Dyeing and other bits.

A very quick post tonight as I need to go and eat soon. Up for work at 5 am tomorrow so I don't like to eat too late.

The dyeing didn't turn out too badly. Certainly I have got plenty to play with for a while.

All dyed in the same container.

Backing for my Trentham entry

There are some people who don't like to cut into hand dyed fabric or don't think that they will work in more traditional settings. I say go for it. and just to show that they can work in traditional blocks I have made up Chris and Barbara's three sampler blocks using the fabric in the top picture and some cream cotton sateen. The patterns are on their website so do take a look - you might even find some classes that you fancy, all come highly recommended

Carrie Nation Block

Clay's Choice block

Old Maid's Puzzle block

While it snowing yesterday (all gone today but more forecast) I made some postcards and ATCs as I had some painted batting left over. I also found  a piece that I had done with transfer paints at a workshop at Husqvarna several years ago so that got cut up and made into postcards as well.

I am feeling frustrated as my machine isn't back yet. I think they are waiting until a couple of attachments that I ordered arrive as they know I have a long way to travel. Trouble is I want to get started on the quilting for my Trentham entry and  my nice big table does not fit this one.  I can see that it's going to be a last minute thing again.

Hope you all have a good weekend and that the snow doesn't create the chaos that it did last time around.

Maggi

Back home from its travels.

Almost a year ago I sent an embellished piece off to Australia for the Connections Challenge that Dale Rollerson of the Thread Studio had organised. It didn't win anything but is well-travelled and has been seen by many people along the way. The other day the piece arrived home with a lovely selection of rayon threads as a thank you for entering. I had forgotten to take a photo of the finished piece before I sent it off so I am now able to show it fully finished.

The Stitching Tree

These are the threads that came with the piece

"I will help you to arrange them"         

"Why do you want threads anyway, you got me?" 

The threads ...                   

Things seem to have been quite felty lately. I made some pieces of Nuno felt the other day (a good way to keep warm), dyed them and was also able to throw in some left over pieces of silk which now coordinate nicely.  I love the way the different silks produce varying textures. 

The felts

The silks 

I have some ideas for a project, albeit a small one for the felt but I can't reveal it at the moment as it may well become a swap.

I know that journaling is something that many of you out there do on a regular basis but I am a real procrastinator when it comes to using sketchbooks etc. I tend to launch straight into the stitching and see where it takes me.  Myfanwy Hart has set up a blog about journals and so I decided that while my trusty Bernina is having a service (I can't believe that it gave me an actual message telling me to contact my dealer!) I would do something that didn't require too much in the way of stitching. A quick dabble last night produced several pages and some lovely pieces of paper that will come in handy sometime.

In the post from Jan this week was my ATC. It is a beautiful rainbow of pleated sheers. 

My order from the Thread Studio, along with some used Shiva sticks also arrived. I didn't take a photo of the latter but they are going to be really useful as none of them are colour that I have already.

And last, but by no means least, just before  started this blog post I was browsing through the ones that I follow and discovered hat I had won Jan's giveaway which is a beautiful bag, so thanks again to Jan.

Thank you too to all of your good wishes over my cold. It has now gone thank you.

Nothing more for now so enjoy being creative until next time.

Maggi

Work in progress

Finally have managed to get time to do some more work on the book cover from Maggie Grey's online FREE lessons. The photographs have not turned out too well as it is grey and miserable here and even with the lights on the flash insists on coming out to play. At least they give an idea of progress so far. I still have the inside of the cover to paint and the pages to do but all that involves going out to the garage - no way that is going to happen today.






They are not quite as textured as they should be as the gesso I used was Windsor and Newton which is apparently not as thick as Daler Rowney - ah well it is worth giving everything a try as all have their own little quirks. At least it is a reference point for any further items.

I also decided that all the ATCs that I received from members of the Embellish, Stitch and Enrich group are going to be kept in a book as I don't have the space to keep them out on display otherwise. Another experiment from Textile Translations is going to be turned into the cover. This is the basic cover which still needs to have some stitching on it and then be assembled. Again problems with the flash.



I'm not sure where the time has gone this week. I do not seem to have stopped and yet can't see what I have achieved - there must be something there.

I had to go into work on Tuesday night to cover Derby's cup game against Leeds, fortunately no trouble at the match but then we were all kept on for an extra couple of hours on standby as a fifteen year old boy had just been fatally shot. This is not the centre of a big city, it is an area of Derby and, although there have been some gun issues lately, this is the first time that this has happened. Somehow, with the gang culture as it is, it was bound to happen eventually, just hope that there is not a backlash against it. What a waste of a young life though. I was listening to the radio this morning and various agencies were saying that there is just not enough for young people to do these days. What has happened where, as a society, our young people always have to have 'entertainment' provided for them and cannot develop an interest in things for themselves?

Right enough, I shall get off my soapbox now and go do some sewing that does not involve going out in the rain.