Sandy Snowden

about Britain

2012-02-02T18:16:00.000Z

So, no buttons on a blouse... But Celtic Cross is finished.

The photo is a bit bright. Hard to photograph metal.

and Phone Home top is done!

A few years ago my sis in law had very thick paper serviettes at Christmas. Some came home with me to use in my work. It is thicker than most fabrics and very like fabric to work with. When I went into the cupboard to look for telephone box red...it just jumped out at me!

back of the phone box piece

I used a stenciling technique. retaining the red but painting the other colours. at that point I wasn't sure about cutting and mounting or something else. I looked up British telephone boxes and amongst the photos saw one situated at the side of a path with a lot of bushes around it. So, this fabric - already fused from cutting other bushes from it - became just the thing to surround the 'snapshot' of the phone box.

Tomorrow I will sandwich and quilt it. I do have a meeting in the afternoon though, so I will probably do the buttons instead of starting another Around Britain piece.

back to art

2012-02-01T22:41:00.001Z

Wow! last month I managed to sew over 30 yards of fabric in all the things I made! The blouse is at the buttonhole stage, but I was too tired to stay up late trying to do them. So, I ended up about 5th or 6th on the leader board. Cool. all the participants together sewed up over 1000 yards in the month.

I will get back to the buttonholes, but I dearly needed to make some art! So, here is a piece I made today. It still needs the other layers and a bit of quilting and the edging. I enjoyed making the 20cm square size for 'cricket wicket', so I thought I would do a few more British themed pieces that size.

'Celtic Cross'

I embossed the metal from the inside of a tomato puree tube using a celtic cross design from a Celtic Craft book. Then I coloured it with permenant felt tips. The fabric was actually cut in an interlocking T pattern, but the metal covers it. So, I printed it with some carved wood blocks I have.

Tomorrow I should manage the blouse buttons and finishing this off. I have a couple other ideas for a few more British things. I also need to get onto the Journal quilts for this year. The first 4 months are Red. I have a few ideas.

Trouser try out

2012-01-31T14:46:00.000Z

I nearly have my trouser pattern the way I want it. But these cotton trousers will work for the summer. They call it 'Wearable Toile'. The fabric doesn't have alot of give, but I had enough of it to do the trial before I cut into the nice dark blue linen I got at the Knitting and Stitching show.

Pictures are fuzzy because I tried the photo in the mirror trick.

Serviettes

2012-01-29T14:49:00.000Z

Just a quick whiz round on the overlocker for these. New serviettes for the table. I realised the ones I have had nearly 25 years are more than a bit frayed on the edges! So, as well as doing Christmas ones, I may as well do some sets for the rest of the year when I find fabrics I like. This fabric looks a bit more elegant and will go with the dining room and tablecloths I have.

Folded fancy to make a pocket
I made these double sided. I will have to look out for a bigger piece so I can make a couple sets for when we have guests. I like cloth serviettes because you can use them more than once (if you leave them at your place on the table) and you can just bung them in the washing machine. So, no landfill and no cost to speak of.

2012-01-29T07:00:00.002Z

There were lots of things going on at the TVOffcuts sewing meeting yesterday...some busy enjoying chat and Juliet's baking! But it was good to get back together again.

Here are a few of the projects out when I went round with the camera.

Ovengloves in progress - Gill C

Knitting - Lyn

Knitting gloves - Sheila

Redwork hanging - Mavis

Foundation piecing - Elaine

I got started sewing a blouse I had cut out. Not sure if I will get it finished for the fabric stash contest, but at least it will be started.

slaving away at the machine

2012-01-28T23:12:00.000Z

I have actually been doing things this week...sorry I didn't post.

I also struggled with coming to the realisation my machine needs yet more doing to it! Yikes. I am so glad they are doing this on the warranty. This time it is taking its time deciding if and when to do reverse... and if doing reverse whether it can ever be bothered to go back to doing straight. So, it is back at the doctors. So glad for the back up machine that used to belong to my friend!

But I have sewn a trial pair of trousers which just needs a waistband. no photos yet.

I passed on about 30lbs of scraps for a school that is making a dragon! I save scrips and scraps for playgroups and the like, but I produce more than they use! So, I had been saving a while. When one of my students mentioned the school could use them, and that she would actually collect them! I dug around in various boxes to get small bits to add to what I had.

and I cut and completed another shrug and circle skirt which will be for my sis in Alaska. I worked out how to cut the circles top and tailing the layout, so I was able to get a longer length. Only just enough!

I also decided to pipe the shrug...not such a good idea, as it doesn't hang so naturally, but with the frog closure, it will be fine. The skirt and shrug definitely look better on a human, but you can get an idea.
front

back

Here is another tale...I piped the cuff...and then found you couldn't get your hand in . Oh yeah, that's why its made out of stretch. The piping stops the stretch.
Piping with purple velvet (that somehow is reading as blue)

So, I cut off the whole cuff and added one made from the purple velvet. Because I was so efficient with getting rid of scraps I had no more of the black velvet left...it went into the bag for the school!

Books and Looks

2012-01-22T20:32:00.000Z

Yesterday was the Thames Valley Contemporary Textiles meeting. A good day where we found out a bit more about each other. some amazing work being done! Good connections happening as we discovered who might be an expert in what we want to know about to accomplish something in our own work.

Kate Findlay showed some work in which she is experimenting with fibre optics. So, cool! I have had some ideas about lights in garments for sometime, but haven't had the time or even perhaps proper reason to focus on working how to start. This may call for a collaboration! Anyway, she has loaned me a book that she found helpful - Fashioning Technology - and passed on the title of another.

On the Been There, Done That table, I spotted a few interesting books. This time I actually had time between running things to have a look. Apart from Kate's book, the others in the photo are now mine! Ideas and Ideas!

And when I came home shattered, I found my thoughtful husband had fixed M'Lady's leg! So, now it won't be such an ordeal to photograph garments. No propping or taping or lying on the floor to get a photo that doesn't include the strange contrivances that are keeping her up.

Christmas outfit in January?

2012-01-20T20:57:00.001Z

This week has been a bit of a meeting week. But I have been able to get on with some sewing.

This fabric was passed on to me - almost as a challenge. What would you do with it? Normally I would pass this by altogether. In the first place, it is a bit (well more than a bit) of a shout "Look at me!" and secondly, I have managed to avoid doing much sewing of stretch fabrics.
But, if you think Christmas...maybe.

So, anyway, here is a fabric story.

...at the beginning of December I usually go to a Ladies Christmas Lunch. Believe me, this is about the only place where this fabric would go down well. I thought it would be fun to do a circle skirt. However, if you recall, I did the refashion contest in November and was finishing off in the wee hours the morning of 1 Dec. So, I didn't have enough brain left to make it for that weekend. especially enough brain to get my head around a circle skirt! Easy to sew and hard to do the maths and workout the layout.

Now that I am trying to use up some fabric, I figured I would get ahead of the game and make up this Christmas skirt now. During the time I was trying to get my head round the layout, I chopped the fabric at what I thought was the right place to make it. Well, it wasn't quite.

Eventually, I gave up trying to work it out and just did it by instinct. This usually is the best plan for me. If I over think it, it doesn't get done. The circle skirt came together well, but because of the chop thing, it was only going to be just the right length.

I was totally chuffed though that I worked out how to set the overlocker to the right settings for sewing this stretch velvet. Know I know why so many ladies love knits! (I still prefer wovens and more traditional methods of sewing.)

The other piece of the fabric was going to be plenty for a shrug I saw on the internet. I never did a shrug before and wasn't even sure one would look good on me, so here was this fabric - let's go for it! That turned out great! Although, in reality, if I sew it again, I will rework the pattern a bit to make it go round the bosum a bit more, but it works.

and that left about 1 yard. SO, I dug out the circle pattern I used for ruffles on Midnight Dance By Moonlight. I worked out that the bottom of the skirt was about 180 inches and somehow the maths seemed to tell me I needed 12 circles where the centre circumference was 12 inches. I can't remember how I worked that out. I managed to cut 14 circles - 2 for just in case. I split each circle to the centre, opened them up and stitched them together to make a ruffle, overlocked the outside edge and then overlocked the ruffle to the bottom of the skirt. Voila!

front

Not too shabby and used 4 yards of a questionable fabric! :-) and suitable for a Christmas ladies do.

back

Please excuse M'Lady's prop. She has a broken leg.

Worn to be Wild

2012-01-15T07:00:00.006Z

Yesterday I went up to Henley to see the Exhibition called Worn to be Wild. A friend told me about it near the end of November, but I have been so busy I didn't get up there. and it finishes today.

It was SO cool. Kate Plumtree has made costumes from different historical periods, using techniques and silouhette of the period, but with a twist. She assigned different animals or birds to each costume. So that you have a late Victorian with overtones of a fox, or Modern period hedgehog, and so on. It is fascinating. There were swatch samples you could handle to see how the fabric felt. Also there were photo albums with photos of the different costumes at different stages of construction.

You weren't meant to take photos, but I bought most of the postcards. The Tudor Badger postcard was sold out. Here are a few of them. Spot the fox getting into the rubbish bins? and the Kingfisher?

When I came home I looked up her website. She has worked as a Costume Maker for opera and West End shows. The photos on the far right of the page on this link are of the exhibit at Henley. I found out the exhibition will also be on in other places around the UK. If you get a chance to go to it when it is near you, make a point of doing so!

This is definitely the sort of thing I would love to do. But somehow you would need a sponsor to afford the materials and you would really need to do as she has done and arrange places for them to be seen.

Carrier Bags

2012-01-14T22:15:00.000Z

A few more things for the Stash contest. I had saved this fabric from the box of quilting cottons my friend gave. I like the quirkiness of it. But what to do with it besides save it? So, I thought it would make fun carrier bags for food shopping. There was enough to make 3 bags.

They have gussets and inside pockets made from the bits of fabric you remove to make the handles.

The pattern for the bag was one I made by copying a plastic carrier bag! It really holds alot and sure is more sturdy than a plastic one.

For Christmas 2007, I made quite a few of these from different fabrics for my friends. I may make some more later on, as they are quite easy to do.

brocade cushion cover

2012-01-13T17:22:00.000Z

Part of this concept of using stash is also making space in my studio. I made a cushion cover the other day which got rid of a big puffy cushion. Another cushion has been lurking in here. It had pictures of the nursery rhyme Hey Diddle Diddle. It was a bit of a funny from my sis in law a few years ago because it had a cow on it. (I used to collect cows.)

anyway, like the other one, I never got round to doing it because I meant to use it to show how you could just make up a simple cover. But as the course never happened, I never made it. SO, I was sure I had a bit more green brocade left from a Tudor lady costume. I had used some for a cushion in prep for the course. So, it would also go with well for another cushion to go in the lounge.

I used the simple envelope back cushion construction, only I turned the envelope part to the front. I put hooks and eyes to keep it closed.

and then sewed some random buttons from my stash on the outside of where the hooks are. The buttons are for show.

and so another 1/2 yard of fabric used, but also a puffy cushion for my lounge!

Summer PJs

2012-01-12T23:15:00.000Z

Still using up the stash. Somehow I aquired what seems like a large amount of striped lightweight cotton. Almost a seersucker. As I have a few ideas percolating about things with stripes, this was not a bad thing. However, the stripes/plaids box was becoming out of control. and did I really need over 10 metres?

anyway, it seemed like it would make summer weight pyjamas for my husband. When I unrolled it, I found it was pretty narrow, so I have used up 5 metres for the pjs. I haven't measured what was left yet.

I used his favourite pair and traced them off to make a pattern last Friday.

Yesterday I made the trousers and today I did the top. Not too bad a result! I hope he likes them.

I say summer pyjamas, but I am hoping he likes them well enough to wear in winter. He likes the flannel, but really he overheats. He still wears short sleeve shirts in the winter! Not me, I have layers and layers! If he likes these well enough, I have a good pattern now to make more. The favourite ones are starting to fray on cuffs and things.

Origami bags ...or not as the case may be.

2012-01-11T07:00:00.002Z

So, since the one friend who is likely to get one of these and that I know reads the blog, is bound to see the ones other people get anyway...I may as well post them.

at any rate, I need to have them somewhere to link to for putting them up for the review.

They look nothing like the original plan. But if you are curious here is the original. You have to scroll down for the destructions. There was also something like it on one of the Quilting Arts DVDs. I did try the bits of the sewing which would make it more bag like, but it seemed too bulky and pouchy. and what would you do with a little cute pouch? put things in it and then fish around trying to get into it and find the stuff down in the corners? (oops, too many opinions clearly.) I also didn't sew the 2 squares together and turn through...which I tried. That made it even more bulky on the edges. I just overlocked the edges as you can see.

and opening it, you see the flaps you turn through to the inside are meant to work like pockets.

I hope they do.

What I think these bags will be good for is to put something like a sketchbook, a book or something like that in them. The little ones could hold those little tissue packs, with a blister pack of paracetamol and lip balm or something stuck in the 'pockets'
So, I am calling them bookbags.

Or maybe you have a better idea?

lessons learned? (besides 24 ways to resew a buttonhole?) yes it used up stash, yes I have 24 presents, but ...yes, I have used up my tolerance for sewing things which aren't garments or textile art. At least for now.

back to the real world

2012-01-10T23:26:00.000Z

Yesterday was back to teaching after nearly a month off. So, it wasn't so bad, but it sure takes alot out of me. (I have fibromyalgia). Today it was the legs. Sometimes it is the upper back and neck which can set off a migraine. It is a bit scary sometimes because if I am standing alot - like when I was cutting all the bags last week, the sides of my thighs go numb and then the rest of the legs start going and I have to sit down to get the feeling back. But anyway...

Today was meant to be my take it easy day. So, lets do the buttonholes for the bags. Well, I spoke too soon about the buttonholes. E-V-E-R-Y single one of the buttonholes on the 24 bags I made were resewn in some way or another. sometimes the thread broke, sometimes the stitches skipped, and whatever else you could imagine. I put in a few different needles, used a variety of threads, changed tension and all sorts. It took me all day.

this is what it was doing...sometimes not so bad, and I hand sewed over the gaps.

but when this happened, it was really weird, I could start the sequence all over again on top of it and the right side would stitch out just right!

So, I finally took these photos and since it was near closing time, I will wait and phone SewMaster tomorrow and then email the photos to them to see what they think.

on a brighter note: DH has a new allotment. It was really overgrown, so he has spent several weeks in spare moments working on it. He has it nearly all dug over now, so I was invited to go see it on Sunday afternoon.

okay, it is a bit of earth, but it was quite up to knee height when he got it. His bit stops at the fruitcage.
then we went off for a walk with the dog, which is also one reason my legs hurt so much today.

strange things in the neighbourhood

2012-01-08T07:00:00.000Z

This week it has been very windy. I mean VERY.

So, I saw a bit of unusual colour through the textured glass in the window near the front door.
A red ballon! Still going strong.

Before I got the camera it was actually caught in the rose bushes. Eventually it blew to the other side of the path and stayed in a different bush for a while. and then went on to other adventures somewhere else.

Not Molly commented on the greenery I posted the other day, comparing it to what it is like where she lives in the Rockies in America. Well, when I took the dog for a walk I was very amazed to see this!

Yes, a full blown Hydrangea blossom amongst the faded and dead ones from last year!

Buttons - tick

2012-01-07T21:18:00.000Z

Buttons have been done on the blouse. I forgot how nicely my machine does buttonholes. So, I will be less likely to delay doing them now!
front view

The front neck gapes a bit too much. I didn't pick it up on the dress I made with the big buttons because I thought the buttons were too heavy and pulling it forward.
Basically it is because it is too wide in the upper chest area. I did work that out when checking the dress fit again before the New Year. But it was a princess line cut and easy to adapt the pattern. For this one, I have taken the shoulder dart in more on my block. for the yoke, that means folding out the excess, and the dart is rotated to the yoke seam. I didn't have enough fabric left to recut the yoke. However, the blouse will still be allright to wear in the summer.

a back view

I love the fabric! It feels very drapey and cool. I didn't sew the waist darts like I normally do, it has made for a very comfortable fit. I am going to try the reworked yoke version in different fabric. I am going to try a bit more of a v at the front opening in order to do a continuous neck and buttonstand application with the overlocker. I just need some quick blouses at this point. Some time in the future I can do some with all the time consuming proper techniques.

not buttons

2012-01-06T23:40:00.000Z

Today I was going to do buttons on the blouse I made yesterday. But I managed to avoid it. Oh well.

Instead, I cut out 3 reusable carrier bags.

and have traced and measured and manipulated my husband's favourite pj's to make a pattern.

Tracing the sleevehead.

So, on another day, that might have been the thing I avoided! anyway, in looking at the fabric I have, I realised I have a good length of a lightweight stripe that would do for summer pj's. If I make him a pair of summer pj's, that will use up fabric!

Buttons tomorrow?

New Book

2012-01-05T07:00:00.001Z

My Mother-in-Law gave me some money for Christmas. Just enough to get this new book I had heard about. It is done by the same people who did The Tudor Tailor.

First glances show it is going to be very exciting! It has all the research and visual images. and then it has the layouts and making up! The period is Early Tudor. One I quite like. Maybe I can make up something one of these days! or at least make up something modern inspired by and using ideas from what I get in the book.

Yesterday I got the bags to the nearly finished stage...just need to put on the fastenings. I also adapted my bodice block to make a yoked top. I have a few RTW (ready to wear) tops I like, and this one is based on the idea of one of them....with the advantage of fitting everywhere and not just making do. I have some airforce blue crepe fabric I have cut it from. So it is next on the sewing list.

Origami bags

2012-01-04T07:00:00.000Z

okay a bit of production sewing going on.

These have been edged and the beginning stitches to form the folding for the bags. There are gubbins there for about 21 bags! Good way to reduce the stash. I have reorganised the boxes these fabrics live in so I should be able to look at what is there and get it out to use in the future.

You may realise by now that I revert to chop, chop, sew, sew when things don't seem to be done in a logical manner. I made up the first one according to the directions, but when you fold everything round, the inside pockets were all floppy. So, I have redeveloped the directions so they don't.

Also, I decided I don't want to close them with a drawstring! They look quite smart without. So, I am developing a different closure.

These were made with fat quarters (yards - which should mean 18 in square) - some of which were very badly cut - so skew-wiff that I had to cut 15 in squares. Also, some were fat quarter metres, which made 20in squares. The majority were about 17 or 18 in square.

I do think the drawstring closure might work with a much larger size. These smaller ones just look like a little pouch when gathered up...not very inspirational for working out what to put in them. But if I change it, I can think of quite a few different ideas for what to put inside.

Sewing again

2012-01-03T07:00:00.001Z

Not sure if I mentioned, but I thought I would do a few more of the sew along contests on Pattern Review this year. The current one is about reducing your stash.

I have a lot of fabrics that have been given to me over the years, some I picked up from leavings of members of our Offcuts group. I have decided to use as much of that up as I can, so I can have a bit more room. There are other shelves which are a bit too full. This way I can even have space to rearrange things. But also, I can feel a bit more free to get some fabric to make things I have chosen from start to finish.

So, at the moment, I am busy trimming fat quarters, pairing them up, and beginning to make some little bags I can use for gifts over the year. They will go in the present drawer. I have a couple friends who need to go in hospital soon, for once I will have a nice gift for them! I better not show you too many close ups, in case some of the readers here end up to be recipients at some point!

However, I also made another cushion cover to go in the lounge.

I have had the cushion for ages, since I made the other cushion cover samples for the course that never happened. I had reserved this one for talking about ways to make openings for the cushion to go in. As I was checking out fabric for the bags, I realised the toile de jouy fabric would go with the black and green which I had used on a few other cushions.

New Year

2012-01-02T22:47:00.001Z

I am always amazed at the New Years fireworks centred round the Millenium Wheel or London Eye.

I don't know if it was new this year, but there were alot of shots with Big Ben.

and then I realised they were shooting fireworks out of the openings above the clock! Wow. How much fire protection did that need?

Here are a few more photos of the London fireworks...with me in my comfy lounge.

Even the crowd with their lit mobile phones add to the image.
But, who would dare go stand in that sort of crowd anyway? It is beyond my comprehension.

things I am glad for

2011-12-31T22:18:00.000Z

My garden at Christmastime.

Yes! The holly has berries!

Daffodils coming already!
Sure prefer it to all the snow!

These bloomed this week.

From bud to fully open

and even a poppy!
The polyanthus has been out for a few weeks. I see the snowdrop leaves are coming, too!

Oh, I love England in the winter!

Christmas 2011 memories

2011-12-30T21:37:00.000Z

We had a few days in Yorkshire with family.
My sis in law loved her tablecloth set! no photos though.

Spent time with MIL. At 91, she is an Amazing Lady who still does courses thru university and other learning providers in York, even though she doesn't get about so well.

Some photos of things that went with Christmas at home.
A variety of biscuits - which I mentioned in one of the last posts. Including wonderful ones from a recipe Angie at ReOrsa gave me...from Lichtenstein!

2 trees this year. Perhaps to make up for only having lights last year?

No, the little one is what we use for the Mince Pie at the shops event, and my husband decided it needed more than one day out of the loft each year!

The trees are full of little treasures which have been given to me or that I made. For quite a few years I made about 15 new decorations each year.
The crochet afgan was made for me by my grandma who was very special to me.

something to do with your new scarf

2011-12-26T07:00:00.001Z

if you received one.

Happy Boxing Day. We are heading to Yorkshire to family for a few days. A Certain Lad is stopping at home revising for exams. Pepper is helping. She loves having him here...he is in the kitchen eating about every 2 hours. Her idea of a Good Thing to do.

The right kind of busy

2011-12-21T23:28:00.000Z

Like most of the rest of you, amongst other things, I have been doing things for Christmas.

Monday, we took down the Exhibition. It took a lot less time to take down! Janet from ReOrsa said we averaged 15 each day we were open. Which is pretty good for the time of year and the weather some of those days.

Today we found out we had a whole page about Whatever Floats Your Boat... in the South East Newsletter for the London 2012 Inspire Programme! They were reporting about the exhibition when it was in Slough and the various events which happened in conjunction with that.
Here is a quote from the newsletter.

"The wonderful news is that the project will now be

continuing its journey. Langley Academy will be taking a

selection of the pieces to exhibit in 2012 alongside

artefacts from the collection of Slough Museum. This will

mean that the project will continue to engage young

people in the local area. The exhibition will also be shown

at the National Needlework Archive in Newbury from 19

September to 26 October, 2012."

After I took some of the work from the exhibit to the car, I took the time to wander round town before I went home. Something I seldom do nowdays. I couldn't seem to think of what I might want to buy! I did find something which I hope fits the general description of one family member's wants. I hadn't found fabric in the market I liked on Friday, but I found a very reduced king size sheet set. Which for all practical purposes is fabric with finished off edges.

Now to figure out where the making part will fit in!

On my way around town, I was drawn by a wonderful sound and ended up at the bandstand. The Swing band of a local school was playing. Very fun! They weren't restricting themselves to Christmas music. So anyway that was a nice break and just a chance for me to stop and enjoy. I finally went off and bought something so I could come back and put some change in their pot...and listen some more of course.

It brought back memories of listening to the band each Christmas when a Certain Lad was still playing his trumpet.

Then, Monday evening it was finishing the parcelling and Tuesday doing the posting. I never manage to send the parcels to America any earlier than the ones to people in the UK! I had expected a long queue, but only one lady was ahead of me.
So, now that they all will soon have their secret presents and I gave the ones for friends on Sunday and neighbours today...here is a photo of one of the sets.

Christmas Tree Serviettes!

Since then I have been baking. and baking. and baking.
The big thing I remember about Christmas from growing up was all the pies and cookies that we ( really - my Mother!) made. So, I always feel that is part of Christmas. Nevermind there were 8 in our family then and there are 3 now! but I am thinking of some people to share them with.

Off to bed. I am shattered. I have realised I have been on my feet nearly all day for the last 3 days. Yikes. I will be paying for it if I am not careful.

Slow Cloth - this visit

2011-12-16T23:11:00.000Z

Tomorrow another member of TVCT is looking after the exhibition, so I will be able to continue doing things with half circles which are still secret.

and the Slow Cloth I have been working on the last 3 weeks has come to a good stopping place for now. The orange chain stitch was the people wandering around the shops. Then a few of the trees in the town centre made their way into it. and today it was sections of the paving bricks along the walks inbetween the shops.

This is the upper mid-section of the length.

Not so cold today. I got the bright idea of tapeing the latch part of the door so it would stay unlatched! So, we didn't have the door open. However, this was the third week in a row they were trying to sort out the heat and even though the gallery was still cold, it wasn't as cold as the rest of the building! Janet came down to stand near the fan heater at one point so she could get warm again!

Hope to finish the half circles tomorrow.
I picked up some bits and pieces to do some baking next week.

Strange sightings at the exhibition

2011-12-14T07:00:00.000Z

Last Friday, one of the members came to the exhibition and was taking photos. She hadn't been able to come when it was in Slough.

I got her to take my photo.

Can you tell I have at least 5 layers on top and two layers and thick socks on my legs. I was sooo cold! The gallery/studios used to be a nursery, and the door currently still has the automatic lock which kept kids from dashing out behind their mum's back. The Gallery is working as a charity and as they have only recently opened, they have been focussed on getting it looking good. So, changing the door lock will have to come after fixing the boiler! Anyway, because of the door, if you want anyone to come in...it has to be propped open! That and just a space heater in December makes for a rather frigid situation!

While I was sitting stitching on my slow cloth (another link - I haven't worked on it for some time, but it is great when you are minding an exhibition. It seems to have got people wandering from shop to shop stitched into it...) Anyway...I saw something strange. I just managed to pop outdoors and catch this

And later they came back and were talking to someone outside the gallery, so I asked for a photo.

I never knew the AA man had a mascot.

onward to Christmas

2011-12-13T22:56:00.000Z

So, now the last class of the year is past. and I have time to think of doing some of those special things I really want to do. Last year, I had the emergency journey to America, so I really missed it.

Today I have been cutting out half circles...but I won't say why because a few of the recipients of the results read the blog. (even though they don't comment) I just am glad to have some very special friends and I want to make something to say, I am glad you are my friend.

Saturday another member of TVCT looked after the exhibition in the morning. I was really grateful because I was able to join in on the Mince Pie event at the Birch Hill shops.

It was really great to meet more of the community. and they seemed to enjoy the hot drink and a mince pie or biscuit. and of course our friend Eric trying to convince everyone to have a balloon, regardless of age!

On Sunday we had our Candlelight Carol service. That was lovely, too. I am grateful we had the rain chucking it down rather than it being snow like the last 2 years!

and continuing with the joy in service thing...last night I took fruit juice and nibbles to class. It is just a way of saying. I appreciate you being my students!

What have you been doing along these lines?

Thankful for creativity

2011-12-07T23:22:00.001Z

The last 2 days i have been grateful I have creativity to get me into a focus where I can stop thinking about pain. Suffice it to say, I have been hurting, but I have also had fun creating.
and about the joy in service thing? I managed to go up and down looking for documents a Certain Lad needed for an application he is trying to fill. and you know, it isn't all one sided, at one point in the emails and texts flying back and forth he said something that really made me laugh.

anyway... you know I like to tell you stories about the development of a work.
Well...quite a while back - years - the CQ group had a challenge with the theme Breakthrough. I had an idea, but not the time to do it properly.

Fast forward...CQ is participating in a challenge about Diversity in Europe. We need 60 little quilts 20cm square to make up one big piece which expresses Britishness. I realised that idea would work and since then have a better idea of how to do it. And besides it is more like the size I like working with.

So...
The idea for Breakthrough was a Wicket - a cricket ball breaking through the stumps. This was shortly after England won the Ashes here in the UK.

I even took some photos of a stumping on telly with my camera (like the ones above). So, of course, this could also represent Britishness. And since the England team have continued to be a winning side, there is no chagrin related!! Something British to be proud of.

and the development -
Step 1 - green stripe fabric discovered in cupboard (Some sample pack from Oakshots which I can't remember why I was given).

Step 2 - colour the stripes with water colour pencils so it is more like a cricket field.

Step 3 - seal with textile medium
Step 4 - get annoyed that the textile medium is too shiney. Go look for sandpaper in DH's cupboard. Sand furiously.

Step 5 - draw in the wicket creases as seen from the air - real and practice ones. Research setting the field and find one image to get an idea where to put white dots representing the fielders.

Step 6 - look for wicket stump fabric. Find a cloth I used to wipe up walnut ink. How clever to be a saver rather than a thrower away-er! Trace stumps cut from inspiration image.
Step 7 - find a hand dye fabric with one spot that will work for a cricket ball.
Step 8 - use water colour pencils to develop the images. and decide since it isn't going to be washed, don't used textile medium.
Step 9 - put fusible on the back of the images. just at the point of fusing them. stop and think.
Step 10 - I have admired the graphic quality of Terry Grant's work. So, I decide to fuse the images to a scrap of thin black wool - see saver up above. Cut them out and then put fusible on the black.
Step 11 - think about not having them in the centre because not enough of the field arrangement in the background will be seen, so may not be obvious enough. arrange them again and fuse.
Step 12 - make white french knots so the fielders will be more noticable. Stitch some of the 'stitching' on the ball so it looks more realistic. hand stitch round the wicket patches to set them out from a distance, too.

This is the sandwich photo - Step 17. I get too involved at this point to remember to do photos. :-}

Step 13 - Go to bed wondering if it looks too much like Terry Grant had made it. and thinking something has to go in the lower left corner. Perhaps the 3 lions?
Step 14 - Next day. Look up cricket symbols because I realise the 3 Lions are probably trademarked or something. Images have some umpires, so I realise an umpire with the OUT hand signal raised would also do.
Step 15 - try to sketch my hand in the position, but realise I am never going to get it to look like a man's hand without a man's hand to look at.

Step 16 - borrow an umpire's hand from a photo and tweak it a bit in Paint Shop Pro. This time use fused paper over the black wool. Include a W which is the symbol for recording a wicket in recording the stastistics. (See above in the Sandwich photo)
Step 17 - Sandwich the quilt and do a bit of stitching to hold it together and to highlight a bit more.

Step 18 - Satin stitch in black round the edge.

Done. and here is 'Cricket'. Quite British.

Not so hard to ignore pain when you have something else to think about.

Toy Run

2011-12-06T23:27:00.000Z

Speaking of spreading joy...

Sunday was theToy Run. It is a charity run the bikers do for Bernardos. They take a toy and thousands of them go through the streets to the Orphanage. This year our friend Niki and another friend Eric went off to it dressed as Santas.

Niki had also dressed the bike as Rudolph! Even when she left her house in the morning with just the bike dressed, she already was spreading big smiles to everyone who saw it!

Just as they left the church, it started raining!

But they still planned on having a good time!

I wonder if they got in the line up for the Santa photos. This link takes you to a page with a photo of the Santas on the hill at the event. That year my husband went on his bike with Niki. He hasn't got the bike any more.

Today was a lovely day

2011-12-03T20:58:00.001Z

Today I went with friends to a Ladies Christmas event. It is something I look forward to each year because it is a way of getting perspective back before heading into all the events of the Christmas season. It is also a lovely time greet ladies I haven't seen for a whole year and to meet new ones. and it was just special to sit round the table with my friends singing the carols and just doing something special together.

then tonight I came across Lyric Kinard's post on Quilt Art about posts she is doing on her blog this month about thinking of others this season. It is really quite inspiring to read the comments from readers seeing what they are doing randomly and sometimes anonymously.

I have added her blog link as a Featured Blog in my sidebar so you can keep up with the ideas easier. What sorts of things can you think of doing for this holiday season?

Next weekend, we are getting involved with something to cheer up shoppers in our local parade of shops. We set up a table with mince pies and Christmas biscuits and a hot drink. Here is a photo from last year.

I am looking forward to it!

Whatever Floats exhibition in Bracknell

2011-12-01T15:00:00.000Z

Jane, Clare and I had a quick session on Monday morning to hang the Whatever Floats exhibition in Bracknell. It is at Gallery@49. More about Gallery@49 on the ReOrsa website.
Here are a few photos of the work in place.

More info about the exhibition and the stories behind the pieces can be found here.

Because most of the time the exhibition will be 'view through window only' we tried to put small things in the window so they had as much chance to be seen as the larger wall pieces. Already whilst hanging it we had people asking when it would open, and stopping to look closely at the small works.

Refashion challenge - 6

2011-12-01T13:40:00.000Z

So, by the last cryptic post, you can tell I finished in the wee hours. As it turned out my husband was away with work, or it never would have got done. Oh, and then I had to get M'Lady, who has a broken leg, to prop up in a space where I wasn't ashamed of the background so she could model the skirt. I had to lay on the floor to do the photograph so I didn't show the propped up broken leg bit!

and then I had to learn how to post a review, which also meant posting the photos here to link to. Phew! but at last it was done. Pepper got fed up around midnight and asked to go to bed.

you can see the review and the other items in the contest here. Scroll down till you get to my skirt - I am Sew Whatever - and click on Read review.

Here is a photo of the inside of the waistband when I started it at the TVoffcuts meeting on Saturday and finished on Tuesday. I couldn't get a piece big enough for a waistband, so cobbled it together.

Refashion challenge - 5

2011-12-01T03:02:00.000Z

Here it is. many french knots into the night. will write more tomorrow!

front

back

Probably should have given a press, but oh well.

Refashion challenge - 4

2011-11-24T14:26:00.000Z

I have been so grateful for this skirt to focus on during all the other things going on. Just sitting is not something I do very well, but I have really needed to de-stress. Sitting and making french knots has been very useful for chilling out.

Here is the front section complete.

Now I am going to put on the waistband and hem it. Then I can work something small on the back depending on the amount of time I have to submit the review by the 30th.

As for college, now that I have got over the 2day migraine, it doesn't seem so bad. Apparently with everyone doing something different because of the classes being combined, rather than looking at it as diversity in learning and learner choice in learning, I was told the session lacked focus. But the inspector couldn't clarify that! She did praise the detailed planning and said it was apparent that I knew what they were doing and they knew what they were doing. But anyway, it still satisfactory, and I guess you can't really hope for more from Ofsted.

anyway, whilst sitting embroidering yesterday, I finally got to watch the first Quilting Arts TV DVD which my husband got me a few years ago! I may use some clips for showing students.

Still here

2011-11-17T22:31:00.000Z

I survived the observation. No formal feedback yet (the observer is the head of several departments, so is up to her ears with stuff for Ofsted) but the comments were good.

Thanks, Ruth, for the encouraging words in your comment on the last post. I was going to reply, but I was afraid it would all go pear shaped! Should trust myself more!

What I AM glad about is that the students were lovely. and 4 decided to stay home for one reason or another! Which really did help. :)

just because I need to hear them again :-p here are the comments:

I can see you have a challenge with so many different modules and levels within the class but you are very confident and are coping very well. However, your planning docs cover everything, you can obviously glance at them quickly for guidance. I thought yet again this year your confidence has grown, the way you interact with the learners is very good and I could see they were all enjoying the course and it was meeting their needs. You had clearly thought very carefully the best path to follow for them ... - well done, this is really learner centred and exactly what we like to see at ND.

So, onward to Inspection...
Today I went up and draped fabric on the dummies so they look nicer. ;-)
and did a couple posters.

The work in the corner is by one of the college tutors who is also taking dressmaking courses. My students weren't happy with the idea of putting work out where other classes might finger them and then still have to submit them to C+G afterwards.

Now, back to getting ready for the TVCT meeting and workshop... I have also been sorting out some details for the exhibition we are going to have at the gallery in Bracknell. Gallery@49. They have asked for work from our Exhibition at Slough Museum earlier this year.

I will put up more info about that another day.

Refashion challenge - 3

2011-11-12T20:31:00.001Z

Yes, it has been a week or so. Last weekend was doing Happy Birthday things for a Very Good Man for which A Certain Lad came home. We went out to eat one night, went to see Tintin the next day, gave some presents on Sunday and took the boy back to uni, then more pressies on Mon which was the day, but I was teaching in the evening, so he was by his lonesome. and then I made a special meal on Tuesday.

Also, I have been sorting and resorting paperwork and dashing to Reading for a meeting. Two reasons...I am being observed (or rather my teaching is) on the 14th and the college is being Inspected from the 21st. They are likely to visit my class.
I think I should be alright. The thing that makes me most nervous is that each time I was to be observed the last 2 years, a student decided to throw a wobbley out of the blue about 5 min before class. Which made teaching sensibly a bit difficult.
Many prayers, I must say, are going up about calm students as well as a calm tutor this time!

However, I did a sample of embroidery at the weekend to see what I wanted to do with the skirt for the refashion contest. I was able to make a bit of progress on it. I stopped for a few more threads - Coton a Broder and perle cotton when I was in Reading. Remember I said I was taking inspiration from Karen Ruane.

If you don't hear from me. I am focussing on the job thing.

Oh, and somehow in the midst of it all, teaching a workshop on Saturday for the Thames Valley Contemporary Textiles. yes. well, in theory, I wasn't busy, you see. Or at least not when I said I could do it. We are doing fused papers to stitch into and use in your work. So, a couple days I was doing samples for that.

Refashion challenge - 2

2011-11-04T23:45:00.000Z

So, yesterday I spent most of the day doing the seams, which were not easy, as I had to get every thing to line up properly to get the binding to look even on both sides. Remember I said I thought I might do slot seam. WELL, I realised that would have made it even more difficult.

I was well chuffed with the centred zip at back which because of the extra trim on the seam stays nicely hidden.

Still flapping because the right colour zip in the stash was too long. I want to make sure it is well secure in the waistband or facing before I chop it off. I have learned that lesson before!!

And then this morning I tried it on to check the size. I had added a bit to each seam thinking I needed it because I have grown a bit since the last time I made it.

Well, not 10cm extra!! which is how much too big it was. ...

So, today I have spent all day un picking from the hip up at least to take it in. I took the centre front and back panels in 2 cm where it would have been a dart. I still needed 2 more cm. So, took out the wonderful zip and redid those seams. It had better fit now! It wasn't just taking each one in, it was taking the binding off to a certain point and then measuring in further lining the binding back up again, sewing it on, and then resewing the seam.
Whew.

Compare with the photo above

So, then this evening I did the next step (having set up the machine for it last night, and having to reset it up after all the palavar above.) I want to do some stitching, so I chose this interesting curvy buttonhole stitch variation.
detail

I am really pleased with it. I used the thread I had got for the fushia part of the dress I made for the fashion show. I nearly ran out!! Partially because I used two threads to get the thickness I wanted. It was the right colour, but didn't show enough with one thread.

Oh yeah, and I put the zip back in nearly as easily. and you still can't see it.

...so to bed.

family stuff

2011-11-03T07:00:00.000Z

a Certain Lad is doing Movember in reverse.

He is on Mutton Chops now.

Shall I say he is suddenly coming out of his shell, or what?

If you want to know details if you'd like to donate, email me or leave a message making sure I can find your email through your profile.

other things:
I have heard my brother is in hospital again after already spending about a month in there and being home only a couple weeks. Serious pneumonia. He has been in and out of ICU and back and forth from the local hospital to the big one in a town about 60 miles away.

Hopefully it is just complications from meds which should improve now that they are going back to the old ones. He has gone far beyond the average life expectancy for a kidney transplant recipient. So, every day has been a bonus. But when this sort of stuff starts happening, you wonder if it is all beginning to break down again. :( I think it must be about 20 years now since he had a rare kidney disease. I can't remember how long he was on dialysis. He was told the average was 10 years for the first transplant.

Somehow he has to make it through the severe Maine winter which has begun early this year. (I am not keen on going to Maine in the winter again this year! after 2008 and 2010)

Refashion challenge - 1

2011-11-02T22:05:00.000Z

panel skirt has been cut from trouser legs. and then...

...enter offcuts from a friend's quilting stash. The print seems to go with both so I have cut bias binding and sewed it on each panel just within the SA. If all goes well, it will look like each panel has a bound edge when I have sewn the seams.

On the other hand, if I wait til tomorrow, I might decide it wants to have a bit of jeans fabric added behind the butted up edges to make slot seams. Sort of leaning in that direction.

Also congitating (is that a word?) on some ideas sparked by the work of Karen Ruane which I recently was introduced to. ( yes, which...the work not the person as yet). As you may have noticed, I have added her blog link to the side bar. breathtaking actually, especially if you like stitching.

Refashion challenge

2011-11-01T16:19:00.001Z

I have been wanting to do more refashioning for sometime. I decided the current challenge up at Pattern Review would be the motivation to get going.

So, in a few weeks, these should become something else. It will be a bit of make it up as I go along. (As you know, I love doing that! Toss the rules!) I may enlist the help of M'Lady in the corner.

red herringbone tweed skirt - 3

2011-10-29T00:04:00.000+01:00

Nearly there...needs the waistband sewn down, the lining stitched next to the zip and the walking pleat, and everything about the hem done.

I got one of those 'what if' ideas and discovered it would be fun to have buttons as part of the stitching detail. This was because I sewed one stripe above the pleat part in the back, but it looked lonely so I thought I would do my normal button with it as well. and so one thing led to another. I had almost enough of the right buttons, but some were sort of "mmm, not sure."

So while I was in town getting the zip, I rummaged in their button box and found a few more that might work. I traded one of my possibles for one of the ones I bought. and choose a different one for the back, too. So, I had a about 3 extra...

for which I was glad later. Would you like to hear a story?

WELL, I was sewing the lining in after the waistband was stitched on to the skirt fabric, (which is not recommended practice). and so the waistband got caught in the sewing, and then as I was unsewing that bit...
yes, you guessed it. I made a hole in the fabric. oh, dear. So, I tried to darn it with some of the 'white' thread. but being herringbone weave, it was not the best looking thing I have ever done.

SO, what if I stitched a line of stitching over it like below. Okay, that was happy, but I could still notice the mend. So, being too late at night to be sewing already or I wouldn't have got into this state in the first place...I decided to just touch it up with felt tip.(also not recommended practice if you don't have a colour that is spot on... or else at least try it on a scrap so you can say "that won't work" before you find out it doesn't.) So, anyway, extra button to the rescue.

and actually, I think it is the bit about the whole thing that makes it from interesting to 'designerish'. Check it out on the photo up on the waistband.

you should be able to click on the photo and enlarge, but I am not sure because Blogger seems to think you want to look at all the photos in blogs in a fancy black background but not have the choice of looking at detail.

oh while I was in the market, I had a look at Lady Sew and Sew's stall. I thought I would see what was interesting for blouses. Well, I did think, "what in the world will I wear with this skirt?", but anyway. Nothing there wanted to be a blouse for this skirt anyway. But this fabric seemed to say it had to come home with me.

In a strange way, it almost wants to go with the skirt, but I don't think I am brave enough. I will have to get some second opinions.

and then ask my son, who will be brave enough to tell me the full truth. (Actually, I have always been able to get good design advice from him, except for the years when he wasn't really doing normal conversations, let alone ones having to do with my sewing.)

red herringbone tweed skirt - 2

2011-10-27T17:27:00.000+01:00

Stitched

well, still needs the threads drawn to the back.

also have done online training for college before it became too much of an overwhelming Sword of Damocles.

that is enough for today.

oh, I do hate closing in Autumn days and it is only going to get darker this weekend.

red herringbone tweed skirt - 1

2011-10-26T22:48:00.000+01:00

Some days...

Today I just couldn't get very motivated. Okay, I did get out the box of jeans to see what I might use for the recycle project. and I did actually come up with an idea. But...

and I also got out the scraps from the red herringbone tweed that is on the cut out pile waiting to be a skirt and tried a few ideas for jazzing it up. I was thinking pun - herringbone stitches on herringbone tweed. getit? but I thought hand stitches would catch, and the right colour thread was too thick for even a size 120 needle. So I did a few bobbin work samples.

But I really didn't like the machine herringbone this time, since it closes the ends of the stitch. anyway, I eventually decided I liked this quilting stitch which is at the top - basically it is like a staggered buttonhole stitch from one side to the other. I could have adjusted the tensions to get it just right. But I like the look of the slight v. Here is a close up.

So it got to be 8 pm and I felt like the day was a bit of a waste production wise. Then my husband went off to the shops and I thought. Okay. let's see how much I can do in 2 hours.

and actually, I managed to do alot! I had the skirt and lining parts sewed together by the time he came back around 9 pm.

I got stuck when it came to the zip. I forgot I had meant to go looking for a dark red one. I am considering this cream zip. (I have a red one that is more scarlet, but it shouts WRONG!) If it is lap construction, you won't see it anyway. but, if I am doing the stitching on the skirt, it would be fun to have the right kind of red zip, too.

So, tomorrow I will play with where to put the stitching. and Friday, when Sew Divine has their haberdashery stall in the Market, I will go get a zip.

and if anyone is out there, here is a question?
So, the fabric sort of reads as pinkyred. I am hoping the red stitches help the viewer decide it is a red skirt. (basically I like red and I don't like pink much! - unless it is fuchsia.) What do you think?

resewn skirt

2011-10-25T20:25:00.000+01:00

while I am on a skirt roll, and while today was to be a bit of an in and out of the house today. I thought I might resew this skirt.

I bought this in the charity shop some years ago, even though it was too big for me. I really loved the stitching on the front. So, I did a bit of a sew-sew taking in so I could wear it. However, it was never quite right, and as it was unlined, if I wore a slip under it for more warmth, the awkward fit made the slip end up round my hips.

So, last night I took it apart at the side seams. I forgot to do a before photo, but here you can see the stitching on the front.

and here you can see how much wanted chopping off to be my size. The waist doesn't seem that much bigger, but it had no darts. I have sewn darts in as usual with my own pattern. One of the problems before was that it was even longer than I like, which is below the knee. I couldn't take it up without compromising the design. So, when I recut it, I retained the original hem and cut the excess from the top.

Because I was doing that, I had to reposition the invisible zip at the back. I am very chuffed at how successful that was! I usually avoid invisible zips. I may reconsider!

Because the original was just sewn with the overlocker, I used that method for sewing the skirt together. It was pretty quick.

Anyway, the waist treatment was a faced waist. The original facing was rather dodgy and never behaved right in the first place. Besides being pretty ruined by the time I got it off, with recutting the skirt, it would not have gone back on properly anyway. So, I discovered just enough of the black pin stripe skirt fabric in my scrap bin to be able to make a new facing. (Both fabrics have a bit of stretch in them.)

et voila! So, no dramatic changes, but it fits now! and that was all done like I said between going here and there today.

skirts - done

2011-10-24T21:31:00.000+01:00

It is half-term this week. So, I was able to finish the 2 skirts I was working on.

I like putting buttons at the back of skirts that are a bit plain. It helps to keep the walking pleat from stress. I put one of the patches at the back of the pinstripe skirt to go with the ones from the front.

Thoughts on the patches on the pinstripe skirt?
So, it is okay, but not sure if I managed to make it look like a design and not just a bunch of plonked on patches.

Thoughts on working a bit more like a production line?
It has worked really well to do a bit here and there. Generally I focus on one thing from start to finish. (well, I generally have several types of projects going on, but I usually keep going on one garment at a time, so I can remember what it was I was going to do next.)

Not sure what I will work on next. I have several options.

-Work on the Book Project.
-Stitch one or two more winter skirts.
-Have a cutting out blouses day so I can get a few of those ready to work on a bit at a time. I really need blouses more than I need skirts.
-Start work on a textile piece to get a head start for next year. (Now that is where everything else goes out the window because I really enjoy doing that sort of work.) But it would really become a tip in here if I did that!
- make some gasp Christmas presents.

one thing I will do...
look out some bits and pieces to refashion something for the Pattern Review contest that is coming up. I have wanted to do something for one of the contests for a long time, but you need to belong at least 3 months. so after I got that far, I was recovering from the emergency trip to America and starting on the Fashion sans Frontiere's garments. Not all of the contests suit me. It is, after all Pattern Review, and I make my own patterns. But, I haven't done a refashion for a while and am not right out straight for the month of November. So, that should do.

goodbye

2011-10-23T12:00:00.005+01:00

A lovely young lady we have come to know at our church is going back to Korea. This past summer, she graduated from the University of Surrey - Guildford. She had a job here, but wants to try to get a job back in Korea so she can be with her family.

We are going to miss her very smiley bubbley face.
My husband made a book cake and I found ribbons to go with it. (they are a bit scrunched so I could get the lettering in the photo.)

We always find some reason to have a cake with a cuppa after the service!

good find

2011-10-22T21:10:00.000+01:00

Aldi had a set of craft knives this week for around £6! I had been thinking about getting a scalpel type of craft knife for the book project. Well, here are all the variations I could imagine! Should make the project easier!

Have done list includes:
- getting the zips and waistbands and lining in both the black pin stripe skirt and the blue/brown plaid. They just need hemming. Just in time for warmer skirts to wear in colder weather!

- research for a topic I am considering for the CQ@10 exhibition next year. Contemporary Quilt will be 10 years old. Somehow getting the QA challenge done so quickly has motivated me to start to make work now for some of the exhibitions I want to enter next year.

this week

2011-10-20T23:16:00.000+01:00

Monday was not so bad at college this week. For the first time I actually was able to use the Smart board in my room! A how-to video on making a fold over channel with elastic insert for a waistband. this was for the Level 1 students. While they watched, I showed 1st year Level 2 students how to change a straight skirt draft to an A-line skirt. Cool. teaching two lots of people at one time!

Tuesday and Wednesday I was busy making something for the current QuiltArt challenge(an online list). With all the college stuff, the deadline snuck up on me. I really did want to do it though, as it was about using unusual materials: i.e from the DIY shop or whatever. UMC = Unusual Materials Challenge. This as you might guess was right up my street. I have been wanting to do more with some of the ideas I have started experimenting with sewing on Weird and Wonderfuls.

However, we are not to show in progress photos til it is up online. So, photos of the drawers where I have been collecting these sorts of things already will have to do for now.

So, you will have to wait to see the result!!

Oh, today? I read a book. So there! Next week is half-term, so I figured I could read at least 2 books, couldn't I ? I also gessoed the rest of the pages I am going to use for the book project.

threads and machines

2011-10-15T20:19:00.000+01:00

Today I got my poorly machine back from the doctor again. It was doing a little blind hem stitch dance and then kept chuntering along even when I lifted my foot from the petal. Not good.

I haven't dared try it, but they said they replaced the synchroniser. Okay. me neither, but I think it must help the 2 new boards (that they put in when it went to hospital in August) talk to each other. Or something. I am so glad my dealer decided to extend the warranty another year.

anyway, besides going to Reading for that, I also needed a post for V, for the Ideas of Inspiration blog. I forgot I already saved one of a sculpture in Lyon which was covered with Verdigris. Anyway, I decided to go for variegated. So, that meant I had to sort out the box with all the tangled variegated threads!

This is not all of the variegated threads mind you. But it is worth having such a selection. you might choose one which is almost right, but has a bit of green or yellow or something else, which changes the look of a piece in a way that you don't want. So, if you have a choice of nearly the same versions, you can find the one that works.

Most of these are Valdani rayon threads as sold by Thread Studio. I understand they have worked with them to get their own dye selections. I get a few more each year when they come to Knitting and Stitching show.
Recently, I discovered Mettler silk finish variegated cotton threads. They are good when you want a bit thicker line. I have started to get one of each so I can shop in my stash when I need them.

to do or have done

2011-10-14T23:23:00.000+01:00

Some people write their to do lists on their blogs. I do make lists, but I reserve the right to not do it. So, I don't need the pressure of telling the world I didn't.
However, sometimes you need to have a 'have done' list. So, in the last few days I have...

-resolved the test situation with the book project. clear gesso, softer brush, and cheap watercolours from tubes painted on straight. The page is sturdy enough to cut the fine detail and also the paint doesn't bleed like it did in the soft 'as is' state.

-nearly completed the last of 5 schemes of work for the variety of C+G fashion students in my class. (you don't want to see those.)

-finally wrote the update letter for TVCT (If you need to see that you should have already.)

-consulted with one of the TVCT committee about mailing list programmes. (not ready to look at)

-sewed all the darts and vertical seams on the grey lining for the black pin stripe skirt, as well as the brown/blue plaid skirt and it's lining. (I am sure you have seen sewn seams! but you can see the fabric here.)

-won the battle with my overlocker and got it to produce results consistent with the book. I decided to stop looking in the manual, which leaves much to the imagination. and look instead in the Bernina Serger/Overlocker book.
oh, and I am ashamed to admit that I discovered that somehow the needle had almost become like a minute crochet hook! Oops. I am sure that didn't help. (not showing you :p )

-so I also have overlocked each individual seam allowance plus the hem and waist. I may still shorten the skirts, but at this point, I am fed up with strings. (you know what overlocking looks like)

-hoovered all the strings off the studio floor. I may have said this before, but I can cope with piles akin to archeological digs on my tables and surfaces, carving out a space for anything I want to do. BUT, after a certain point, I CAN'T COPE WITH STRINGS ON THE FLOOR. Not sure what the difference is. (still not showing you :p )

-oh, I also tidied the big counter area in the kitchen. Mr. Wonderful has discovered baking in the last year, and as he is quite the gadget man, whether computer gadgets or gardening gadgets or baking gadgets, we were getting quite a collection. SO, I found a few spaces out of site for some of them. Besides strings, I like to have that space clear, because you look through from the kitchen to the dining room. ( also not showing you :p )

So, any applause for the above would be appreciated. (Including avoiding taking random photos.)

black pin stripe skirt - 3

2011-10-11T22:58:00.001+01:00

So, the idea I got to make this skirt a bit more fun... add black lace to the patches.

Not sure if I mentioned that the patches are from the wrong side, which has more of a plaid effect. I am not sure if I actually saw anything at Knitting and Stitching that made me think of the lace, but just an overall idea of what I like. I quite like the juxtaposition of lace with things you think shouldn't have lace. I also like the deconstructed aged look that bits of lace can give. Sort of a Miss Haversham effect.

I tried the skirt on to see about the length. It wants to be about 7cm shorter. I also discovered that the patches I had already sewn on were a bit too much all at the sides when I was wearing it. So I placed a few more patches towards the centre front.

Then, like I said, I have a stash so I can shop in it when I get a bright idea. I got down the box with lace bits and lo, and be-hold...a little bundle of black lace which was just right. I added it here and there.
I also have one patch just at the top of the back pleat.

The photos with flash make it look like you can really differentiate between the skirt, the patches and the lace. But in reality they are all very similar in colour. It is the sort of detailing that you don't notice at first because it blends in. That is the effect I wanted it to have. It looks like a serious black pin stripe skirt, but then you take a secondlook to see what is interupting the stripes.

Next job, the lining and waistband. Remember, the fact that I have to piece the waistband is what set me off with these little patches. There is one patch just pinned where it will be when I get the waistband on.
I might get the lining sewn tomorrow. I have a bit of co-ordinator stuff to do for the Thames Valley group.

caught the eye

2011-10-10T07:00:00.001+01:00

on the rail platform

Knitting and Stitching show

2011-10-08T22:03:00.000+01:00

Friday I went to the Knitting and Stitching Show. I went by train this time because I haven't been too full of energy lately and didn't want the stress of driving. It was a long day/ordeal even with the train because it takes so long. Hard to know which is best.

Anyway, I saw a couple of the girls who were in the fashion show with me. They were doing 'performance' stitching and making. They had printed a copy of the floorprint of the show onto fabric and were stitching bits and pieces onto it. Their idea was to do random, but I thought it might be a clever idea to do something similar and stitch things that actually relate.

Sorry for the blurr. This camera is normally good about shake.

There were some pretty interesting knitted fashion pieces in the student knit wear area this time. Well, usually they are interesting, but totally unrealistic and hardly wearable. (I am not a knitter, nor do I usually ever work with knits. No aversion, just more interested in wovens.) These dresses are more like real fashion.

This is Fabulous! This dress and the photos of the other pieces this girl has done are much more like real fashion to me.

And yes I came home with a few bags full of interesting things. Some were quite dear, but I generally save my money up to buy at shows, rather than buy online or try to find shops that sell what I am looking for.

Some of these are for trying along with the students for the unit on applying pattern. Some are just because. some are for an idea I am percolating in my mind. I collect bits and pieces for a work and then with the idea is ripe, I sit down and begin to make it.

And look at the lovely blue linen fabric. I had on my list to find fabric for trousers. I had almost given up hope, since most fabric stalls at shows are either quilting fabrics or colours and patterns that shout. If it is plain, it is often brown or tan or bright red or something. So, not only was this 1- blue! 2-linen, but also 3- it is a tightly woven linen.

black pin stripe skirt - 2

2011-10-08T21:42:00.000+01:00

A bit of progress. I cut out some rectangles from the little bit of scrap fabric I had left and tried a few arrangements of them scattered on the front of the skirt.

Then I auditioned a few threads to see which one looked best. I had been tempted to go with a black/grey twist thread. But when I tried several other greys and black, the one which seemed best was 'almost black'. I sampled a few stitches on a swatch. I haven't mentioned that in the process of dealing with the skirt, I discovered it had a bit of stretch. So, although I thought a 3 step zigzag might look interesting, it actually stretched the background fabric when on the bias. In the end I went for one I use a lot.

--/\--\/--/\--

It sort of looks like this.

I decided to use stabliser on the back anyway, even though this one didn't seem to cause stretch. I had some tear away I had been given and discovered one of the packets had black in! cool. Even though I am tearing it away there are always few little bits left. It won't show anyway, with the lining. But, it just gives ease of mind for me to know there aren't awkward looking white bits in the stitching!

I got another idea at the Knitting and Stitching show, which I will audition tomorrow if I get a chance.

black pin stripe skirt -

2011-10-05T21:56:00.000+01:00

...has the side seams stitched together and lapped zip in centre back. I am sure you can imagine that.

Now, laying in wait on the table to see how I am going to do the interesting bits tomorrow when I have a bit more intelligence at my command than I do tonight.

Today we had training about using the interactive whiteboard ( or reminding in the case of those of us who haven't had access to one the past few years.) I am looking forward to being able to use youtube video clips of sewing techniques.

Like this one...

Which actually makes sewing an invisible zip look easy, and thus I will not be spending 10 minutes trying to do one and ~~looking like a fool~~ getting more and more flustered because it doesn't work when you do it in front of people! Plus...they can replay if they don't get it!!! and I can get on with the trillions of other people waiting for my attention.

Up to now I have avoided invisible zips. But I might actually have the confidence to do more of them now.

yes I have been busy

2011-10-04T23:33:00.000+01:00

Because I am teaching about 5 different levels or year groups of City and Guilds Fashion this year, I have been right out straight putting together schemes of work and interpretting what the logbooks for each group needs. Last week I worked on it all day every day. Some of it was organising all my handouts into folders for the various units. and then of course, you leave one folder home and discover you needed it for something for someone else. Oh well.
But for light relief, I am doing some cutting out of fabrics. I am mainly concentrating on getting some nice clothes for cold weather. I rather wore my one warm wool skirt to death last year! Then, in moments between paperwork I can sit and stitch something up. Well, when my sick machine gets back from the doctor again!

So at the TVOffcuts meeting I took some fabric to cut. I was going to cut trousers from the pinstripe black (which I discovered was a faint check on the inside!) but because of the adjustments I have to make to the back crutch length, it was just a bit short. It was an offcut I inherited somehow and just enough was cut into that I couldn't fit it. However, it will make a smart skirt. I even needed to cut the waistband to be pieced, so I have some ideas of taking some of the scraps and cutting interesting shapes to applique and turn it into a fun smart skirt.

And since someone was wanting to get rid of the plaid, I also cut a skirt from that as well. With the prominent blue, it means I can wear brown even though I am not normally able to without looking ill.

At the weekend I cut linings for them. A rust coloured lining, for the plaid, which you can just about see. It goes with the rust stripe in the plaid. A grey lining for the pin stripe - goes with the pin stripe. I am trying to use up some lining fabric I also inherited somehow.

Then I also drafted a trumpet skirt pattern from my block. and cut out this lovely embroidered linen which I have been waiting to do for sometime. there is enough for a possible jacket as well. I am lining it with cotton, since the embroidery is metallic, and I think it will scratch. As a lining, it will help the linen to keep it's shape as well.

Then tonight I dug around in the skirt lengths box and saw this red herringbone and decided it would be just the cheerful thing this winter. My offcut of red lining was just a bit not enough because someone had cut a chunk out where I needed it. However, I decided I would go for secret cheerfulness too, with this strange flowery reddypinkygrey stuff. I would never use it as jacket lining, (even though I think that is about the only visible use I'd consider for it,) because it is rather strangely printed. Some flowers have good detail and some have almost none. I have decided the colour of the roses on the back side of the fabric (not shown)matches the red of the herringbone better, so I will use that. I am alreading using the back of the herringbone because the front side has marks from sun fading.

So, there we are. I am here...chuntering away at things in the background while I ~~chaff under~~ endure the early weeks of getting this course going.

TV Offcuts

2011-09-29T23:52:00.003+01:00

On Saturday, the Thames Valley Offcuts sewing group met up again after a break in August. There was a good turn out. We were very glad for the new wall sockets put into the centre of the long walls. It meant we could spread out a bit rather than cluster in corners.

Here are a couple photos of the busy things going on. Quite a few were cutting out this time, so no machine.

the new big mirror (for dance groups) will be useful for fitting the next time anyone is at that stage. There is a good mirror in the ladies', but this saves running there and back with all your pins falling out!

for some reason Lyn was on her own in the corner.

Just one close up this time...Mavis, doing some esquisite applique.

a few weeks ago

2011-09-28T23:12:00.000+01:00

as I said before, it has been rather hectic with starting teaching this year. and I won't get into it all, but it hasn't really got better yet.

anyway...

Before all that, and before the MIL 91st birthday, the Thames Valley group met for their September meeting. We ended up in the Birch Hill School Hall because the Community Centre had been double booked.

Annie Hamilton gave a talk about a series of very personal pieces she had made. Each piece represented a place where she had lived and had references of events - either by using a certain colour for certain emotions, or through little images of buildings and people, and also through words stitched into the work.

As you can see in the group shot in the first photo, the Bracknell Town Mayor, Gill Birch visited us in the morning. She said she enjoyed the talk. I think she has booked to come visit on the afternoon of the next meeting, too! She asked if she should wear her chain the next time. I said, if she wanted to. But she was welcome to come as Gill Birch if she wanted to!

One of our members is in the process of getting cleared out for a move up north. So, she was selling off a wide range of felt making equipment, books and so on. I bought several things relating to paper making. something I wanted to do, but hadn't got DH to make a frame. now I have one for a very small fraction of the original price, plus some other bits and pieces as well.

In the afternoon we had an activity centred round the Suitcase Collection: Childhood Memories hired from the Contemporary Quilt group.

A few shots of the A3 size pieces laid out on display.

Jane Glennie ran a very thought provoking excercise in which she had groups of people look at the quilts as if they were to curate a show. They were to think about ways they could be grouped and so on. The pieces could be viewed without looking at the statement or could be lifted using the white gloves to find the page with the artist statement beneath. Some of the stories were very poignant, others were very joyful.

The comments about the activity were quite positive. Some spoke about having a better understanding about what goes on behind the scene and some spoke about how it could help them with upcoming shows they are participating in.

looking ahead

2011-09-27T23:05:00.006+01:00

a Certain Lad is preparing for getting into the interest around Movember in a few months. Hmm.

Pardon the mug shot aspect of the photo, but it was a case of hurrying to take a photo for the grandmas the other day...just before he walked out the door the last time before going off to uni again. Final year!

He went early to help the freshers lug their bags and baggages around campus.

caught the eye

2011-09-26T07:00:00.000+01:00

This caught my eye when we were setting up my new classroom...

the bracket for the projector for the 'I hope it gets fixed soon' Interactive whiteboard.

Looks like a sewing machine to me.

Book Project

2011-09-23T21:47:00.000+01:00

So, I tried out my idea for the book project. I needed to enlarge 250%. My trial piece was 200%. It is a bit too fiddley and the larger one looks better on a whole page.

also, I learned that these book pages are very soft, so either I need a very sharp tip to my blade or I need to firm the page up in some way. I am going for firming. I need to try a few ideas. I want to colour it in with reference to the bright colours of illuminated manuscripts, so I can't really cover the top surface, but I might be able to do the back.

I might try dilute PVA glue. It just needs something to keep the little edges of the leaves inside from pulling away. Maybe acrylic wax over the letter after?

I also need to be sure the colours do have a difference visually. I had 4 shades of blue, but the very dark and the dark one both read as the same...What about colouring with gouache?

But, one thing I will try is fusible on the back of the page, because I am considering fusing a piece of fabric behind the letter after it is coloured. Here are a few ideas.

I am leaning towards the mottled look, but of course this is a little sample piece of cloth from somewhere, so not enough to do several letters. I may do different bright colours for different letters.

more thinking and experimenting next week.

Whatever Floats exhibition - Review

2011-09-22T22:21:00.000+01:00

A couple weeks ago I got a cryptic email from my friend Jane which prompted me to open my issue of the Quilter before lunch.

A great review by Lois Bellew of the Exhibition the Thames Valley group had at the Slough Museum.

That was a lovely surprise.

Also, during the madness of recent weeks, I sorted 2 more things hanging on my cupboards. These 2 blouses were originally dresses I got - reduced to less than a fiver each last year. As they were straight up and down types of dresses and I haven't got a straight up and down body...I had intended to make them into blouses all along. So now they are.

I added the extra ruffle at the bottom of the linen one. It seemed a bit short because of where I had to cut it just above a buttonhole. But even though the ruffle isn't very long, it seems to finish it well. The sleeves on this blouse could have done with taking off reducing in the shoulder/neckline area, but I knew that would have meant it stayed on the cupboard another year. So, I tried smallish shoulder pads in it and they were fine. I had some rescued from something else a while back, and with the remnant chopped from the bottom of the dress, I had plenty to cover them.
I found out I didn't really have blouses/tops to go with the green trousers, but now this does. Nice! makes a change from jeans and a top or t-shirt.

EquilARTeral and other things

2011-09-21T22:02:00.000+01:00

Things have been rather mad around here with popping to Yorkshire for a Certain Mother-in-Law having a 91st birthday, and then a Certain Lad going back to uni. And in the background worrying about my brother who is quite ill in hospital and the most mad...the beginning of college. Which I won't get into as I am trying not to think about it.

So, having a bad head yesterday and a worse head today, I decided to start investigating ideas for the new challenge our EquilARTeral group is doing.

We hadn't done anything together for ages because we got caught up in the exhibition Whatever Floats Your Boat by Thames Valley Contemporary Quilt at the Slough Museum. So, we didn't spend much time together talking about anything else!

But now we are hoping to do something for us again, and we are looking at the idea of using a book in some way.

So, this week I have been investigating Book Sculptures. I frequently follow links admiring this sort of work. So I googled the phrase "how to make book sculptures." Through that I got an idea of what I might like to attempt. You should try it, very interesting things going on out there.

Then I had a look at the rescued books I have picked up here and there.

I have used a bit of this book about writing letters before. So, I decided to combine that with something else I am interested in...Letters from Illuminated Manuscripts or at least from books from the Middle Ages.

At this point I am thinking of using these letters with the writing letters book. They seem to want to go together. I am going to combine some of the letters to create the ones needed to complete the modern alphabet.

I am not sure if we are meant to use stitch, too. But once I get going, I can work that in.

I saved the pages from the Writing Letters book about how to address letters to Royalty! I might need it. HA! Well, at least they might want to be in their own piece of work. ;-)

more finishing

2011-09-06T23:57:00.001+01:00

A few more of the wearable toiles hanging on the cupboard doors. Really they are on the way to getting to finishing the jacket toile which I hope will finally be the result.

Trousers finished - finally trousers that fit me properly. I know I can go ahead and make more when I get a chance.

Blouse finished...made on the way to getting the dress right. But now I can make some more blouses and tops.

This may not seem so exciting to you, but it is like having a whole boutique available with everything in your size, and also in styles and colours of your own choice.
Mind you the toiles were made of what was on hand and I have finished them to wear.
BUT...the next ones!

Finally, the post about Secret Project no. 3

2011-09-05T07:00:00.002+01:00

Dragon Wear
The third garment for the Fashion Sans Frontieres show at the Festival of Quilts was to be Wearable Art. As you might have guessed, I thought...Something a Dragon might wear!

When I was looking for lining for the other garments, I found this net which already would give the look I had thought I would need to do by machine.

I also had an old faded red velvet curtain that a friend had given me ages ago. I hadn't realised how faded and it was quite a puzzle to cut out a long skirt. But with the net over some of the sections where the fading could have been noticed, it was fine.

Next I used patterns from my machine to stitch a grid over the surface. The washed surface fabrics were stitched to unwashed loomstate calico. Then I washed it all and the resulting shrinking of the calico caused the puckering texture I wanted. This is my version of a technique from a Threads magazine a long time ago. I call it shrink texturing.

Fabric after being shrunk

I will pause to tell you another problem encountered...while sewing the patterns across the skirt, my machine began to get confused. In the middle of doing herringbone stitch it started doing serpentine! When I had given it a rest, it still was misbehaving. Even going straight it would suddenly reverse. So, it was time for a doctor. My dealer is very good and was able to replace the board which controls stitches and also the other main board on the warranty (which if taken by the letter of the law had expired last year...even though it is only 3 years old). However, I didn't get it back til the weekend before the show. I was able to use a Pfaff 7570 that my friend has loaned me for a backup machine. So, I did all the rest of the work on the garments with it.

The skirt

and back to the Dragon Wear gown. I had red satin to use for the bodice. It was a more orange red while the curtain velvet for the skirt was a more blue red. But with the net over it, the difference wasn't so clashing. I also fused net to red synthetic organza using black Misty Fuse. I made wing like shapes which I attached in various places on the bodice and skirt.
Bodice front

bodice back

Close up of the details on the garment.

I was going to do a cape, but ran out of time in the end.
But here is the Dragon Wear outfit on display

Finishing and woking out problems

2011-09-04T21:29:00.000+01:00

well, having said that I couldn't put off college things any longer, I found I could. :)
So, on Saturday, I finished this skirt. I had got it right to the place where I stitched in the lining round the zip and needed to finish the hem. Well, that is where I discovered I had used the skirt block that said to add to the bottom, which I hadn't done. So...it has been on the cupboard til now. In the meanwhile, I have made sure I won't make that mistake again.

So, just to get it finished, I decided to take a strip of fabric and just slightly pleat it at intervals. This is the chop-chop-sew-sew method. Get the piece of fabric, notice the extra amount in the middle is just a bit bigger than the amount of each panel at the hem. Try the skirt on and sit down to work out how much to add to the bottom. Cut 4 strips 10cm wide, stitch them together and then match and pin at seams. Pin at the centres of the panels and make a small inverted pleat. Pin at the 1/4 sections of the panels and make more small inverted pleats. Since the measurement at the front is slightly shorter than the back, make an extra inverted pleat at CF. stitch it down, finish edges. et voila!

So, then I started thinking which blouse would go best with it. I liked the idea of a white blouse, but the plain ones looked best, but felt too plain. So, I simply stitched patterns in blue!

Whilst I was on a roll, I decided to finish off the dress I had made as a working toile. It just needed the neckline finished and the buttons added. I had used fairly strong interfacing because I knew I wanted to use the big heavy buttons. I thought that button holes might have to be various sizes for the various shapes and would probably be so big there would be problems with the openings gaping. I decided that because I could get it over my head without unbuttoning, I would just sew the buttons on through the layers. So...I did.

Rucksack prototype

2011-09-02T16:57:00.000+01:00

Well for some reason the internet was not working at all yesterday. So, while I could not sort the photos for the secret project no 3 and post them, I did finish the rucksack.

Plenty of pockets

Verdict? It works. It is lightweight. You can use it like a bag if you don't want it on your back.

oh rubbish, blogger just ate the rest of the post.

Problems? It is too complicated - well mainly all the extra contrast bias binding trim.

I wanted to fold down the top corners to make a point, like a bag I saw at FOQ, but I had already put the large pocket on, so when you fold the points down it causes a lot of confusion around the area of the pocket closure.

I wanted adjustable straps, but I seem to have put the buckles somewhere reasonable because 'I never use them' and I guess I put something else in that drawer.

Changes:
Make the bottom D shaped instead of oval shaped so the oval doesn't poke into your back. This was a clever suggestion from the resident university student who 'wears rucksacks all the time, so I know.' He has also suggested tabs at either side at the bottom to attach the straps to, for some reason of improved wearability which I have forgotten.

But anyhow...now I have a rucksack for the present drawer because I am obviously going to find I need a present for someone and it will be just right.

And now I am off to sew something in preparation for upcoming college units. Yes. It is getting near that time again and I can't put this off any longer.

2011-08-31T22:29:00.000+01:00

I am busy sewing a prototype lightweight bag.

Slight delay on getting the photos posted of Secret Project no. 3. So, in the meanwhile - here is a photo of something unusual.

Or at least I thought it wasn't politically correct any more, but it is actually in a part of Reading where people would have made their views clear if they had objected.

Secret Project no. 2 - Small Talk

2011-08-30T07:00:00.001+01:00

Here is a bit about the design process for the Evening Wear category.

I think I mentioned previously how successful the dyed silk twill turned out. The next step was to create the appliques I wanted to add. I decided to use fused paper. I had rescued a French/Japanese dictionary and also had a few pages of a French/English dictionary. I thought this would make a fun connection with the Fashion Sans Frontieres aspect of the show. But also, in the story (most of my pieces start with a story or senario, this helps me to have direction in the choices for the design.) I imagined standing around at an evening event making small talk and someone would notice 1-that your flowers on your gown were actually made of paper, and 2 - that it had words on it. This, in theory, would lead to more interesting conversations than usually develop in those situations.

So, to make the papers the colour I had decided would go with the blue.

I used the inside of the small 'shed' for spraying the pages.

Papers sprayed

Papers pinned to ivy leaves to dry while I sprayed more!

Oh but a breeze comes up.

never mind, I have other interesting papers for some future use.

Dried collected papers

torn up in pieces so as to get a random scattering of the variations on the paper.

arranged on a layer of Misty Fuse, then fused to silk organza for strength for stitching, then a layer of Misty Fuse on top to keep all the overlapping edges down. It does not remain sticky as it is not actually a glue adhesive. It will help the paper to wear better. (I do not plan to wash this, only wipe with a damp cloth. I do plan to do more experiments about what type of seal can be done to make paper on a garment hold up to a hand wash though!)

Tracing and cutting loads of petals and then positioning them on the skirt and bodice.

The skirt had been underlined with dress tulle. This has served well to keep it from creasing during transport and then subsequently during storage in the wardrobe.

one of the smaller flowers

one of the medium flowers

one of the large flowers. Each type had a slightly different arrangement depending how much space there was around the centre of the flowers.

Here is the full circle skirt

and here is the bodice

As I worked with the flowers, I realised the colour would be picked up very well with the addition of a plummy brown silk organza. I had purchased this fabric when I did the first Bernina garment. The swatch looked like it matched. The fabric did not when it came. So, it had been living in the cupboard all this time! Just right.
I made tubes of the fabric and gathered them and then caught it down onto the top of the bodice and the straps.

And then with the rest I made a sort of stole/shrug with cuffs of the blue at the ends.

and there you are! Secret Project no. 2.
Here is the blurb for it.

Evening Wear – ‘Small Talk’ - bodice and full circle skirt of cornflower blue silk twill with stitched blossoms of fused painted paper from foreign language dictionaries, and a stole to pick up the colours of the blossoms.

Secret Project no. 1 - Spring Showers

2011-08-29T13:33:00.001+01:00

I showed a glimpse of Secret Project no.1 with me on the catwalk.
Here are a few photos of trying to make it and then on display at the show.

options for embellishing the hem.

I liked that, but wanted the flowers spread along the front and back. I also had to consider how to support the springs.

So, by arranging them on the turned to the front facing, I had more support than on the body of the dress.

final results - bunched so you can see the ones on either side seam

and the neckline to draw the whole piece together

Attempts to sew the shower curtain for seams for the raincoat.
Paperclip the seams? No, they just popped off

Bulldog clips worked best in the end. just remove them as they get to the sewing machine bed.

The finished raincoat

How it fastens - I had these 'aiglets' or points from ages ago when I was doing historical costumes. They are the sort of thing used to tie portions of garments together, like holding men's 'hose' up. But they work well to fit through the holes from the portion for hanging the shower curtain. I sewed it along the front, as cuffs and on the flap of the bag.

The finished dress

I had enough time before the show to make a bag to hold the raincoat...and then of course, there was the hat!

I didn't have enough time to 'make' a hat from scratch. So, I covered a felt hat with fabric from the dress. At that point (the monday before the show) I was working right out straight, so didn't get in progress photos.

I had no idea how I was going to hold the shower hose on without lots of ugly stitching, but then I realise that the decorative springs are 'springy'. Duh. So, I used the last 3 in that colour to hold it down.

Here is the blurb I sent about the garment. When you are up there you don't hear a word of what they are saying, so I am not sure just what they read out.

Daywear - ‘Spring Showers’ - turquoise and fuchsia dress embellished with spring flowers made of actual springs, accessorised by a bag containing a raincoat made from a shower curtain and a hat adorned with a spring-look shower hose.

Shapeless on a hanger photo.

London and changing the guard

2011-08-26T12:26:00.000+01:00

Last week before our Dutch visitor went back home, we went into London to see the changing of the guard and Buckingham Palace.

We saw the exhibition of the Dutch landscape paintings in the Queen's gallery, which was rather a co-incidence for our friend. I really like the paintings in the palace though. My son actually went along with me and discussed the paintings in both places. That was a new experience. We liked some of the same things, and scoffed at some of the same art speak comments on the audio guide.

I was able to see THE wedding dress and get a better idea of the construction of the train. You can't take photos in the palace of course. But, I am pretty sure it is done on a similar principle to the draped wedding gown I did for my city and guilds.

Here are a few photos from seeing the changing of the guard. We saw them come out of one barracks and then rushed across the park to see them come out of the other place. I was really struggling with my hip for some reason that day, so I am afraid hobble was more like what I was doing throughout the day.
A flag on the Mall whilst waiting

Just come from the barracks. There were police on horseback minding the crowds so the troops could pass.

Wonderful music

Serious protection!

Glimpse of the Eye on the way through the park.

At the other side, coming from Wellington Barracks

more music

One of the best views of the day. A fairytale right in the middle of London and I didn't even know it!

TV offcuts July meeting

2011-08-25T11:38:00.000+01:00

So I am still taking time out from sewing at the moment. For my birthday my husband got me a programme for keeping track of the genealogy information I started collecting this year. I waited to start using it until i got the big projects out of the way. So I have been enjoying putting the pieces of the puzzle together this week.

However, I better catch up with the photos. I want to put a few up about the garments for the show. But at the moment, I want to get the other ones out of the way first.

Busy things that were happening at the TVOffcuts sewing group at the end of July.

Sheila always has an interesting project. I think this was destined to be a bag.

Anne and Caroline braved sitting on the M25 for over an hour to come. I still can't believe they come all the way from near Stanstead!

Elaine and Caroline chattering away whilst accomplishing something.

I am always amazed that Gill C works with one bare foot! Lyn is beavering away with the knits again.

Juliette, Gabrielle and Mavis working hard. Mavis had been given the task by her daughter to copy a dress - never mind the fabric was quite different altogether. But she managed to get it all cut out. She did the instintive route rather than tracing and so on. She really works fast. I hope it fit.

more Art in Action

2011-08-23T13:03:00.001+01:00

the previous post was getting too full, so I will continue here.

There were some amazing pieces of art on show, as well as fascinating demonstrations of the work being done. I had heard about a project in the textiles tent before I went. The project is called The Unfinishable. A group of textile artists are collecting unfinished work from others and then will do something with them to finish.

I knew just the piece to donate. I started this somewhere around 1977/78! It was for my aunt who was about to have her first at around age 42. Well, the baby has obviously grown and even has recently returned from a tour of duty in Iraq. He is married and has children!

The reason I never finished is because I couldn't resolve the situation with the baby on the blanket. and eventually I hated the fact that I had used remnants of dress fabrics, including polyester doubleknit/crimplene. I guess the reason why I kept it was because I had been very pleased with the piecing of the chest of drawers and the stitching on the 'pictures'. What I find interesting, after thinking I have only been doing textile art in the last decade or so, is that I had it in me to go that direction way back then!

So, anyway, I have passed it on and hopefully they can chop and change it to be something which will redeem the time and effort of storing and carrying it around all this time!

Another exciting - at least to me - thing going on at the show was the woodcarvers who were working on a 'rocking dragon'.

For a donation you could have your name written on one of the scales. The money raised is going to Help for Heroes. So, how could I pass it up?
I have put a ring round 'my' scale.

The Help for Heros website states: "Ox & Bucks Woodcarvers fundraiser - Art in Action - in July was great fun and a success. They raised £3017 at this event and added to their running total from previous events they have reached a total of approx. £4,500."

Art in Action

2011-08-23T11:00:00.001+01:00

Each year I like to go somewhere special for my birthday at the end of July. This year was the first time I went to Art in Action. I really enjoyed it.

One of the main things I wanted to do was to visit Jackie Morris's stand. I follow her blog because I really enjoy her painting. On the way in we saw her recently 'wrapped' van with images from the Tell Me a Dragon Book.

I love the quirkiness of her Cheetah and Cherry series. Some weeks before I bought a bag with one of the Cheetah and Cherry paintings printed on. I can't afford the paintings at this point, but I can afford a bag.

So, when I visited the stand, I aimed first for the 'Tell Me a Dragon' book. Jackie writes and illustrates children's picture books. I also picked up a book about animals of the Bible to use with my Sunday School.

Next I took them to Jackie to have her sign the Dragon book. Isn't it fun! not just an autograph!

Then I had the cheek to ask her to sign the bag I had bought before. I even had a Sharpie for her to sign with. and so another special little drawing. She was happy to do it and several others in the queue sighed with envy wishing they had a bag to sign!

I had also decided to do one of the workshops. Most were already full. I wanted to do Illuminated Manuscript, but no places. So, I did Painting a Tudor Rose with Egg Tempera - or something. Egg Tempera is the same sort of paint technique as was used for illuminated manuscripts, so that was fine. Here is a series of photos of the process.
The instructor with her range of pigments and the types of earth and minerals she makes them from.

The types of earth and minerals used in the more ancient times. Interesting that white lead will change to yellow and then red with more heat. You can make a subdued colour wheel to work from with the earth and minerals here. They have been painted inside the shell pallets next to the red pigment.

Later (still a long time ago in the middle ages!) Other minerals were used to make brighter colours. Especially blue colours used for the robes of the Madonna.

This is a chart which shows how the colours and minerals were perceived and used. There was a 'spiritual' meaning as the colours moved from the dark/earth colours to the light, the pinnacle being gold. The colours were related to the planets as well.

Here are some of the tools used to make the pigments.

and how to prepare the egg tempera:
Break a fresh egg and strain away the egg white using both sides of the shell. Roll the egg yoke round in your hands to remove as much as the white as you can.

Hold the yoke by the sac in the fingers on one hand. Break the yoke at the bottom and squeeze the liquid from the sac into your bowl. This ensures you don't get bits of sac in the paint.

mix in distilled water - an equal amount to the liquid from the yoke.

continue to mix, adding a drop of spike lavendar for preservation (some people use quite a bit of vinegar for this purpose instead)

having ground your pigment, take a bit and mash it against the edge of a tile pallet to ensure it is very fine.

put a bit of the egg mixture on the pallet and slowly mix with the pigment a bit at a time. You need enough to keep it from drying on the pallet.

Try out the mixture for painting on gessoed paper. you don't want the brush loaded. you will use a dry brush.

and my end result:

Not as good as it could be, but I have a bit of an idea how to do it now. Or at least I understand the instructions in my illuminated manuscript book. It would be better with a dryer brush and also with a longer period of time for the layers to dry inbetween. It is interesting that the bottom layer was green! It gives depth to the other colours. However, I think I was a bit heavy handed with it.
You can check out the Prince's school of Traditional Arts if you want to know more about egg tempera and other types of techniques.

Whether I will actually use the knowledge sometime, I don't know!

C+G External Verifier visit

2011-08-23T07:00:00.001+01:00

Here is a glimpse of the displays and work my C+G students did for the visit of the C+G external verifier. Rather than being intimidated by these visits, I look forward to them because our EV is actually the head of department at the college where I did my C+G qualification! I think it helps that I know what sort of things she looks for and considers important.

Displays for year 2 - a bit more to show as the year 1 students are still at the design stage for their first garment. I think I am going to trim the sampling even a bit more this coming year. We always do more than the required amount, but somehow most of the students don't seem to be able to work fast enough to get everything in.

I have rubbed out surnames just for privacy.
Frances -

a close up of the technique samples.

I love the way she presented her pattern cutting work!

Her trousers show great skill. Look at the curved faced hem!

These are the ideas for the blouse Frances is currently working on.

Julia -

The blouse Julia is currently working on. Here she is in the toile. you can see the design ideas on the display table.

Year one sample work. This includes: Techniques, Design, and Pattern work.

and Skirt design ideas.
Anna -

Nana -

Holly's toile

Student Fashion Show

2011-08-22T19:00:00.001+01:00

Apart from a few mini fashion shows, we also had the main fashion show this year on the 15th July. We do it every 2 years. As I said the other day, I was helping with the dressing and organising people to get out there on time, so I didn't see much of it.

However, I did pop out for the final twirl round and got a few quick photos. not stellar as for actually seeing anything, but here they are. If you can make them out, you can see that I was able to put the 2 Bernina ensembles in the show this time. 2 years ago they were still on tour. Luckily we had 2 ladies thin enough to wear them! mind you they were in high demand for quite a few of the outfits.

Big Art Picnic

2011-08-22T11:00:00.000+01:00

During Reading Arts Week I also demonstrated the Machine Embroidery at Caversham Court for the Big Art Picnic. I really enjoy demoing there. It is lovely by the River Thames.

I did catch a few photos of the mini fashion show. The work was mostly from students from some of the other fashion courses. We really put the chap from the local newspaper through his paces!

This student was in the design classes I taught a few years ago. She chose Mondrian for her design research project. You can see how she used the strong lines for this dress she wore to her daughter's wedding.

and then the colour blocking for this reversable cape.

One of the ladies does a lot of corset bustle skirt combinations. We borrowed visitors from around the picnic to model.

Here is the designer with some of the models.

and here was one of the many entertainment groups that performed during the day - Amy's Ghost. I really liked the style of the main singer. She even had interesting face make-up to go with her 'persona'.

Lily hill Park Picnic

2011-08-22T09:00:00.001+01:00

On one of the Sunday's in June, we went with a large group of our friends to join in a picnic in Lily Hill Park on the other side of Bracknell. They have built a long picnic table which they say is the longest in England made from one piece of wood.

It was so hot though, that after the official photos were taken of the event and the officials gave their little speeches, everyone went and sat on blankets in the shade to eat their lunch!

jam pan

2011-08-22T07:00:00.001+01:00

For Father's day, we got my husband a jam pan. Since he is enjoying baking so much, I thought he might like to make jam ~~for my toast~~.
So, my friend Gill C brought some gooseberries with her to the June sewing meeting. And here he is... already had made gooseberry curd by the time we went to bed!

Yum!

Meant to be a workshop

2011-08-21T21:05:00.000+01:00

During Reading Arts Week at the end of June, I was meant to do a fabric painting workshop at Battle Library. But I think the weather and several other factors like teacher strikes meant no one came. Oh well. I got some interesting photos in the area near the library.

Battle Library - a listed building which was recently renovated and reopened in June 2009. There are two interesting quotes carved into the pavement in front of the building. these are both carved and set in a curve. Not so easy to photograph, but I have cropped the phrases and placed them one on top of the other.

"If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." - Sir Isaac Newton

"My pen is my harp and my lyre; my library is my garden and my orchard.” - Judah Ha-Levi (Spanish Jewish physician, poet and philosopher)

The site of the old Battle Hospital

making way for new houses. Love the image on the hoardings! It makes you do a double-take.

TV offcuts June meeting

2011-08-21T20:31:00.000+01:00

some of the busy things which happened on the last Saturday in June
sorry some are a bit fuzzy

Anne K - upcycling a plain gown

Claire - pjs

Elaine - patchwork

Gill C - sun hat prototype

Gill G - puzzling over her pattern making

but time for a grin

Juliette - mending

Lyn - working with a knit

Mavis - all hand sewn and quilted!

Sheila - making fabric flowers

result

how-to kit

et moi with the raincoat from Secret Project no. 1 - made from a shower curtain

photo Lyn Duffus

Here I am again!

2011-08-21T18:34:00.000+01:00

Well, the blip of not posting was rather too long I think! It wasn't that I hadn't anything to post, but all the extra time I had was taken up with sewing, making, thinking about the garments for the Fashion Sans Frontieres show at the Festival of Quilts. If you hadn't worked it out, that was what Secret Project 1, 2 and 3 were about. I am waiting for some official photos, although I do have a few that my DH took. over 100 to be honest! (yes! He actually went to see the show!)

Spring Showers

Small Talk

Dragon Wear

In the meanwhile, I have ...
- photos from 2 of the TVOffcuts sewing meetings - June and July.
- a few in progress photos of the garments being made.
-photos of events at Reading Arts week. I demoed at the Big Art Picnic again.
- photos of the work done by C+G students and displayed for the External Verifier near the beginning of July.
- photos of the Fashion show put on by all the students/tutors in the Fashion department
- photos of a few different places we have been through the summer with a Dutch student who was staying here, such as Art in Action
and then last week going to see THE Wedding Dress at Buckingham Palace.

I think I will make a few posts about the various things as I get the photos sorted, just for my own record as much as anything. And now that I have had a little break last week from sewing (reading; tidying the studio so I can find things!) and our student has gone home, I can start back in with photos of what I am currently doing. I want to play around with a few ideas for "just because" before I get back into preparing for college.

hand sewing

2011-06-19T21:21:00.000+01:00

not thrilling, but spare moments in the last few days catching the interlining in along the seam allowances.

listening to audio books and even watching pattern design videos without words whilst doing it!

bones

2011-06-17T23:21:00.000+01:00

of a metal sort going into secret project no 2 today.

Sorry for the crypticness lately! hard to post about something you are not meant to reveal yet but have got to the point where you need to spend every waking moment on!

but you can use your imagination.

PS Blogger if you don't mind, I would prefer you didn't keep adding extra spaces! I can add my own thank you.

Sounding board

2011-06-16T22:59:00.000+01:00

On Thursday's my friend Pat comes round for a while. While she is here, she often helps me get my head full of ideas into a bit of focus to what I really do want. Most times this is without her saying a word! I start to tell her what I have been doing and we head to my studio. Then, as I explain to her what I have been thinking, suddenly I am able to see in my head what will be best. Or while I am fiddling with something to show her what I mean, I work out how I will actually be able to accomplish it. and a lot of times I get further ideas... meaning I dig around in piles and cupboards for just that thing which will finish off a look.

Here is the idea that got refined while Pat watched and nodded in the right places.

Thanks Pat. You are a good listener!

Sometimes when my son is here, he gets subjected to the same treatment. But he isn't always aware that all he needs to do is listen! If he is in a can-be-bothered mood, he can give some good visual advice. when he is in a can't-be-bothered mood...you wish you hadn't asked. ;-)

Secret project

2011-06-15T22:48:00.000+01:00

As I said, I finished the main part of Secret Project no.1 the other day. I am working on something to go with it, but it isn't crucial.

I deliberated quite a bit about Secret Project no.2, but finally settled on a design a few weeks ago. I had some natural coloured silk twill and a box of Dylon machine dyes I had hoped to change it with. I had already bought some lining; the nearest to what I could get to the blue on the box. However, when I opened the box ready to do it...well it said not to use it on silk. At that point it was do it or don't do it. So I did it anyway! I figured I was still open to the results to lead me for how I would develop the design so even if it had holes, I wouldn't mind.

Well, I am so glad I did it. I absolutly love the colour! It is almost a periwinkle blue and there is a subtle shine from the silk that catches your breath! and then to top it off, you could not get a better match for the lining if you tried. (the light is shining off the part next to the silk, but the darker section behind is more like the true colour. Well, I know people don't see the lining, but for me it makes me more confident if I have lining that isn't just making do.

And here is the amazing thing. Today I cut out the skirt, and the parts for the bodice and even started sewing things together. Some of the reason I managed to do so much today is because at least 3 filling up my head sorts of things are done now. It does help to focus if you have room in your head!

done things
-took down the TVCQ exhibition from the museum yesterday - done.
-5 out of 9 students submitted drafting folders which I marked and then the college internal verifier agreed with the marks. All 5 got distinctions for those units! - done
-a decision on major headachey issues over a particular matter with one of my group looks like it is going to turn out for the best. - done

I need to find out how to insert a tick. I love to tick things off a list, don't you?

TV offcuts May meeting

2011-06-14T07:00:00.035+01:00

Amongst the silence in May the sewing group also had a meeting. We meet at the community centre on the last Saturday of each month from 12:30 - 5:00pm.
Because it was a bank holiday weekend, there was only a handful of us. But actually we were all very productive.

Sheila put linings in curtains she was making.

Gill G was making a pattern off of a favourite shirt.

Gabrielle whipped out this top

and worked on an unusual pattern that took some figuring out.

Gill C was making a dress from Japanese themed fabric her husband had bought for her.

I was working on Secret Project no.1 (still) At the meeting I was hemming the sleeves. In fact this past Friday I finally finished the whole thing! At one point I realised it would have been better if I had interlined it, so I ended up finding a way to do it after the fact.

I am working on an accessory now.

Design day at college

2011-06-13T07:00:00.000+01:00

So, all that was just a start on catching up on things that went on in May when I rather ran out of time for posting.

During the days I have been working on the Secret Projects...no photos to speak of except maybe this?

A jacket that has lost it's sleeve - I am still trying to get a jacket toile to fit. So I finally decided to remove one sleeve from this. The hang was right even though the shoulders need taking in and down 1 inch. So, if I ever fix it, I am going to need to take the sleeve off anyway at the shoulder. So I took it off and sorted the alteration and then traced it off to use for a pattern for the jacket. At this point in the progress of these projects, I think I am going to decide that high summer is not the best time for jackets that I have run out of time to make!!

another Saturday was taken up with a full day of design work with the students in the C+G course. There were so many Bank holidays scheduled during the actual course time that we were in danger of needing to meet right into August! So, we had to sessions in one on the Saturday.

Here is a little of the work that was going on.

rubbings

stamping

a collection of experiments by Francis

combining rubbing patterns

applying the designs to the craft - fashion

more design work by helena

TVCQ workshop and private view

2011-06-12T07:00:00.012+01:00

We had a couple workshops at the Museum during half term. Mine was swamped with families! But the one the next day only had one child.At our workshop, we had strips of felt to make a weaving.

Here are some of the works of art. Some liked a minimal look, some liked strings hanging off.

This little girl decided she wanted the hanging strips looped back on themselves. Yes! someone who thinks outside the box!

We also had an interactive activity where people could poke bits of fabric into a foam base and create their own pattern.

It has been popular, especially with the children of group members who were waiting while mums chatted!

We also had a selection of samples people could touch and get an idea of how some of the art has been made. It was popular as well.

So, there you have to whole exhibition experience. Sadly, yesterday was the last day for the exhibition. We will be taking the work down on Tuesday. It was also the last day for the Museum to be open in the current venue. There will not be space for a gallery at the library where the Museum is moving. unfortunately for the majority of the exhibit the museum artefacts were being packed up. So, there wasn't opportunity to compare the work with the artefact which inspired it.

We were able to hold a private view on the 4th of June. The Museum employees and volunteers were also invited. At the private view and through the week we had quite a bit of interest from other galleries who wanted to have us show work. We are hoping this exhibit will be shown next year at the National Needlework Archive in Newbury. This is good because it is open for a longer period during the week.

photo by Nigel Bird

The Mayor of Bracknell attended our private view. We meet in the Birch Hill Community Centre which is in her constituency.

Watch this space and go to the group blog where more photos of the private view and for further information of what is going on!

TVCQ exhibition - 6

2011-06-11T07:00:00.000+01:00

I showed a few of the pieces to the right of the door in the first post. Since I went with my husband to the exhibition on Wednesday, I was able to get a few better photos.

This a general photo of the whole area. You can't see Clare's piece with the wings or Gaynor's with the mangle as they are behind the pillar and Marion's ghost dress is nearer the door.

So a reminder: Marion's ghost dress

Chris' shoes

Delia's samplers

Sheila's cyanotype shoes

Next is
Clare's 'wings' - Clare was inspired by angels in the stained glass window of one of the churches in Slough. She used various contemporary versions of goldwork and embroidery techniques to create the centre portion to fit with the wooden wings she had been gifted.

and Geraldine's People's Cathedral - Geraldine came to the reveal meeting with the central square completed. She had ideas for the surround, but had only been able to complete that much along with her C+G course. So, we all persuaded her it WAS good enough to go in as it was. And then she went home and by the next morning had added the surround that it has now. It is beautiful!

As I said, the Gaynor's mangle piece is on the other side of the pillar above the interactive area. This is a better photo and with detail. I tried to get it so you could read it, but it might not be very clear.

On this side you can see Linda's piece inspired by a mammoth tooth in the museum collection. She used photos printed onto fabric combined with fabrics with a bit of an ancient feel.

The installation piece below is Vicki's work using silk paper techniques.

She was inspired by a photo of the Salvage Kid whose job was to collect paper from being wasted in the war. Some of the salvage was from bombed letterboxes.

The piece is very poignant as you are encouraged to consider what may have happened in lives of people whose letters didn't reach their destination.

Today is the final day of the show. The museum is closing as well. Due to funding cuts they have had to move. They will be in a small room in the Central Library, so no room for galleries.

However, we have hopes for the show to go to other places! I won't say till the agreement is final, but we are excited about it!

TVCQ exhibition - 5

2011-06-10T17:35:00.002+01:00

Today I will start with the 3D pieces.

Annie was inspired by Slough as a town itself and depicted it as a recepticle. In the inside of her bowl is a patchwork map of the town with the railway and the roads that lead into Slough. The outside represents the variety of cultures that make up Slough.

Next in the centre is my piece. I haven't got a photo on the reveal day, but you saw it in my lounge. Here is a photo showing both sides. I was inspired by the little doll corsets, but wanted to enlarge it to make it unrestrictive and flexible, with even the colours of stitching showing that fashionable toys are for all children rather than the wealthy whose parents would have been able to afford corsets for their dolls.

Next, a photo of the back corner of the gallery. There is a portion of the wall that is set out from the wall I was showing yesterday.

The piece on that wall is by Christine who was inspired by the irons in the museum collection...even one called Fairy Prince! The irons brought back memories of her grandfather's kitchen.

In the corner is a 3D suspended piece by Margaret R. She saw the Taplow vase in the museum which is in many pieces, but is displayed in such a way as to let the mind fill in the gaps. She liked the openness of the vase displayed that way and wanted to represent it through repeated drawings of the vase displayed in an implied vase shape.

The back wall is filled with work by Jane G.

Jane saw a bottle and book in the museum relating to an embrocation. In researching the salve, she discovered it was said to be helpful to both humans and horses! She was able to obtain her own copy of the book and used some of the illustrations to create a series. The muslin over the pages and the red stitching give quite a feel of wounds and bandages.

In front of Jane's work is another 3D installation by Ros. Ros saw some of the old tins the museum had and created some with a political twist. Bandages, Salve and Polish in the style of old healing potions these offer universal cures for what is wrong in the world!

Tomorrow the rest of the items that are in the alcove are to the right of the door when you enter the room.

TVCQ exhibition - 4

2011-06-09T23:54:00.003+01:00

More from our exhibition. To read more of the stories look at the catalogue here.

The first corner you see when you walk in the door of the gallery.

Jane E's piece about the comets was shown the other day.

Next in the corner is Margaret C's installation. Margaret was inspired by another of the artworks in the Slough high street. She printed sky birds onto mull and rolled it into 2 tubes. She found the best way to show all the way around was to put in front of a reflective surface. The sky birds are printed at the back as well.

Here is the full wall that faces you when you come in the door.

So next is Kate F's piece about Herschel's telescope. There is a model in the museum collection. Kate often works structures into her pieces. However she said she struggled this time - thus the title Herschel's Nightmare!

Somehow I missed out getting a close photo of Mary's piece at the reveal, but here it is at the museum. She was inspired by the variety of architectural structures at the Slough Trading Estate. The combination of roof shapes and piping really work well together.

Sheena also thought about the trading estate, but from a political perspective. So there is a hint of the buildings but with economical references and the word Slough stitched repeatedly.

Elaine was inspired by the artefacts of Horlicks items in the museum collection. In her research, she discovered alot of information about Horlicks tablets and recorded it in a visual way in this piece.

Merete was looking at the Mars factory and found that there is a place online where you can design your own M+M's! So, here is her version of M+M's with the sun, sand and sea elements which often show up in her work.

Carol was thinking about the manufacturing as well - the manufacture of bricks that Slough was known for. She depicted the layers of history through the variety of bricks shown in the piece.

Tomorrow I will put in the 3D pieces in the centre. You can see Annie's in front of these pieces in the photo of the full wall.

TVCQ exhibition - 3

2011-06-08T23:34:00.001+01:00

Before carrying around the museum, I will give you a glimpse of the front window. I was able to get a few photos while there with my husband. As I said, it is hard to photograph with the reflections.

The first piece is by Kate M. She was inspired by a shop window she saw in Slough. She thought it would make a good design for a quilt with the criss cross lines and divisions. You can see it more clearly here at the reveal day in the community centre.

another one of just Kate's piece in the window.

a photo of Heather's which I showed the other day. (I had started by showing pieces by some of my embroidery students and some that were just delightful, but then realised I should show things in a more orderly fashion.)

There was more space that needed filling in the window. We had chosen those because we thought being colourful they would attract more attention.
The piece I submitted was based on the doll's corsets in the handling collection.(photos of it in my lounge here and I will show it in the museum on another day)
So I looked in my cupboard and realised I had 2 pieces that were also based on corsets that would work...especially this first one which is called Fanciful Dreams. Corset shapes in bright silks that look like fans when they are all put together.

and then this other piece seemed right for the side wall. I wasn't worried if it wasn't actually noticed much. It has rust died fabrics and even grapefruit pith!

Of course those aren't the best of photos! you might see them as advertising for the shops across the road!

TVCQ exhibition - 2

2011-06-08T00:04:00.001+01:00

More photos. As you come into the gallery to the left you would see 3 plinths with cloth books. and an arrangement of 3 artists work along the wall. Two of the books can be seen in this photo.

They are by Jenny. One follows a heraldic theme from the coat of arms of Slough focussing on the swan. The other is called the Blue Planet and focusses on Herschel, who developed a particular telescope,and includes symbols from his own coat of arms. A closer look with the photos taken on reveal day.

In the gallery photo, the first set of works on the wall are by Joanna. She researched things Slough was known for: cox's orange pippin apples, a Mrs Siskins dianthus, making bricks and a reference to a place where pigs were kept in the Doomsday book. I really like the graphic style of these pieces!

Next along the wall is Sue's bright work based on the paisley design used by one of the artists who created an inset work in the pavement in the high street.

and the final one on that wall is by Jane E, whose work commemorates Herschel's sister, who discovered and named several comets.

The other cloth book was also by Jane E. It is about the contrast of the 2012 Olympics with the Austerity Olympics - her husband carried the flame, I believe. She was inspired by a cup from the 1948 Olympics which is in the Museum.

Here are the 3 books together.

I am hoping to visit the museum again tomorrow with my husband, so I hope to get some better photos of the pieces in the window.

TVCQ exhibition - 1

2011-06-05T23:35:00.004+01:00

Here are a few of the pieces of work in the exhibition in Slough Museum. You can see more at the Whatever floats Your Boat... blog. In most cases, I am putting together a photo of the work from the 'reveal' day at the community centre, and then at the museum. The museum photos were taken quickly when I was there to do a workshop, but between the two you can get an idea.

Gaynor's work was inspired by the mangle in the museum collection. She recalled the one her mother had and the times she caught her fingers in it! Then she saw another one in another museum and started looking around on the internet for more ideas. There is a bit of text from a piece in 2009 where the Vatican is trying to claim that washing machines did more for women's liberation than birth control and working outside the home! So we displayed it near the 'please touch' table where people would stop and then have a chance to read what it said.

Heather was inspired by some of the artwork done on the pavements on Slough High Street. The piece was lovely and bright for going into the front window of the museum, but is hard to photograph there, so the second photo is one she sent.

Delia was inspired by the samplers done by the young girls which we saw in the museum handling collection. I missed out getting a photo on reveal day, so one of these photos zooms in a bit so you can see it better. I like the way the last one implies the stitcher had had enough and went off to play!

There were a few small works that we hung near one another as they had a link to childhood, so the piece hanging next to Delia's belongs to Sheila who was inspired by the wee doll shoes in the handling collection. They reminded her of some she has that belonged to her grandmother. So her piece relates to memories of her grandmother. On the background she used cyanoprint to make images from family photos.

The other two works were so fine and ethereal they were in danger of being lost. However, one of the ladies who helped with the installation has alot of experience having worked at South Hill Park. So, she and another lady went off down the road to see what they could find. They came back with these mirrors and with a bit of fine fishing wire...they both retain their mystery and yet the attention is drawn to them.

Chris was also inspired by the doll shoes. However, her doll very much wants to take a journey, so Chris printed luggage tags and maps of the world onto organza and then made up the shoes. There is a wonderful little book that goes with it, but there was not enough plinths to put it out.

And this ghostly little dolls dress is just too fine for words. Marion crocheted it from nylon thread. It was inspired by a dolls underskirt which is in the museum collection. The idea of placing it in front of the mirror added a whole different dimension with thoughts of trying on and all sorts! there are some wonderful photos on the other blog where Marion tried out ideas of it laying in the snow.

I will put a few more up tomorrow if I can.

Exhibition - Slough Museum

2011-06-04T23:22:00.001+01:00

The museum project has been such a success. Today was the private view, although it opened on the 18th May. but from the point of getting the work on the 14th and hanging it and then doing workshops at half term, we were quite busy.

I have also had other things going on, so I will try to give a bit of an overview in the next few days.

Here are a few photos from the 14th when everyone brought their work.

In the morning, Delia talked about her experiences of putting on exhibitions of her work. At one point she did a series about the shipping forecast. I remember seeing that and being awed, but I never thought I would meet her let alone become good friends with her!

At lunch, some last minute things went on, but not too many.

and then we had each person talk about what they had done.

You can see how everyone hung on every word hearing the back story to the work.

I am so proud each person stretched themselves in different ways and so many took first steps for different things. I am a bit like a pleased mum at the school play!

Don't forget to check out the Whatever Floats Your Boat...blog with posts by some of the artists about how they were inspired and how the work progressed. There is also a virtual catalogue with a collection of the stories and techniques. and in a few days there will be official photos.

whooosh!

2011-05-27T23:31:00.001+01:00

did you see that?

two weeks went by just like that. But i am still hanging on.

updates to follow!

Doll Corset - Structure and base

2011-05-13T18:15:00.000+01:00

Blogger has been down for a few days, so just a quick posting of covering the base of the structure

corner

bottom

top - with pins to remember where the holes are.

and how it looks complete... At this point I hadn't sewn round the top to keep the dowels in, nor stitched the back opening closed. I am also gluing the dowels into the base.

This photo shows how the light shines out from underneath a bit like a lampshade.

Looks like it may find a permanent home in the end in my lounge as it goes very well with our new furniture!

Looking forward to seeing all the work from everyone else tomorrow.

Doll Corset - Structure

2011-05-11T18:14:00.000+01:00

I have finally been able to get to the structure of the large doll corset.I am using 6mm dowels in the main boning channels. This is sort of a reference to the reed boning used in one of the doll's corsets from the SLough Museum. The dowels are sticking out at the bottom and are stuck into a large piece of upholstry foam.

Here are views of how they will be stuck in.

I had to go back to the DIY shop for one more dowel to get enough to have the support I wanted. A few channels I had made a bit too narrow with the hand stitching, so I had to remove a bit of the stitch. So, I just have a few places where I need to go back in and sort it.

One good reason for using photos for your work is that it helps you step back, so to speak. I had it arranged in what I thought was a good shape, but when I looked at the first photo, I realised I really wanted it straight in front. So, I will use a few kebab sticks to push it forward.
More photos of the new arrangement.

And a photo of the detail of the support sticks, which I am quite pleased with. A surprising aspect of the support I hadn't considered.

I plan to cover the base with more of the cream muslin, but also some burlap mesh, which you can see laying next to the base.