Magna Carta

Last week to see, Magna Carta (An Embroidery), at the British Library till the 24th July - http://www.bl.uk/events/cornelia-parker-magna-carta-an-embroidery

Patching and piecing

my 'patching and piecing' piece

texture of plain coloured fabrics

detail of hand stitching - running and blanket stitch

more hand stitching - trellis work with satin stitch and bullion knots

I have just completed a weekend with Ruth Issett called "Stitched Surfaces to Dye For" as part of the Embroiderers' Guild North East Region's spring school.

This sample is the first part, using a method called 'patching and piecing' where different types of natural fabrics (not wool) are machined together in strips of various widths.  After the first stage is complete, the assembled fabrics are cut into strips again in the opposite direction at right angles. The new strips, which now show a series of squares of fabric, are assembled onto a backing fabric and constructed again using 'fancy' machine stitching.  Afterwards, other additional embellishments and hand stitching are added, and then the dyeing process begins . . . to follow . . . 

Lindisfarne Gospel using burden stitch

work in progress

detail of stitch and the working needle

burden stitch

I have continued a little progress with my piece for the North East Embroiderers' Guild regional exhibition celebrating the Lindisfarne Gospels coming to Durham city this summer.  I decided to work burden stitch which has a weaving quality about it and thought it worked quite well.  I used some old silk threads I had and outlined with gold couching.  I wanted the blue area to have a different look to the red area which is very open silk shading with curled couching. 

The exhibition will be held in Durham Cathedral from 27th May to 23th June. 

Lindisfarne Gospels

Lindisfarne Gospel - St Matthew carpet

detail

The beginning of this project.  The Lindisfarne Gospels are coming to Durham next year (2013), and the North East Region of the Embroiderers' Guild are working on ideas to celebrate the gospels coming back to the north.

So far I have ink-jet printed onto calico which is fixed with Bondaweb onto more calico.

I now have lots of projects on the go.  Still nice to busy . . .

mark making . . .

logo images with a gold whipped wheel, appliqué, seeding and a little couching

line

layered mono printing

I made these prints on a Alison King workshop through Hexham Embroiderers' Guild on a variety of plain fabrics and papers.  All are mono printed which involved acrylic paint and a laminated sheet.  Very easy and addictive because it is quick, once there is an understanding of the level of paint to use.  I plan to use some of them as backgrounds for future work.  This was all on the theme of Durham Cathedral, where I work as Head Broderer, and my logo which is a little like Saint Cuthbert's cross.

Petit point

petit point on double canvas

my inspiration an 'Embassy' needle packet

charts, hearts, and border patterns

This all started on a Mandy Pattullo workshop, working with a glove template.  The workshop (which I did through the branch of Hexham Embroiderers' Guild) was on Sunday 29th April, but this is the first time (after a very busy teaching month), I have been able to post my on going results.  The workshop was very much based on collage and stitch.  There is more to come . . .

Gwen Hedley workshop with Embroiderers' Guild North East

Fabulous time on the north east Embroiderers Guild residential spring school with Gwen Hedley in Collingwood college.  The course was entitled 'Along New Lines' and we basically made our A6 sketch books look "very exciting" whilst learning new ideas on the theme of 'line'.  See below . . .

inked woven paper

chalk pastel edge and smudge over inked surface on paper

Evolon suede - printed with acrylic

my samples . . .

I loved every minute of it alongside a great class on 21 students in all - we were all very productive, very pro-active and very inspired!  Thanks Gwen and to the organizers of the North East Region Embroiderers' Guild.