Author Archives: Kathleen

City skylines in mixed media embroidery

Hi all I have just finished these city skyline embroideries of places dear to me. Paris , London and my home town of Bedford. Photocopies of my own drawings have been worked on to striped and stitched fabric backgrounds with free motion embroidery used to add details to the buildings. Das clay was used to make some of the buildings which were stitched in to place to give a dimensional appearance and wired or paper cut out trees were added to embellish and help with the distance of the skyline. I really enjoyed making these pieces and thought you might like to know that they are a workshop planned for teaching in five weeks time at Tudor Rose Patchwork if your interested in something different and contemporary come and give city skylines a go.

Pop up exhibition in Bedford with Mr x stitch

Preview night was very interesting with many x stitch comments flying about. Jamie however was totally confident with his talent and was having none of the stereotyping that is associated with x stitch. I however found it very interesting listing to both sides and my husband who came with me made for interesting talk over a meal where he gave a very valid argument on why he personally found x stitch interesting from a mans point of view. Sorry girls, you may find x stitch beneath you nowadays but I have it first hand from a man that it is an over looked and inspiring technique which needs to be explored further . Go Mr x stitch for comtempary x stitch.

Machine embroidered flora bunds antique hanging

Wow what a weekend .

I was over on the Licky Hills just past Birmingham with the Keep on sewing group organised by Pam NEAVE. What a group. They are so talented and prolific with their varied crafts. The ladies could make a great travel holdal with the very patient and talented Janice or Gail Lauther was on hand with the most stunning bias patchwork scenes and inspirations from New Zealand. Lastly there was me with my machine embroidered, appliqué and patched Antique flowers. Take a look at the ladies achievements, they are stunning

Hey, Look Who Stopped by My Stand Today

Day Three at the Fashion and Embroidery Show Birmingham and I’m getting ready for the show to open when guess who stopped by for a quick demo.

I looked up and Stuart from the first series of The Great British Sewing Bee was in front of me.

We had a quick chat and he came on to my stand for a quick photo before he was off back to his stand.

Thanks Stuart for stopping by, it was good to meet.

Organza flower pots

Here are some of the new kits for the fashion and embroidery show at Birmingham. These flowers will not need to be watered and will look good all year round. Just as well realy because I’m dreadful at remembering to water my plants and need hardy beauties on my window ledge. 

Fashion and embroidery show at the NEC Birmingham

PFirst and second day over and very successful. Carolyn and I have this whole setting up the stand down to a fine art. She gives me a time allowance to get it done and we go for it before she’s bored and looking at me in only that way a best friend can tell you your flaffing around.

At this show we have white back boards and they really show my work off in a great way. If your lost for something to do over the weekend come along to the show. It’s fab with loads of lovely goodies to get your creativity going. If you make it remember to drop by my stand and have a natter

Gold work dragon workshop

It’s only taken me four weeks of working on this dragon every evening to get him finished for my upcoming work shop. I just love a bit of extra pressure in my life to get my samples done. When will I learn to start earlier.

Jasper the dragon has been a true creation from the outset and most if not all things I had planned in my head did not happen as planned. He sort of developed by trial and many errors, but hey I call that designing on the go and change as I need to as I work through it.
I have used traditional gold work techniques to work him and the background fabric had its colour added to the surface with a brayer roller applying acrylic paints. The paint does make it harder to push the needle through but it’s nice to be able to work on to a colour of your choice.
All I have to do now is take Jasper to the shop for the ladies to see and sign up to do him.
That’s another job jobbed. Now for the next sample.

Painted fabrics

‘Just something a little different to get me going at the start of the year. I have been playing with printing my own designs on to fabric with a new class running alongside me to keep me on my toes. So far we have had one class and looked at roller printing and mono printing using acrylics. I am finding the girls in the class quite inspiring too as I am having to keep one step in front of them and already have heaps of ideas that I just don’t have th time to exercute. Very frustrating in some ways but refreshing also.

Next month we are going to over print the work we did this class with hand made rubber stamps to add interest. 

Crochet felted bag kit

I have so enjoyed making up this crochet bag which once worked and assembled was thrown in to my washing machine with three tennis balls and felted to give this really strong and usable bag. I brought it as a kit which is really weird because it’s normally me designing a kit, not me buying one. This kit came from Judit at Monster yarns, Bedford as a knitted kit. I’m not all that at knitting so I crocheted it instead and the result was just as good as knitting. 

It was lovely when felted but you know me, if there are no flowers involved I’m not a happy woman. So I decided to give simple bubble wrap wet felting a go and make my own felted flowers to embellish the bag. The wet felting was so easy and I soon had several felted flowers to go on my bag. Whilst the flowers were wet I dabbed in some wood glue so that when dry they would hold their shape, which they did fantastically. I also made extra felt to cut leaves out of which when dry I dry needle felted on to the  bags surface. The flowers were then beaded in their centres and attached in to position on the bag at the same time. It was such fun and so different from what I normally do and teach. I really enjoyed my Christmas project and now have the burning desire to get going on another bag which I will design this time. Thanks Judit your kit was an inspiration to me across the festive holidays

Recycled dusty swag makes new table centre for Xmas day

Would you believe these leaves were red and green and orange until we sprayed them , glittered them and curled them.
All sprayed and dry ready for free form creativity
Wire wrapped onto the original and looking quite professional

Finished table centre all made from a dusty old swag destined for the bin. Now it can grace my festive table for several more years and I wil enjoy remembering what good fun it was re painting and spraying them with my daughter before spending a peasant afternoon on a discussing wet day making a new wreath