made by hand

Trundled up the A14 to see a small but perfectly formed exhibition of Patchwork City and Guild work. As you can see patchwork and stitching [embroidery] have moved so close together they are almost incestuous. A Quilt is defined by stitching together 2 or more layers and these days the stitching is probably the focus.

This heavy duty example was by Clive, one of the few men partaking, and highly valued as rare of the breed. He has an excellent eye and an adventurous style so he will go far, pursued by adoring acolytes no doubt

There were a couple of traditional quilts, which colourwise were very enjoyable. But the quilting fabrics are specially stocked to mix and match now, which has somehow taken the excitement out of finding materials that work well together.

Barbara produced this rather poetic vision of a forest. She was so delighted to have actually made a completed project, from a standing position. She had never really sewn before, and felt she had never really made anything before. So satisfying to see anyone with that glow of achievement.

This one was based on research into a brickyard I believe, and glowed with gorgeous colour.

This birdiewasn't anything special, just happy.

stitched up

I am afraid the three fossicking fossil panels combined against me and are now one. Went and sawed off a bit of dead tree to hang them from [well Retired Person did the manly work]. There were three dead elms down by the river, bleached white and bark-less by the wind, but we could only reach the lower branches so not quite as dramatic as I envisioned, but maybe they will clean up.

Here are the four books, each with a page of each of the 24 members. I realised after hours of faddling trying to get something interesting from some printing on fabric that actually i should have chucked it and done four fat ladies instead. But you know how it is, hours spent - so hard to chuck.

And this is the Family Tree, very much work in progress. I would like to stitch a wise old saying about trees...fruit....women.....on the trunk, if anyone has any suggestions. All I can think is "the fruit never falls far from the tree" but not sure is it is sufficiently gnomic.

more cold comfort

It is so cold and wet today, I have on jeans, socks, long sleeved T, cardi......knickers and glasses to complete the set, and I am still chilly and disgruntled. Can't possibly put the heating on, it is Flaming June.
Have been finishing the stitching on Fossils, and trying to pin them straight on a backing piece. Growl, I am not good at straight. Ta for the positive thoughts, I need all the buttressing I can accumulate, as do the Fossicking Fossils.
Have an idea re a Family Tree........thought i might cut up into leaf shapes some prints of the usual suspects and, and add some lacey leaves, and make a tree thingy. I keep reprinting out old pics and then getting stuck as to how to move on. Matriarchs from the past glare at me and I wilt.
Told the exhibition committee it might be ready by 7th July, as I haven't actually started, in a scissor snapping way, that doesn't seem likely.
Auntie Cinders tells me to put on another jumper and get on, doubtless they were colder and miserabler in the war, so no arguing.
She has been having a new gas fire fitted, but they lost the original connection bit, so could not proceed as it was obsolete etc. Finally found it on the mantelpiece, Auntie had looked for a candle holder and found the exact round metal thing.
Haven't got anything to read either. Finished Fifth Witness, Ok if a bit irritating, and the new Donna Leon. Thought one of the plot devices a little unbelievable, but I have no doubt she found the story of the crime in a newspaper somewhere.
Spent some time thumbing through Kindel, what a lot of books, most of which I have not heard of. When I read the reviews it is like looking for a comfortable hotel, many dissatisfied users.
Watched the end of Shadow Line last night, not sure I understood who was doing what to whom, mostly shooting each other, but there was some killer acting.

hot day

I live near a fairly small "market" town; I was going to say we don't have much of a market any more and likewise not much crime.

Then I remembered the recent serial killer.

Anyway this was a quick smash and grab that I stumbled across this morning while wandering around looking for something to edge my fossil strips. [I merrily cut them into 3 long strips without leaving margin allowance] so need tofind a way to finish them off.

The robbers presumably grabbed some expensive looking watches that are usually smugly laying on their velvet cushions in the window. Not sure how they got away from the hue and cry as it is a pedestrianised zone, but I guess if they are dastardly thieves they may break other rules too.

I finished the 4 books I have to make for the next exhibition.

We each had to make a sample of work 2"x2" some notes about our prowess and 4 attractive covers. Not my favourite occupation, so the stitching looks a bit sulky. We are charging £15 and pooling the money between us, haven't booked any away days on the proceeds!

Pic will follow but Retired Person, who does the technicals, is a bit sulky too. It is hot and feels like there will be a storm. He has been trying to expell the grass that cemented itself between the flowers in the drought and has got rather irritated, understandable.

So a grumpy couple.

The cat is happy, it is hot and he is asleep.

fossils

Thought it was about time I looked at some stitching. Small persons don't leave a lot of gaps in the day. I am/ was working on a piece for a Time and Tide exhibition, so thought i would do fossils.

I have three skinny panels now - not really sure how to present them. I made them by rollering paint and stuff over a lace doily and moving it about to make a background. Then printed some fossil type things and sort of stitched around. Everyone seems pleased with me that I have made something subtle for a change. Poo.

This stitching group is having a fit of the knipshers about what to price our work at. I suspect they think i price too low, but I do want to be affordable. They had a big meeting where they agreed we should charge more I think, I dunno I didn't go.

"Hell is other people".

I once worked at a psychiatric Unit and the chief assured us that "Life is other people". Hmmm perhaps.

Tempest 2011 Highlights

This is my son, he's the handsome one, mostly withou a cap. Their pool team have won it seems.