Book Page

Mary is creating an Embroidered Book.

Full of interesting creative techniques.

This page is a piece of dyed velvet, dyed scrim,

embroidery threads and beads.

It is an interesting contemporary drawn thread technique.

Making a stitch and pulling back the threads of the scrim,

stitching it into a circle revealing more of the 

velvet underneath.

French knots and beads are added to give it more detail.

See my piece HERE

Heather's Dress with Smocking

With everyone looking in their cupboards and Spring Cleaning.

Heather found this dress. It was hers when she was six years old. 

She can remember that her Mother made three of these dresses for Heather and her sisters.

Each one was smocked with such detail.

So beautiful to see and share. 

Embroidered Wren Fifty Years In The Making

I have been trying to encourage visitors and students who come into

the studio at The Old Art Room to recycle their fabrics, stashes and kits they have.

Look at them, give them new life, meaning or pass them on.

Laurie brought in a kit which she had been given fifty years ago by her sister.

She had embroidered half of it, she really didn't like the grey background fabric it was on!

 It then moved around from house to house, never seeing the light o day.

Laurie brought it to class and shared the story and that she had no intention of

finishing the bottom half of the picture, another wren. 

We all knew it was the background fabric!

So I said "Cut It Out",

There was a hush but during that session Laurie cut around the wren,

 placed it on bondaweb and found a piece of green velvet in the fabric tub, 

Ironed and appliqued it in place.

It has now been made into a small a decorated wall hanging and is hanging

in Laurie's new bungalow!

Fifty years is better than never!

Ticking Rabbit

I don't often make toys but I did want to make a Rabbit this month.

I found so many rabbit patterns on the internet and amongst my

magazine and books but I wanted one

that was a little bit different and we could use up the embroidered tray and table cloths

 we have all collected over the years because we can't bear to see them lost.

I made up a display of my family ones for the studio wall.

I encouraged visitors to look out their embroidered items and see whether

they were going to use them, keep them or now recycle them.

Using the many patterns available in the studio.

There were lots of kits too which were then cut up and used this month!

Shisha Embroidery Class