Half-term – half full, not half empty

Despite unpredictable weather , we fitted in some art and some outside at half term.

 

Turf on a taxi

Still water ( and grey skies)

 

Catkins in the wind

 

Picturing Science exhibition in Richmond, forgot to get the artist’s name.

 

Inspired by Andy Goldsworthy

 

Sunshine at last

Water Gardens in Bushy Park

Resolution round-up

So, the sewing resolutions were,

1. To always return my sewing scissors to the correct storage space – so far, so good
2. To finally replace the scissors that only cut with half of the blade since I tried to cut through a pin ( accidentally) – replaced with a super sharp pair of Gingher shears
3. To make a thread catcher in which to dump all pieces of thread and fabric trimmings –A4 journal quilt stitched up the sides, and voila, threadcatcher
4. To finish at least one UFO before starting something else  - mmmm, let’s pass on that one
5. To have a few fabric postcards ready in advance – yup, see below
6. To try out every stitch on my sewing machine ( 130 out of 144 to go)  - 125 out of 144 to go
7. To organise my threads, so I don’t spend more time searching for the right one than I do using it.  - yup, customised this one to hang on the wall rather than to stand – what a transformation in storage

Not bad, for two months in to the year.

Experiments with watercolour pencils, stitched non-woven voile and hand-dyed fabric.

On the left, kimono silk, with appliquéd butterfly and overlay of a shirt collar stiffener from a new shirt.  On the right, kanzashi flower petals, stitched flat, rather than kept three-dimensional.

Morley morsels

Once each academic year, each department at Morley gets the chance to show their students’ work in the display cases at the entrance to the college.  For the next two weeks it is the turn of textiles.  So, if you are in Lambeth, take a turn by Morley and see our work on display.

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Amazing atmosphere in the class last night, as every one got to grips with the felting in their own way.  I was on off on the embellisher again, with these two panels, each about 10 inches square: vintage blanket, carpet yarn, felted flowers, chiffon strips……loving all this texture.

Half term next week, how will I cope?

Feltperimenting

Morley last week was experiments with merino tops on the embellisher and then wet felting the results.  I was lost of inspiration, so just did some random circles, and challenged myself to make some pastel mixes and use them.  I’m not sure about the results, perhaps en masse they might be impressive.

Before and after wet felting

 

Before wet felting – the pastels didn’t last long, as you can see.

 

Then more experiments with nuno.  This time on undyed muslin, with undyed wool tops rather than merino.  Much harder work, so much so, that I brought this piece home wet, rolled it in a towel, sealed with rubber bands, and then washed it in the washing machine at 60 degrees C.  It certainly speeds up the felting, but the edges are hard to control.  Still, when an expert talks about cutting off the end bits, this could be a useable technique.

Sitting on a thistle

No Morley this week as on Wednesday we went to see Punt and Dennis at Richmond Theatre.  As funny as they are on Mock the Week and The Now Show.

Sewing this week has been mostly practical, with a project to re-cover the fraying back and seat of of a boring office chair, to turn that tattered duckling in to the swan below.  I did an upholstery course some years ago, and it was great to get back to the mallet, chisel and staple gun.