Old Doors and Openings

 

 The second 2 day workshop I taught in Adelaide was Old Doors and Openings and once again I provided comprehensive notes and a kit. I was really thrilled at the results of this class. We spent day 1 creating heaps of textured pages ready to use on day 2 for constructing our pieces. Not just doors but surrounds and openings. Openings and the possibility of what is behind the opening is to me a great concept - the mysteries of what lies beyond. Karen's work at the top is so very effective - I loved it - but I loved them all. Some naughty people had packed up before we got to view - I am pretty hopeless and making them stop half hour early for compulsory look see but then - some people don't wish to take part in this exercise and I guess it is their right - they have paid the money. It was a very big class and a wee tad squashed so I was clearing my own desk as fast as I could for display.And my apologies for not knowing who owned which pieces but do enjoy them.

 We played with brown paper bags - paper napkins - kunin felt - water solouble (Romeo) - foils - abaca paper - and more

 loved this one - Sheana had some very old lace in tatters which she left for others to use

and this one

 and I do know this is Pam's

 and I am sorry I cannot remember her name but this lady was quietly super efficiently and creatively working away to create these beauties.

 The embossed kunin felt works a treat

 love Catherine's embossed supa foil

 Fran's - you can't see it so well but I coveted her melting fabric

 Can't remember her name and it had been packed away but I persuaded her to bring it out - loved it - there are steps to go at the bottom of the door

Sheana was busy

and I love the way this one is progressing

It was so lovely to catch up with Vicki who came from NSW (not just to see me though) and this is her work which is super wonderful

So - a great workshop - I was bowled over by the creative juices flowing - they seemed to be working early and late - I had lots of laughs at night and I am working on my offering for 2019 - shall it be Medieval - Paris - Morocco - or? and yes notes and a kit

Seeing the Leaves Through the Trees

 I was privileged to be asked to tutor at the South Australian Embroiderers Guild Summer School - such a wonderful groups of people. The first workshop was Seeing the Leaves Through the Trees and for me, the first of two things. I wrote extensive notes and made comprehensive kits. I have a thing about both - notes usually mean people don't listen and for me -  I change my mind as I go - and kits I feel restrict people. However I was pleasantly surprised and prepared to admit it worked. In this class the notes meant people could refer to them and not have to ask me - detailed points I guess. The kits meant they didn't have to bring the entire house although a couple almost managed it. I was really delighted at the results and have many photos to share because they all worked so hard.

Eucalyptus leaves were our leaves - and there are so many colours and shapes so there was plenty to work on and with. Easily be many of the other trees in the world.
We made backgrounds and cords and many different leaves. Here is some of the wonderful work.

Lots of interesting backgrounds - printing - stencils etc - we worked on calico and hessian

Then loads of leaves...

 Leaves of all sorts - water soluble (Romeo) - paint - print - stencils - compressed sponge (we LOVED it) - layering and burning (I think we LOVED that too) and more

 Sheana went for a different colour

 and Jenny stitched all in white and coloured later
Thank you to all of the class - and they were busy as for 2 days.

self portrait - ooh.....

I spent the last three days down in the Porongerups taking a workshop with Lou Gardiner http://www.lougardiner.co.uk/index.html  - well I missed the last afternoon because I had to drive back to Perth. It was a fabulous workshop - for a number of reasons. I avoid anything to do with portraits and faces - I do try to draw most days but not people. BUT - Lou is a contemporary embroidery - independent - working very hard and creating wonderful work. I am full of admiration for her. There are so many "artists" our there playing at the creative scene - so much rubbish and pretension and everyone pandering to them. When you meet a genuine artist you know the feeling. She creates intricate, embellished, one-off designs that incorporate layers of intricate, free-hand machine stitched embroidery, paint, ink and applique.

The Porongerups are about 4 and half hours south of Perth so with Leonard Cohen and Monteverdi at full strength, I whizzed both down and back. I had to drive 5 k from where we were staying at the Porongerup Inn (hostel/store etc) to get the internet where I could look at this view. One becomes rather reliant on the internet......

The workshop was organised by Chez Armstrong who runs the Great Southern Workshops and if you click on it you can see what has been and what is coming up. I am hoping to teach there myself later on this year.

This was one of Lou's pieces - probably from a previous class. We had exercises to do and it was serious and a lot of fun - scarey at first - I am not going to tell you what we did because if you ever get a chance - do a workshop with her. She is teaching now in Margaret River and then in Bendigo (I think) but she may return to Australia.

I loved everyone else s work - everything so so varied and everyone produced a fabulous portrait - not self - that was me - I drew someone else or two and then decided to do myself. I can never get my hair to stand up so why not now? I will come back to it when I return from Adelaide and maybe try another - it was fun and uninhibiting once you got going. I am sure the ones I will show you here  - the owners won't mind. (or send me a stern email and I will remove)

This is Gai's in progress

and Maree's - note the sherry - that was a part of the fun

and this is Liz's - she is adding her hubby as well

and I am not sure who owns this one but hats were part of the action as well - yes - even I had a hat on at one stage.

They are all brilliant and I would love to see them all when finished.

Lou also gave a wonderful inspiring talk about her life and her work and I indulged myself by buying this gorgeous silk scarf - titled Because I Love You. I shall wear it with superb pleasure. Do check out her website and remember - be creative and enjoy every moment.

a little hexie fun

A few month's ago I got a little obsessed with these hexie things. Had never heard of them until Shelagh told me it was something I should play with - so I bought a packet of fusible paper stuff and duly printed out a page of hexies - with the marking and stuff on them.I scanned some of my stitched work, my drawings, my collections and printed them out onto the printed paper. Of course I did not read the instructions and discovered you actually are supposed to iron the printed sheet to the back of the fabric and cut it out. I thought that was a little boring so I carried on as you do. Added stitch and stuff - and I will explore this particular family heirloom a little more before too long. I am afraid you won't see me creating a beautiful hexie what not like all the ones I have seen. it does seem to be a bit of a craze. 

I have, however, bought some hexie dies in a sale and can see they might have some use as well. Silly to just buy one size I thought.

I needed to test them out and found some Evolon all coloured and sun dyed with a stencil and stones and stitched them on a page for my Sea book. 

 I also cut some from a fabric I made some time back and will think about what I might do with this. It's all layered stitched and the tops burnt.

For good measure I cut some shapes in abaca paper for layering - I have a plan for this idea but may move to larger sizes to make life a little easier. i am working on an idea for something at the beginning of April. Let's see if I get there.

 This ia a favourite piece I made some time back

 I photographed part of it

 Printed it on paper - you can see it is a little lighter

and printed it again onto the sheets of fusible paper with the hexie pattern on it (I have a large packet of sheets) Then I cut it up and applied it to one of my newspaper - scrim - stitched backgrounds like the one below

It's all about exploring a theme and the possibilities. You will never know what might happen if you don't try.