Back from the edge

Yes it has been a long time since I posted.  With some unexpected life happenings, it took some time for me to come back from the edge of an all consuming "I-really-don't-feel-up-to-it" syndrome.  With the recent loss of a family member, I had been putting things on hold.  Waiting to see what would happen next.

Last week a friend stopped by for a visit, and she reminded me that regardless of what may or may not happen, and wherever I might be, I would still want to create.  She was right!  I had worked myself into a "funk" of indecision and complacency!  Well enough of that!  I needed to get my hands on some fabric, some thread, some beads, some lace...anything that would get the juices flowing.

So let's get caught up.  They are small steps, but here is what I have been up to since I last posted. Remember those dyed pieces of felt and thread?  After some stitching this is the result.

I bound all of the felt pages together after the stitch samples had been completed.  Here is what the binding looks like.

It was challenging creating some of the stitches that I had not seen before, but once I got the rhythm of each of them, it was relaxing and in some instances, meditative.  Here is a look at some of the stitched pages.

 And a closeup of the Interlaced Back Stitch.

In addition to creating a stitch book, we also had to create a sampling of different knots as a requirement for the class.  So here is a look at how many different knots and knotted stitches I was able to come up with.

So now on to the next thing.  I have to get going on my Tangled Textiles challenge.

Till the next time, thanks for stopping by, and stay creative.

Dyes, felt and threads

all add up to an interesting five days at the Gail Harker Centre for Creative Arts.  Not only did we dye felt and threads, we also practiced and experimented with hand stitches using our dyed threads.  After choosing my colour palette, here is a picture of how my felt pieces turned out.

Then it was on to dyeing the threads.  Here is what they looked like once they were hung to dry.

Now we had the material to play, practice, and experiment with some hand stitching.  Before I started, I laid out the felt and thread together to see how they would all fit together.  Can you just imagine the fun I had playing with these colours?  

Here have another look.

 Now I'm off to finish my little stitch book.  Till the next time, happy playing and creating.

Beginning Reveal

Today is reveal day over at Tangled Textiles for the last in our Theme challenges.  Vicki picked this theme and you can read some of the challenges that all of us faced.  Here is my piece, which I have called Fowl Beginnings.

 

One of the challenges that I faced for this piece included curved piecing.  I used this to created the branches in the piece.  As you can see the curves were simple and few!!

 

I added leaves using fused applique...(oops picture is on its side, but you get the idea)

 

 and set myself to adding a nest using wool roving, some feathered fur and some dyed kunin felt that I distressed.  I used fine tulle to hold it in place till I could stitch it down.



 

It didn't look the way I had envisioned it so I added some decorative wool to the edge to create some additional depth and texture.  The sewing machine foot kept getting caught in the wool, so I covered this with tracing paper and stitched it all down.  This is what it looked like.



 

 

I tore away the paper and then added eggs.  I used a pigma pen to create the cracks in the egg and a tiny sliver of yellow felt for the beak.  Do they look like they are ready to hatch?

 

 

Whew!  I managed to try some things that I had not done before and I must admit, even though frustrating at times, it was fun to see the idea I envisioned turn into a reality.

 

Stop by the Tangled Textiles blog and see what the others came up with.

 

Till the next time,  keep stitching.