Cornwall Course with Architecture as the Theme....

4th March 2018

Rather a long journey to Cornwall this year, 11 hours from Richmond, but it is so good to be here!!!

Woke up this morning to sunshine and this was the view from my bedroom window....

....after lunch I decided to walk down to the beach and passed this lovely reminder of 'spring around the corner'....

....unfortunately the weather suddenly changed when I arrived at the beach, sleet, the beach was strewn with seaweed and rocks after the high spring tide and winds yesterday!!

Saw this wall on the way back, think I might try to make this using printing, fabric and stitch.

We have all been really busy since we arrived making tassels and printing, so inspiring walking around the room to see all the techniques being used.....

....a square of Kunin manmade felt folded.....

...very simple beading along the ridge folds followed by simple stitching for decoration...

...I have a real problem with spacial awareness and folding so made these as a reminder!!!

Some of the beautiful results from the group, felt covered in organza backed with Bondaweb, stitched folded and decorated with beads...

....3 layers of fabric stitched, so pretty...

.....this piece has machine and hand embroidery...

...all the samples were in different sizes, the possibilities are endless for garlands and Christmas decorations, will definitely be experimenting when I get back to my craft room!!

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Making very simple printing blocks from erasers...

....think I might hand stitch these samples I made printing on a variety of fabrics using acrylic paint.

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My main project this week is making a fabric picture of this house...

..it took most of the morning to transfer this simplified drawing...

....onto the calico fabric using my friend's light box which was brilliant!!

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We have all been very industrious today but that will be on tomorrow's blog.

I spend time during the day visiting everyone's work space, so inspiring and there is a LOT of talent in the room and everyone is happy to share ideas and  craft goods, a wonderful atmosphere!!

m0re cards and experimenting....

18th February 2018

I have had a dreadful cough and cold this last week which has left me feeling very lethargic!

 While on my home sit I made a small series of card toppers on handmade paper...

....this was an idea from Di Wells where tissue paper  is crumpled very tightly, opened  out and repeated 2/3 times, it is then like a fabric when stitched, just made a very simple leaf design but like the result.

I decorated this painted cake with french knots to look like raspberries!

Simple stitches on old linen using variegated silk threads...

...also made a lot more poppies and Kantha stitched my indigo fabric, then I was out of action due to heavy cold, must get right for my trip to Cornwall on 2nd March, so looking forward to meeting up with old friends and learn some new skills and walk along the wonderful Cornish coast......

The last two weeks...

4th February 2018

I have been quite busy.....

....decided to blanket stitch around all the shapes before I start the Kantha stitch to add texture ....

....close up...

.....more poppies for the park until I ran out of red yarn...

....used up the rest of my yarn to make more squares for my throw, think it is going to take a while to place all 240 of them so the effect is random!!!

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I watched a short interview with Di Wells, quilter and textile artist living in Cornwall, and I would love to go to one of her classes. She was showing some amazing quilts based on houses and I loved them. Di also showed her work using tissue paper and delicate Honesty. I really wanted to 'have a go' as it would be useful for my card making....

.....tissue torn into size A5.....

....the sheets are then scrunched, little ball on left, then opened carefully. This is repeated 3 times.... 

....the result is a wonderfully textured paper which has more strength for stitching as the fibres have been broken down, this can then be painted and stitched using at least 3 layers. I have prepared these sheets but will have to wait to paint until I am back in my workroom.

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I am housesitting for the next 2 weeks near Osterley Park which is run by the National Trust...

....a cold, dry day, ideal for a walk around the park....

....didn't go in today but plan to....

....a lovely barn converted into a cafe with some brave souls sitting outside with their coffee, a second hand book shop where I bought a map of the area for just £1 and a great little gift shop....

....lunch time for the cows....

.....huge variety of trees, especially liked the pattern on this trunk....

....lovely views around the lake...

....had to watch for roots..

....and very muddy...

....after 9,864 steps I arrived back at the house and noticed this Rhododendron in the front garden, so delicate....

.....while I was eating my lunch I watched this squirrel gorging on the nuts and seeds on the bird table....

....a balancing act while looking for a way to get more from the hanging bird feeder, but it is squirrel proof!!!