Y Plas

Here are some of the hinges at 'Y Plas'. These are for Jenny of Feltedfibers



There are also some unusual doorknobs.





This is The carving I sketched, made a screen print of and stitched. I used these for some of my ATC's as well. These are for Maggie of Stitching with Schumacher and Siamese
I'm sorry Maggie, but Blogger won't let me post the images just now, but I will try again later.





Success!

Yet more ATC's and carvings

The top ATC's are made using motifs I screen printed from designs I sketched at Plas Tan y Bwlch a couple of years ago. I cut them up and stitched into them.

(click for large image)

This carving is a part of the fireplace in a room at the centre.








These are close-ups of carvings on the same fireplace.

More ATC's

Here are a few more ATC's I made at Plas Tan y Bwlch.


And a book I made using the soldering iron techniques I learnt on the course with Margaret Beale. The colours are not very true here I'm afraid.
There was a conference in the Lecture Room one day loads of men and a couple of women. Someone said it had something to do with Atomic Power, anyway, some of the men annoyed me my asking jokingly if we could do trouser turn-ups and repair things etc. etc. They did not see us as Textile Artists at all, just a crowd of busy little women stitching.
You should have seen their faces and the comments I had when they noticed my soldering iron though.

Textile retreat

I'm back after another inspiring break at Plas Tan y Bwlch.
Above is the view from the front window in my room and below from the side window.

Over the next week I will be posting some of the things that inspire me at the Plas and some of the work I did while I was there.


This is where we worked, the Stables block. In the next photo of Sue showing the work she is creating, if you look carefully, you will be able to see part of the stable that has been left just as it was.

Textile ATC's

I have just received my first 3 textile ATC's and I'm delighted.

(click for a larger image)
The one on the left is from Jo Boyle from New Zealand. The middle one from Dale Rollerson downunderdale using her Embellisher and the third is from June Brown of Milawa, Australia. Dale is the one organizing this ATC exchange.
What a great way to have art work from all over the world and without a great deal of expense. The size of these textile pieces also means there is not too much work involved and it's a great way to try out new techniques at the same time. I think I will spend one day at the 'retreat' making some more.
It's also time to start making postcards for the textile postcard group I belong to. It might be a good idea to do some of these there as well.

Crazy Quilt

I had every intention of finishing my block to make a cushion for Amy's birthday, today, but it was too much of a rush with the handstitching and I didn't want to spoil it. So I have made her another one which was much quicker using the sewing machine, but I forgot to take a photo and it's now packed. I will take a photo at the BBQ she's having this afternoon.


This photo is for Jo in New Zealand No Matter Where I go...I ALWAYS Meet Myself There! who wanted to see the whole block.


I am following A 100 details for 100 days as well as I can and after a bit of practice I got the Cast On stitch to look quite good. It was my fault I had difficulties, I used a very fine crochet cotton that I had dyed myself to do it and it kept twisting and tangling, but I like the final result. Next time I will use a different thread.


I also added some beads here.
I still don't know what to do with the block when it's finished. Any suggestions welcome. I had been thinking some sort of bag or a cushion, but not sure if it's suitable.

Abakhan and Plas Tan y Bwlch(part 2)

I am finding it difficult to buy the packs of Kunin felt, they once had loads at a local shop, but not any more. So I bought what looks like it in mauve, not really what I wanted. However it will do to play with and I might even like the colour scheme.
I also bought some beads and silks in oranges and greens to go with my new crazy quilt colours. Pins, needles and other various bits and bobs went into the basket. i should mention that there was up to 70% off at the sale!

I'm also going to take some man-made fibres and transfer paints with me as I did last year, I enjoyed playing with those very much. I'm also thinking of taking some UFO's with me, just in case I have some spare time(smile) and the sewing machine of course with plenty of embroidery threads.


This morning, I bought three flat pack plastic boxes at the sale in W H Smith and they are so light. I'm thinking of making a bag that will take them all, if I have the time. I bought some cheap blue and white patterned material the last
time I went to Abakhan, so I will use that and if I'm not happy with the colours, I might over-dye them with navy or something else perhaps later on? I would also like to make myself an apron. I think maybe I'm cutting it fine.

I must also remember to take a sketchbook and my camera and laptop.

I have just realized that I have now made a list of
everything I should take with me to PTyB. Very handy.

Forgot to mention I shall also be taking my new crazy quilt
block!

Abakhan and Plas Tan y Bwlch(part 1)

Yesterday I visited Abakhan. I had heard that they were going to close the place and I was quite worried, but I asked one of the girls there, if it was true
and she said definitely not.

Emyr is so patient with me We have a light lunch there and
then Emyr sits in the shade reading his newspaper.


It took about 2 hours. I bought 9 vivid colours of sheers, mostly nylon organza. The colours I usually buy are subtle and safe, but Margaret Beal of Fusing Fabric fame had much brighter colours for us to use.
I'm going Plas Tan y Bwlch on Monday and I shall play a little more with this technique and I will probably make some little books or maybe just the covers.

I also bought some cottons, one to finish off a little cushion for Amy's 16th.

Crazy Quilting

I have had computer problems for the last few days and have been unable to post. I bought a new network adapter for my Baby laptop, it was a very cheap one and I had not realized it would cause massive networking problems. However, I have got them all working well together once more and hopefully I will not have any more problems.


What do you think of these colours I have chosen to make some more crazy quilting blocks? I was only going to choose one colour to bring together some of the fabrics I had dyed myself, but I could not resist these. I seem to be going for much brighter colours lately.


Until I started following Sharon Boggon's A 100 details for 100 days I had forgotten how much I loved hand stitching.


Before I could carry on with my block, I had to add some extra pieces. As this was my first block, I wasn't sure how to piece it. I think the next one will be better.


I had not come across this Palestrinia Stitch before, but I enjoyed trying it out and I'm sure it will become a favourite. It's my granddaughters sixteenth birthday on Sunday and I would like to finish the block and make it up into a pillow for her as a little extra surprise. She always looks forward to the cards I make for her and I'm sure she will appreciate this.

The Bee Tree

Joan calls this her Bee Tree.


I stood there for about 5 minutes trying to take clear photos of the bees, but they flew away so I have a lot of photos of the plant, but no bee.


Here are some of those I did manage to catch.


I love these colours and the frilled petals.

SerenTex AGM

I thought this flan was worth showing and it really was as tasty as it looks. Rhiannon made this.


I took 114 photos one after the other in Joan's wonderful garden yesterday. But this was the first and is a houseplant. I won't bore you by showing you all the photos today but I must show you a few! (Click for a larger image as usual)




I love this one!

Embroiderers' Guild Wales

I have been very busy since coming home from my SerenTex AGM today. We had such fun that I think it should be re-named the ALM, the Annual Laughter Meeting. We had a lovely meal at Joan's house, (Joan is the doll maker). Everyone contributed to the meal and there was a lovely variety of home made goodies. Joan's garden is so beautiful I spent a long time taking photos as usual. I haven't loaded them to the computer yet.
The image at the top of this posting is a 'bright' idea someone had as the inspiration for a piece of embroidery we need to make for the Welsh section of the Embroiderers' Guild. It needs 100 people to pay 50p to stitch a 100 stitch square to complete a cushion cover. The cushion will then be raffled to make more money for the Guild. I will show you the design developed from this one day if it's successful. I doubt it at the moment. I wonder if anyone knows why I am still having problems with my photos which include mauves and purples turning blue on the computer?

Margaret Beal Day2

Another brilliant day with Margaret Beal. Here she is discussing a student's work which she did regularly throughout the day. I'm sorry I was too busy to take good photos, most of them are very hurried and not very good quality.


This morning we used the waste strips from yesterday in many different ways and here I used mine to join some of the strips I made at home last night. I don't seem to be able to take good photos of purple colours for some reason. The felt base here is a nice purple.


Then we were shown how to make marks using the soldering iron using small bits of various colours sandwiched between two pieces of nylon organza on a piece of felt. When we had done that we cut out shapes, bonded more organza to back the holes, then made frames and used them to decorate the same piece of work. Here is my effort.


To finish off this afternoon we used our sewing machines for the first time to make some reverse applique. I have an unfinished piece of work here, but I will show some more of my work in a few days perhaps when I complete them.


There are some more images on the SerenTex blog.

Margaret Beal's Workshop

The workshop today was so enjoyable, I was able to forget my backache. Honestly! Margaret is a wonderful tutor and I learnt so much today. It is surprising what you can do with sheer synthetics and a soldering iron.
If anyone would like to buy Margaret's book, Fusing Fabric, you can contact her by e-mail - burning.issues@margaretbeal.co.uk
I had not realized some of my friends could be so quiet, at times you could hear a pin drop while we all experimented and learnt how to use our soldering irons creatively. A very relaxing and enjoyable time was had by all. Tomorrow can't come soon enough so we can develop our knowledge further.


This is not exactly the right colour, the background was more purple than blue.


Some bit and bobs of practice.


I am sure this is the youngest student Margaret has ever had in her class. But he only came to say hello to his gran.

Fusing Fabrics/Margaret Beal

I am preparing to go on a course with Margaret Beale who has written the wonderful book everyone is after -
Fusing Fabrics.

I'm doing this under very difficult circumstances as I have a bad back just now. I keep hoping it will be better for tomorrow! I'm still not sure if I can go to the class as I don't want to go there and make a fuss because I can't stand up straight and can't sit properly, it will look as if I want sympathy. But it does make me look and feel older!
I'm having a few days at Plas Tan y Bwlch again with my SerenTex friends from the 24th to the 27th of July, so I have to be better by then.
I have another course booked with one of my friends, Miriam Forder, from SerenTex. She is taking a class on Hand Stitched Books at Bodelwyddan Castle . It's on the 5th and 6th August, and on the 9th of August there is an interesting lecture at the same venue on The Tudor Wardrobe, given by two people who have written a book called The Tudor Tailor and they will show samples of their reproduction costume from this period.


It should be interesting. I once heard a lecture at the V&A on clothing using slides of paintings from different periods in history and I really enjoyed it.

Artsway sculpture

A short time ago I posted some photos of sculptured heads in a triangular pool of water at an Art Centre called Artsway in Sway, Hampshire. Those photos were taken 10 years ago. These are my sad sculptured heads today!



I re-visited Artsway during my short visit to see if my heads were still there. Four of them are still there, but two of the six have disappeared. Ten years is a long time and the weather has been very dry, but I had not expected to see them like this. They looked so desperately sad there in the weeds. I wonder what they were saying to each other?