Autumn Sketch

 I made this brief sketch while I was out for a walk...........

 ............  the interpretation in machine embroidery on fabric- fabulous Autumn colours. It is the copse at the top of our garden.

Feather portraits

Feathers found at Newark Park. Drawing them is the first stage before stitching to consider colour, pattern and texture.

The process of making and unmaking.

 This piece has had more unmaking than making. You saw it last with circles on. I took those off because each little blue square was a little landscape and I wanted to stitch into those. The machine stitching was also wrong so that came off too.

I have started to hand stitch it now because last week I had a cold and wanted something to quietly work on. It may get no further, it may get some colour stitches in. The sea blues need to be stronger. Maybe more dye, maybe the circles go back in but in stitch, definitely more borders. All these decisions to make it right, make it what I am trying to say.

SIT Select Showcase

Sadly the workshop has been cancelled due to lack of bookings but hope lots of you come and see the show- lots to see!

Needle cases for SIT select workshop

Preparation for the workshop on Friday. It is only 2 hours so the cases are prepared ready for the embroidery. The kit will cost £6 but comes with everything included - needles, scissors, threads- choose your own colours. There will be a pocket in the felt lining for the spotty scissors. It will come with instructions and stitch diagrams. Whew! Lots of work .www.sitselect.org/showcase/showcaseworkshops.html

Newark park workshop

Stone, feather, leaf, conker case- found objects from Newark Park. We had to gather things, then make something, adding a random aspect with a throw of the dice for instructions- See BB blog for more.

Circles on a larger scale in patchwork.

Taking inspiration from the St Ives circles and my circle stitches design, I decided to try it out in patchwork on a larger scale. This 9 patch is 21cm square. I am thinking about how to quilt the piece now.

Sit Select Showcase Oct 23rd

I have finished the top half of the sampler- the last one bottom right is fly stitch. Book your space on this workshop at www.sitselect.org/showcase/showcaseworkshops.html

six circles

The latest circle is woven Maltese cross in gold thread. That was Fridays circle, stitching at weekends delayed by life, visitors, chores and enjoying oneself.

Circles at St Ives and the next stitches.

My holiday photos were full of circles- the inside of a Jack Doherty pot

 Barbara Hepworth sculpture

 Chycaster settlement, a grinding stone. Lots of inspiration for further circle work. Meanwhile ( keeping the nose to the grindstone- please forgive pun)

the next 2 circles - yellow- raised fishbone and blue- fly stitch.

2 more circles.

I invented this spiders web- well there is nothing new so I expect it is in some embroidery book somewhere! I buttonholed down a spoke then moved across to the next spoke etc.

The last circle in that row is raised chain band around the spokes.

Woven spiders web.

The second circle- lay down an uneven number of spokes and weave around from centre. I find myself muttering over, under, over , under etc.

SIT select showcase-Stitching in Circles

This is the first circle on my new sampler. It is preparation for my 2 hour SIT Select Showcase workshop Oct 23rd at Cheltenham Town Hall. So I am researching circular stitches. I have appliqued silk circles onto white cotton within a couched thread grid. Sampler is 20cmx20cm- each square 5cm- 4 rows by 4. This first row is based on stitches with spokes of a wheel, this one is back stitched spiders web. I was going to put seeding stitches all over the background but may leave it half like this- some more consideration needed. The beauty of hand stitching is the time for consideration. I need to do one circle every day at least if I am to finish it in time. Better get stitching.

Visit to Newark Park Oct 1st 2015

The first meeting at Newark Park to discuss the next Brunel Broderers Exhibition there June 8th- July 11th 2016. It was built as a Tudor hunting lodge so I am researching birds of prey seen there now and birds that would have been used for falconry in Tudor times. This is the start of a new sketchbook. The weather was glorious and I sat on the terrace to draw the view. The Tudors weren't interested in the view they built the lodge to watch the hunt from the roof and feast on the venison etc from the hunt.

Making St Ives holiday sketchbook

 I am putting together a holiday sketchbook of St Ives. I didn't do much drawing while away but it is all in my head mulling around. This time I am stitching in postcards, gallery leaflets, photos and any other collected material so I can use it for inspiration at any time.

Yesterday I had a good time splashing around paint and making feather prints. I am working on the pages separately then stitching a few together when they are completed.