Stephanie's stitching

Summer Sketchbook

2012-02-03T11:03:00.003Z

At last I've sorted various technical problems and I am able to update my blog. Here is the final plum sketch from last summer's sketchbook. I went away for the weekend, but took my plums with me.

Day 4 - lines and backgrounds

2011-07-27T16:20:00.005+01:00

When preparing backgrounds yesterday I also selected pics of trees - plums grow on trees (and trees play a large part in my life). I chose a fibre tip pen for the first drawing.

Not my favourite drawing. I had picked a leaf from a copper beech tree on Monday so decided to draw this on another page using a second pic of the same tree. I turned my sketchbook round to draw this:

and then turned it round again for my second attempt at drawing the leaf, concentrating on different types of line:

Sketchbook Day 4 - a personal background

2011-07-26T15:44:00.004+01:00

I hunted through the few magazines I had here, and found a jumper to illustrate how I felt last week when starting to draw.

Even though I had crumpled the pic, my fine line fibre tip pen slid across the surface - an interesting drawing experience after using pencils so much.

I attempted both Day 3 and Day 4 today. I've found other pics which I will add to my sketchbook before I continue drawing.

BTW I was watching BBC Four "The Art of Cornwall" yesterday and heard Peter Lanyon say, "you throw yourself off the cliff every time you start and you've got to fly, swim, duck or something and come out the other end." So reassuring ......
If you missed the programme it's really worth catching it on IPlayer.

Sketchbook Day 3

2011-07-26T15:35:00.005+01:00

After a busy weekend I had to move the plum to a different room, and the light was casting shadow from a slightly different angle. I had placed my plum on a white sheet of A6 paper, and I rotated this to achieve a more complete shadow. So you need to look at this one from a different angle:

Here's the sketchbook page scanned on the straight:

The diagonal line, faintly drawn on LHS, indicates the angle of the page to the edge of my table.

Summer Sketchbook Challenge

2011-07-26T15:24:00.004+01:00

I got off to a good start the first weekend, using herb tea and Yorkshire tea to colour the pages of my sketchbook. However, my first drawing day was last Thursday morning. I chose a plum from my bowl of fruit. Unfortunately my camera is not working at the moment, and rather than wait to sort out another camera, I decided to scan the pages of my sketchbook and upload what I have achieved so far.

My son spent some time with me, eating his breakfast at the same table, whilst I was drawing. He has a natural talent for drawing and is very good at explaining techniques. He doesn't understand why I don't have the same knowledge. (I was allowed to choose only one craft/art subject at school so I chose needlework and gave up art lessons at 14 yrs old :-(( ).

I explained to him that picking up a pencil and starting to draw in my sketchbook felt like standing on the edge of a cliff ready to make the first step off when abseiling (yes, I have done that!). He suggested 'working large' and making grid marks to guide my positioning on the page. He then gave me a lesson in which pencils to use when shading, hence this tonal sketch.

Free machine embroidery

2011-04-13T08:59:00.004+01:00

A to F: Straight and automatic stitches - even tension.

G, H and I: straight whip stitch.
J, K, L: zigzag whip stitch

Wild Water designs

2011-04-05T09:03:00.005+01:00

There are lots of drawing techniques to explore in this module. This is frottage in oil pastels. I then cut up several of my decorated papers for this design

Module Six - water

2011-03-07T09:04:00.004Z

I've started work on Module 6 and these are some of my selected photos:

Wild Washburn

and a 'no rain today' sky:

Texture in Landscape Resolved Sample

2010-11-12T10:36:00.003Z

I've finally reached the end of Module 5. Here is my final piece based on the theme of Woodland, Forests, Bark. My inspiration for this piece came from a photo of the bark of a carob tree. Lots of hand stitching in this one.

I've come a long way ...

2010-08-26T08:50:00.006+01:00

I was asked by my branch of Embroiderers Guild to display my City & Guilds Certificate work at our annual exhibition in Pateley Bridge, North Yorkshire. My work was shown along side Harrogate College City & Guilds students work. A lot of interest was shown in Distant Stitch. In the photo above you can see my Foundation Module (bottom left); book cover based on Module 1 design work (bottom right); counterchange/interchange Module One (centre); tassels arranged on a spiral stand (Module 3); colour study and abstract design from Summer School 2003 (centre upright against wall); and at the top of the photo my resolved spiral sample for Module 3.

At the left of this photo you can see the stand I designed to display my module 3 samples. At the front of the picture is my Module 5 Texture in Landscape book of samples. Top right you can see my FWD from Module 1 for a book cover. The other books are my Module 2 work. Then moving to the right ...

I displayed my functional 3D item from Module 2 - my fly swatter shoulder bag. I didn't have enough space on one table to display all my work, so across the other side of the room I placed my Module 1 Growth and Disintegration resolved sample; and my Module 4 book with its embroidered panel:

Summer School 2010

2010-07-09T11:16:00.004+01:00

Selective Contradiction

Consider not analysing:

However, chewing this over the red roses on the stableyard wall continue the curving diagonal line from the small red fragments through the bold red square, moving up from bottom left to top right. The red bricks of the wall echo the bold red block.

Process
Change
Enhance

Stitch
Snip
Leave

Module 4 completed

2009-10-22T10:07:00.000+01:00

See my completed Module 4 at www.stitcherist.wordpress.com.

Exhibition in Cheltenham

2009-08-19T09:02:00.003+01:00

Three pieces of our furniture are on show in the Celebration of Craftsmanship and Design Exhibition in Cheltenham until Monday 24 August. The show is open each day 10am - 4pm. David has incorporated some of my textile work in our Entwine table.

There are also some embroidered pictures by Alison Taylor.

Thirlestaine Long Gallery, Cheltenham College, Bath Road, Cheltenham GL53 7LD.

Tangent

2009-07-23T17:39:00.004+01:00

Yes, I went off on a tangent after last year's summer school, and pursued my Creative Dialogue with my husband, David. Sian approved this for progressing my Module 4, but I stalled when I had to come up with more technical solutions. However, I have now finished the piece and I thought those who have been to this year's summer school may like to see it. Here it is:

The Creative Dialogue started with David making a three-legged, three-pronged coat stand. The shape of the top of the coat stand inspired me to design a 'bowl' using soluble fabric. This shape then developed into a larger version of the frame shown above, for a table. David made this smaller version so that my design could hang through the centre of the frame. I made a paper pattern for the bowl and I started with stitching a grid (Module 4).

I wanted to create interaction between the three sides of the bowl - creating interesting negative spaces.

Book cover for my diary

2009-01-31T10:28:00.003Z

I chose the word 'designers' for this module because David and I are often designing together - especially furniture. I embedded string in paper, took some pieces of fabric printed at last year's summer school with Cas Holmes and laid them on a felt background. I then hand stitched crosses on the printed crosses. Laid chiffon on top of whole piece, added running stitches in A and M shapes, stitched a diagonal grid to hold the layers together; cable stitched the blue loopy 'writing', and finished edge with one of my machine stitched cords.

Mock up books

2009-01-07T10:34:00.009Z

In December I worked on Mock Up books using momigami papers as well as my hand made papers, and recycled items from my media/stationery collection.

This 'M and A' book is machine stitched, using part of a paper shopping bag as the cover. The momigami is made using my daughter's prep notes for her A2 Art exam which she completed last year. She studied fairies, so there are glimpses of her notes on Titania and good and bad fairies in this book. For those of you who are interested her final exam piece can be seen here
Gail made and embroidered 34 ivy leaves for the bodice of this dress.

This M book is hand stitched Japanese stab binding and contains pieces of my hand made paper. I stitched these pages using machine cable stitch.

Momigami book - failed!

2009-01-07T10:28:00.003Z

This was my first attempt at folding 4 pages and machine stitching. One of the pages wasn't 'caught' by the stitching.

Jute Scrim M paper

2008-11-27T10:14:00.004Z

Manipulated threads in jute scrim to form A and M. I then separated these letters and added them to sheets of paper.

Jute Scrim - hand stitching

2008-11-27T10:08:00.002Z

Paper backed with muslin, free machine zig zag stitch to hold two layers together, and to secure jute scrim. Buttonhole bars worked in withdrawn threads.

Machine stitched edge

2008-11-27T10:05:00.003Z

Running stitch worked by hand to echo lines in jute scrim.

Trimmed muslin backing, added a piece of my plain paper to the back and machine stitched the edges together.

ASPIRE Channel Swim Challenge

2008-11-19T09:11:00.002Z

Yesterday I completed length no. 1416 and finished my Channel Swim in Ilkley pool. I am raising money for ASPIRE. ASPIRE's projects and services have a very simple goal - to provide the practical support needed for people with spinal cord injury, from injury to independence.

Just over 12 months ago I could just about swim 20 lengths in the slow lane. I swam once a week, gradually building up my fitness and stamina until I could swim 70 lengths in 60 minutes - in the medium lane.

I started my Channel Swim on 15 September and have been swimming 2 or 3 times a week since then (apart from the week my employer sent me to head office in Hampshire).

Most lengths swum in one week = 228
Most lengths swum in one session = 90
All breaststroke.

Please give a donation to ASPIRE at www.justgiving.com/stephaniemawdsley.

Stitchery into paper - automatic stitches

2008-11-18T10:10:00.003Z

Today I chose this embedded grid to stitch. The paper has almost completely covered this grid.

Automatic stitches

2008-11-18T10:05:00.002Z

Stitched automatic 'satin stitch bars', extended length of stitch to maximum - ochre/yellow thread. Attached felt backing. Cross stitch worked by hand to secure ends of blue thread at top of this piece.

I then played with automatic stitches to see which worked best for mmm's.

Automatic stitches - reverse

2008-11-18T10:04:00.003Z

The reverse shows the automatic stitch patterns more clearly.

Automatic stitches - revealed grid

2008-11-18T10:02:00.003Z

Scraped away some of the paper between the first rows of automatic stitching to reveal some of embedded fabric grid.

Automatic stitches

2008-11-18T09:58:00.004Z

I wrapped a robin frame with blue threads, machined random satin stitch bars, added yellow M, and then stitched blue cord on top of grid. Removed from frame.

Embedded this in yellow paper pulp.

Stitchery into paper - A and M

2008-11-17T11:02:00.002Z

I used felt as a backing, then added blanket stitch around the edge, pulling this tight to create mmm around edge. I added more rows of blanket stitch - this creates a grid, through which I threaded the blue stranded cotton to form M M M - I don't like this, so I didn't continue with it.

I have used gold pen to highlight sections of the grid pattern in the paper, using my 'designers' paper created by writing over plastic canvas as 'inspiration'.

Finally I added the blue ribbon and large fly stitches to create a 'hint of A and M'.

Stitchery in to paper

2008-11-06T09:26:00.003Z

Designers written in pva, rubbing taken, position frame to suggest lines of stitching in grid. Running Stitch, Blanket Stitch. Threads looped around these stitches and through grid.

How to make an American Quilt, and how to make friendship ribbons

2008-10-31T18:56:00.002Z

and how to shorten a long name

2008-10-31T18:46:00.001Z

take a rubbing of each letter, one at a time of course ...

Grids embedded in paper presented at Summer School

2008-10-31T10:31:00.006Z

Here is a selection of the grids I completed at the end of June.

Machine embroidered samples

2008-06-18T11:19:00.005+01:00

Here are the machine embroidered samples I've produced so far. The first needs something interesting on the loops. The second and third will have hand embroidery added to them.

Displacement sample

2008-06-14T08:57:00.002+01:00

Loops pulled to form A shape.
Loops pulled in both directions
Threads pulled at sides in both directions

Drawn thread work

2008-06-14T08:50:00.002+01:00

Darned ends, knotted ends, hand and machine embroidery to secure ends.
Ribbons, cord, beads and stick threaded.
Needleweaving
Spiralling buttonhole
Hemstitch
Herringbone
Four sided stitch
Cross stitch

As and Ms tied back in

2008-06-14T08:47:00.003+01:00

Threads withdrawn from other fabric pieces have been tied to form Ms and overlapping As.

Woven As and Ms

2008-06-14T08:34:00.003+01:00

Threads withdrawn in both directions, then woven back in in overlapping As and Ms. Machined zigzag to stabilise. This was fun!

Papermaking

2008-06-05T10:26:00.002+01:00

Papers with 'A' embedded and embossed. LH = A cut from scrim; RH = A cut from paper bag. Both embossed with paper clips bent to A shape. M made using deckle cut from polystyrene.

Dyeing results

2008-06-05T10:23:00.002+01:00

Evenweaves and threads dyed ready for drawn thread work.

Dyeing

2008-06-02T08:20:00.002+01:00

Yesterday I spent the morning dyeing fabrics and threads. Now they are all sealed in these plastic containers and jam jars - the fun part is yet to come! I will be opening these and drying the fabrics this evening.

Yes, it's that sculpture again, still keeping an eye on me!

Starting Module 4

2008-06-02T08:09:00.002+01:00

I have completed chapters 1 - 3, and am now working on chapters 4 - 6. It's a refreshing change to be working with different colours and design sources.

Resolved Sample

2008-04-01T19:20:00.003+01:00

There are four or five layers in this sample, depending on how you count the layers. It's probably more like six, if I count the number of responses I made to each step in the making of this. Note the curly piece at the bottom of the frame is now pointing towards the left, so that it follows the line created by the dark green cord!

Choker completion

2008-02-28T21:49:00.003Z

Triangles and beads now stitched on choker. Technical solutions resolved for fastenings, including hand made toggles.

Choker development

2007-10-01T09:14:00.002+01:00

I've been working on the choker and making small triangles to attach to this. I still have to make the fastening and to add beads.

Art in my garden

2007-09-21T08:38:00.000+01:00

Bird man sculpture by Russell (part of his A level work)
This photo was taken last weekend when we still had sunny weather. It's all looking very soggy today.

2007-09-13T09:33:00.000+01:00

No work on Distant Stitch recently as I've been busy helping Gail celebrate her 18th birthday - prepared food and house for 14 guests. We spent the evening in our garden enjoying the mild weather. I'm looking forward to getting back to normal routine this week.

Almost there

2007-08-31T10:23:00.000+01:00

At last I have joined the triangles with the beaded tassels, with plenty of frequent breaks and days without any stitching. This image is produced by scanning my work - hence the 'strange' positions of the tassels and the shadow round the edge. Next I need to produce some cord to thread through the loops currently joined with safety pins.

Triangles joined with beads

2007-08-15T09:37:00.001+01:00

I've made eighteen bead tassels and am now joining the triangles together with them. This is so fiddly and makes my wrists sting, so I can only work a few at a time. I really don't want a repeat of acute RSI.

Further work on triangles

2007-07-30T10:18:00.000+01:00

Since Summer School I have been producing triangles for my accessory. These are some of them. The top three show the "right side" - blue cord triangles beaded and attached to the orange/blue "lining" triangles. The lower three show the "lining" side. These were made using two different cords.

The week I am working on bead tassels and cords to connect these triangles together.

Bead sampler

2007-06-29T10:14:00.001+01:00

The bead sampler is mounted on cartridge paper, which I dyed turquoise. You can see how I have attached the page to the dowel, so that this can hang in my display stand.

Module 3 - Man Made Spirals

2007-06-29T09:58:00.001+01:00

We were asked to look at spirals in man made structures. I wanted to display my work in a different way for this module. I had used display books for Module 1, and bound my work for Module 2 using a comb binder. I designed this display stand - it is made of MDF which I have painted turquoise. Each page is suspended on the two side rails. There is one centre rail at the base to give the stand stability. My tassels are displayed on a spiral stand and my buttons and toggles will be in a box. The lid of this box will be my resolved sample.

Tassels and stand

2007-06-29T09:41:00.000+01:00

The stand is made from cardboard tubes, with a wooden base, painted turquoise. The orange top is made of paper, spiralling round into a ball shape. The tassels are hanging on wooden craft sticks, which I trimmed to various lengths, notched, and dyed orange. The sticks spiral up the cardboard tube.

Development of Triangle Samples

2007-06-06T17:29:00.001+01:00

Securing cords on Soluthick dissolvable fabric with free machine zigzag stitch.

2007-06-06T17:26:00.001+01:00

Samples before dissolving. Note spiral stitching on lower left sample does not have enough 'spokes' to support the free machine straight stitching when Soluthick is dissolved.

2007-06-06T17:16:00.000+01:00

Samples now with Soluthick dissolved. RH sample is two triangles, one placed over one slightly larger.

2007-01-19T09:38:00.000Z

Just looked at Surfaces to Stitch by Gwen Hedley - helping Gail with fastenings for her AS level art piece based on "Sense", so we'll have a go at making toggles with painted Tyvek, and wire.

Toggle Making in Nov 06

2007-01-18T09:24:00.000Z

2007-01-18T09:20:00.000Z

Bead painted turquoise then tossed in a container of orange paint. Machine stitched fine orange cord (see paper toggle too). I 'looped' the cord through the bead and knotted various threads from my hand dyed selection, round each loop.

2007-01-18T09:16:00.000Z

I really like the way the frayed edges 'spiral'.

2007-01-18T09:15:00.000Z

Frayed edges - two layers of fabric - no embroidery

2007-01-18T09:12:00.000Z

Paper toggle with machine stitched edge. I used a florist's 'paper'.

2007-01-18T09:05:00.000Z

Machine 'blanket stitched' edge

2007-01-18T09:04:00.001Z

2007-01-18T09:00:00.000Z

Felt toggle - blanket stitched edge

Toggle - 2.75" x 1.75" and 1" deep

2006-11-18T16:01:00.000Z

The core is foam, covered with a soft jersey fabric, then some of my dyed silk. I embroidered the silk with free machine zigzag stitch in 'stretched out spring' shapes. I then stitched the two together with two orange wooden beads (I painted these) and added seed beads for more interest.

Composite button: 2.5" dia.

2006-11-18T15:58:00.000Z

I used a wooden curtain pole ring, padded it, and wrapped it with strips of dyed fabric and some of my dyed threads. I left the metal 'screw eye' in the ring to form a shank. The centre is a wooden bead, covered with a silk 'Suffolk Puff' - I have stitched this to the outer ring.

Composite bead toggle: 1.25" long

2006-11-18T15:55:00.000Z

I painted some wooden beads and wrapped the larger one with some of my dyed viscose thread. Used this thread to secure two smaller orange beads, and finished by tying thread to form 'shank'.

Composite triangular button: 1.25" x 0.75" h.

2006-11-18T15:52:00.000Z

Two triangle shapes made from egg pulp, covered with polycotton which I dyed, printed and free machine embroidered with spiralling whipstitch. The top triangle has many layers of stitching to create texture.

Square button: 3.25" sq.

2006-11-18T15:46:00.000Z

A square button, using egg pulp and padding for the core. I covered this with fabric which I had printed and free-machine embroidered in various spiralling lines. I originally intended to use this as the base for a composite button, but it has inspired a design for a bag!