Before Carole begun her ‘Amazing Pages’ workshop several notices were given. Members were told that the venue for our next exhibition – ‘Through the window and beyond the gate’ - is to be the Green Room at Barton Grange, from 24th to 26th February 2017. We are asked to keep Ann Reading informed of items which we want to exhibit, such as travelling books and items produced at workshops, as well as items created specifically with the garden theme in mind.
Members were also encouraged to visit the upcoming photography exhibition at Oxheys Mill Studio, Stanhope Street, Preston. (More details available at http://oxheysmillstudios.com.)
And finally if anyone has any questions for the AGM of the Embroiderers’ Guild on 7th May 2016, please email these to Dee or Carole, who will be representing PEG at the AGM.
Members were also encouraged to visit the upcoming photography exhibition at Oxheys Mill Studio, Stanhope Street, Preston. (More details available at http://oxheysmillstudios.com.)
And finally if anyone has any questions for the AGM of the Embroiderers’ Guild on 7th May 2016, please email these to Dee or Carole, who will be representing PEG at the AGM.
It was then over to Carole ...... who showed us some of the journals which she has produced in a range of styles. Carole favours the use of book rings as a binding mechanism because these allow pages to be easily added or removed - such versatility is not available with spiral bound books.
In creating journal pages Carole encouraged us to see ‘more as better’, and to continue working on a page, even when we may feel dissatisfied, because the adding of further texture or colour can help create a very acceptable result.
| Many journaling ideas offered by Carole, included: - Co-ordinating facing pages - Decorating pages/borders with zentangle - Adding text by cutting words/letters out of printed books; printing off text on a PC; using ‘peel offs’ - Magazine or photocopied images can be added by covering the image with sellotape, wetting the reverse and rubbing away the white paper. This leaves the image on the sellotape, ready for applying to a page - Use cut out images, e.g. human figures, as stencils  |  Getting down to basics: - Put cardboard behind the page being worked on - The thicker the paper the better - Gesso page to stop paint seeping through - Apply Gesso with fingers or palate knife to add texture, which can have stencils for example pressed into it and left to dry - Use waterproof pens for journaling - Sharpies are good for colouring in, rather than for writing when Micron pens are better suited - Add Washi or duct tape to pages to add interest or bind pages together - Tags can be added to pages for interest |
During the break, members were really delighted to welcome Jack Morton and his daughters to St Andrews. Jack was there to present the trophy, donated in the name of his wife, Kath, to the winner of the Chairs’ Challenge. This year’s subject was a summer tote bag and the winner, voted for by members, was Kath Howarth, with joint second Ann Reading and Yvonne Downing.
Well done everyone who took part for the delightful entries.
Then it was back to Carole for a demonstration of Gelliplate printing. Care must be taken not to scratch commercial plates. However, homemade Gelliplates can be melted in the microwave for reuse and stored between acetate sheets in the fridge for some months. Plates should be made in flexible moulds; whilst round plates can be cut out from a larger plate using a canapé cutter.
When applying colours, it is best to work from light to dark, with metallics working particularly well. Blobs of acrylic paint should be spread over the plate with a brayer, and then a print ‘pulled’ by applying a sheet of paper onto the colour and gently rubbing the surface with one’s fingers. Apparent mud-like disasters can be revived by adding white and then further colour applied.
When applying colours, it is best to work from light to dark, with metallics working particularly well. Blobs of acrylic paint should be spread over the plate with a brayer, and then a print ‘pulled’ by applying a sheet of paper onto the colour and gently rubbing the surface with one’s fingers. Apparent mud-like disasters can be revived by adding white and then further colour applied.
Texture can be added to the paint with a range of objects: such as sequin waste, bubble wrap, corrugated card and printing blocks. Different layers can be built up with a careful choice of colours and the application of masks to block off areas. It is possible to get at least two prints from one application of paint. When most of the colour has been taken off, the plate should be wiped clean with a damp cloth. When printing onto fabric, add textile medium to acrylic paint (50:50) if the item is to be washed.
Members spent a happy day creating pages for their journals using a variety of techniques suggested by Carole who was as generous with her time and ideas, as she was in sharing the various items she had brought along for us to use. Thank you, so much, Carole.
Meanwhile, there was considerable laughter coming from the ladies in the back room. They obviously had a great day too doing their own thing!
The ladies who have joined the next group doing the 'Travelling Books' displayed their first month's work. Great interest was shown by all the other members, as well as several new potential members. The books already look stunning.
Thanks to Helen Forshaw for writing the blog this month.
RSS Feed
