Handmade Style Tunics

The pattern for this tunic made in cotton was from a book called "Handmade Style" by Anna Graham  and features an overlapped shoulder detail which means it does not need a zip or other opening.

On the first version I accidentally reversed the shoulder overlap.  This did not notice very much and I found the garment came together very easily.

I decided to make a second tunic but  I found the shoulders harder to work this time and they did not lay correctly, so I sewed on some buttons which corrected the problem.

This photo shows the shoulder detail with added button.  I also added buttons on the sleeve cuffs.

The tunic also features two front pockets.

The cuffs also overlap and turn back on themselves.

I love this book as there are so many great projects in it.

This is the first version which I made in a grey cotton with the shoulder flaps going the wrong way.

I have worn both garments many times.

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!

Make Me Something Jacket

I bought some interesting fabric at the Knitting and Stitching show last October and decided I would try out  the coat pattern from "Make Me Something".

I had to modify the pattern slightly as I did not have enough fabric and so it is shorter than the original, and more like a long jacket.

 I could not decide which side of the fabric I liked best and so made the coat reversible.

There are no buttons on the jacket, though it could be fastened with a pin or broach.

When the jacket is worn open, the collar creates a waterfall look.

I added pockets on both sides.

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.

Another two "Julia" Tops by Make me Something

Another version of the Make Me Something "Julia " top but this time made with sweatshirt fabric  and with the round neckline.

I liked  the style so much that I made yet another one in a bright pink boucle knitted fabric.

Hexagon Bug - 9

The Hexagon quilt hanging in our Market Square Quilters Exhibition in April. It could do with a little more quilting around the edge.

The quilt being basted ready to hand quilt.

Detail of the centre section.

Nixie's Fairy Shoes

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

Unframed.

Framed.