide what sort of quilting I will do. It will be FME, but I shall use the book that Dijanne kindly sent me before she left Australia. This will be my reference for the stitching which I shall probably do on my Pfaff. I will then bind it, and it will be ready to paint.

Then after all that excitement went along to the first official meeting of the Great Western Embroiderers evening group. Lovely, creative evening playing with cocoon strippings.