Twin Needle, Free Machining, Eco Dyeing and Rusting....

18th March 2016

Been playing the last couple of days.....

....on the course Anne demonstrated the use of twin needles....

....I had used a twin needle but not with the automatic stitches on my machine.....

....the numbers are the stitch numbers and this is now in my sketchbook....

....I am sure I will be using some of these for decorative stitching....

......placed organza in a hoop and free machined flowers...

....the flower on the left was made using zigzag stitch, the other in straight stitch....

.....I prefer the straight stitch flower!

>>>>>>>>

I collected some bark and eucalyptus leaves from my sister's garden...

.....laid out on fine cotton soaked in a solution of white vinegar/water/copper pipe...

....after a little wire wool was added the fabric was folded, rolled and tied with string.

RD is sorting out the garage and I rescued these rusty pieces.....

.....wrapped and in the steamer....

.....results, can you guess the pieces that made these rusty shapes?

...these are begging to be stitched!

This was a HUGE surprise, the leaves produced this amazing violet/blue colour!

Conclusion, different species of eucalyptus give different colours.

Think I will leave out the wire wool next time!

Quick Catchup....

17th March 2016

I spent a lovely weekend in London on the way home from Cornwall, catching up with my family....

.....met my daughter in the Westfield Shopping Centre......

.....we had coffee beside this living wall...

.....to the sound of running water....

....more like being in the country than a shopping complex in London!!

My sisters garden....

.....beautiful Magnolia.

>>>>>

Left Richmond on Monday, a very odd journey to Euston as the signals were down on the district line,  spent half an hour going round on the circle line until I reached Victoria, then Euston. Took 2 hours and missed my usual train!! Arrived at Preston and the train to Blackpool had been cancelled, eventually arrived home 5 hours after I left Richmond. 

Next couple of days spent cleaning, food shopping, washing and ironing!!! However RD and son made a great lasagne for our meal on Monday evening which was delicious.

I have been stitching with a Wing Needle on fine cotton using my automatic stitches and the effect is stunning.....

.....also used some of my dried flowers from the garden to decorate the front cover of my Garden Sketch Book....

....first page of my book, the poppy stencil is all hand stitched....

......used some of my dried autumn leaves for back cover...

....will coat with acrylic wax to preserve.

Park committee meeting last night where I heard the beautiful willow structure had been pulled down  a number of times by mindless vandals, so we have now bought wire fencing to protect it until the roots have become strong!

Off to Pilates this morning, bet I will be aching tomorrow!!!

Last Two Days of the Course......

11th March 2016

Sadly leaving this beautiful place today, it has been a great course with lovely like minded people who have shared supplies and ideas and most have booked up for next year!!

I have not produced that much work but I have learnt so much......

.....wet cotton fabric and lace....

....sprinkled with Brusho powder

....fabric, lace ready for fabric stitching. This method can be used with transfer paints by placing the lace on paper and using a stencil brush to apply the paint, great for backgrounds.

Fantasy flowers using soluble fabric and organza...

....transfer paints on a Gelli plate...

....tissue paper, this gives a very delicate background when ironed on fabric and the tissue paper can also be stitched onto the fabric....

....using a flower resist....

....printing on the Gelli with a wooden block.

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Yesterday morning this was the view from my bed....

.....will miss this....

.....walked down to the beach at 8am, primroses on the banks....

.....lichen and ivy covered boulder....

.....looking up the hill...

....the Bodrugan Beach...

...view from the headland...

...looking down on Port Mellon...

.....wonderful walls...

....sheep having breakfast, what a view!!!

Many lambs, the wool from these sheep goes to make Axminster carpets.

Birthday cake for Lesley...

....so much work produced which can be seen on Pocketmouse ...

...Clare made these wonderful birds using found objects, luxury fabrics and stitch...

.....crab claw beak, bone legs, love them...

...transfer printed, hand stitched wip..

....transfer leaf prints...

....a fabric book nearly completed by Sandy using all the techniques we have learned this week....

....Lesley's beautiful silk strawberry.

I have also been working on a secret project, all will be revealed at a later date.

http://www.pocketmouse.co.uk

Work produced this week can be seen on Anne's site, enjoy.....