Go with the flow

On Saturday we were at a Quilt Exhibition (we were actually there on Sunday as well, but this relates to the Saturday). The morning was quiet, and I just happened to have the embellisher with me! Working was obviously a little disjointed as it is difficult to serve, talk, discuss and embellish all at the same time, but the above picture shows the result of pulling apart roving and other fibres and just laying them on a background. There was no real thought to their placing, this 'just happened'. So, if you haven't got the machine out of the box, or if you have but are scared of trying something new. Don't be! Just go for it and 'go with the flow' The above needs more work. It will have hand and machine stitching in the end, and will be a bag - probably. At the moment I too am just going with the flow.

There is another prize draw on the dyeing blog. Don't forget to enter. The prize this time is 2 Yarn Twists. They are worth having - I will be using one to hand stitch on the above.





























































































There is another prize draw on the Dye-a-Lot blog, don't forget to enter.

A bit of fun

I needed a card in a hurry! Out came the embellisher and this is the result.

The background is fibres meshed onto net, added yarns and then reapplied to previously made felt.

The knitting is with Sassa Lynne Coton a Broder

And now for something completely different

I have a 'thing' about teapots. I think it is the shape. They are comforting, and there is nothing quite like a cup of tea.

This is part of a hanging. It is machine stitched and has nine patches altogether.

Just to let you know that I do sometimes do things other than use the embellisher!

Hearts and Flowers

This was particularly easy to work on. The background and square are woollen blanket, the flowers, pre-felted wool, and the hearts wool/viscose felt. The needles loved the fabric and worked very quickly and easily. Well worth a try. I used the Pfaff again for this challenge.

Enter before it's too late

There are only a couple of days to go before this prize draw will close. It is open to everyone, so have a go if you haven't already done so.

A new bag

I had such an exciting delivery today. I was browsing Etsy last week when I came across this bag. There was something about it that said 'buy me', and so I did. I have to say that it is even more vibrant than in the photograph, and I love it. It's even got a little heart bead over the 'popper fastening.

The best part is that I had already had contact with the maker, so it is from someone I know! I couldn't see any more bags on there today but here is the link to her Etsy store. I'm sure the situation will soon be remedied and there will be more there.

Another stitched sample

The fabric shown in the previous post was such a joy to handle

that I have used small pieces to stitch two more samples. Just tiny

ones, and aimed at My Efforts blog!

Just for good measure!

Well, just to show that I mean business here is a scan of a quick sample of fly stitch. This is also stitched onto an embellished background. French Knots have been added too. The background is scrim with wool and viscose fibres added. I made this sample using the Pfaff 350P.

Take a Stitch Challenge

How silly of me, I have deleted the scan of my stitches from the above before loading it here. However here is the link to find a few stitches on some embellished felt.

Patches

Published now as a sample of 'Patches', some of you will have seen it before, it is one I use in workshops. I produced it to prove a point.

This has been through the washing machine and the patches still stay fairly secure. There is no stitching anywhere.



Don't forget the offer in the last post, there is only a week to go!














This is the back. It's difficult to see the texture in this photograph, but this too would make a good background for further stitching.

An offer you can't refuse?

Here is an offer on one of my other blogs.

Trapped

It has been some time since I posted

due to pressure of work!

However, this is my effort for 'trapped'.

Paper flowers are sandwiched between chiffon and sizoflor.

Purple Challenge

Well, maybe this is a slight cheat! However, red and blue do make purple, and I have always said that all interpretations count!

This is the front of a book cover and the sample for the 2 hour workshops at Cottenham. It isn't the best of pictures, but at least gives an idea of what we did. The blue shapes are felt made (on the day) using roving and the red/blue are a combination of fibres and fabric.

Cottenham was an excellent event. If you didn't make it this year make sure you do next.

Textiles in Focus

We are off to the above event for a few days. It is always worth a visit, so if you are in the Cambridge UK area this weekend I can recommend it. If you would like more details there are links here.

Have a look for us at the Winifred Cottage stand. I will be teaching a couple of sessions, but the rest of the time I hope to be demonstrating and signing the book. I look forward to seeing any of you there.

Different Backing

Tearaway backing made from cotton fibres produced and interesting background to try.

In fact I have meshed same to same by tearing pieces from another sheet. The background is coloured with a dilute solution of walnut ink mixed with a few drops of red food colouring. The applied shapes came from a sheet coloured with procion dyes















This is the back of the finished sample. You can see the areas where most meshing has taken place. Too much work will produce holes, but that can be an interesting feature too.

The Spice Challenge

This is not the easiest way to work on scrim. Scrim is a very flimsy material with an open background that easily works into holes. Triangles are easy to distort and a firmer backing would have helped. The points push through the scrim, and it would also have been easier with a different type of felt. I chose hand-dyed wool/viscose felt and this breaks up if worked too hard.

What I am trying to say is that this really was a challenge. I'm glad I did it as I learnt a lot, even though the result looks really simple.

I am teaching a dyeing course at Missenden Abbey at the end of the month. We will also be covering materials that are suitable for use with the 'embellisher' machines. If you would like more details send me an email

nuvofelt@gmail.com

Spice

I have just run out of time. I am away teaching this weekend, so I won't be able to post this picture until I return. The new challenge will be posted shortly, though.

Emerald

Take bright emerald fibres, place them on a black background and this is the result.



The base colour is all important when working with a specific colour as it will influence the final result. The flowers were pre-felted on the embelliser, trimmed and refelted as they progressed. I then well embedded them into the piece. It was worked from the side that you see and then a little from the reverse.



This is the reverse and the result for which I was aiming. Much more sublte. I have machine stitched the outline, but more stitching will be added later today as it is a class sample needed for tomorrow! I will post a picture of the finished item after the weekend.

Blue

When I set the challenge I was actually being selfish and thinking of myself! I find it very difficult to work in blue, and try as I might nothing seemed right as I worked. You will see that in the end colour won over! You see, BLUE was only the inspiration that got me started!

Layers

I call this effort 'Altered Ego'. It isn't really a self portrait, but it looks more like one than the original artwork! Originally designed with torn paper shapes this was put together with layers of hand-dyed felt, partly felted, then cut back and finally meshed together.

Looking forward to seeing what the rest of you have done.