White Work Flower

I stitched this White work at an Embroiderers' Guild Weekend in 2008, on Contemporary White Work.

Eryngium

Here it is at last. Finished some time ago

Embroiderers' Guild Weekend 2013

In April I attended the Embroiderers' weekend in Folkestone.



These pictures show the work that I did.  The first picture on the left shows the beginnings of a piece of needle lace, using pea stitch.  This is worked separately and attached later.









The second picture shows the piece of needle lace completed.   It is to be the seed head of the Erynguim. 

The third photo shows the needle lace attached and the embroidery starting around it.   We used double back stitch for the shadow work and raised fishbone and closed fly stitch for the bracts.  There is a lot more work to be done .....

This is my report of the weekend.......

On 5th April 2013 my husband drove me to the Clifton Hotel Folkestone, in a blizzard.  It was just raining when we arrived and we quickly found my room on the 3rd floor.  The hotel is like a maze and my husband got lost on the way down the stairs to leave the hotel and had to come back up and use the lift!   The Clifton is situated on the Leas and it was wonderful to walk along looking down at the sea, getting fresh air when the eyes and back no longer worked well enough to stitch and to bend over a frame.  The work room was pleasant to work in and had a view of the garden.

There were two courses on offer for the weekend and I had chosen Jenny Adin-Christie, who was teaching a slant on Crewel Work. 
Before the weekend Jenny had sent a letter that sketched out the sort of stitching we would be working and some ideas on what to take.  She brought along project packs for us to chose a design to stitch, or we could use all our own threads or buy a project pack and add our own threads beads sequins etc.  I decided on a project pack, so I only had to take a basic stitching kit and a light and frame.

The projects were Honesty and the one I chose, Eryngium.  The project pack was beautifully designed, in it's own hand made material bag with a photo of the design on the front.  It contained everything I would possibly want to complete the piece, even down to a very cute needle book complete with 10 needles and pins, all carefully labelled.  In the pack there was a very comprehensive and beautifully drawn book of instructions, including detailed descriptions of the stitches we were to use and the design to trace onto the silk organza.

There were plenty of lamps, frames and different pieces of equipment that Jenny had brought with her for us to borrow. She was very generous with her supplies and her time.

It all looked terribly complicated but with Jenny's patient help, most of the projects were near to completion by the end of the weekend with one finished!  I learned a lot from Jenny, she is unstinting in imparting her considerable knowledge of the use of the needle and her lesson on needle direction, will change the look of my stitching for ever.  She has given me a insight to stitches that was missing.

The whole weekend was a whirl of stitching and Jenny was with us all the way, right through until nearly bedtime.

I think, all in all, she is the best tutor I have ever had.Jenny Adin-Christie

Hilary's Quilt

This was a group project with some friends to remember one of our group who died.  The individual embroideries that make up the whole, represent her interests and family. We used many techniques including quilting and 3D effects with fabric manipulation for the Peace Birds wings.

I used mostly satin stitch on my bird with French knots.  The tatting was worked by me as well. The whole project took more than two years to complete and now hangs in the Baptist church in Seasalter. 

Sophie's Quilt nearly finished ....

Sophie's quilt is at the quilting stage.

In earlier posts I showed the animal embroideries and the materials I was going to use to make up the quilt.


Now they are all pieced together, I have basted the three layers, sandwiching the padding between the top and the backing material. The next stage is to quilt around the animal pieces in the gutter.

Darcy Framed

Here is the picture framed and on the wall in Darcy's room. 

Crafty Christmas Tree

This is my Christmas Tree this year 2010. Lots of craft pieces from friends, including swaps and ones I have made.  Tatting, Beading, crochet, cross stitch, hardanger, quilting, machine embroidery and machine made lace.  

Something Christmassy

This is 'In the Arms of an Angel' by Lavender & Lace.  It is one I stitched years ago, but I am re-framing it to hang for Christmas.  It is stitched in stranded DMC with beads.  The majority of it is worked 2 threads over 2 threads of the 32 count linen, but the face, arm and baby are 1 over 1.  It makes a much finer look. 

Darcy finished

Finally, Darcy is finished.  I buttonholed all around the letters and added some buttons and some tatted butterflies.  A framer locally cut a backing board for me to stretch it over and has made a frame.  All that has to be done now, is put it in the frame.  Then it will be on it's way to my granddaughters bedroom.  She is only just one year old but in the future it will help her recognise her name and teach her the letters, as it did her sister, when  made I one of her name.

Darcy

This is a picture of my granddaughter's name.  I cut the letters of Darcy out of fabrics that go together, and pasted them onto the background silk with Bondaweb.  I have chosen the colours of DMC stranded to stitch round the outlines of the letters.

This larger picture shows the buttonhole or blanket stitch that I am using round the edges of the letters.

Dancing Leaves

Some more Dancing leaves in black and silver.  Designed by Heide Jenkins

Embroiderer's Guild Weekend

I went on an Embroiderer’s Guild weekend to Folkestone.   There were 2 workshops, and I attended the one on Beadwork.  The Tutor was Heide Jenkins.  She brought along a lot of her jewellery and we made some of it over the weekend. 

 There was a Necklace with Interlocking Triangles so  I made  two triangles, and sewed them together to make a Star of David.   .  The other piece I made is a Kings Soloman’s Knot.

After this I made a pair of Dancing Leaves Earrings, and some pretty ones with tiny leaves on strings.   

This is my work station and as you can see Lorcan came along to help me out with the more difficult techniques.  I think he enjoyed the weekend by the sea. 

Church Linen

I am making some new linen for our local church St. Peter's.  This is the first piece I have finished.  It is a Purificator.  OOps.. I need to make the next one an inch wider  !! 

Sophie's Quilt

I am making a quilt for Sophie, one of my granddaughters.   There are twelve blocks.   Ten depicting farm animals.  One of a scarecrow and the last of a barn.  


The top picture shows all the blocks. 






The second picture shows the blocks and also the cream material  I will use to back the quilt.  The coloured flowery material will be used to separate the blocks and go round the edge of the whole quilt.

Church Kneelers

I have stitched many kneelers for our local church, St.Peters and here is the latest one, coming up to about half way stitched. 


I buy the kneeler kits from Jacksons of Hebden Bridge  This one is called Windsor.