latest work

Hi its quite a time since I posted so I will try to make up for it now.

I have been very busy either at workshops, having weaving lessons(my latest obsession) and attending meetings for Embroiderers Guild.

I attended a Shelley Rhodes workshop which I had organised through Natural Progression Textile Group. It was called 'Fragmentation' and works beautifully with next years Parbold Embroiderers Guild Exhibition 'Fragments of the Past'.

I am not used to working with small random items and in fact working on a small scale. However as I still am attempting to make a book containing my late Dad's war history in Burma and his courting my late Mum, I decided to use that as my theme.

My dad was only 17 years old when he was enlisted, and ended up extremely ill in hospitals in Burma and India, after making Acting Corporal at the age of 18 as all his officers had been killed.

Luckily I had already photocopied many of the documents such as poems, letters and war records, and some photos. I also used some of my stash of naturally dyed fabrics etc.

We had to paint papers with emulsion, and randomly write buzz words applicable to our personal themes on some of the papers.

I have made a folding book, using some of the fabrics and papers, and incorporating lace, photos and words.

Dad peeping out and his young brother Barry's amusing cartoon drawings.

snippets of letters

embellished pages

Embellished front of book

I also attended an Embroiderers Guild workshop with Gillian Travers, which was to be based on 1950's flowers. I picked blue- green fabrics for the patchwork ground, and decided to use orange & yellow for the flowers, which are contemporary and not at all realistic!.

This with some lateral thought met the theme for the Capability Brown exhibition which is being held at Samlesbury Hall next year, Parbold, Blackpool and Lytham EG branches are joining together to exhibit there.

We will have to think laterally as Samlesbury Hall gardens are not  Capability Brown designed. However wild flowers must have encroached on his big sweeping landscapes???.

We have to mount the piece of work on a canvas, which should be neutrally painted. I had to add hand- made stenciling, which reflects the shapes of my weird leaves, to balance the canvas. Best to by the canvas first and then make the piece of work.

 My efforts are below-

View of the piece showing stenciling to balance the work

Close up showing patched background and appliqued flowers.

Close up of flowers and leaves along with machine embroidery.

I have appliqued cut out fabric, using bond-a-web to secure, machine embroidery and beading to embellish.

I will post more about my weaving etc when I actually find time to progress with it.