Creative Isolation 2

Nothing is ever a failure in textile art.  Sometimes it's good to have things that don't quite work out as you'd hoped.  

Firstly, of course, it teaches me what not to do. 

Secondly it drives me to do more research and I love an excuse to buy a book.  

Thirdly it frees me up to rip, print and sew all over them. To think what if........

In that spirit, I've been using some last week's horrible fabrics and papers to do some stitching.  Also a bit of bark from the poor dyeing birch tree we had to take down in the garden. The flowers and cups are from drawings I made of my grandmother's tea set and screen printed onto scraps of fabric.

I have to give credit to Cas Holmes for inspiring these little patches.
TextilesArtist.org has been running some fab free workshops on their facebook page with wonderful stitch artists. I completely fell in love with Cas Holmes's approach - If you get a chance, have a look at her wonderful workshop.

Creative Isolation

Isolation-  and how to make the most of it? 

I know there are people who are bored at home, but not me.  Oh no, I have a lifetime of stuff I've been saving for just this moment.  I finally have revenge on the minimalists of this world.  I have clutter and I am glad of it!  

One of my students once said that she was sure I had a house full of beautiful things I had made. I had to set her right- I have a beautiful house full of beautiful materials for beautiful things things that I'm going to make...one day.  Indeed, my proverbial 'rainy day' has come!

The first week, I got out my mordants and cottons and set myself up to do some natural dyeing and printing.  I produced a lot of fabrics and I have to say, the results were generally quite underwhelming.  

 I mean the bundles looked great as they came out from steaming,

 and one fabric looked rather lovely.

but generally I got a lot of these:

 Actually I lie - this was the best of the rest.  I got an awful lot of beige.

But I did get some great photos from the process, like this one of the steamed foliage.

It's like something out of the swamp - which is what the fens once were. 

So all is cyclical.

 

Scrubs Bags

Okay, I feel guilty......I really love being in isolation. I am so grateful to live in house with plenty of room for making stuff; to have a job that I love and can do from home; a beautiful garden and to have a really loving and patient partner.


I've been sewing a few scrubs laundrey bags to send out to care homes. I started off making bags from pillow slips. Then I did a couple of very simple bags.

I realised that I needed to to make it a bit more interesting for myself so I did a bit of simple printing on the fabric before I sewed them up.

Here is a very simple way to make the very easiest scrubs bags.  The drawstring fold is on the inside but that doesn't matter, it flips out once you use it.

Thanks to Cary for interpreting my very muddled instructions into these drawings.

Lazy Daisies Screen Print

Well, at my final class before lock down a couple of weeks ago, only 1 student arrived (thanks for bravely venturing forth, Jane!). 

I suggested we carry on as normal, with a bit of distance between us,  and do some screen printing.  

For once, instead of working my way around the students, generally getting on their nerves, I had a chance to join her in doing a bit of printing myself.  It's lovely having a great big classroom with only 2 people at work.

I made a really quick stencil and printed a couple of rows of black backgrounds with the daisies coming through as white. Yesterday, I dropped in the yellow centres and that made me happy. Just something simple and happy.

All this awful corona pandemic is definitely making me appreciate small pockets of joy.

Perhaps if isolation continues I might actually sew it up as a panel on a happy dress.

Keep safe, be well and especially to all who are at risk.

 

Cancellations and Creativity

Well, in keeping with the general shut down, most of my classes have been cancelled.  I somehow imagined that this could become an opportunity to stay at home and do all those creative things I've been struggling to find time for.  Is this to be? .... well, at the moment I'm fighting a low level cold so my energy levels are down. And I will still be going to work 2 or 3 days a week.  BUT, in between those days, I do have great plans!

Meanwhile, I've been limitting myself to  black and white expressive mark making and having fun with gelli plate printing onto cotton fabric!

I bonded the cotton squares to a backing fabric and I've been sewing the edges with a simple zigzag machine stitch.  I'm too impatient to turn the edges.

 

And so, to all my lovely textile friends, I wish you all good health in the coming weeks and lots of creativity to counteract the isolation.

Witchford Creative Textiles Evening Class

Last year we did a trial run at Witchford Village College of evening classes on 'Screen Printing Fabric'.  I was curious to see if we could fit a whole practical textiles class into a 2 hour session.  And, it actually worked out really well.  

It turned out to be a great opportunity for working people to unwind and have some  creative time for themselves. Or for anyone who is a parent in a relationship to give their partners some quality time with the kids ........and themselves the opportunity to come out and play!

So this year we're doing  'Creative Textiles for All'.  That means it's a more general class and we'll be working trying out a different technique each evening.  

We'll start working with the theme  "Expression in Black and White"   This means that if you're a beginner you can try out several materials without breaking the bank - you'll only need 2 colours.  It also means that you'll be starting with a strong design foundation which can be translated into colour another time.  And, of course, you'll be making exciting pieces right from the start.  

We're doing a 5 week run, with the possiblity of extending in the summer term.  

You really don't have to have any previous art or textiles experience to do this class.  Just come along with a curious mind, experiment, have fun and see where it takes you.

FOR BOOKING ON COURSES AND MORE INFORMATION: 
Class is 5 weeks from 26 Feb 2020
Time 7.00 - 9.00pm
Cost: £60 total for 5 sessions.
Materials costs will be extra

Phone this number to book:  

01223 200411

Web: ComlearnWitchord.co.uk

Please book early to avoid disappointment. Payment is required in advance to guarantee a place.
Concession rates are available to those receiving certain means tested benefits, contact the Office for more details.

Cottenham Summer School 2020

Just  a quick post to say that Summer School Program is online, Hooray! 

Lots of great art and textile classes (and of course the lunches):

http://community.cvcweb.net/summer-school


As always Sensational Screen Printing is very popular so if you'd like to do it, contact the college and strike while the iron is hot! (to use a textile metaphor).

 

We have a friendly studio atmosphere in this class so everyone can work at their own level and achieve their own patterns and print on cloth. Help and instruction are given whenever needed so it doesn't matter how much or how little experience you have.

Excited - I can't wait to see what creative fabrics people will come up with this year!

 

Xmas Arts and Crafts

Fairies, Angels, Father Xmas:
Gosh another Xmas has come and gone. Feeling very full and a lot fatter!

Last year I left for South Africa as soon as the school term ended and spent December in the sunshine.

Looking through my photographs this afternoon, I realised that I didn't get round to posting these adorable Xmas tree toppers which we made with little people from  
Spring Meadows Infant School.

 In fact they turned out big enough to wear as Christmas hats so there was lots of gluey fun and balancing when the children tried them on.

 All materials were upcycled from the treaure chest that is Reimagine Resource Centre
and  lots of input and hard work from staff and volunteer parents.  

And with that, wishing everyone a very Happy and Creative 2020!!!

Armistice banners

Lest we forget. Today, being Armistice Day I was reminded of these Ely men who didn't make it back home. 

Last year Ouse Life did an installation in Ely Cathedral - 'To End all Wars' .  Here are some of the banners I worked on as a tribute to some of the men and indeed boys who were sadly killed in action.

Jim Pate Gent age 21 from Little Thetford

Frank Lambert age 23 painter and plumber from Waterside and a member of Ely Band

Herbet James Holiday age 19 worked as an assistant shepherd in Stuntney

William John Cheney age 26 Ely policeman

George Sutton  Bus conductor age 32

Edward Wilken, farmworker Age 22

Walter Black - Barton Road, age 29

And finally, the beautiful, optimistic face of John Leslie Pate, a bakers roundsman from Queen Adelaide who was killed in action at the age of 19

All research was from this excellent website:
From Fenland farms to Flanders Fields,  Ely and World War 1. Worth a read for the personal stories of these men and many others.

Design and Stitch

I am both excited and nervous to find myself teaching Contemporary Textiles Workshop.  Pauline Verrinder has sadly decided to retire from some of her teaching committments and I have taken over one of her classes.  Pauline is a very hard act to follow.  I know because she taught me in the  City and Guilds Creative Embroidery course and was  so inspirational.  In fact, I could honestly say she totally changed my life by introducing me to the whole wonderful world of creative embroidery.  I learned so much from her  'what if....?' approach to exploring materials, processes and ideas. 

I was already running my screen print studio when I discovered the  Creative Embroidery course.  I had been researching masters' programmes at various universities but found they were much too theoretical (and expensive!) for me. 

 I knew when I went to a C&G taster class that this would be the course for me, when a fellow student jokingly asked me if she could cut a snippet from my skirt to use in her embroidery! 

Doing the C&G gave me an incredibly thorough education in practical textile techniques at a very affordable price.  I just didn't want  it to end.  And friends, - suddenly I met a whole community of textile lovers and I knew I had found 'my people'.

Anyway, 2 weeks into the new class, we are starting with black and white expressive marks on paper and developing these into stitch. Hopefully we can continue the whole 'what if...?' tradition and create fabulous, unique and creative textiles!

Watch this space for further developments.

Weekend of Screen Print onto Textiles

Impington Village College
Tutor: Ricki Outis
Saturday 12 & Sunday 13 October                10.00am – 4.00pm
£72

 
Brief Description: Small scale screen printing - the emphasis is on the experimental, creating simple paper stencils with small silk screens to create bold shapes and pattern on fabric.  The course is aimed at those with some experience of screen printing as well as beginners and it is an opportunity to work in a studio atmosphere with tutor support.  This 2 day class will allow you to build up layers and develop more complex designs, to explore texture and to have some fun with experimental techniques.  Learners who have previously attended a one day course can develop their own projects with help from the tutor as needed.  A4 and A5 screens and squeegee are provided for use during the weekend

£8 for materials
Wear old clothes and an apron
Reference pictures to use as inspiration.
5/6 old newspapers
Notebook, pen and pencils
Paper cutting scissors / craft knife & cutting mat
20 sheets computer / photocopy paper (not recycled)
A rag for cleaning eg fabric torn from old T-shirt or an old facecloth etc
Clear / masking tape

Fabric: you will need to bring your own fabrics to print on. These must be 100% cotton. Polyesters and poly- cottons do not print well. I suggest you bring about two to three metres of white or light coloured, 100% cotton fabric, preferably washed and ironed.   If you are a non stitcher, you can bring pre-made items for printing on eg. T-shirts, shopping bags, pillow slips - as long as they are, a light or bright colour and once again, 100% cotton. (T-shirts & shop bags do not need pre-washing)

Location:Impington Village College, New Road, Impington, Cambridge, CB24 9LX

CONTACT: tel 01223 200411   community@living.tmet.org.uk

Norris Museum Tablecloths

This is an update on a previous post.  I think I wrote about these tablecloths,  printed by adults with disabilties a few weeks ago.  Since then I have done a bit of infill and that's pulled the whole design together.  They will be having some very colourful teas at the museum!

I pre dyed the cloth and everyone was amazed to see the colour come through when they printed

This one is to hang on the front of the serving table.

Who said museums have to boring!

Botanic Gardens Screen Print Workshop

I was excited to have the opportunity to teach a 2 day workshop at  Cambridge University Botanic Gardens .  There is so much inspiration for print and pattern.  It got me wondering why I don't go there more often.  Here's some wonderful work by students.

Proteas by Jax

Clematis by Lindsay

Daisies on calico

Elspeth's ginko leaves

Hoverflies by Val - see her pencilandleaf.blogspot

Jennifer Copley May. see link  jennifercopleymay

And Fiona Payne -link- Fiona - Open Studio