Open Studio 2019

Embroidery Wrapped Sticks

Many years after finishing my City and Guilds in machine embroidery I found that I had many samples sitting in books which were bulky to store and so I had a good sort out and condensing session.  I took some of my samples and developed them into items or cards and some I used to wrap stick bundles as a house decoration. I made some wrapped cord to tie them and used hand made beads and other bits and pieces to finish them off.
Now I can enjoy them again and remind myself of some of the techniques I have tried.

Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts

My sister and I decided to visit the Summer Exhibition at the RA for the first time and we really enjoyed the experience.  There really was everything there from the sublime to the rediculous and we were very inspired.
There were so many pieces that I loved including Anselm Kiefers fantastic piece which was so textural.  I could talk for hours about the work but decided that I would only photograph pieces that had stitching on them.  I was very pleased that there were some and they were excellent and diverse.
Please excuse my terrible photography but Some of the work was high up or low down and it was hard to take a good photo.

The Bristol 2 Litre Engine - Julie Heaton

The Young Stevie Nicks - Amy Burt

Material Tenderness - Michelle Holmes

Via Con Me (Dreaming of you) - Francesca Colussi

Emmaline - Francesca Colussi

Map Mundi 1 - Renata Adela

Europe Running Through My Veins - Tisna Westerhof

Sunlight And Shadows - Alison Holt

Rabbexit(An Homage To Brexit) - Yimiao Shih

Little House on the Prairie - Julia Hall

I hope that I matched all of the names correctly, if not I appologize now!

More Fairy Shoes

These fairy shoes were made for a gift and were framed. They now live in France with a beautiful little girl.

My Forgotten Fairy

I discovered this little fairy whilst going through some of my City and Guild work and decided that she needed to come out of the box and see the light of day.

we were instructed to make something that incorporated hand made ribbons.

Her skirt is made with chiffon, net and organza strips, some of which have been stitched with automatic patterns from my machine.  She also carries a small bag stitched on water soluble material.

I have placed her in my studio so that she can keep watch over me.  That is if she forgives me for locking her up for so long!

Fairy Shoes in a Jar

I decided to place some fairy shoes inside a jar instead of framing them. I laid them on some man made moss with sequins and small flowers.

A different pair with coiled wire laces.

I placed a butterfly made of card on top of the jars to finish them off.

Nixie's Fairy Shoes

A pair of Fairy shoes made and sold at a recent exhibition.

Unframed.

Framed.

The 10Year Stitch 3

The Golden Dragonfly
Lets Celebrate 11
Dancing Dragonflies
Blue Dragonfly
Lets celebrate 1
The Dragonfly
Going to Seed in Style
Jungle Daisy
Dancing Seed heads

Geraldine Priest

Dancing  Dragonflies - Geraldine Priest

Some more pieces from our exhibition which we are happy to say was a great success.

Lets Celebrate 11 Geraldine Priest

On the Way to a Celebration - Valerie Carter

Small Elephant facing Left - Valerie Carter

A Coat for my Elephant - Valerie Carter

Its Time to Celebrate - Sonia Clifton

Textured Turquoise "10" - Ann Beer
(detail)

The 10Year Stitch 2

Some more pieces of work from our exhibition.

I'm so excited - Sonia Clifton

Power of Ten IV
Power of Ten II

Rachel Knight

10 3D bowls each with 10 petals - Rita Maton

Celebrate 10 in Words
Celebrate 10 in Numbers

Sue Crook

Joie de Vivre 1 - Rachel Knight

Textured Turquoise '10' - Ann Beer
Its Time to Celebrate - Sonia Clifton

The 10 Year Stitch 1

TextileArt07 group which was started at the end of City and Guild machine embroidery courses  run by Sandra Hardy, has now been together for 10 years.

The members created work that was inspired with the celebration theme, or their favourite techniques learnt over the period.

My photography was restricted by the angles of the work and the reflections from the hall windows on framed pieces.  I apologise to the artists.

An overall view.

Meandering Lines - June Withers

Leather Anniversary
Cloth Anniversary
Paper Anniversary

Pottery Anniversary
Willow Anniversary
Tin Anniversary


Gail Winter

Fireworks - Marianne Mohandes

Jeyons Tree - Wendy Lloyd

My Spirits Fly - Wendy Lloyd

Meditation - Wendy Lloyd














Joie de Vivre - Rachel Knight