After welcoming everyone to our Saturday zoom meeting, Ann introduced our speaker Liz Almond. Liz has travelled extensively and has taught throughout the Middle and Far East, from India and beyond and has been fascinated by Islamic Architecture, which has influenced many of her designs.
Her visit to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi was a real highlight in her journey and alongside visits to the Alhambra Palace in Spain, the Red Fort in Delhi, India, the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey as well as numerous other buildings throughout her travels, Liz has been inspired by the shapes and designs which fit so easily into Blackwork and other types of embroidery.
Her visit to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi was a real highlight in her journey and alongside visits to the Alhambra Palace in Spain, the Red Fort in Delhi, India, the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey as well as numerous other buildings throughout her travels, Liz has been inspired by the shapes and designs which fit so easily into Blackwork and other types of embroidery.
Liz explained how the art she has seen can be transferred into ideas for embroidery. Islamic art is based around geometric designs and within an Islamic building there are three elements that can be found: calligraphy, geometric and arabesque styles. The domes, minarets, doorways and windows all lend themselves to designs for embroidery.
Liz gave us lots of advice on how to tackle a design:
Liz gave us lots of advice on how to tackle a design:
- First look at the pattern, decide how it works and then how it would fit into the overall design.
- Complete the framework first and then fill in the spaces starting from the centre of each section. Using cross stitch for the outline is easier than back stitch for many stitchers.
- Try out Blackwork alongside pulled work and other embroidery techniques.
- Be creative and use variegated threads but test the threads to make sure they are colourfast before you begin stitching.
- When planning a piece try out various designs, get out the threads you want to use and then leave it so you can really consider what will work best. Taking time with the planning stage will avoid lots of mistakes later.
Liz showed us some of her work, including a Blackwork chessboard, the top piece of a footstool and the piece she is working on which will be a wall hanging of a mosque with numerous domes and minarets.
Thank you Liz for such an inspiring talk and thanks to your on-hand technician George. There were lots of admiring comments for the beautiful work you have produced and developed. Certainly a world class journey.
To see more of Liz’s stunning work go to: www.blackworkjourney.co.uk
We look forward to seeing Liz face to face for a dayschool in March 2022, when she will inspire us with her knowledge and embroideries using Kogin and Sashiko.
Thank you Liz for such an inspiring talk and thanks to your on-hand technician George. There were lots of admiring comments for the beautiful work you have produced and developed. Certainly a world class journey.
To see more of Liz’s stunning work go to: www.blackworkjourney.co.uk
We look forward to seeing Liz face to face for a dayschool in March 2022, when she will inspire us with her knowledge and embroideries using Kogin and Sashiko.
Now onto some other news. Some of our members have been taking part in the ‘Dab Hands’ project, an embroidered artwork based on Donald Sammut’s anatomical drawings. You can read more about it at www.lucysart.co.uk/stitches
Tracey’s piece shows the carpal and dorsal bones of the human hand. She added, “We were allowed freestyle background, so I added some words of things we do with our hands.”
Ann’s piece is of a hand with skin and all. The background is stitched in running stitch using the colours of the rainbow.
Mel’s piece was part of the finger joint.
The finished piece of artwork will be on display at the Manchester Museum, sometime next year or 2023, after the extensive renovation of the museum.
Tracey’s piece shows the carpal and dorsal bones of the human hand. She added, “We were allowed freestyle background, so I added some words of things we do with our hands.”
Ann’s piece is of a hand with skin and all. The background is stitched in running stitch using the colours of the rainbow.
Mel’s piece was part of the finger joint.
The finished piece of artwork will be on display at the Manchester Museum, sometime next year or 2023, after the extensive renovation of the museum.
Our March challenge was to introduce some appliqué into the design and we were not disappointed by the variety of the work.
Mel appliquéd tulips which were dyed and then stitched in running stitch.
“I found a lovely saying in my ‘Everyday Blessing’ Book for March:
‘Don’t be afraid to give yourself everything you’ve always wanted in life …Anon. Plus another quote for March from the book - ‘Always go to the bathroom when you have a chance’- King George V.
Very apt as we get older.”
Irene has also appliquéd tulips onto velvet with machine embroidery and the other picture is a watercolour background with hand embroidery on it.
Edwina’s March piece is based on the excitement of the clocks 'Springing' forward. Her design shows appliqué and running stitch in a clock shape.
Mel appliquéd tulips which were dyed and then stitched in running stitch.
“I found a lovely saying in my ‘Everyday Blessing’ Book for March:
‘Don’t be afraid to give yourself everything you’ve always wanted in life …Anon. Plus another quote for March from the book - ‘Always go to the bathroom when you have a chance’- King George V.
Very apt as we get older.”
Irene has also appliquéd tulips onto velvet with machine embroidery and the other picture is a watercolour background with hand embroidery on it.
Edwina’s March piece is based on the excitement of the clocks 'Springing' forward. Her design shows appliqué and running stitch in a clock shape.
Ann was inspired by the saying ’As mad as a March hare’. Her piece is an appliquéd hare with free machine embroidery -an idea from 'Stitch' magazine, issue 112 -Spring Style by Jo Hill.
Kath H. also stitched along the theme 'March hare'.
Margaret was inspired by the March winds. “I have called this March Winds. I have used stem stitch, reverse chain stitch and ribbed wheel filling. This last stitch I haven’t done before, and whilst this is not perfect, I am pleased with it for a first time. The lady's coat is done in felt.”
Kath R. was also inspired by the March winds and used reverse appliqué for her postcard.
Barbara S. was inspired by the lovely daffodils and drew a fabulous sketch of one in flower and her appliqué piece is of a lamb. She has made it into a little hanging as well.
Liz is catching up and has completed her February challenge, which had to incorporate some lace into the design. She has completed two pieces showing snowdrops; one with the lace used to create the lovely heads of the snowdrops and another in cross stitch.
And now a look at some other projects members have been getting on with:
Edwina has made an edge-to-edge casual jacket.
Janet has finished a lovely bed quilt for her granddaughter.
Kath H. also stitched along the theme 'March hare'.
Margaret was inspired by the March winds. “I have called this March Winds. I have used stem stitch, reverse chain stitch and ribbed wheel filling. This last stitch I haven’t done before, and whilst this is not perfect, I am pleased with it for a first time. The lady's coat is done in felt.”
Kath R. was also inspired by the March winds and used reverse appliqué for her postcard.
Barbara S. was inspired by the lovely daffodils and drew a fabulous sketch of one in flower and her appliqué piece is of a lamb. She has made it into a little hanging as well.
Liz is catching up and has completed her February challenge, which had to incorporate some lace into the design. She has completed two pieces showing snowdrops; one with the lace used to create the lovely heads of the snowdrops and another in cross stitch.
And now a look at some other projects members have been getting on with:
Edwina has made an edge-to-edge casual jacket.
Janet has finished a lovely bed quilt for her granddaughter.
Kath H. said “Not much embroidery but the T shirt was fairly new and got splashed with spray bleach. I covered the spots up with owls and Sashiko stitching and I have made a cover for my smaller machine. The butterflies are made using the Nikki Parmenter's method, using the plastic bodies from some that were broken.”
Kath R has crocheted another little dog as well as completing an appliqué cushion.
Mel, as usual, has been incredibly busy and creative finishing another four of the Anne Brookes tags, an appliqué garden shed from a Janet Browne workshop, a piece called ‘Hunterwasser Lollipops ‘ with Nikki Parmenter and a piece from a Maria Livesey workshop using French knots to cover a painted background.
How do you fit it all in Mel?
Mel, as usual, has been incredibly busy and creative finishing another four of the Anne Brookes tags, an appliqué garden shed from a Janet Browne workshop, a piece called ‘Hunterwasser Lollipops ‘ with Nikki Parmenter and a piece from a Maria Livesey workshop using French knots to cover a painted background.
How do you fit it all in Mel?
Just a note from Nikki Parmenter who ran last month’s workshop for us, “I am hoping that my exhibition at Gawthorpe Hall will open in April. If you check on the National Trust website dates will be posted there. Also ‘Textile 21's’ (a group Nikki is a member of) are hoping to hold an exhibition at Chester Cathedral in June 2022.
And finally, this month’s challenge (April) is to work a textured surface. You can find the list for each challenge under the notices tab just in case you want to get in front!
In the meantime stay safe and keep stitching.
A.R.
And finally, this month’s challenge (April) is to work a textured surface. You can find the list for each challenge under the notices tab just in case you want to get in front!
In the meantime stay safe and keep stitching.
A.R.
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