The other bead project

While I wait for the spectaculars, I have been slowly working on the other bead project. It sort of got put by when I started finding it difficult to see a year or so ago. With the up-lighter, the room light, the sunshine and some times the positional light, I can see enough to work on my bead and hand stitching projects

So I finally finished last section on the Captured/Abducted dress.

I have 20 more days of beads to use to fill in here and there to even up some of the edges.

Now to cut about 6in from the hem to use for straps and possibly to make lacing in the upper section of the back.

The marks are representing the girls and women continually being captured and abducted in Nigeria. There are the situations where schools are attacked and large groups of girls abducted. But even in various villages throughout Nigeria, girl and women are often taken as they go about their daily task or on the way to school. I wanted to do something to raise awareness.

When I started the project, the numbers I read worked out that from 2011 approximately 30 were abuducted each month! Like one each day! So, each mark (bar and gate) has not only the usual |||| / (5) but 2 more||. One set of seven (7 years from 2011 to the end of 2018) for 365 days.

I am considering putting a line of single beads along the hem to represent families whose lives are so drastically changed because of these abductions.  Practically, it will help with the hang of the dress.

on Monday

On Monday I went up to Lady Sew and Sew to spend the afternoon demoing Free Machine Embroidery. Sort of meet the artist, but it had been a second thought when I was setting up, and I was asked to come. Mostly I sat and made patterns on my fabric!
The heating was not working and I was lucky to sit near the temporary one they had set up for the shop. I forgot to take a photo until I was nearly packed up!

I did get to speak to several customers.
One man, whose daughters(wife and daughter?) were in full burka, was very interested in the work. Eventually he had the ladies come over to speak to me about how they were done. The one in particular was fascinated by what I was doing on the machine. I gave her the leaflet about the next beginner embroidery class on the 23 April. Not sure she will come to this one, but maybe in the future. And if the dad/husband is already behind the idea, maybe more possible?

Besides the textile art pieces, the Dragon Gown and the Heat and the Flame Gown are on display. I realised I had never got a good photo of the Heat and the Flame, so here they are.

Front

Back

And in the centre between is a dummy with a 'gown' draped straight from the bolt, by Sarah Blundel. Something to perhaps inspire the customers.  You can see on the left that the bolt is still on the back of the gown. Clever!

I was told that 2 large coach groups had come to visit - particularly to see the exhibition. So that was good!
The exhibition finishes the 30th March. But because of the Easter weekend, I won't be taking it down til Tuesday, the 3rd April.

Dragon Gown Finished

In September, one of the things I finally finished was the Dragon Gown. I delivered it to Lady Sew and Sew in Henley when I went up to teach the Beginner Machine Embroidery.

I had forgotten to get photos of the finished product here. But remembered when we had displayed it up there. Unfortunately, the dummy has a patterned cover and has a bigger bosom than my dummy! So, a bit of strain in the front and is gaping at the top of the zip in the back. Made straps for it from the lining fabric...mainly because I thought it might be displayed on one of the dummies that is much smaller than mine!

Anyway, This view shows the back.

This view shows the front and the placement for display next to the rolls of fabric where this pleather fabric can be found.

Fabrics

On Friday last week I went to Bristol with my friend Pat, to the West Country Quilt and Textile show.
SAQA Made in Europe II was on show in one of the gallery spaces.

The show is a bit small, but it was lovely to see work from people who aren't on the Big Stage, so to speak, yet are producing great work.

I have a few photos, but the first and best thing is that I had time to stop and look at Val Bennett's stand - I generally only see her to wave or just to say a few words at the Festival of Quilts. This time my head was not so full of things and I was able to have a look through the hand-dyed fabrics they sell. Farne Designs I was just about fully out of the pieces I had from her in the past.

I love the fabrics as they have such a range of colour in one piece. The patterning is wonderful - I see all sorts of dragons and other stories in them!

Remember 'The Heat and the Flame' ? ...

the bright oranges are fabrics Val did especially for me.

a few interesting pieces from 2017 Festival of Quilts - 5

Okay, I didn't manage to post this, though I had the photos ready to sort. I wanted to post it Friday.

I have been working pretty full on for some pieces which are to be in a book...which I am not to tell you about until I am allowed! So, trying to keep this going as well as keeping going on the project is not the easiest!
And after this one, I will be focusing on my entry for 7th European Triennial, which is also not to be shown until the show (if it gets in!)

But anyway...

A few more things of interest from the 3D and Wearable Art category called Quilts Creations.

Sisters by Jennie Callomon

I am not really a doll person. But I loved the use of fabrics for this pair.

This piece was truly a 'jewel' as stated in the title.
Hungarian Jewel - by the Hungarian Patchwork Guild.

The technique is Boutis and the motifs are of old ceramic tiles from the Transylvania area.
detail
This brochure from a previous exhibition shows how it looks when lit up.

This was an interesting gown...especially as it was displayed next to my piece Willows by the Watercourses with the dangling willow leaves.
Willows by the Watercourses

All Tied Up by Mary Ornish

   

and finally some different views of the brilliant Deck Chairs by the Tanglewood Textiles group.
no. 1-3

A Closer look at the second one and facing no.3

no.4+5 and a detail of no.5

a few close-ups of what was under and behind the chairs!

All of it made by this brilliant group who have won awards for humorous group quilts in the past.

a few interesting pieces from 2017 Festival of Quilts - 4

Some of the work in the Quilts Creation Section - 3D work and Wearable Art

Release the Kraken by Helen Dickson

  

Brilliant!

Violin by Sue Trevor
  

Nellie by Pam Morris


Victorian Fusion by Kathy Knapp

   

I love the work this lady does.

Silvery Threads - Jackie Harvey

   

beading the dragon gown still

Last weekend I finished the beading on the dragon gown.

Front

It needs hemming, and because it is rather heavy and might be displayed on a thin dummy, I want to make some sort of straps. Which may possibly get some more beading.

Back

I was glad for the increased nerve/pain calming medicine starting to work. It has taken me a long time to get this done. I usually have spent the good part of a day at this sort of thing. This time I could just about manage 2 hours and that was not straight through either.

I have started working on some other commitments, so I would really like to have this totally done!

At FOQ!

Bags were packed, including this gift for my birthday from my sister-in-law Alice...

Who said it looked like a 'Sandy bag'.

And now I am in Birmingham for the Festival of Quilts. It will be wonderful to meet up with old friends and make new ones. I sort out the rota of volunteers for the SAQA gallery exhibition. This year I have a piece in that exhibit!

I also have a few pieces entered into the competition part of it. Including:

 
Willows by the Watercourses
In the Quilts Creation section

Ramshackle Villages
In the Art Quilts section

70,273 Project - My Contribution
In the Contemporary Quilts section

If you are coming to the show, look out for them! and maybe I will see you there.

The Thoughtful Man and Holly will be minding the house. A Certain Young Man is off to visit his cousin who works in Jersey.

Beading the dragon

So, I have finally got the bulk of the beading done on the dragon gown. Because the fabric is heavy, and I draped the gown on the stand, I was not getting the fabric to lay right for the zip.

So, with the beads holding the folds, I could at last pin the zip pretty much where it wanted to go. (I am doing an exposed zip).

And then trim away the extra fabric.

Next, turn under the edge and stitch it down using more beads.
Yes, I could have stitched with machine, but I didn't want the extra line showing. and also, because of the awkwardness of layers, I need the flexibility that hand stitching the zip will give. Some of the folds have 4 or more layers if the underneath part of a fold below extends up past it.

When the zip is properly in, I will sort out the bottom of the seam. It may/probably get a godet, which is why I haven't trimmed away the extra there until I work out what I want to do.

Back to beading a dragon

So, now that I have cleared the decks from most things, and before I say I will do even more. (!) I am back to working on the dragon gown.

Having a lot of back complaint...which is not usually part of sitting. But because it is there to work on, I can do it between stretches.

or something...

Teaching Beginner's Machine Embroidery tomorrow!

Slow Progress

But at least it is progress.

I am using the opened top drawer of one desk set to hold the weight of the gown. And the other set to hold the beads closer for picking up.

Close-up

The beginning of the beading.

Also gives a close-up of the pattern on the leather-like fabric.

bead options

Some of the possible combinations of beads for embellishment on the dragon gown.

Though I did a red lining and had hoped to do red beads, it really wanted orange. So, orange it is!