September:
The group sets new Challenge:
The theme for our challenge is "DECAY"
Group members are free to interpret this word in any way that they choose with the following constraints:
The finished piece should be 30cm x 50cm Landscape orientation. This piece may then be finished in any way that the artist chooses.
A number of photograph were considered as possible starting points, the following image was circulated as it was of interest to a number of members.
Group members are free to interpret this word in any way that they choose with the following constraints:
The finished piece should be 30cm x 50cm Landscape orientation. This piece may then be finished in any way that the artist chooses.
A number of photograph were considered as possible starting points, the following image was circulated as it was of interest to a number of members.
Philippa
I have been asked to make a "Fidget Quilt" for someone with dementia. These quilts are really quite small - mine is 21 inches by 16 inches. I concentrated on touchy feely items for fiddling with. Sometimes these quilts include memory items and pictures for people - more of a challenge if you don't know where yours will be going - and to whom (as is the case with me). It was good fun searching for the bits and pieces and it should be robust and washable.
I have been asked to make a "Fidget Quilt" for someone with dementia. These quilts are really quite small - mine is 21 inches by 16 inches. I concentrated on touchy feely items for fiddling with. Sometimes these quilts include memory items and pictures for people - more of a challenge if you don't know where yours will be going - and to whom (as is the case with me). It was good fun searching for the bits and pieces and it should be robust and washable.
Sarah
Taking a break from my usual work to enjoy the freedom of 'just making'. A collection of indigo and kola nut fabrics from the African Fabric Shop and a piece of hand dyed fabric from Jo Lovelock was just too gorgeous not to play with. I've used a simple irregular grid and squares and rectangles of fabric some of which have been pieced. The top is now complete and I've sandwiched up the quilt ready for quilting. I've loved doing this!
For details of how I've done this visit:
Taking a break from my usual work to enjoy the freedom of 'just making'. A collection of indigo and kola nut fabrics from the African Fabric Shop and a piece of hand dyed fabric from Jo Lovelock was just too gorgeous not to play with. I've used a simple irregular grid and squares and rectangles of fabric some of which have been pieced. The top is now complete and I've sandwiched up the quilt ready for quilting. I've loved doing this!
For details of how I've done this visit:
July
Philippa Laughton - RSN Prize winner
Philippa Laughton went to Hampton Court Palace on Monday 2nd July to attend the 2018 award ceremony for the Certificate and Diploma students at the Royal School of Needlework. Philippa passed the Certificate in Technical Hand Embroidery with Merit. In addition, Philippa was thrilled to receive a prize. She was the winner of the Wendy Hogg Prize which recognises the student with best overall marks for Mounting.
During that week the students work was exhibited at the Palace and Philippa's Canvas Work featured in the publicity.
The photographs show Philippa with her lead tutor, Rachel, Philippa's certificate for her prize (she got a cheque as well) and the publicity promotion for the exhibition.
During that week the students work was exhibited at the Palace and Philippa's Canvas Work featured in the publicity.
The photographs show Philippa with her lead tutor, Rachel, Philippa's certificate for her prize (she got a cheque as well) and the publicity promotion for the exhibition.
Diana Sharvill and Sarah Showers exhibited at Market Harborough Artist's Cluster Exhibition May 2018
Diana Sharvill and Sarah Showers exhibited with "Aspects of Stitch" in central Market Harborough. Work that had been created for the 'Contrasts' exhibition was shown.
June Jessop : Eastern Region Textile Forum
Our member, June Jessop, is very pleased to have had a textile piece accepted for the forthcoming exhibition of work by members of the Eastern Region Textile Forum. The theme of the show is 'Kaleidoscope' and the exhibits were selected by textile artist Janet Edmonds. The exhibition runs from 28th March to 21st April 2018 at the Michaelhouse Cafe and Gallery, Trinity Street, Cambridge from 8am to 5pm with free entry.
June says:
This is a picture of my Kaleidoscope piece in it's early stages: the background is heavy cotton onto which I'd quite literally thrown remains of dye after a dyeing session in the garden a couple of years ago. At the ERTF Conference in Spring 2016 we were asked for a suggested theme for this year's juried exhibition and the majority decision was for Kaleidoscope: many of the group weren't enamoured with this idea however, but I immediately thought of my dyed piece and that it would lend itself very well to the theme. I've embellished it with stitch, organzas, sequin waste, shisha mirrors, and other glittery bits to represent the multi-coloured patterns and sparkle in a kaleidoscope.
June says:
This is a picture of my Kaleidoscope piece in it's early stages: the background is heavy cotton onto which I'd quite literally thrown remains of dye after a dyeing session in the garden a couple of years ago. At the ERTF Conference in Spring 2016 we were asked for a suggested theme for this year's juried exhibition and the majority decision was for Kaleidoscope: many of the group weren't enamoured with this idea however, but I immediately thought of my dyed piece and that it would lend itself very well to the theme. I've embellished it with stitch, organzas, sequin waste, shisha mirrors, and other glittery bits to represent the multi-coloured patterns and sparkle in a kaleidoscope.
Exhibiting at The Big Textile Show : Leicester Racecourse : 28 /29 October 2017
Following her 'Abstraction' day teaching with Textend earlier in the year. Sarah has been asked to show two pieces which show the finished abstraction process. Dunstanburgh Beach is an abstraction from a photograph taken at dawn while 'Levels' is an attempt to show the inundation of the Somerset Levels several years ago. An area Sarah is very familiar with from childhood.
Following her 'Abstraction' day teaching with Textend earlier in the year. Sarah has been asked to show two pieces which show the finished abstraction process. Dunstanburgh Beach is an abstraction from a photograph taken at dawn while 'Levels' is an attempt to show the inundation of the Somerset Levels several years ago. An area Sarah is very familiar with from childhood.
Sarah Showers: Exhibiting at all ICHF shows for twelve months
Sarah is delighted that "Fire and Ice" will be exhibited in the Elements Gallery at all ICHF shows from October 2017 until September 2018. This is a good example of her use of hand stitching to create textured background. This was the first time she employed this technique and it's now a key feature of her work.
Philippa Laughton : RSN 30 Year Anniversary Exhibition : 2017
Philippa Laughton was delighted that her peach and gold coloured silk shading embroidery was selected by the Royal School of Needlework (RSN) to be part of their current exhibition at Hampton Court Palace. The exhibition is to celebrate the 30 year anniversary of the RSN at the Palace and is open until 13 August. Entrance to the exhibition is included in the price of entry to the Hampton Court Palace. Here is Philippa next to the showcase that features her peach and gold lily.
Diana Sharvill : Painted Bondaweb Workshop
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In March 2017 Diana Sharvill ran a day workshop for nineteen members of Textend at North Kilworth in Leicestershire on the topic “Painted Bondaweb”. Diana showed how using different colouring media, such as silk paint or acrylic, and different techniques for applying the Bondaweb to fabric, can give different effects. She demonstrated some techniques for people to try before everyone had a go for themselves. Some people were very organised and produced a range of well labelled samples for future reference. Others tried a few ideas then, having found something they liked, used the technique to produce a piece they could stitch into later. A few used fine layers of painted Bondaweb, removed from its backing paper and torn into interesting shapes, to add to previous textile pieces. In July Diana will be back with Textend helping to run a workshop on traditional embroidery techniques. |
Sabi Westoby : Monoprinting Workshop
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I ran a workshop on monoprinting with a gelli plate - many of the participants owned the plate but hadn't ever taken it out of the packaging! It was a successful day with some beautiful work produced, much of which could well be the inspiration for stitched pieces.
I always have a sketchbook next to me when monoprinting - once the paint has been applied to the plate the roller needs to be cleaned, so rather than roll the paint off onto scrap paper I roll it onto a sketchbook page. These pictures show some of the coloured pages created by cleaning the roller. |
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Teaching beginners 'Abstraction' workshop
Sarah Showers enjoyed teaching a Saturday workshop for 'Textend' at the end of January. The structured programme was designed to help quilters and embroiders take concrete images and produce an abstract piece that reflects and reminds them of the original image.
As an introduction members were invited to quantify the amount of each colour in an image and very simply use fabric strips to reflect the colours.The following photograph from show these first steps taken to explore abstraction.
As an introduction members were invited to quantify the amount of each colour in an image and very simply use fabric strips to reflect the colours.The following photograph from show these first steps taken to explore abstraction.
School Visit : Philippa Laughton
Philippa Laughton had a lovely morning at a local infants' school on Monday 13th March 2017. She was taking part in the school's Arts Week where a variety of artists are invited to the school to demonstrate all sorts of different art forms. Philippa showed them some patchwork and quilting and traditional hand embroidery. Philippa said the children were delightful and particularly taken with her hexagon English patchwork.
TEXTILES EAST FAIR 2017 : June Jessop and Sue King
Textiles East Fair is a new two-day event which has taken the place of Textiles in Focus. This had run successfully at Cottenham Village College and subsequently Camborne Village College for a number of years. For 2017 the event had a new organiser and a new venue – Swavesey Village College, near Cambridge.
Members of The Eastern Region Textile Forum (ERTF) were invited to mount an exhibition for this event on the theme of ‘Diversity’. ERTF , launched in 2008, is a proactive group run by members with the aim of taking textiles forward into the mainstream of 21st century art. Textile Artists of all disciplines in the Eastern region can come together to create, exhibit, sell and network. Thus, this exhibition would showcase the variety of work done by members of the Forum. A total of some 50 exhibits, including several of our pieces, were displayed showing work with hand-dyed and painted fabrics, contemporary lace, felt, hand and machine embroidery and quilting. Inspiration was drawn from a variety of sources and included the site-specific work made for an exhibition at Denny Abbey and Farm Museum near Cambridge in 2015.
Apart from the Exhibition, there was a Demonstration Hub, where it was possible to have ‘hands on’ experience of felting small animals, creating sketchbooks, goldwork, making tiny sheep, and patchwork. There was also a small virtual studio where two artists demonstrated various ways of adding and discharging colour from cloth.
A number of rooms in the college were given over to traders, where one could purchase silks and wools, some hand-dyed or spun by the vendors, plus fabrics, beads, general art supplies, books, carved wooden stamps etc. There were also a number of organisations offering information on courses and workshops.
The excellent catering facilities provided the necessary refreshment and welcome pauses to sit and assess the works seen and purchases made.
The show seemed to be very successful and it is expected that it will be run in February again next year.
Members of The Eastern Region Textile Forum (ERTF) were invited to mount an exhibition for this event on the theme of ‘Diversity’. ERTF , launched in 2008, is a proactive group run by members with the aim of taking textiles forward into the mainstream of 21st century art. Textile Artists of all disciplines in the Eastern region can come together to create, exhibit, sell and network. Thus, this exhibition would showcase the variety of work done by members of the Forum. A total of some 50 exhibits, including several of our pieces, were displayed showing work with hand-dyed and painted fabrics, contemporary lace, felt, hand and machine embroidery and quilting. Inspiration was drawn from a variety of sources and included the site-specific work made for an exhibition at Denny Abbey and Farm Museum near Cambridge in 2015.
Apart from the Exhibition, there was a Demonstration Hub, where it was possible to have ‘hands on’ experience of felting small animals, creating sketchbooks, goldwork, making tiny sheep, and patchwork. There was also a small virtual studio where two artists demonstrated various ways of adding and discharging colour from cloth.
A number of rooms in the college were given over to traders, where one could purchase silks and wools, some hand-dyed or spun by the vendors, plus fabrics, beads, general art supplies, books, carved wooden stamps etc. There were also a number of organisations offering information on courses and workshops.
The excellent catering facilities provided the necessary refreshment and welcome pauses to sit and assess the works seen and purchases made.
The show seemed to be very successful and it is expected that it will be run in February again next year.
SAQA - Sabi Westoby
Our member Sabi Westoby's piece, depicting the concrete brutalist architecture of the National Theatre on London's Southbank, was selected by the Studio Art Quilts Associates for a touring exhibition of venues in the USA and Europe. The exhibition, Made in Europe, shows the work of textile artists living and working in Europe and the Middle East.
Sabi says: This piece was inspired by photographs taken at the Southbank Centre, and the National Theatre in particular. I mono printed fabrics in greys, blacks and whites and cut out the relevant shapes, fusing them onto the backing fabric. Machine stitch and paint sticks gave further colour and texture.