White on white

Two striking clothing contrasts at the V and A this week, both with white as the prominent colour.

Burqa from 1850

The tear-down of the wedding dress exhibition. 

Family heirlooms……..

I am not getting to any stitching, as our family support of my husband's  aunt is continuing.  A visit this week involved sorting out various items that she would no longer use, or that were too much of a reminder of her very active hobbies before her stroke.  As they say, it is an ill wind, as part of the clearing out revealed,






which you may have identified as a centenary edition Singer Featherweight 221K1, made  in 1951, in Clydebank, about 1.5 miles from where I was born.

It is in pristine condition, with all attachments, but has some sort of electrical fault that I will now get fixed.  It was bought by my husband's grandmother, so both I and my aunt are very excited at the thought of it being in use again.

More Christmas stitching……..oh no it isn't!

I live in a cul de sac, and therefore it has been very easy to get to know all of our neighbours over the years.  There had been many strange requests but this weekend's is one for the annals - " can you sew a bit of a pantomime cow for me?"*

*No animals were injured in the making of this post.

Contemporary Quilt Group A4 challenge, May journal at last, EH8

I found it very difficult to get down to these next 4. Too many memories stirred by the first 4 I think.

Hand embroidered panels, machine quilting to mimic cortical folds.  Border fabric is on Sky Dyes fabric by Mickey Lawler, machine quilted with the postcode and with feather motifs.

This represents the left and right side of my brain when I was at university. Doing a science degree, my days were very full of formal teaching, I did not pay enough attention to making sure that I had enough outlets for creativity . The right brain has the brighter and more varied colours, larger thoughts surging through the cortex. Plenty of right brain activity going on in my life now.

Learners and experts

Two textile treats this week.  The first, the end of year exhibition by the Textile Foundation students at Morley College where two of my friends were exhibiting.  Well worth going to see if you are in Lambeth, and it is on until 27th June.  I love these exhibitions as the you can go through the sketchbooks of the students.  Sample pages below, apologies I did not get the students' names.

Then to Sandown this weekend to the National Quilt Championships to see the work of experts.  This is a very manageable exhibition and nowhere near as overwhelming as the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham.  This year there were retrospective exhibitions of the work of Ferret, Sally Bramald and Liz Jones, all astonishing levels of artistry and technique.  There are few limitations on photography at this show ( mostly on the traders' stands), so here are a few favourites from this year.

Liz Jones selection

Vendulaka Battais, amazing bargello

Jacquie Harvey, cot quilt

Sheena Norquay miniature

Rita Russell, applique detaii

Yvonne Brown, based on mosaics from a floor in Bristol

Annette Morgan, based on the same floor

As ever, the standard of the quilting at this show is astonishing, both machine and hand.

Lots to think on over the next few days.

Exhibition inspiration

Few words needed, just photos of beautiful work by members of Richmond and Kew quilters.