Angie's textile notes

Soluble fabrics day at Bramble Patch

2012-02-18T16:38:00.002Z

month 2 of the beginners machine embroidery class, we were having a go with soluble fabrics.

Hundertwasser in Dorchester

2012-02-13T12:38:00.001Z

Hello...bet you thought i'd emigrated ha ha... I haven't blogged recently because i hate this time of year i feel a bit grumpy and therefore feel i don't have anything interesting to say.....

However the weather has perked up a bit so i'm more optimistic today...i just checked the blog analytics and i want to say hello to California, Melbourne and Hamburg. Also Hi Bristol.

Well last week in the ice and snow i ventured to the south coast to teach 'inspired by Hundertwasser' for Dennie Rose at Dorchester. It was a large group (18) but they were all brilliant and able to get on while i was whizzing around trying to see everyone...here's some visual evidence.

we had a quick game of badminton at lunchtime.

no one finished but some great stuff in the pipeline.

today i will mostly be making paper.......

Free Hot Spots??????

2012-01-23T13:08:00.004Z

Yes it's true the offers on at Nid-Noi there's a small catch you need to order something.......well we always need to order something else. offers on till wednesday.

New online workshop Bags of Klimt

2012-01-10T17:54:00.002Z

I've just loaded up a new workshop on the online site 'Bags of Klimt' it's taken a week to do the biggest one yet and i sold the finished bag almost immediately on facebook...great result.

Happy New Year

2012-01-10T17:50:00.000Z

Hello Folks,
well i'm knackered and we haven't really got going this year. Here's a few pictures of my first few workshops at Trumpet corner lovely start to the year.....

Birds workshop a few new variations i thought.

These are some lovely bowls made by Hazel from my online workshop 'Bedazzling Bowls' she brought them along to show me...aren't they smashing!!

a few pics of the venue on day two Tantalising Textile Tag Books

i had a lovely crowd last weekend (that's generally usual though i know a lot of really great people).

the sum of their endevours i know they will keep adding to them it's great fun.

Seasons Greetings

2011-12-21T16:16:00.000Z

Have a super holiday and a very happy new year See you in 2012 x

Number 5 Birchwood Bondaweb Part 2 finished at last....

2011-12-20T14:55:00.000Z

Well...i have 5 downloadable workshops on my site now the latest is Bondaweb Birchwood Part 2 i'm really pleased with this one too. I've updated the site with materials and equipment lists for each workshop so customers know what they will need for the job before they commit to buying the file.

So this is the second part that goes with Bondaweb Birchwood which describes how to paint and prefare bondaweb for using on velvet...

Other workshops you can download are Shimmering Landscapes

And Hearts and Flowers Pocket

Finally Bedazzling Bowls

I will be tackling Bejewelled Bags next i think........

New online workshop.....nearly done.

2011-12-14T16:55:00.000Z

Bondaweb Birchwood part 2 on it's way

More Birds and craft shows

2011-12-01T10:21:00.001Z

Tweets and Twitters workshop at Bramble Patch last weekend with a lovely bunch of ladies...

I'm making a few for sale at the Jinney Ring Centre on Sunday 11th Dec..

PS...i'm at Trumpet Corner craft trail this weekend!!!!!

Me on the Telly

2011-11-27T10:57:00.001Z

......well not quite..... this is the full episode about my work with a foiling demo that i recorded with Jamie Malden for Colouricious. It's a couple of years old i think.

Bedazzling Bowls drama!!

2011-11-24T18:32:00.001Z

Just uploaded a new workshop on the online site 'Bedazzling Bowls' i've got 4 up on the site now and i thought what a great idea to put a shopping cart instead of individual payment buttons...blimey i should have left it...it's taken me all day to put it all right and then a bit of help from Marcus, people were ordering but not being able to download the file...STRESS!

Well anyway alls well now...here's some nice pictures from the latest workshop..........................

New Brooches

2011-11-24T11:03:00.001Z

A few craft events are coming up for the gift giving season.

My friend CB will be at the Vintage and Handmade Fair selling a few of my bits and bobs.... the fair is on this saturday all day at Posterity an architectural antiques warehouse just out side ledbury.

Also i hope to be at the Trumpet Corner Art Trail on 3rd and 4th Dec.

I'm doing a little sales and demo thing at Jinney Ring with Wendy Cottrell on 11th December. A nice day out, lovely food and crafty stuff and Hobbycraft is just down the road at Webbs of Wychbold.

Malta

2011-11-18T13:08:00.001Z

Malta with the folks....

Valletta TIC..!

I always thought this was HUGE it's about 8ins across 'the sleeping lady'.

Ma and Pa

Electic cabs.

Mdina horse with a feather in his cap

i always like a pigeon sitting on a statue.

11/11/11

a delicious tuna and pickled vegetable sandwich.

a fisherman and his cats

Transfer Printing at Bramble Patch....

2011-11-18T13:02:00.001Z

this was a new simple one day transfer printing workshop. A great bunch of students who of course were guinea pigs, they gave me brilliant and useful feedback and all wanted to carry one...hmmm maybe a two day workshop in the future.

Knuckling down to make a few gifty bits for some local craft events...at home now for a while.

Textile Book Club

2011-11-15T11:29:00.001Z

I'm running some workshops at Missenden Abbey under the title 'Textile Book Club' this one which happened a couple of weeks ago was 'Indian Tagbooks' lovely pieces were made though not finished....yet

I'll always try to work alongside the students if i can and there's time this one above is mine still in progress but i was really pleased with what i did.

Pockets Purses and Pouches

2011-10-30T10:21:00.000Z

Purse and pin cushion - Victoria & Albert Museum - Search the Collections

Thinking of doing a course called Pockets, Purses and Pouches at Missenden Summers School next year, what do you think??

Transfer Printing

2011-10-25T15:32:00.000Z

i'm very lucky to be taking a last minute trip to malta with Ma and Pa which will be fantastic but as soon as i get back i have classes at Bramble Patch. So.. i'm getting on with samples for the Transfer printing workshop.....

i did a two day workshop years ago before i had any clue that i would be doing this kind of thing for a living. It was with Jan Beaney and Jean Littlejohn. In those days all i could get to print on was old poly/cotton sheets. Now we have Evolon, Lutradur, Kunin felt, bees wing organza and the colours seem brighter than my old samples too. I been making paper stencils and collecting leaves and ferns as resists. Should be a good workshop..a new one too.

ma and pa

More classes with me....

2011-10-24T15:54:00.001Z

Classes at Bramble Patch, Weedon Northampton

To book a place (0)1327 342212 sales@thebramblepatch.co.uk

Transfers Stencils and Stitch

Angie Hughes

Thursday 17th November 2011An introduction to the wonderful world of transfer printing. I remember my early forays into this subject using simple polyester fabrics twenty years ago nowadays we have lovely fabrics such as Kunin felt and Evolon to play with. You will learn how to make simple stencils and resist from plain paper and the best ways of using disperse dyes to transfer patterns with an iron onto fabrics. Layering colours in this way produces the most delicious misty surfaces for stitch. Ir-resist-ible!!

Tweets and Twitters .....

Angie Hughes

Saturday 26th November 2011.... and little robin red breast. Textile birdies with a seasonal theme. Learn to construct a 3D bird from a pattern with a bit of hand or machine embroidery for that special festive fizz.

Stitch Cloth Paper and Paint - experimental mixed media

10 Wednesdays Jan18 2012 , 15 Feb, 14 March, 18 April, 16 May, 27 June, 25 July, 19 Sep, 17 Oct, 21 Nov.

On this new one day a month class we will address the mysterious world of mixed media and textiles. Understand and explore different combinations of recycled papers, scrims and calicos, paints and texture pastes...and of course stitch.

Techniques covered

Collage with fabric and stitch

Paper recycling

Image transfer

Impressing and embossing

Machine and hand embroidery

and much, much more...

This class will be for stitchers with some experience.

Creative Machine Embroidery - Day a Month

Angie Hughes

10 Thursdays – 19^th Jan, 16^th Feb, 15^th Mar, 19^th April, 17^th May, 28^th June, 26^th July 20^th Sept, 18^th Oct, 22^nd Nov 2012
This course experiments with free machine embroidery techniques using a variety of threads and techniques. We will begin with the basics learning about your machine and its gadgets, getting the hang of free motion embroidery before then we will start to get experimental. We will aim to create a file or book of samples and reference notes, then work on 2 or 3 finished pieces for exhibition at Bramble Patch later in the year.. Students can be beginners or those who need to be pushed a little with their knowledge and understanding of this exciting and creative subject.

New year New Workshops

2011-10-23T08:51:00.000Z

I've found a nice venue for workshops just outside ledbury Trumpet Corner here's the programme for the new year.

Workshops with Angie Hughes

Begin at 10am and finish at 4pm

Fri 6th Jan

Tweets and Twitters – learn how to make charming little fabric birds from a simple pattern. Perfect for any stitching ability
1 day course fee £45.00

Sat 7th Jan

Tantalising Textile Tagbooks – Make lovely little fabric books using paper and cardcraft techniques but on fabrics. For hand or machine embroiderers.
1 day course fee £45.00

Fri 3rd Feb

Inspired by Hundertwasser – Google him! Collage and machine embroidery on cotton velvet using Angie’s unique foiling technique.
1 day course fee £45.00

Sat 4th Feb

Bondaweb Birchwood - *new* Learn about painting bondaweb, iridescent paints, foils, collage and machine embroidery.
1 day course fee £45.00

Fri 30th March - Sat 31st March

Exploring Velvet – Angie’s personally favourite techniques. Try stencils, spray paints, printing with acrylics, collage and machine embroidery

2 days course fee £85.00

Workshops will be held at

Trumpet Corner
Trumpet Crossroads
Near Ledbury.
Herefordshire
HR8 2RA

Workshops from the Horses mouth or downloadable...

2011-10-17T11:53:00.000Z

Angie has been chatting with the folks at Trumpet Corner Tea Rooms and Artist Studios Near Ledbury and they have come to an arrangement where by she can run workshops in one of their studios.

I can only squeeze a few in to begin with here's a list of the dates....

Fri 6th Jan Tweets and Twitters – learn how to make charming little fabric birds from a simple pattern. Perfect for any stitching ability 1 day course fee £45.00

Sat 7th Jan Tantalising Textile Tagbooks – Make lovely little fabric books using paper and card craft techniques but on fabrics. For hand or machine embroiderers. 1 day course fee £45.00

Fri 3rd Feb Inspired by Hundertwasser – Google him! Collage and machine embroidery on cotton velvet using Angie’s unique foiling technique. 1 day course fee £45.00

Sat 4th Feb Bondaweb Birchwood - *new* Learn about painting bondaweb, iridescent paints, foils, collage and machine embroidery. 1 day course fee £45.00

Fri 30th March - Sat 31st March Exploring Velvet – Angie’s personally favourite techniques. Try stencils, spray paints, printing with acrylics, collage and machine embroidery 2 days course fee £85.00

Begin at 10am and finish at 4pm Workshops will be held at Trumpet Corner Trumpet Crossroads Near Ledbury. Herefordshire HR8 2RA to book a place ring 01531 63100 or email angie@angiehughes.com

if you can't make it to Ledbury i have now got a small selection of downloadable workshops on my website http://www.angiehughesonline.com/ I'm working hard to get a few more up...they will appear slowly over the next couple of months, then Marcus and i will attempt some video workshops...hmmmm should be interesting.

A little online workshop

2011-10-05T18:23:00.000Z

i came across today, it features some of my buttons.
How to make Fabric Buttons from Colouricious on Vimeo.

Quilting Arts - Gifts Edition

2011-09-30T17:01:00.000Z

I've written a little article for Quilting Arts on Floral Brooch making, i think it's a christmas edition....they just sent me a copy...quite pleased.

Here's a nice bunch of flowers from my garden!

Workbench

2011-09-28T08:43:00.000Z

One of my friends Nick Trigg is a multitalented musician guitar teacher mushroom forager...well many things really but one of his jobs is working at Posterity Architectural Antiques and reclamation Lower Mitchell Barn, Nr Ledbury, Herefordshire HR8 1EG : 01531 636380. Nick contacted me to see if i knew anyone who wanted a sewing table.....so i thought of you.

Nick's message....Just got in the most enourmous fabric/work table. Its Ten feet long and Four foot Ten wide and has a Nine foot wooden rule let into the side length of it for measuring fabric etc, know anybody who is looking for one?

here are a few pictures

it looks like a fantastic table wish i had the room. please share this post with anyone you think may be interested.

Marcus who helps me with computer and web related stuff plays in a band with Nick and they are playing in my local tomorrow evening. (obviously if you're in Australia this whole post is entirely useless to you) but if you're local pop in and see them as you can see by the poster, they don't take themselves too seriously. Starts at 8 not 8.30....................

More Birds...

2011-09-25T11:54:00.000Z

My friend Denise Curtis volounteered to be a guinea pig for the bird workshop i've been planning she sent me a few pics....just wanted to share...

this one she made while we worked together

then she made him a little friend

finally she had been experimenting there a touch of Abigail Brown about this one don't you think??

Terry Grant was the original bird designer you can download the pattern on the Quilting Arts website.

Inspired by Klimt

2011-09-19T09:12:00.000Z

Last week i did an Inspired by Klimt workshop at Bramble Patch, Weedon. Feather brained a usual state of mine i forgot my samples and had to knock one up quickly before the students arrived. This inspired a selection of the Klimtiest looking samples ever made during a workshop...

Birds

2011-09-15T18:25:00.001Z

Workshop at Bramble Patch yesterday with my 'one day a month' girls brilliant fun...

New Things, New Things!

2011-09-13T11:25:00.001Z

I've been living in my new pad for 5 months now and maybe it's due to the fact that i've been travelling around so much but i haven't settled in properly. I have many still unpacked boxes pushed into corners most of my pictures and bits and bobs still wrapped in bubbles. Crucially i haven't actually made anything of note in the art department. While i was on my travels in Scotland i tried to analyse the problem. I began to realise what i needed was a workspace, a bench, an area to lay out and stand back..... I was missing my old studio tables, i did try to squeeze them in to my minutant studio but it just wouldn't work....heck what to do. Using my hard earned interior design qualifications i got the tape measure out, hopped into the car and went to Ikea (by the way never visit Ikea on Sunday utter madness!)

I know it don't look much but it's fits perfectly into my bijou workspace, it's light as a feather too so i can move it around for the light when i'm doing my photo workshops.

I got a bunch of new stencils from Crafty Notions to help with A Study of Spanish Colour in Stitch and Collage at Castanea

Hamilton Embroiderers Guild

2011-09-10T18:55:00.002Z

Blimey i'm just loading up me piccies and we've had a massive hailstorm. All over in a minute...

Well.. my last weekend in Scotland was a workshop for Hamilton EG Altered Books.

2 lectures, 7 different workshops and 1132 miles later back in ledders....

Kelso and the borders

2011-09-08T18:51:00.001Z

I headed out after Stirling to the Scottish borders and visited Traqauir House the oldest inhabited house in Scotland full of history....

this little sitooterie was tweeting with small rodents!!

I spent a few days at Burnbrae Mill near Kelso with Pat and Sam Lewis where i did a Bejewelled bags workshop... they didn't quite finish but they worked really hard and variety of colour was lovely.

Stirling...Text in Textiles

2011-09-07T11:58:00.000Z

Plenty of acrylic paints up arms, on noses and a bit on fabric,,, creative work by my students at Stirling...........

Homesickness setting in!!

'Sitooterie' i'm gonna build one in my garden..

Stirling Summer School

2011-09-07T11:24:00.000Z

From Bute i travelled up the side of Loch Lomond very busy with tourist buses.

i stopped off at the village of Luss which seemed full of gnomes???

Prior to a workshop at Karelia House i stayed at Kenmore Hotel Scotlands oldest Inn. Scottish visitors...if you haven't visited Karelia House Aberfeldy it's must, lovely cafe and a smashing selection of textile and craft related stuff plus lots of lovely other bits and bobs. Shirley has great plans for the place in the future well worth the trip.

So...on to the main reason i'm in Scotland. The Scottish Embroiderers Guild Summer School at Stirling University. It's a major event in the Guilds annual calender and a frolicsome time was had by all. My first workshop was bedazzling bowls. I had a full class that rose expertly to the challenge. Sally (pic above) forgot to bring her sewing machine but knuckled down to hand stitching her bowl with gusto.

This machine belonging to Anne took it upon itself to take off alone and started smoking, didn't quite burst in to flames but it was a close thing. The amazing Mr P from Pembertons of Stirling had it fixed and back in action within the hour...an amazing feat!!

Below are the smashing finished pieces by my students!

next post 'Text in Textiles'.....

The Isle of Bute

2011-09-06T17:35:00.000Z

Here my Scottish oddessy begins, i was working for a group of stitch fans teaching them the 'Exploring Velvet' workshop. I stayed with Alison in Rothesay for the first couple of days. This was the view from my bedroom window.

St Ninian's Bay, this is where i was teaching my class.

My version of a Scottish thistle, much to local disgust. We were so busy i didn't get time to take shots of the students work. They all did amazing work and the special lunches were memorable!!!

I had a couple of days off to explore the island, i couldn't miss the Bute highland games. This is the magnificent Bruce Robb *sigh*.

Back to St Ninian's to stay with Yennie and David.

Had a visit to Mount Stuart

Mount Stuart gardens were lovely.

Yennie's dog Buster, she was like a little ghost popping up every now and then to gaze at me spookily.

David was very proud of his onions.

Next stop Kenmore........

Scotland

2011-08-17T07:34:00.000Z

i'm heading off for the Isle of Bute in a couple of hours. I've made a journal from experimental drawing papers.

it's mostly a working tour but i have a few days free on Bute, might do a bit of twitching!

hope i see some kilts!

Last day tomorrow

2011-08-13T19:09:00.003Z

Willow Arch

2011-08-12T13:08:00.002Z

I made a willow arch yesterday...today i'm stiff as a board!!

Echo of Things....... update

2011-08-11T09:05:00.001Z

Claire's work

Claire's

Mine

Caroline's

Jeanette's

John's

Jeanette's sketchbook

Jeanette's

Mine

Me!!

Caroline's stones.

it's on till sunday. 10 - 5

Handsewing

2011-08-09T07:57:00.004Z

I'm not famous for my handsewing it takes me AGES to do a square inch so i thought i'd pop this picture of me on the blog.... rare moment in time taken by Jo Naiman at Missenden Abbey Summer School,....me sewing on some sequins!

Jo took some great pics (not of me but students work) will load up a few more soon .

Echo of Things

2011-08-07T12:35:00.002Z

Come on down it starts tomorrow...oooh it's gonna be good!

more Missenden

2011-08-05T06:41:00.002Z

Day four and a half......

Ros's little needle case!

mine WIP

Linda's

Janet's

Mary's

Jo's

Judith's

Kathleen's

Janina's

Last day today these pieces aren't quite finished will post finished pics tomorrow.

Twilight Demo at Pipers Corner

2011-08-03T20:23:00.001Z

i did an evening demo at Pipers Corner (the school up the road from Missenden where most of the textile stuff goes on during summerv school) My lovely german friend Anne Lange turned up. My demo was entiltled 'Into the Trees' based on painted bondaweb and foiling....

Missenden Abbey Summer School

2011-08-02T20:30:00.001Z

Back at Missenden, i've been coming here for 7 years blimey!! i'm doing Further Explorations with Velvet and have 10 great students...

Pat and the Marys not my students just chums looking forward to our weeks study..

the pics below are after 2 days work more to come...

were having a lovely time the weather is great looking forward to our day of stitch tomorrow.

Oxford Summer School

2011-08-01T21:47:00.001Z

I'm on a summer school marathon at the moment. This is my fantastic assistant Daisy. She only got here 10 mins ago look at the mess she made!!

Daisy's piece inspired by Hundertwasser.

Getting ready for spraying and discharging.

my bits and bobs

'what i call ironic' (in joke))

other workshops Eric's woodcuts..

fun papier mache figures

experimental knitters

visual narrative....i can't describe how this week went it was so much fun, creative and stimulating, what a great bunch of students roll on Missenden........

Illuminated Icons @ Bramble Patch

2011-07-15T14:11:00.000Z

I've been working over at Bramble Patch again this week. My day a month girls were experimenting with the embellisher, i confess to getting a bit excited by the embellisher. i didn't get any good pics of our activities my camera battery was flat but i got a few good ones from the Illuminated Icons workshop i did yesterday.

compiling the image from sweetie papers.

this ones mine ready for stitching.

Nicola's nearly ready

Brenda's doing a Madonna.

This is mine all stitched but i brought the wrong hot air tool.

two little angels doing pilates...

Linda's Coptic angel it was very textured but the photo isn't very good.

Brenda's Madonna.

they were a great bunch of students wonderful day.

Echo of Things

2011-07-12T11:38:00.000Z

My friends and I are having an exhibition in The Weavers Gallery, Church Lane Ledbury HR8 1DW called Echo of Things, we have a blogspot where we are posting images of things that have inspired us or photos of artworks to be exhibited.

Hellen's House Much Marcle

2011-07-07T13:52:00.000Z

I went over to Hellen's House yesterday to see the Textile Bazaar. I thought i would take the house tour while i was there. It was brilliant! Ruth the guide was knowledgable and informed on history and art and it was wonderful to think that the house had been in the family for centuries. Afterwards i really just wanted to reflect on the history but i plunged in to the Bazaar and managed only to buy a small facinator. It's a lovely place and the gardens are beautiful well worth a visit.

New Toy

2011-07-05T08:28:00.000Z

I have a new toy a Janome Embellisher. I'm having fun combining the felting technique with my velvet stuff.

this is just the felted stage, on black velvet i've used acrylic felt, silk fabric and tops punched from both sides.

machine embroidery stage.

i've avoided embellishers because there's only so much info you can absorb and store in the grey cells. I though it might blow my mind. But.. it seems that you can learn by small degrees, i would like to use this somehow in my 'Bird Garden' series.

Manchester Embroiderers Guild

2011-07-01T09:22:00.000Z

Morning....i'm off to speak at Manchester Embroiderers Guild 2pm tomorrow Union Chapel (Fallowfield) Wellington Rd Fallowfield Manchester M14 6EQ come along if you're in the area, i will be talking about my materials and techniques loads of samples to look at....pip pip!

random photo apropos of nothing, it's a boat in Shipley Gardens, Holme Lacy near Hereford.

Echo of Things

2011-06-28T14:21:00.000Z

I'm doing an exhibition here in Ledders in August..... more to come soon. I'm working on new things a mixture of techniques some book arts, mixed media and velvet pieces. The show is called Echo of Things click here for our little blog of quirky bits. I have just finished a piece ready for the show. Need a title tho'.

Altered Books Round Robin...Book 7

2011-06-27T12:39:00.000Z

Wendy's book of Byron's plays. The paper is fragile and the book is falling apart. Glued the pages together with spray mount.

The texture is from polyfiller and acrylic paint. Enjoyed doing this technique.

Moon Rainbow Exhibition

2011-06-27T08:57:00.001Z

Weavers Gallery is once again hosting an exciting exhibition as part of the Ledbury Poetry Festival.

'Moonbow' by me

Twenty-two textile artists (including me) have been invited to produce a piece of work inspired by the Dymock Poets. Many have taken a specific poem as the starting point while others have been inspired by the countryside which was such a key influence on the group during the years immediately prior to the First World War.

The exhibition will be open Tuesday 28th June - Sunday 10th July 10am-5pm.

I do hope to see you there!

Heather Quilters Surrey

2011-06-23T19:30:00.000Z

Just got back from a talk and workshop with Heather Quilters, Lightwater Surrey. It was Klimt can you guess...off to do another Klimt workshop tomorrow for Swansea Embroiderers Guild.

ok so this isn't Klimt inspired cake but it was inspiring...

this is Pat's who confessed to little machine embroidery knowledge lovely work!!

Hampton Court

2011-06-20T17:41:00.000Z

Hello hello, i've been out for the day with mum and dad at Hampton Court nr Leominster having a look around the garden. The weather was perfect for a garden visit.

love these structures made from Hazel.

not sure but this glass piece could be by my friend Tamsin Abbot look like her stuff.

mum sat down for a moment and this little cat sat or her lap.

Mum thinks this isn't quite the Taj Mahal

Dad behind a leaf

Dad's favourite day out.

Paper Clay

2011-06-17T08:35:00.000Z

I found the pieces i made with my Bramble Patch wednesday group. I have an exhibition coming up in August and i'm preparing all sorts of different pieces, some books, some mixed media and some stitched velvets. These are pieces of paper clay ('Das' in the UK) I have impressed this rolling rubber stamp into the clay (due to years of abuse by students the stamp has all manner of colour on the surface which transfered to the damp clay, nice in't it)

Don't know the next step but it will come.

Ireland and Working Alfresco

2011-06-15T21:27:00.000Z

Irish visitors....I've had an enquiry from an Irish Quilt Group to go over for a lecture/workshop next year not sure of the dates yet, if you know of any other textile groups that might be interested i could do a little workshop tour??

Ok so i'll confess i've been quite grumpy of late in fact downright miserable, i put it down to the inclement weather we've had here in the UK over the past month. Like my Dad i think i suffer a little bit from SAD (Seasonal Affected Disorder) my symptoms usually manifest themselves in long bouts of sleep and lack of concentration/enthusiasm. When i become aware of it i usually go to my local gym and take a couple of sessions in the sun shower but this is expensive and i'm on an economy drive at the moment. So.. yesterday we had a sunny day and i decided to take my stuff and work outside on the sun terrace. I was preparing for a workshop today at Bramble Patch with my day a month group, looking at mixed media techniques using paper clay and wax dipping. The samples are still in the car i'll put some pics up tomorrow but i must say working outside for a few hours has certainly lifted my spirits. I thoroughly recommend a bit of alfresco art every now and then....

bye for now.

Brooch Making Friday

2011-06-10T14:22:00.000Z

Today I am mostly making ........brooches.

Black cotton velvet, little bits of silk, ferrero rocher foil and black polyester organza.

Do you think it's goin a little bit Austin Powers??

Bryans Ground

2011-06-05T12:07:00.000Z

National Drawing Day yesterday Jeanette and i went out intending to do a bit but it kept raining and making our books soggy so we decided to take lots of pics instead.

We headed off to Prestigne north Herefordshire to take a look at a garden i'd heard of and been wanting to see for several years. Bryans Ground is on the border of wales in a lovely region of Herefordshire a little bit wild and woolly. This gardens sits comfortably in the landscape, though it is a formal garden it's a bit rough round the edges which i love, i think the pictures speak for themselves........

Hidden Treasure and scratch journal making

2011-06-01T14:34:00.000Z

Ever felt as if you're walking around in the darkness but really you just forgot to switch on the light.

i've been thinking for the past week or so 'i must buy a diary so that i can keep a garden journal' i want to make note on successes and disasters eg. do not put seedlings under glass in direct sunlight and fry them to death etc etc....

Well... this morning little Gem my Hidden Treasure (every confused and disorganised artist needs one... oh ..and actually she not that little i think she's taller than me) came round, sorted and tidied my store room see below

i can walk about inside and find things it's a miracle!! Anyway, i found a box of paper i've been saving for arty journals workshops and at last 'ping' the light came on..... make me own journal!

I've put a selection of different papers together in bundles (registers in bookbinding terms) graph, brown, layout, photocopy papers, chopped up envelopes and ripped out pages from the altered books i've been doing lately, letters from the bank manager,,you know the sort of thing.

Then using a stilleto i've poked holes along the folds ready for stitching.

sorry i can't describe the stitching very clearly it takes a while to learn book binding techniques and this really is the scratch version.

glueing the whole thing together and waiting for it to dry. I'll make a cover and finish the thing in the morning...i've got a few seed packets and photo's to go in already.

also uncovered more treasure in the cupboard 2 boxes of Ferrero Rocher, lord knows how long they've been there!!

Gardening by Mistake!

2011-05-31T13:13:00.000Z

As part of my new estate i have a little garden tho' i'm not famous for my gardening skills but i'm very lucky to have a friend who works in a garden centre. I have aquired some lovely bashed up delphiniums and a wonderful cut price hosepipe. I'm trying to do it up on the cheap especially as i'm renting. I want to have it looking sort of ok for next september as i'd like to open up for H.Art week. It feels quite dry and stoney at the mo, if anyone has any tips on gardening on the cheap or useful links i'd be most greatful i'm entirely in the dark on this one.

i'll be posting progress as the year goes by

my little sun terrace steps.

this is a little dunnock pick fluffs out of the broom for making nests.

Altered Books Round Robin 5 & 6

2011-05-30T19:27:00.000Z

i've been working on 2 more books for the round robin we had a meeting this evening to exchange our books. We are going to exhibit them as part of H.Art week at Hereford Library in the community cases. So if you visit the open exhibition you'll be able to see the books too.

This one is part of Julia's book on childrens tales. it was very fragile and we have to do sections. She will bind it all up later.

This is Molly's book of Insects. I was lucky because i got the pages with moths. The text is from "Prodigal Summer" by Barbara Kingsolver

........'This is how moths speak to each other. They tell their love across the fields by

scent. There is no mouth, the wrong words are impossible, either a mate is

there or he's not, and if so the pair will find each other in the dark"

next one Byrons poetry.

more moonbow....

2011-05-24T19:09:00.002Z

Moon Bow

2011-05-18T18:32:00.002Z

Exhibitions fast approaching and i still can't find anything in my new pad. I'm working on a piece for the Poetry Festival Exhibition at the Weavers Gallery in Ledbury. We are asked to make work inspired by the poetry of Dymock Poets. They were They were Robert Frost, Lascelles Abercrombie, Rupert Brooke, Edward Thomas, Wilfrid Wilson Gibson, and John Drinkwater.

Amanda who organises the show annually has called the show 'Moon Rainbow'. taken from the poem I've pasted below. I confess to revisiting old techniques really just to get going but I'm enjoying making again.

Iris by Night

Robert Frost

One misty evening, one another's guide,

We two were groping down a Malvern side

The last wet fields and dripping hedges home.

There came a moment of confusing lights

Such as according to the tale at Rome

Were always seen at Memphis on the heights

Before the fragments of a former sun

Could concentrate anew and rise as one.

Light was a paste of pigment in our eyes.

And then there was a moon, and then a scene

So watery as: to seem submarine;

In which we two stood saturated, drowned.

The clover-mingled rowan on the ground

Had taken all the water it could as dew,

And still the air was saturated too,

And unrelieved of any water-weight.

Then a small rainbow like a trellis gate,

A very small moon-made prismatic bow,

Stood closely over us through which to go.

And then we were vouchsafed the miracle

That never yet to other two befell

And I alone of us have lived to tell.

A wonder! Bow and rainbow as it bent,

Instead of moving with us as we went

(To keep the pots of gold from being found),

It lifted from its dewy pediment

Its two mote-swimming many-colored ends

And gathered them together in a ring;

And we stood in it, softly circled round

From all division time or foe can bring,

In a relation of elected friends.

My piece is made from calico with bonded tissue paper for texture. It is going to have a flavour of 'My Blue Place', a piece featured in my book.

corded whip stitch in the vermicelli style. All this intensive stitching made the whole thing shrink and i had to cut the moon shape out and re-insert it. I've covered the join with some cable stitch (heavy thread in the bobbin working from the back).

got it nice a flat now. Stretched over a canvas and painted with gesso primer. watching paint dry.....

Boots....

2011-05-17T13:43:00.000Z

Tilleke Schwartz

2011-05-16T10:06:00.001Z

I had this message today from Rachel at Cherwell Valley EG. I'm frustrated because i can't go to this, i love Tilleke's work and sense of humour.........

Just to let you know that the Cherwell Valley Embroiderers Guild are holding an Open Evening this Thursday, May 19th. We are fortunate in having Tilleke Schwartz as our speaker and wondered whether you or anyone you know might be interested in the event. The talk starts at 7pm at The Post Graduate Centre in Banbury but the evening begins from 6pm onwards as we have a number of tradestands plus refreshments. There will also be a raffle. for more info contact Rachel on 01608 684133

Bookshelves

2011-05-13T19:18:00.000Z

I built some bookshelves out of cardboard boxes today being a bit skint and unable to afford some nice ikea ones. Sorry not much else goin on at the moment!!

off to speak to Derby Embroiderers Guild in the morning.

Online Workshops

2011-05-05T17:08:00.000Z

I'm spending a few days preparing PDF's for my new online workshops website. It's and interesting process you have to try to think of every eventuality. It fact it is much like writing the book. I want to include a few short video's similar to Laura and Linda Kemshalls website which i think is brilliant. Here's a picture of the first nearly finished workshop 'Shimmering Landscapes'.

Glasgow Visit

2011-05-02T18:03:00.000Z

Saw a lot of railway stations and the inside of trains 10 hour journey home because of a fire near the line at Wakefield.

by Clyde's bonnie banks

my little display at the Royal Concert Hall Glasgow, i had an audience of 350 biggest yet i think!!

amazing time in Glasgow, didn't see much of it but made some great contacts so much so that i'm now going on a 3 week working tour of Scotland in August this year.

Glasgow!!

2011-04-29T09:31:00.000Z

The Scottish Embroiderers Guild are having a regional day tomorrow. I'm just off to catch a train as i will be speaking tomorrow......

REGIONAL DAY 2011

The Regional Day 2011 is being held in Glasgow, Royal Concert Hall on Saturday 30th April.

The speakers will be Philippa Turnbull with her talk "Crewelwork in British castles, country Houses and Museums" and Angie Hughes with a talk on "Talks about her journey as a textile artist".

After coffee when you arrive, there will be a number of things to do

Members' Competition "Down to Earth". Young Embroiderers - also "A Magical Moment"

Branches Exhibition - work from all Scottish branches

ATC Swap

Raffle

Traders will be available whenever there are no speakers or Guild updates.

For more information, Please contact the "Contact" below.

For further information contact Angela Higgins

Bramble Patch Easter Exhibition

2011-04-28T22:28:00.000Z

Easter Exhibition - Saturday 16th - Saturday 30th April 2011

last couple of days!!!

Altered Books Round Robin book 4.

2011-04-27T13:37:00.001Z

Last catch up post today......

This is Ann Davies' book based on 'Venice' well i've never been to Venice so i don't have much of a point of reference but i have read 'Miss Garnets Angel' by Salley Vickers. so i photo copied some of the text from the book to include in this one.

As i was rootling through my bits and bobs i found an old earring that had the madonna and child on it and a cross attached at the bottom. So i made this the focal point for my altered pages and included the photocopies as wall paper taking just one line 'a face, the madonna's face' as the text to include.

New Home

2011-04-27T13:08:00.000Z

So..just before Easter i moved house and studio to a bijou apartment (some might call it a flat it certainly is flat) at the other end of Ledbury. It has a little patio and use of a garden so with the nice weather i'm living an indoor/outdoor life style and it's lovely.

it don't look much at the moment but i have a few ideas to arty it up a bit. I daren't let you see indoors it's still cardboard city.

Bletchley Park and Altered Books

2011-04-27T12:59:00.000Z

Had a day to occupy myself over east so i visited Bletchley Park.

This is a copy of the machine that cracked the Enigma code..... hmmm how interesting.

Now this is more like it... Pidgeon Parachutes!!! They were our secret weapon during the war.

special little rucksacks (ok ankle sacks) full of secrets...

right.... enough of that frivolity back to work. I did a lecture on friday evening to the North Herts Embroiderers Guild, they really know how to do a social .....fantastic food. Next day i was employed to teach the amazing art of Altered Books here are the results.

This one is my sampler

I think this one was made by local celebrity Gina Ferrari sorry if it isn't Gina i should really make notes

As you can see the students really got going a flew with it. The problem i find with Altered books workshops is that students have a problem cutting or painting pages of a BOOK but really you're just giving it a new lease of life.....

now.. back home i've got a whole house to move.

Daisy Bookwraps at Bramble Patch

2011-04-27T12:21:00.000Z

I had a little tour of Northants and North Herts the week before last (i'm catching up on old news as i've been off line and without a landline for over a week, peculiar feeling like loosing a limb) I was teaching at Bramble Patch Weedon to begin with 'Daisy Bookwraps'

A few action shots...the students tolerantly suffered being guinea pigs for the day, i've never done this process in one day before, prefering to let everything dry overnight before painting the next layer. Hairdryers were employed to speed up proceedings.

the girls did a fantastic job and nearly finished one or two actually did finish (this is mine above)

that was a great day i had some lovely students Bramble Patch is a great place to work. Next month at Bramble... Bedazzling Bowls 12th May and Inspired by Klimt 26th May this one's full but people sometimes drop out so it's worth getting on the waiting list.

So now off to Katie's at Cosgrove.......

Daisy Bookwrap at Bramble Patch

2011-04-04T10:55:00.000Z

Gemma's preparing samples for my Daisy Bookwrap workshop next week at Bramble Patch as i add this link i notice class is full so sorry if you are interested. Gemma is getting her noodle round french knots, poor old girl!!

Here's a wrap by Judy who did this from the Stitch magazine (i think)

The Lovely Ladies of Lutterworth

2011-04-04T10:41:00.000Z

I've been teaching Exploring Velvet at Lutterworth EG here are their results, we didn't get around to machine embroidery the results were amazing and they laid on the most amazing food...big up the puddings!!

these are Almshouses in Frolesworth where the village hall was, they were originally built for the widdows of the parish...Hamble Yacht Club next.....

Farewell to Ledbury Artplace

2011-04-01T14:42:00.000Z

My lease runs out today so i'm sad to say i'm leaving Ledbury Artplace and the classes here will end as from today. We have had great fun and met loads of interesting and wonderful people so there is nothing to regret.

I'm moving into a super little apartment the other side of town with space for a small studio with lovely big windows and a little garden. Marcus (my man friday) and i are working on a new project...online workshops. The site is up and running but not much content for another 3 weeks till i get settled.

Right....car is packed up i'm off to Lutterworth EG to teach for the weekend, hope you have a lovely weekend too.

Altered Books workshop at Wolverhampton Embroiderers Guild.

2011-03-20T18:34:00.000Z

Had a lovely day with the ladies at Wolverhampton EG their books were remarkable but my camera battery konked out!!!

Mini Tour of Kent

2011-03-13T12:12:00.000Z

This week i've been working in Kent, i did a sort of mini tour working with two groups. One in Hernhill and the other in Bridge both villages not far from Canterbury.

So i had to visit Canterbury a place i've never been. What a busy historic town. i went to the Cathedral first, the town is full of little streets like this one leading to the gatehouse.

They have removed the chairs inside to give a sense of what the place would have been like when it was first built. Quite terrifying to a simple farmer i would imagine.

Well that was lots of fun but down to work. i was teaching 'Text in Textiles' for the Altered Textile group. They were a very confident crowd and got stuck in with enthusiasm. Here are a few examples of their prints. You may notice that theres not much text here and thats because they really enjoyed using the formafoam blocks and text rather went out the window!

A forma foam block impressed into metal type, i liked the grungyness of the surface with paint still on it.

I was staying with Jo in Whitstable by the sea, this a lovely windmill i spotted from my bedroom window.

supper!

Next day off to Bridge to stay with Loo Round i love the Kentish architecture so i had to take a few shots on the road. A working hop farm.....

Patrixbourne Church

Converted Oast House

lovely roofs

Textural Bookwraps in Loo's cosy studio

My little sampler

Annie's finished wrap

Loo's nearly finished wrap

Can't wait for my next visit, we're going to take a trip to Dungeness to see Derek Jarman's garden.

Cosgrove and Kings Sutton

2011-03-06T12:21:00.000Z

i arrived at this lovely village of Cosgrove on friday morning for an Illuminated Icons workshop. i had to cross this lovely bridge over the grand union canal. This weekend i've been working for Region 7 of the Quilteres Guild.

Students work, not all finished but they all did some amazing work.

Did a lecture for region 7 's regional day in Kings Sutton on saturday to a fantastic audience....great weekend so far.

tonight i'm doing a giglet at the Farmers Arms Wellington Heath with my band wish me luck......

Transfer Printing workshop at Bramble Patch

2011-02-27T18:26:00.000Z

I did a workshop at Bramble Patch yesterday. Had a great bunch of students. Here's a few pics

This is work by Steph Redfern, she's doing a workshop at Bramble Patch but i'm at the NEC damn it.

Work by Hilary who came on the Buds and Blooms workshop a few weeks ago.

My Samples for the workshop

Altered Book No.3

2011-02-23T15:12:00.000Z

This is the third month in the Round Robin, this book originated from Valerie McLean on the theme of Childhood. i admit i've been putting it off and the deadline is monday, so i got started today.

i like my pages to be sturdy so this time (instead of PVA) i spray mounted 2 pages together either side. it means that the pages don't go so buckley.

i'm using the prescribed altered book technique of telling vague story by masking a few words with 'post it' paper. well i had to get started somewhere. it became clear as i was doing this that i was considering the loss of innocence so... this is my theme.

Slap a bit of gesso over the whole thing!

detail of gesso,,,,interesting isn't it?

i'm kind of faffing about here... then i find in the book a picture of an urchin smoking.. you'll see..

this is texture paste through one of my stencils from Crafty Notions with an old credit card (the only use for them in my opinion)

i eventually stuck the tags down and gesso'd over the top.

i printed over the top of the tags with a handwriting stamp and sprinkled a bit of silver embossing powder. you can see the smoking boy on the right.

this page isn't finished quite yet but it's coming on. Valerie asks us not to use colour but i have an urge to use red here somewhere. Blood and Fire....

Alerted Book Round Robin........ book 2

2011-02-18T14:42:00.000Z

My friend Philip always call this activity 'alerted' books well we're on the next book now it's an Alan Titchmarsh so i'm mostly un-inspired.

i found a nice quotation.....

I once had a sparrow alight upon my shoulder for a moment, while I was hoeing

in a village garden, and I felt that I was more distinguished by that circumstance
that I should have been by any epaulet I could have worn

- Henry David Thoreau

First book

10,000 copies sold!

2011-02-17T14:57:00.000Z

that's worldwide!

Shopping and new assistant

2011-02-02T20:40:00.000Z

I went out hunting for white cotton velvet today and found that Silken Threads in Cheltenham have a good stock. They are extremely helpful and their fabric stock is extensive.

all my friends chuckle about my newly found knitting obsession but i know you'll understand, my favourite knitting shop is the Knitting Parlour in Great Malvern, their online shop is great too.

I have a new assistant Gemma Impey. She came to me for work experience and she was so good she now works for me a few hours a week while she is studying art at Hereford Art College. She was on her work experience when i was filming for Colouricious she sat quietly just out of shot during the TV episodes here's a reminder of what colouricious get up to.

Teme Valley Embroiders Guild

2011-01-18T15:40:00.000Z

Back to work proper...

i visited Teme Valley EG, Tenbury Wells last saturday to run a 'Text in Textiles' workshop. It is a large guild with enthusiastic members. i'm always slightly nervous going to teme valley because natural disasters generally occour (floods, ice and snow). i managed to arrive unimpeded (the wind was getting up though....) The way the comitee arrange the day is at one end of the village hall the workshop happens and the other end members not on the workshop bring their own projects for a sociable day. i can be a bit noisy but i works really well theres a fantastic sense of creativity and buzz.

after getting my students going i had a bit of a wander about and came across Angela doing a bit of macrame. It was a lovely surprise to see quite an old craft technique being brought to life again.We had a bit of a giggle about the old jute macrame plant pot hangers but you know i think one would look really good here in the garret. With a spider plant in of course.

i didn't get this lady's name but she was doing some fine crochet flowers to go on a wooly hat for her grand daughter. They were lovely but what was most interesting to me was the book that she was using for the pattern, it was late 60' early 70's lovely crochet bedspreads in the colours of the day...brilliant i love these old books. My fave book is a little one i got from Hay-on-Wye on Batik circ 1965. it has the best directions ever i've seen in a craft book. We have to be all artistic these days when writing craft books.

This was the table cloth Mary my host presented my lunch on!

these are my hard working workshoppers

my materials for the day

below some of their lovely prints

Green New Year....

2011-01-05T15:05:00.000Z

Well i don't know about you but though i am indeed very happy to get christmas over and done i seem to be suffering from pcb's (post christmas blues) and not in the way my 11 year old nephew is. i just can't seem to get going at all, i keep over sleeping it's taken a week to write an article for workshop on the web that would normally take a couple of days. i'm famously snoozy but this is ridiculous.

to combat this fuzzy wierdness i went for a walk in the woods looking for all things green, it sort of worked for a few hours.....

this is an ancient trackway in Dog Hill called GREEN lane.

A Nugget of Purest Green!!! Hope this makes you chuckle Happy New Year.

Seasons Greetings

2010-12-09T22:51:00.000Z

Christmas Open Studio.......next Saturday

2010-12-02T14:50:00.000Z

Trying to work and stay warm

2010-11-29T14:57:00.000Z

My studio and garret being a brick built shed (basically) it bloody perishing at the moment. Last years cold snap cost me so much in electricity bills i've only just finished paying. in an effort to reduce heating costs i'm camping out in one room, i brought the old wooden trestle in from outside complete with pegs frozen to the surface!!!!

it's getting cosy in here now and i've managed to remove a few layers so i can move my arms. i've got all the essentials around me, the main problem will be when to stop working!!!

i'm writing a project for a nameless American magazine who just told me that they can't fit it in....grrrrr i've spent quite a lot of time on this, 'sigh' oh well, i'll try and sell it to someone else. this is the end product, it's called 'into the woods' sewing kit.

i've been mostly listening to Kate, this seems appropriate at the mo.