Hi I'm back again!

Life is gradually getting back to normal and I am feeling much better in myself so I thought that I would try and get back into the swing of posting again. I have missed messing about on this ol machine of mine. Good to be back, fingers crossed I will be working  in the studio before long and life will be back on an even keel again.


I have just discovered the wonderful work of Italian illustrator Annalisa Bollini, the mixture of embroidery and paint is totally seductive to me and I find this work delightful. Take a look at her website www.annalisabollini.altervista.org on her website you will also find a link to her delightful flikr account.

Happy Monday, see you soon.

Christmas makes.

I have been thinking about making some decorations for Christmas before the madness really begins, I love the traditional Scandinavian style red and white designs and found these at www.allaboutyou.com  all the instruction are on this site.

A pretty little table runner design.

Horse garland.

Snowflake.

This is a you tube find. I think these reindeer would make a lovely garland.

Finally for today this lovely design www.divineliving.co.za
Paper butterflies and spray paint, its not that Christmasy but it could be!

'Things are not difficult to make.

What is difficult is putting ourselves

in a state of mind to make them.

Constantin Brancusi.

I haven't forgotten about my give away I just haven't had time to photograph it, it will be next week now I guess, have a playful weekend.

Search and learn.

Thanks to the internet everything is there to watch and learn, here are four little videos from you tube. These videos are for those of you who are new to stitch, or maybe new tips for the more experienced as well. How to tie a knot, seems simple enough but this is a technique that I hadn't come across before and so simple.

All of these videos are to help get you started and to give you links to a whole host of others, its all out there, just click on view on you tube and you will get a list of related videos, above them is a search bar to type into, happy hunting.

or your own drawings.

one quick way of adding colour.

one of the outline stitches.

What are you waiting for lets get creative.

Looking back again.

With November upon us and the nights drawing in I guess most of us will all start looking ahead to Christmas (if you are feeling like I am it only seems like a short time since Christmas last year) where does the time go? Here we go with a trip down memory lane for those of a certain age or new inspiration for those interested in retro!

Funny little handmade toys and a creation from old Christmas cards, I think the card creation would make a lovely gift box.

Sweet little Christmas tree decorations, handmade in felt and stitch. 1964.

I think these would look great on a Christmas table and so simple to make, a stick a disc and a cone.

Fun with oilcloth, oilcloth trees 1969.

Have a good weekend.

Anna Torma.

I thought that I would while away this Monday morning looking at more of the work of one of my favorite textile artists Canadian Anna Torma. I also thought that you might enjoy sharing this moment of pleasure with me. After a very busy but successful weekend this is sheer indulgence.

Draw me a car 2004.

Rainy Day.

Playground 4.

Jardin du Wiltz. 2006

Storytelling 1995.

Trans verbal 2004.

Troubadour songs 2.

Sewing mends the soul - Author unknown

Stitch your stress away.

How to make embroidered portraits

This looks like a fun idea from Country living.

Make a copy of your original photograph to avoid damaging it; if desired enlarge the image to fit your frame and mat. Fix the copy to watercolour paper with masking tape.

Use a pin to punch holes through the photocopy and the paper, outline facial contours, features,hair and clothing. To create solid lines punch closer together, for dotted lines leave more spaces between holes.

Remove the photo and use a threaded embroidery needle to sew a running stitch or backstitch along the holes, swap to thinner thread as desired. Trim the paper to fit your frame and mat.

Looking back at 60's and 70's design craft.

These designs are over 50 years old and still look as fresh as ever.

Images from a great blog about this era www.cathyofcalifornia.typepad.com

Finally this little video, enjoy.

Quote from the same era.

'You are more creative than you think you are'.

Anna Torma.

Anna Torma 'Herbary' 2001.

Anna Torma is a fibre artist she completed her studies in Hungary in 1979, having witnessed the textile revolution of the 1970's. Annas works are huge in scale, intricate, complex, intimate, meaningful, playful, contradictory. Each one is a place to visit, spend time, be lost, find things, learn and always be inspired. So many things happening in each piece, so many strands, stories and interpretations.. with a level of skill, care and detail that belies their playful appearance.

Detail 'Playground 1'.

Torma's early work retained a feminine sensitivity and was concerned with the motifs from her craft's heritage. Much of her later work is concerned with recording daily life spent with her children, she uses their stories and images in the pieces.

'Rainy Day'.

Her work today seems to me to be entirely universal in it's communication of shared experiences, instincts and references. I'd really love to see it in person - to experience the scale, the texture, the little details, the motion of the stitch and the emotion of the piece.

 

 Playground 111. 2006

See more www.annatorma.com

Hope your enjoying your weekend.

Moody Monday.

The weather here is moody and grey not good for chasing away that Monday morning feeling so to brighten my interior space I thought that we would take a look at the work of Japanese born artist Takashi Iwasaki. His colourful and fun abstract embroideries would brighten any day!

To see more of the work from this artist www.takshiiwasaki.info

I have sorted out my THANK YOU give away and will be having the random draw this week, the prize is a little needle case made from vintage fabrics, hope you like it.

Good luck 

 one of you that follow my blog will be receiving this in the mail.

Check out Fridays blog to see if it's you.

Looking at texture and stitch.

Texture in stitch adds a extra dimension to a piece of work, mixing up different thicknesses of thread and chunky stitches gives wonderful surfaces. This week I have been looking at images showing the different approaches that people take to raise the surface of stitch.

Both of these lovely pieces of work are by Stevie Walker. Nature captured in a very expressive and individual way.

Beautiful and inspiring work from Gavin Fry.

Erin Endicott. Inventive use of stitch.

Erin Endicott. Detail of Healing Sutra 10.

Detail of Coral Wall. Artist Unknown. Wonderful, expressive texture and colour.

Artist Lindsey Woolsey. Gentle and quiet.

Artist unknown.

Artist unknown. The beading on this textured surface bring the work to life.

In making we see.



Student development work.

Having explored some techniques in layering and hand stitching the student are moving forward and focusing on there own interests and ways of working. The first steps of an idea can often be the most difficult, self doubt, insecurity, all these things get in the way of decision making, but, and it's a big but, things sort themselves out more easily when you are the member of a group. Talking,verbalising thoughts to like minded people often helps to resolve things and firm up the threads of an idea.

This one looks like its going to be fun, an exploratory block for a larger piece.

Exploring the world of Lichen and rock.

Having fun with texture and with encrusted surfaces.

Cool and simple surface, moving things around and considering placement.

At this early stage things are looking really good, the students are begining to explore their own creativity. An apology from me for the late post, my internet conection has been playing up thats what happens when you live in a very rural area up in the hills, hey ho. Explore your own creativity and don't be scared to get it wrong, if you don't make mistakes you won't learn anything. Move out of your comfort zone!