Monday 26 October 2015

Pineapple Palace

I have put some of my artwork to sell in the Pineapple Palace which is a gallery and arts cafe at Lower Way Farm, Thatcham.  It is located down the road opposite the Hospital and just after the bowling alley.

The gallery is open from Wednesday to Saturday from 10.00 to 4.00pm and the cafe serves not only delicious homemade cakes but yummy soup and paninis.

As you can see there is something for everyone from shabby chic furniture, clothes, jewellery, cards, artwork and lots lots more.


Here is my area.




Here is the cafe area inside and there is also outside seating. The barn is situated just next to a small river and there is an additional cabin where workshops are held.  There is going to be a great Christmas event happening soon which I will keep you informed about.

Tuesday 20 October 2015

Black Kimono Top

I bought a metre of black sheer fabric for £3.50 last year from Fabric land with the idea of making a simple kimono cardigan. I don't like sewing with this sort of man made fabric as it is hard to handle and this experience didn't change my mind. However the print was gorgeous and I couldn't resist buying it.

I couldn't seem to create a  perfect unpuckered seam even though I tried a couple of different methods.  When shopping I looked at commercial garments and found that they were just the same, so have decided that it is just the nature of the beast!


I folded the fabric over sideways with the selvages along the bottom.  I cut up the front of the cardigan to the fold and at this point cut sideways each side to allow for my neck. I removed some of the fabric to make a rounded area at the back of the neck and to shape the front to make a v shape.  I then removed an oblong of fabric from each lower corner to create sleeves.

I sewed up both sides and neatened with my overlocker and then turned back all of the other edges.

Black is a bit harsh on me as my skin is pale but the cardigan may be useful around Christmas time. 

I left the bottom edge raw as it had a pretty fringe along its length.  I sewed on some lack ribbon to hide the selvage holes.






Tuesday 13 October 2015

Reflect Exhibition at Headley



Our exhibition at Headley Village shop is now over  and it has been a great success.  We liked the layout better this time with a table down the centre which gave the exhibition a more open feel.
We provided tea, coffee and cake and people could make donations to Macmillan.  We made over £250.00  which was brilliant.

 Ten of the members of textileART07 textile group took part and our theme was Reflect. I apologise for the bad photography and the sun was shining into the room which bleached some of the colours and the angles of the pieces were difficult to correct.
 It was great being at the village shop which had lots of goodies to tempt us such as freshly baked bread.

June Withers made two pieces of work inspired by the war with links to lost family members. One embroidery shows the countryside in france and the other a reflection of the same scene after the war.


Rita Maton made a large wall hanging inspired by the Centenary of Armenian Genocide by the Turks and a reflection of her ancestry.
Wendy created some beautiful embroidered pieces inspired by water reflection and made with printing techniques and machine embroidery.
Gail Winters work was inspired by a fascination with Kaleidoscopes and their reflective patterns. The pieces sparkled as you moved around them being made also with reflective materials.
My work was inspired by the tiles and stone work at the Papal Palace in Avignon France and is a reflection of artistic worship.
Sue Crooks work was inspired by a visit to France and the reflections on the Loire River.
Rachel Knights experimental piece was inspired by a scientific interpretation of the word reflect and included pieces of mirror. Quote " viewer may catch glimpses of themselves adding an individual element".
Ann Beers two pieces were inspired by light reflections in water and also "convey a feeling of thought when contemplating a scene of beauty in nature".
Val Carters piece was inspired by her fascination of the Tree of Life, "the top half being a reflection of life in vibrant times and the lower half in tranquil moments"

The smaller piece was made by Mary Rich and included applied stitched shapes onto a stretched fabric background.
The first piece one the left was made by Gail Winter as part of her Kaleidoscope work.

The centre piece was made by Mary Rich and was made with layers of felt and stitch.

The third piece of work was also made by Mary Rich and was inspired by a Tibetan temple door awning. It reflected the influence of different cultures on embroidery and included several of those embroidery techniques in the piece.

One of Gails Kaleidoscope pieces.
A selection of our goodies for sale.












 

 A close up of one of Wendys water pieces.

Saturday 3 October 2015

Cream and Grey Tunic

I bought some fabric at the Festival of Quilts and using my trusty Vogue pattern number V8952 ran up a quick but useful tunic.

For a variation I used some stretchy grey cotton viscose for the neck and sleeves which is very soft next to the skin.  I have already worn this top several times as it is very comfortable and cool.




Thursday 1 October 2015

Thread at Farnham Maltings

I visited Thread, a festival of textiles at Farnham Maltings this weekend with my sister Sonia.  we have been spending lots of time dress making  this year and even treated our selves to a Janome Coverpro machine at the Festival of Quilts in August.  We follow the Blog of Lauren Guthrie  who was a contestant on the Great Sewing Bee a few years ago and the shop that she runs with her husband called Guthrie and Ghani was there.

We were surprised that more people didn't come to the show as the Unravel knitting festival held at Farnham Maltings is usually packed with people. We had a great time looking at the different shops and artists whose work was on display.

One of the things that made the trip worthwhile was a talk by Sandra Rowles on how to get the most from a dress pattern.  It was a very informative and interesting talk and we learnt a lot from it.  I will never look at dress pattern in quite the same way again!

I  enjoyed seeing Lauren at Guthrie and Ghani and looking at all the goodies on her stand.  I also enjoyed seeing Sue Oakham who was on the Basingstoke Embroiderers Guild stand. 

Needless to say I bought home some nice purchases.



I bought some nice medium weight cotton to make a skirt and some viscose for a shirt from Beloved Fabrics.


A dress pattern from Create Escapes.
I also treated myself to a little purse from Craig Fellowes whose work I love, all printed from his wonderful drawings of insects and plants.


I also treated myself to a little bundle of patchwork fabric for a project I have in mind.