Well ladies another month in isolation and lockdown but you have certainly been busy. It has been a delight to open your emails and see photographs of all the things you have created. You certainly are a talented, busy group and receiving your information makes writing the blog so much easier. Thank you for all your contributions and I do hope they inspire others to try something new.
Some of you have certainly been clearing and sorting through your stash.
Tracey has finally finished several pieces. She said of her lighthouse cross stitch, “It was a pain to do as I hate the counting and am not very good at it. The closer I got to completing it the more random I became. The dodo and the random flower are crewelwork and the sampler is another cross stitch I started in about 1987. So I’m pleased to say I now have only one final cross stitch to do and then I can tick them off my list forever. I really can’t say I enjoy them, but if they’re in the house I feel I must deal with them (like a wasps’ nest)”.
Some of you have certainly been clearing and sorting through your stash.
Tracey has finally finished several pieces. She said of her lighthouse cross stitch, “It was a pain to do as I hate the counting and am not very good at it. The closer I got to completing it the more random I became. The dodo and the random flower are crewelwork and the sampler is another cross stitch I started in about 1987. So I’m pleased to say I now have only one final cross stitch to do and then I can tick them off my list forever. I really can’t say I enjoy them, but if they’re in the house I feel I must deal with them (like a wasps’ nest)”.
Irene has been stitching birds and a butterfly as well as beginning her pieces for the exhibition ‘Inspired by…….’ She has been inspired by an era and we are all looking forward to seeing her piece in the exhibition.
The birds are from a book called ‘Folk Embroidered Felt Birds’ by Corinne La Pierre. As for the butterfly kit Irene has no idea- she’s had it for years.
Mel has been extremely busy not only taking on Tracey’s idea from last month but challenges through www.textileartists.com which, as Mel said, “ It’s good to have something different that you wouldn’t normally do.” She is putting her work into a book and will bring it to our first meeting, once the crisis is over, for everyone to look at. In the meantime here is what she has done:
The birds are from a book called ‘Folk Embroidered Felt Birds’ by Corinne La Pierre. As for the butterfly kit Irene has no idea- she’s had it for years.
Mel has been extremely busy not only taking on Tracey’s idea from last month but challenges through www.textileartists.com which, as Mel said, “ It’s good to have something different that you wouldn’t normally do.” She is putting her work into a book and will bring it to our first meeting, once the crisis is over, for everyone to look at. In the meantime here is what she has done:
Mel followed Tracey’s instructions and drew 3 lines and 3 rectangles and an odd number of circles. She then used running stitch and different shades of thread to match the background fabric. Each piece has been arranged differently to give different effects.
The first of her textile artists’ challenges was set by Sue Stone. The task was to complete a sampler using only one stitch. The fabric was divided into 4 and each square was decorated in different ways using the same stitch.
Challenge 2 was set by Cas Holmes. The background fabric was covered in scraps of fabrics and papers. Then a household object was superimposed onto the background. Mel chose a wine glass and used beads to signify the wine.
Challenge 3 set by Emily Tull was to observe your eye, draw it and then stitch it using machine threads and stem and straight stitch.
Challenge 4 set by Richard McVetis was to use 4 different types of couching and different thicknesses of thread.
And finally challenge 5 set by Emily Jo was to find a twig and draw it. Then using organza cut out fabric shapes of the twig and its shadow. Stab stitch and blanket stitch were used to secure the fabric and then lichen was added by French knots. Throughout she used machine embroidery thread to keep the delicacy of the piece.
Mel is now onto her 6th Challenge. Hopefully she will have it finished for next month’s blog.
The first of her textile artists’ challenges was set by Sue Stone. The task was to complete a sampler using only one stitch. The fabric was divided into 4 and each square was decorated in different ways using the same stitch.
Challenge 2 was set by Cas Holmes. The background fabric was covered in scraps of fabrics and papers. Then a household object was superimposed onto the background. Mel chose a wine glass and used beads to signify the wine.
Challenge 3 set by Emily Tull was to observe your eye, draw it and then stitch it using machine threads and stem and straight stitch.
Challenge 4 set by Richard McVetis was to use 4 different types of couching and different thicknesses of thread.
And finally challenge 5 set by Emily Jo was to find a twig and draw it. Then using organza cut out fabric shapes of the twig and its shadow. Stab stitch and blanket stitch were used to secure the fabric and then lichen was added by French knots. Throughout she used machine embroidery thread to keep the delicacy of the piece.
Mel is now onto her 6th Challenge. Hopefully she will have it finished for next month’s blog.
Kath H. has finished stitching two birds which she bought when Nicola Jarvis gave her talk at our Christmas meal in 2018. She said, “I must have been saving them for a time when I couldn’t go out.” She also made a card for her son-in-law’s 50th birthday. “In case anyone is wondering that is a guinea pig!” laughed Kath.
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Sandie said, “This kept me busy for the first week of isolation – a small cloth flower book. She has also started a Scottish Book which is not yet finished. Last three photos are collages of the married quarter houses she lived in at Helensburgh”.
Kath R has been stitching a snowdrop picture. This shows machine embroidery on fabric that had been dyed and then she applied painted bondaweb, which took her ages to do. The wreath is made of painted and machined Tyvek leaves.
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Steph has been trying out various canvas work stitches, which she did in the early stages of lockdown. The sampler shows tent, scotch and Moorish stitches.
Zena has finished her ‘Weave a Wood’, which she started at the Sue Bennett day school in January 2019. She stitched the leaves for the trees on dissolvable fabric and individually stitched each one on with a French knot so that she could vary the shading to reflect autumn colours. Extra embroidery and beading have been added to embellish the project, with the background being done by needle felting.
Ann R has managed to finish her box from the box making day school decorating the lid with more drawn thread work. “I really have taken to the creative side of this technique.”
Zena has finished her ‘Weave a Wood’, which she started at the Sue Bennett day school in January 2019. She stitched the leaves for the trees on dissolvable fabric and individually stitched each one on with a French knot so that she could vary the shading to reflect autumn colours. Extra embroidery and beading have been added to embellish the project, with the background being done by needle felting.
Ann R has managed to finish her box from the box making day school decorating the lid with more drawn thread work. “I really have taken to the creative side of this technique.”
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Apart from embroidery, other members have been working on other worthwhile projects.
Edwina hasn’t completed any embroidery pieces as yet but she has been very busy machine sewing. “I've made 12 headbands for nurses. These are a headband like a cloth Alice band with large buttons to hook face masks on. It stops their ears getting sore. They have gone to my partner’s niece in Nottinghamshire. I've also made 2 more headbands and 8 washable face masks for my cousin who works as a civilian Custody Officer in the Custody Centre for Cheshire police."
Edwina hasn’t completed any embroidery pieces as yet but she has been very busy machine sewing. “I've made 12 headbands for nurses. These are a headband like a cloth Alice band with large buttons to hook face masks on. It stops their ears getting sore. They have gone to my partner’s niece in Nottinghamshire. I've also made 2 more headbands and 8 washable face masks for my cousin who works as a civilian Custody Officer in the Custody Centre for Cheshire police."
Janet has been revamping a doll’s house that her Father made for her daughter 30 years ago. Laura now has 2 girls (aged 4 and 6 months old) so she is modernising the house. Hopefully it will last another 30 years.
Janet said, ”Hardly embroidery but it is keeping me busy.”
Janet said, ”Hardly embroidery but it is keeping me busy.”
So that is all for this month. If any of you are participating in the Royal School of Needlework ‘Home’ postcard project or the Embroiderers’ Guild – ‘Reasons to be Thankful’ to show our appreciation of the NHS project, then please send your photos for the next blogs.
In the meantime keep safe, keep well, keep calm and keep stitching.
AR
In the meantime keep safe, keep well, keep calm and keep stitching.
AR
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