For my latest felted embroidered work I have gone back to my eternal source of inspiration, Haddon Hall.
This time I was inspired by wild fields full of daisies and buttercups.
I have tried to convey the depth of colour and texture using several layers of soft felting in numerous shades of green and brown, machine embroidery for the leaf detail and hand embroidery with silk threads for the flower heads.
I did some public embroidery at the wonderful Beeston Canalside Heritage Centre this weekend, as a heritage craft – along with corn dolly makers, weavers and lace makers.
It was great to meet the visitors and have a chat about my work and motivation as well as discussing the joy of making things.
I particularly enjoyed watching several boys quietly sitting down to try their hand at embroidery and really enjoying it. There was no categorisation of it being a ‘girls’ craft, because most of them had never seen it before.
A lovely event.
I was delighted with a recent review from one of my clients. It sums up what I am trying to do with Creativity Online:
Feel free to share with any creative who might need a bit of help…
I have created a bespoke new website for this wonderful group of textile artists, based in the Nottingham area.
The group was formed in 1982 and has evolved into a group of 65 artists, producing exciting and innovative work using fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics and beads in a variety of techniques.
I have created a much more graphic website, showcasing as much work as possible in detail and added a personal profile page for each artist.
I have been true to my promise of creating a self sufficient website by running a training course for future administrators from the group.
It has been a delight to get to know these artists and their work better.
https://livingthreadstextileartists.com/
Save the Date for the Attenborough, Beeston and Chilwell Art Trail!
My beloved Art Shed is open 2nd and 3rd June 11am to 6pm, along with 10 other venues with 26 artists and artisan craft workers showing their work.
I am working hard on new pieces to present an attractive portfolio.
Interest is growing locally thanks to the team of artists working together to spread the word.
THANK YOU to the wonderful people who are giving me advice and raising my confidence.
Sent recently to a customer from Kingston on Thames, via Etsy – a mixture of muted pink shades for wedding table centres.
Half the order was made from vintage sheet music (mainly Mozart pianoforte pieces) and half using pages from the 1985 Mills and Boon classic ‘A Man Worth Knowing’ (subtitled ‘he defeated her evasive tactics at every turn…)
What a perfect order for a musician and a writer, getting married in July.
I am very lucky to live close to beautiful Derbyshire and visit often, but I rarely spend an indulgent artistic weekend there. I did recently, though, with the wonderful Helen Hallows on a 2 day Landscape Sketchbook course.
The landscape we were sitting in front of (Barlow, near Chesterfield) kept shifting, not only in terms of weather conditions, but also what was revealed the closer we looked – tractor marks, distant buildings, crows nests – and I saw every shade of green possible.
Drawing a whole landscape felt scary before this weekend, but under Helen’s tutoring I have gained in confidence, learnt a lot about charcoal and collage – and depicting hundred of trees.
My fellow students had varied artistic experience and were all lovely. Helen worked with us individually and encouraged us at all levels.
I have given my Etsy offer a Spring clean!
Instead of offering everything I make on one shop, I have now opened a second shop.
So now you can view and purchase all paper products at:
https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/PaperRosesShop
And all textile art and associated products at:
https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/FeltedEmbroideredArt
Enjoy!! xx
I had a plumbing problem in my home – strange smells at random times, there was no obvious solution.
I found a very creative plumber who solved the problem, which was being caused by a variety of issues, mostly under the ground.
I paid the plumber by creating a new website for him after finding out he converts bathrooms to wetrooms and kitchens to disabled friendly areas. This is something I have had to help my own parents with over the last few years and it changed their lives, giving them the ability to stay in their own home.
Let’s hear it for the creative plumber, Darren, at Goldswan Home Adaptions!
He comes thoroughly recommended.
And now he has his own website to shout about his work.
http://goldswanhomeadaptions.com
I have always loved the look of Victorian terraces.
I find the warm bricks, the uniformity and the chimneys very appealing.
Add to that an interesting perspective and my fascination for multiple windows and I am hooked…
I have been experimenting using strips of tonal fabrics and free form machine stitches for the background buildings, with strong and uniform window finishes.
I have started small, but I can see this getting much bigger!
KAttwood at Creativity Online 