First day of visitors

I started today with a list of jobs to complete before my visitors arrived. Top of the list was to get Lesson 4 completed so I could spend the rest of the week with them. I had a vase to construct and some clingfilm sandwiches to make, so off I went. The vase was not as complicated as the first one I did some months ago, a simple shape with a fabric made of torn pieces of kitchen paper that had been used to mop up paint, fused and grid-sewn onto a vilene backing. I satin stitched round the pieces, attached them together and put a base on to give the sides some stability. Lastly I added an earring to one of the pointy bits to keep it curved down.

The next task was to make the cling film sandwich. I used threads, peacock tails and bits of silk hanky left over from the previous lesson's vase and scraps to pad the middle then ironed the clingfilm together. We were asked to lay this sandwich onto a coloured backing to show off the threads, but I could not decide which colour was best. I put turquoise and purple felt under and both seemed to do the job so I cut the clingfilm in half and used both colours stitched behind the sandwiches. I am now busy making up bookmarks from the finished samples.

By the time my guests had arrived, I had done my lessons and uploaded the pictures, gone shopping and put a stew on the hob and completed my tasks. We were able to sit out in the sun for a while whilst they relaxed from the journey.

I showed my vases to my mother and lost both. She wanted the red one for her neighbour who was looking after her cat, and wanted the blue one for herself. I'll have to find time to make some more or I'll lose the gist of making them and it gives me an excuse to try out other techniques, doesn't it. I have also signed up for another of Sue Bleiweiss's courses and need to think of a theme...

Well, today it is raining heavily which makes entertaining guests a bit of a creative journey. Mother had brought some plants with her and we had wanted to go and find some nice pots to plant them into, maybe it will lighten up this afternoon and we can get out.

Mixed media

Hi, as I was saying before I got hung up, here's a bit about the course I have been taking. I signed up for an online course by Sue Bleiweiss on Mixed Media to learn about manipulating different fibres and layering them and producing lots of lovely items. We started slowly which was good for me, and made 3 books/journal covers using tissue paper, cut up old dress patterns and torn papers and made the following:

I spray painted this one but didn't like the blandness so I added some novelty yarn and some flowers and a bee to jazz it up a bit.

The second book cover was done using cut up dress patterns on felt. Again I sprayed it with walnut ink but it came out a not nice green, so I covered it with black chiffon. We also learned how to put signatures (pages) into the middle of the journal.

The last book was loose leaf and would be used for keeping samples of what we have done over the 5 weeks. Mine was a scattering of padded stars, novelty threads and glitter mesh under tan chiffon. I stitched round in a wavy line and cut outside line to make the wavy edge. I keep this with the lessons and add photos of the finished article and samples of how I made it to go with the instructions I keep in the file.

Week 2 was better as I had only 2 waistcoats to make and had time to concentrate. I got started on the box with drawers that we were asked to complete. We had to make the fabric using felt and all sorts of items scattered under chiffon. I used a burgundy shot with royal chiffon which gave a different look depending on which was you held the box to the light. This box took all day to make (two days in all) but was well worth it.

Week 3 saw us struggle with a concertina book and a vase. I following Sue's instructions, which are so easy, and made the little 4"x4" book.

This is made with felt, mulberry bark and silver foil. The embellishments are silk rod and cocoons.

However the vase was another thing altogether. I had to dye silk hankies, embellish them and put them over a mold (I used an upside down tall pasta jar covered with clingfilm). Then we used a stiffener to make the vase rigid and stand up on it's own. Mine was OK but several of the other students had problems getting the stiffener to work or get the vase off the mold. Lots of fun for us all.

I am now waiting to see what we have in store for this week and will post as soon as I get it completed. However this week could be a bit fraught, as my Mother and Brother-in-law are staying for 3 days, my eldest son is arriving Wednesday and someone else on Friday.

What are Friday's for?

Today is Friday, thank goodness, and time to recover after a day at the market where it is cold and damp first thing in the morning. Still I love meeting the other traders and the customers (who would be without them). I was asked for waistcoats in barbershop red and white stripes, spots, dolphins, mermaids (go figure) and lastly for a theatrical event, a young lad wanted a high v-necked black waistcoat with a definte shape in mind. He promised me he would bring some pictures of what he wants whilst I try to find black and gold material - we'll see how that shapes up. Apart from all the enquiries I actually did not sell one waistcoat or take an order which when I thought about it was great because it has given me time to experiment.

I have a large gentleman who comes regularly with all sorts of challenges. Yesterday he tried on a long waistcoat he had had made by a theatrical seamstress and wanted me to adjust, it was made from what I can only describe as very heavy upholstery velvet and much too big for him. it was just three pieces serged all round with heavy thread, so I cut it down the back to resize it, lined it and put frog fastenings down the front. It did fit him, but was still really heavy and as he had had a frock coat made of the same material it would need a big man to carry all that weight together! I wonder what he will want next time???

Tomorrow, I'll write about my course with Sue Bleiweiss and post some pictures.

Wednesday 21st May 2008

I have been trying to resist blogging for quite a while but have now given in due to events such as joinging Fibre and Stitch, Sue Bleiweiss's mixed media course etc.etc. It seems the best way to let the family and friends see what I have been up to without having to send oodles of large photos across the ether.

What have I been up to...you really want to know??? Where shall I start, perhaps the beginning, sort of, maybe?

Last year I joined an online zine group called Fiber and Stitch, edited by Sue Bleiweiss ( a talented fibre artist and teacher). Sue set us monthly challenges from the quarterly zine and they have been quite a lot of fun.

I made this piece of tissue paper with a backing of muslin, two layers of tissue paper and added paint, lace, scrim and a picture. As a first try it was not bad but I have done better since especially when I have a definite project in mind.

Then we were asked to produce a three sided mini japanese screen. I used two fractals I had in my folder, printed them onto silk with my printer and embellished them with FME in gold and a few beads. I added chopsticks as supports thinking they were in keeping with the overall image.

My son liked them so much he asked me to do a set for one of his friends.

The last item I attempted was a vessel, as this was around 14th February I went for a red/love/romantic look and as we had to include 3 kitchen items, I used silver foil, a base of kitchen towells dab painted red and an old dishcloth painted red and cut into little worm lie strings. The whole was covered with a scattering of dark red organza ribbon, little hearts, and overall white voil. Then I added ribbon and leaves and made flower heads out of silver foil with a ruby centre. The tops of the vessell were embellished with red hearts and heart shaped beaded dangles. You may be able to see the curled red wire at the sides with white chip beads in you look closely.

That was the last project I was able to do because I also make mens waistcoats and sell them at the local market. They seem to have taken off and some weeks I have so many orders I am working more than I want to. It is supposed to be a hobby but like Topsy it is growing and growing, but it gets me out of the house and meeting people and getting to know my local area; which is wonderful!

This is my stall at the market where I can be seen every Thursday. I started out with evening bags and a couple of waistcoats and now the waistcoats have taken over and seem to be very popular. I'm told that men cannot get coloured waistcoats or coloured backs without paying an arm and a leg for them which seems a pity. I also had a troll through the internet for children's waistcoats and they are extortionately priced. Anyway, I'm a happy bunny, fulfilling a niche and working from home for myself.

Next I'll tell you all about my course with Sue Bleiweiss and the projects I have been working on.

Wednesday 21st