Making stitched books - brilliant little instruction video
28 January 2016
If you pop by my little corner of blog land from time to time, you will know that I love a good handmade book. Probably the most successful one I have made to date I did about a year ago - you can find the detailed blog post I created here.
They really are one of the most satisfying things that I ever make (note to self - do another one!)
They really are one of the most satisfying things that I ever make (note to self - do another one!)
Meanwhile, the lovely Jessica Sporn (over the pond) has also been dabbling. But she is much more organised that I am and does lovely 'how to' videos'.
Have a look at this one. This could easily be a project to complete in a day or so (mine can be a bit epic!)
Have a look at this one. This could easily be a project to complete in a day or so (mine can be a bit epic!)
Mixed success with the mono prints
25 January 2016
Well - there's a snappy blog title!
But, as you can see from the photographs, not a wholly inaccurate one!
There is a stack of cups in here somewhere (no prizes if you spot them!) but then again the photograph is on it's side. I have no idea why. That's a tech problem.
The trusty leaf motive pops up again. It has been popular, hence using it again.
A new motif - inspired by Jonny Hannah. I am really pleased with this mono print - just the right amount of background noise I think.
Whereas this one the paint mix was too wet (another leaf motive but I agree - difficult to spot!)
Probably the right amount of background noise on this one too.
A bit of a mixed bag on the mono print front as you can see. I had great difficulty getting the consistency of the paint right. And despite using acrylic retarder (which might be going off as it did not mix too well. Can it even go off? Does it have a shelf life? Anyone know?) I had a right old ding dong with the printing plate. I use tissue paper for the mono prints. You have to get a wriggle on - you cannot dilly dally as the paint dries and sometimes sticks the tissue to the plate. And that's what happened here.
The last batch I did (before christmas) was a great success and I had hardly any mishaps, but this lot was a right to do. So many sheets of tissue just stuck. And you cannot tug it! It's tissue! You can guess what happens. I ended up washing quite a few dud prints off the plastic plate!
Still I have mounted all of these onto rag paper - some may be redeemable in the next stage.
True blue
18 January 2016
Blue is not my colour, hence no stock! (You may recall, dear reader, that I committed to a Vintage and Handmade sale but with Blue and White stock!)
Vintage is not my thing either!
So, I'm on a mission to get a bit of work together for the handmade and vintage sale at the beginning of March. Time to go through the fabric stash and see what I have got that could be pressed into service.
And first up - some scraps of white velvet. And some white silk chiffon.
So, I applied a bit of fabric paint to the silk (nothing fancy - just using a wet on wet technique to let it all blend a bit) and then a bit of freehand embroidery onto the velvet.
These are fairly large and flamboyant ( the ruler at the side gives you the scale) - I am thinking brooches (or rather I started off thinking brooches) but I might rethink into smaller framed pieces because they are a bit large for a brooch.
I will mull on (by the way, that is a bit of painted rag paper behind to give a 'feel', but it's the wrong colour blue!)
But I cannot just focus on Blue and White for this sale - I need to release the artistic muse a bit (and those who are awake will notice that a third colour has already crept in!)
And if anyone follows me on Pinterest you may know that I have a slightly bonkers board named 'Buckingham to Godsport - and all points along the way'
Now, this sort of reflects my slightly bonkers life.
If, dear reader, you have been dipping into my musings from time to time over the last 400 or so blog posts (yes - you read that correctly! I have been fannying about here in blogland for over 400 episodes) you may realise that I am, geographically speaking, a split personality.
I work in Milton Keynes (and stay up near work during the week) but live in Gosport right next to Portsmouth in Hampshire (and by the sea!)
And, if you are sharp, I can confirm that Pinterest name is not a spelling mistake - Godsport is intentional. It is often used as a pet name for Gosport - I guess because homecoming sailors would be so relieved to see its welcoming shores (and the welcoming arms of the infamous ladies of the night - a roaring trade, I believe, when England ruled the waves!)
I often feel torn between the two places. 'Home' is a bit of a funny concept for me. Do I live in MK or Portsmouth?
Dear reader - are you still with me on this?
Now, I am a bit of a fan of some of the quirky modern artists who do work for St Judes, the fabrics and print house.
We are probably all very familiar with Angie Lewin, but it is a couple of the other artists who float my boat.
First of all there is Mark Hearld. Now I have blogged about him before. I am a huge fan.
Of course there is Clive Hicks Jenkins - I am totally smitten with everything Clive produces and am saving my pennies for a bit of his original art. I also follow his blog.
And then there is Jonny Hannah - and the Darktown Billets Doux!
There is something dark about Jonny Hannah's work - it feels rooted in folk art and I feel drawn to that theme in someway. Hence the Buckingham to Godsport Pinterest page - a depository for all sorts of slightly strange images and objets along my route home! (not literally - we are talking the deep recesses of my mind here!)
So, Blue and White feels like a good place to begin to explore that theme.
Watch this space!
Vintage is not my thing either!
So, I'm on a mission to get a bit of work together for the handmade and vintage sale at the beginning of March. Time to go through the fabric stash and see what I have got that could be pressed into service.
And first up - some scraps of white velvet. And some white silk chiffon.
So, I applied a bit of fabric paint to the silk (nothing fancy - just using a wet on wet technique to let it all blend a bit) and then a bit of freehand embroidery onto the velvet.
These are fairly large and flamboyant ( the ruler at the side gives you the scale) - I am thinking brooches (or rather I started off thinking brooches) but I might rethink into smaller framed pieces because they are a bit large for a brooch.
I will mull on (by the way, that is a bit of painted rag paper behind to give a 'feel', but it's the wrong colour blue!)
But I cannot just focus on Blue and White for this sale - I need to release the artistic muse a bit (and those who are awake will notice that a third colour has already crept in!)
And if anyone follows me on Pinterest you may know that I have a slightly bonkers board named 'Buckingham to Godsport - and all points along the way'
Now, this sort of reflects my slightly bonkers life.
If, dear reader, you have been dipping into my musings from time to time over the last 400 or so blog posts (yes - you read that correctly! I have been fannying about here in blogland for over 400 episodes) you may realise that I am, geographically speaking, a split personality.
I work in Milton Keynes (and stay up near work during the week) but live in Gosport right next to Portsmouth in Hampshire (and by the sea!)
And, if you are sharp, I can confirm that Pinterest name is not a spelling mistake - Godsport is intentional. It is often used as a pet name for Gosport - I guess because homecoming sailors would be so relieved to see its welcoming shores (and the welcoming arms of the infamous ladies of the night - a roaring trade, I believe, when England ruled the waves!)
I often feel torn between the two places. 'Home' is a bit of a funny concept for me. Do I live in MK or Portsmouth?
Dear reader - are you still with me on this?
Now, I am a bit of a fan of some of the quirky modern artists who do work for St Judes, the fabrics and print house.
We are probably all very familiar with Angie Lewin, but it is a couple of the other artists who float my boat.
First of all there is Mark Hearld. Now I have blogged about him before. I am a huge fan.
Of course there is Clive Hicks Jenkins - I am totally smitten with everything Clive produces and am saving my pennies for a bit of his original art. I also follow his blog.
And then there is Jonny Hannah - and the Darktown Billets Doux!
There is something dark about Jonny Hannah's work - it feels rooted in folk art and I feel drawn to that theme in someway. Hence the Buckingham to Godsport Pinterest page - a depository for all sorts of slightly strange images and objets along my route home! (not literally - we are talking the deep recesses of my mind here!)
So, Blue and White feels like a good place to begin to explore that theme.
Watch this space!
Planning ahead
11 January 2016
We've been planning for 2016. By 'we' I mean 'Mix3d Stitch' - my textile friends who I shared the Open Studios with last year.
I've got some larger mats (or they may have been tray clothes - they're a very fine cotton, like a lawn, so it's hard to imagine their original use) and I think I can do something similar with those too.
There's potentially a lot happening on the arts front and over tea and nibbles we had a planning session last week.
We will definitely be doing Open Studios again. It was such a fab event last year and really got us going. We hope to use the same venue, but this is a rented house and there is some question over whether or not we will still be here in the summer. The licence ends in May (can it really have been 2 years since we moved in?) and, in truth, I cannot face the thought of moving again. So, we've asked the landlords if they intend to sell yet ( we understand that they're holding onto the house in the hope that the new railway line and a direct link into London will make its value rocket up! The line is not built yet so they might hold onto it! I've got my fingers crossed!) If they hold on we are hopeful that we will be able to have it for another year.
If we cannot use here then we will use Yvonne's house - slightly smaller and in central MK so not on the Winslow Arts Trail, but it will be a great venue.
Then later on in the year we've booked the new gallery venue I reported here at Christ the Cornerstone, the ecumenical church in central Milton Keynes. We've got it in October and the exhibitions will be "Mix3d Stitch and Friends: Change". It's a huge space with scope for work in a range of different mediums.
But first we are doing a "Handmade and Vintage fair" in early March. To stand out a bit from the crowd we are using the theme blue and white. This is a good idea and was initiated by Yvonne's Russian porcelain collection. But I have nothing already made which I can put in. Blue and White aren't really my colours. So I need to get some stock together.
Now this fair is not about 'art' but about 'craft' so I think I can assemble some work pretty quickly if I can just accept that. And I've made a start. Fabric from my stash with little dressing table mats (which I've had for years!) and a bit of freehand machine embroidery. And a button! It's vintage after all and you have to have a button!
That's not a coffee stain but a shadow or something?
And a bit different but I admit it is hard to tell.
And though not yet mounted, with a small frame to show you what it will look like in a mount.
I've got some larger mats (or they may have been tray clothes - they're a very fine cotton, like a lawn, so it's hard to imagine their original use) and I think I can do something similar with those too.
And of course paper! There will be paper, so I coloured a batch of papers using brusho inks (old road atlas pages with strips from an old dictionary, gesso through a stencil and then brusho powder and lots of water spritzed on! Its a messy old business and I forgot to wear gloves so had stained hands for most of the weekend.)
A little technique to share with you
8 January 2016
New year - new technique from my web wanderings!
Well, actually probably an old technique, but not one I have tried and produces some interesting textures don't you think?
Pop over to the blog 'And then we set it on fire' to have a look.
Well, actually probably an old technique, but not one I have tried and produces some interesting textures don't you think?
Pop over to the blog 'And then we set it on fire' to have a look.
Back from her Christmas break
3 January 2016
Just when you think that the muse is off on an extended holiday, something comes along and 'kerpow', she's back with a vengeance!
So there I was, just having a little late night browse around Facebook actually when I came across this.
Now, I've been vaguely aware of Lou Gardiner for a little while. You know - she'd sort of seeped into my conciousness.
But this has really fired me up again. Just look how she works on these pieces, how she uses freehand embroidery to make the work sing. And I love the technique of reverse embroidery and the way she transfers the design to the fabric. As well as being a visual feast, there are tricks and tips buried in here.
Blimey - where did December go?
Whoosh!
That was the sound of December rushing by!
And, dear reader, I neglected you!
It was all full steam ahead, what with the Workshop Sale etc. and then I blinked and somehow December had become January!
It is very possible that this had something to do with it!
But what can I say? (by the way, gin was bit of a theme this Christmas!)
So, what has been happening since we last had a chat?
Well, not so much on the creative front, but I did climb Glastonbury Tor on the shortest day of the year. That was a rather magical experience - and the rain cleared briefly so we saw the Tor with a blue sky as a backdrop.
It was late in the afternoon, but we did not stay until sunset - being somewhat unprepared without torches! But nevertheless, magical.
In fact Glastonbury was altogether rather lovely. It must be hell when the festival is on, but out of season it is a nice little town - with more witches and druids than you can shake a stick at! The shops were, for the most part, all about crystals. Now, I'm not sure crystals really float my boat and I do wonder how they make it pay, but nevertheless a change from the normal high street fare.
And we did find this rather wonderful shop stocked to the gunnels with indian textiles and other lovely things. We had the hound with us, so the ability to explore was limited but you can have a little meander around their website if India is your thing.
If you were following me before the Christmas festivities you may know that I got a bit sidetracked into Jewellery. Well, one lovely place in Glastonbury is the Glastonbury Wire Studio. What I marvelled at was the unique way they wrapped larger cabochons to make the most wonderful and unusual pendants. Now, I would say go look at the pictures, but I cannot find any on the site, so you will have to take my word for it.
And then we were into Chrimbo and all it's excesses.
We kept it fairly low key - the main treat being Christmas Day breakfast at the achingly cool Hoi Poloi! Actually, the best scrambled eggs I have had in a long time and possibly the best knitted nativity too!
Someone had tried to liberate the Donkey in the run up to Christmas, but they were captured on CCTV and were staying at the hotel! Not the sharpest knives in the box, though I see why they were tempted.
And possibly the best selection of gin ever - but this was breakfast and a girl has to be sensible.
In our house, Christmas is all about the spoilt dogs!
and making sure everything was fairly distributed!
and properly opened!
And finally, I found these old classics on the shelf at Son No 1's flat! I think he borrowed them from me at some point. (sorry their on the squiff - blame the gin!)
And who remembers that Mr Marks and Mr Spencer used to publish books?
Well, thats it! Farewell 2015 - you've been a blast - and welcome 2016!
And also, this is my 400th Blogpost! Can you believe it? If you have been with me since the start - well done! If you are new - I hope I amuse in the cluttered world wide web.
Happy creative new year to one and all.
That was the sound of December rushing by!
And, dear reader, I neglected you!
It was all full steam ahead, what with the Workshop Sale etc. and then I blinked and somehow December had become January!
It is very possible that this had something to do with it!
But what can I say? (by the way, gin was bit of a theme this Christmas!)
So, what has been happening since we last had a chat?
Well, not so much on the creative front, but I did climb Glastonbury Tor on the shortest day of the year. That was a rather magical experience - and the rain cleared briefly so we saw the Tor with a blue sky as a backdrop.
It was late in the afternoon, but we did not stay until sunset - being somewhat unprepared without torches! But nevertheless, magical.
In fact Glastonbury was altogether rather lovely. It must be hell when the festival is on, but out of season it is a nice little town - with more witches and druids than you can shake a stick at! The shops were, for the most part, all about crystals. Now, I'm not sure crystals really float my boat and I do wonder how they make it pay, but nevertheless a change from the normal high street fare.
And we did find this rather wonderful shop stocked to the gunnels with indian textiles and other lovely things. We had the hound with us, so the ability to explore was limited but you can have a little meander around their website if India is your thing.
If you were following me before the Christmas festivities you may know that I got a bit sidetracked into Jewellery. Well, one lovely place in Glastonbury is the Glastonbury Wire Studio. What I marvelled at was the unique way they wrapped larger cabochons to make the most wonderful and unusual pendants. Now, I would say go look at the pictures, but I cannot find any on the site, so you will have to take my word for it.
And then we were into Chrimbo and all it's excesses.
We kept it fairly low key - the main treat being Christmas Day breakfast at the achingly cool Hoi Poloi! Actually, the best scrambled eggs I have had in a long time and possibly the best knitted nativity too!
Someone had tried to liberate the Donkey in the run up to Christmas, but they were captured on CCTV and were staying at the hotel! Not the sharpest knives in the box, though I see why they were tempted.
And possibly the best selection of gin ever - but this was breakfast and a girl has to be sensible.
In our house, Christmas is all about the spoilt dogs!
with Whippet X assuming his role as present protector!
and properly opened!
And finally, I found these old classics on the shelf at Son No 1's flat! I think he borrowed them from me at some point. (sorry their on the squiff - blame the gin!)
And who remembers that Mr Marks and Mr Spencer used to publish books?
Well, thats it! Farewell 2015 - you've been a blast - and welcome 2016!
And also, this is my 400th Blogpost! Can you believe it? If you have been with me since the start - well done! If you are new - I hope I amuse in the cluttered world wide web.
Happy creative new year to one and all.
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