Lindisfarne Gospels workshop

a montage of students work

I taught a workshop at Burnbrae just north of Kelso in the Scottish Borders, testing my ideas on my students.

We worked on a combination of ideas including gold work couching and or nué, running stitch, applying gold kid leather, Pearl purl outlining and silk shading.

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 . . .

Crown continued . . .

crown update

detail

At last . . . more on the crown.  Now part worked in an exhibition entitled - 'Drawn to Stitch' at UCMK Galleries, University Centre Milton Keynes, 200 Silbury Boulevard, MK9 1LT.  The exhibition runs from 11th October to 9th November 2012.

The crown itself is mainly couching incorporating scoobies, plastic beads I bought from IKEA which I have cut in half both length ways and width ways, and elastic bands worked on linen.  It was really difficult couching the scoobies upright with such tight curls and curves, when they move constantly - but I love the result which is reminiscent of rouleaux decoration.  It has been so far a real learning process, but I fear I will run out of scoobies at some point . . .

black and white mark making . . .

black mono printed swirls

white acrylic mono printing on white organza fabric

The final bit of mono-printing with Alison King

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.

Crown - now started . . .

design transfer - 'tack and tear' with tissue paper

detail - now starting the embellishing

I have now actually started the crown, although what I have posted today, I have already partly unpicked.  You will see my changes - coming soon . . .
The design is worked on linen backed with calico.  I will explain about the techniques and materials I have used in the next crown blog posting in more detail.

The world of sparkling beads - Scent of England, Tokyo, Japan

An exhibition in Tokyo, Japan of English Embroidery on the eighth floor of Odakyu Department store Machida, Tokyo organised by RSN Tokyo tutor, Emi Nimura.  Exhibition includes work by my students and myself, as well as Emi's students.

Canvas work by Chrissy W; Blackwork by Jill Mc; Blackwork by Pippa Foulds

Silk shading by Ione D; Advanced Silk shading by Nancy E; Silk shading by
Deborah Younger Martin

Union Flag by Paulette D

Stamp and Gauntlet by Tracy A Franklin

To see more of some of these images - please see our new Flickr album 
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