Tuesday 30 August 2016

gathering possible fabrics

For the new project...maybe

Most of these are African fabrics. The orange one isn't, but I wanted something that would work as a bright spark. The fabrics will be cut in smaller pieces and won't be directly next to one another, so I think this is a good mixture of colours to say what I want to say.

I have been putting cardboard around fabrics or work when I am auditioning fabrics. Why? because quite some time ago I realised I was choosing what was also working with the teal green colour of the cutting mat underneath. Then couldn't see why the resulting piece looked rather dead when I was nearly finished and hung it up to look. So, now with a neutral surround, my eyes aren't influenced by the cutting mat.

Still doing mending/altering while I consider the first steps for this new project.

Monday 29 August 2016

Experimenting with a new idea

I have the next project at the front of my mind now. There is one idea I haven't figured out which technique would say what I have in mind. I am thinking of some sort of gaps.

So, whilst looking online for some other technique, I came across some videos of making net - as in survival net for fish or other reasons.
It seemed pretty straight forward, so I thought I would give it a go. I will save you the full step by step thing and just show progress in stages.

So, a string going across* and then the twine tied on to begin the net.
The cardboard standing all around is so you don't see all the clutter you can see the string. The jars have stones to keep them firm and stay in one place as I was using them to stretch the string across between 2 points.**

Knots made at regular intervals - rows 1+2

Then I got the bright idea of containing the string in these big plastic bobbins I got for something.
and then just as I started to do the knotting for the next row, I realised it was not a bright idea after all, so I took them all off again.

More knots made at regular intervals - rows 5+6
and more stones added to the jars to make them heavier.

Even more knots made at regular intervals - rows 9+10

Many more knots made at regular intervals - rows 13+14
hanging on the cupboard because I couldn't bend down that low any more....and then because I tried to raise the jars up,
also because of ** below.


Verdict: Go in the garage and find something that will stay in one place to string between.
Do this again in a nicer string.
This might just be the solution and it doesn't take too long.



*Always stretch between 2 things which will
1- stay in one place
2- not break when they stop staying in one place.

** now I only have one jar.

In the meanwhile, I am mending and taking in dresses that I haven't worn yet because they are already too big.

Sunday 28 August 2016

And the bead keeps going on and on... 21-27 August

Week 34 - Aug 2016

no.234

no.235

no.236

no.237

no.238

no.239

no.240

Saturday 27 August 2016

Something on Saturday

This week after dinner one day I looked out the window and saw this going over my friend's house...or at least in that direction.
I took the photo just as the burner went off, so it had a lovely glow from the inside.
and one without the glow. It was just starting to rain big drops.

Friday 26 August 2016

Haberdashery

At the Festival of Quilts, there was a stand with loads of things, including haberdashery type items. Each packet or reel of cotton, etc, cost £1!
So, on the first day, I was able to get almost everything on my list in one place and at low prices. I also picked up items I normally need, but would have to drive to Reading to get. So, I am well stocked up now!

There was also an Italian Button company with loads of large buttons. Good to keep in mind, as they are actually located in London (I think, but definitely UK). I would have bought some, but it would have been one of those situations where you end up buying something for an imaginary project that never happens. Because they are unique, you have to buy those kinds of buttons with something specific in mind.

However, these did come home with me!
Unique hook and eye tapes. Having something like this means that when you are imagining a unique garment, you can entertain the idea of using these and it would make it even more unique.

Thursday 25 August 2016

Transitioning back to my work

The National Needlework Archive asked for a sample to show for the workshop I am doing called Build a Fabric. So, that is what I have been working on the past couple days. It has made a good transition from alterations back to my own work.

The workshop is in conjunction with the Kazakhstan project, so I decided rather than making more fabric, to see what I could do with the offcuts from my dragon.
I like working with shapes that are left from cutting out. These suggested a city scape.
After some deliberation on positioning, I fused the shapes where I wanted.
Then I realised it was a bit unbalanced, so I added a sun/moon shape.

City Scape
Then zigzag round the edges of the shapes and some simple stitching. And to finish, a satin stitch edge.
I have added a split hanging sleeve in back (to give more options for how they wish to display it). Today it will go out in the post.

Meanwhile, the next project cooking in my brain is just about ready to start. I need to pull out some fabrics and do a couple trial experiments for techniques.

Wednesday 24 August 2016

another finish - Bridesmaid gown

The pink bridesmaid gown was finished and delivered on Monday. I put in bra strap stays at the edge of the bodice to keep it in place over the bra.
They took longer than the hems!4 bra strap stays with one part of a popper on either end and the other part on the gown. So, basically 16 times sewing the bits!

I had just enough of the transparent poppers...they were in a load of things from someone's mother's sewing supplies when they went into a home.
I think I will look for more, just in case.

Tuesday 23 August 2016

And TVCT again!

For the 3rd year in a row, someone from our TVCT group won the Quilts Creation section!
in 2014 it was Kate Crossley with her working quilted Grandfather clock.
in 2015 it was Mavis Walker with her chess set of quilted dolls.
and in 2016 it is Jane Bonney with her cope inspired by the finding of the bones of Richard III.

All That Remains
I claim some responsibility because I told her she had to enter!

But now we will have a gap in our exhibition at Bristol in November... But for good reason as it will travel with other winners to Ally Pally, Harrogate and Dublin. Another member Sandra Newton won the miniatures, but I couldn't get close enough to get a photo! You can see a photo of her piece and of all the winners on the Festival of Quilts site.
Kate Crossley got a 3rd place in the Quilts Creations, too. I didn't have enough time this year to see much other work and if it was our group or not.

I also introduced Jane to Wendy Gardiner who runs the fashion show, suggesting she enter the cope. So that was another chance for people to see her work!
The cope will be back for the exhibition when we go to Excel next spring.

Monday 22 August 2016

Golden Grace in the Fashion Show

I really enjoyed the Fashion show this year at the Festival of Quilts. Besides the fact that they did a very good job and that the models knew how to show off the garments properly (from a different place). I had my friend Helen Cowens there as my guest. How lovely to look at the clothing with someone who also sews/drafts/designs herself. and how fun to look over at each other on certain things and find that we were both thinking the same thing! so then elbowing and laughter.
I don't see Helen often as she lives in the North of England/nearly Scotland. But I hope she enters next year. Her gowns are lovely.

It was special to see my gown up there.
I just got one photo of the front

and one of the back.

I did get pearls and beads on, but these photos are zoomed in a great deal, so they aren't showing so well. More and better completed photos to come.

Sunday 21 August 2016

And the bead keeps going on and on... 7-13 and 14-20 August

Week 32 - Aug 2016

no.220

no.221

no.222

no.223

no.224

no.225

no.226


Week 33 - Aug 2016

no.227

no.228

no.229

no.230

no.231

no.232

no.233

Saturday 20 August 2016

Back to the blog

In the meanwhile, I have been 2 days at Festival of Quilts. At the wedding. Getting over the headache which was part of all that and watching Olympics.
Starting on the bridesmaid dress -sister of the 1st wedding dress I did.

Interesting comparison for lacing up the back.

Lacing on the wedding dress from last weekend made of interlined satin.

Lacing on the bridesmaid dress made of chiffon - not interlined.

Yes. Hmm.

So, I adjusted the folds onto the loops for the lower part of the lacing, found out she could still get in and out wit the lace loosened from this above this point
...and then as part of the other adjustments, I tacked the lace to the loops for the last few. Oh, and stitched up the gap below the lacing as it looked like an unfortunate ripped seam when she had it on.
No, I didn't have to, but I was watching Olympics anyway. What the rest will look like will depend on who is lacing it up. But I won't be at that wedding.

More lovely photos of the dress (well, Bride and Groom) from the wedding last week.
front
back
She was beautiful.

Sunday 7 August 2016

And the bead keeps going on and on... 1-6 August

Week 31 - July/Aug 2016

Keeping with the red beads for this month's beaded fabric squares.

no.214

no.215

no.216

no.217

no.218

no.219