Sometimes you just need to work to a pattern

It's a while since I've used someone else's pattern to make my quilts.  However, Plum lent me her 3 Ricky Tims'  DVDs to watch over Xmas.  I am now intrigued by the Kaleidoscope Quilt method, and have started a project using that technique.

Cutting the strips is a bit labour intensive ( Jacqui Harvey cushions in the background)

 

V and A - vanity and artifice or vavavoom and adoration?

A day out on my own at the V and A to see the Ballgowns exhibition within the revamped fashion galleries at the V and A.   I love seeing couture clothes up close, as the manipulation of cloth involved in these garments is  a skill I would love to have at this level.  The gowns are sumptuous, and the contemporary gallery upstairs is breathtaking and bonkers in equal measure - full length, lace-printed latex anyone, with a latex fishtail hem?

( Atsuko Kudo gown worn by Georgia Frost with dresses by Hardy Amies and Worth of London. Lent by the designer. Carlos Jimenez, © V&A, 2011)

Many of the people at the exhibition commented on how the dull lighting does not show the older garments to advantage  I agree, the muted and pastel colour ways can look very dingy, but there are several photos of the clothes being worn, which helps with envisaging beyond the dull lighting.  On until 6th January, and well worth a visit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then a spin over to the New Acquisitions gallery to see new items up close there.  I love this gallery as you never know what you are going to see there.  In the spirit of the ball gowns , the dress below is incredible, in the construction, the quality of the embroidery and the sheer exuberant use of  colour.  One little lad was puzzled by the fact that the dummy only has one arm. ( Images from the V and A website) 

The embroidery of the wave forms is beautiful, but the dress must be very heavy.

 

On a completely different line of interest, the New Acquisitions Gallery also has an intriguing expandable sofa, designed by Yuya Ushida.  Needs some cushions if you ask me.

I don't know what is going on with the formatting here, apologies.

Merry Christmas to all our readers

Oh Tannenbaum……………

When you don't have room for a real tree, a fabric panel from Ikea can do a sterling job.  Decorated with Procion P dyed fabric baubles, foiled and then mounted on to red felt, all it needs is the pine scent.  Also, there is no risk of our dog mistaking it for a real tree, as has happened in the past.

 

 

Picture perfect

An end of year baby for friends gave a reason to go back to the sewing machine and stitch up a quick picture.  As this is their second child, I worked on the theme , " And then there were four".
Based on the owl pattern from Moonstitches, the owls are felt, with scraps of tweed and cotton, stitched and quilted on to a piece of my tray -dyed cloth.   The moon is foiled, but it doesn't  show up too well here,  The branch is a piece of great fabric by Joel Dewberry called Woodgrain, sadly, no longer available.  Mounted on an 8 x 8 inch block frame.

Blue series

At last, I got my momentum back to complete the blue series of the Contemporary quilt Group A4 challenge for 2102.  I expected this to be the easiest series, but it proved to be the most difficult to get down to. I have again focussed on using fre-purposed fabrics, dyed of printed at the Morley course.  I'm dashing about a bit today, so individual photos and notes on techniques will follow in another post.