Preview of upcoming exhibition...Dreams. Part 1

Here is a sneak peak of one of the pieces I am doing for my space in the exhibition at The Customs House, in South Shields.  This will be a wall mounted piece.

Only parts of it are seen here, as I do not want to give it all away!

All hand dyed and hand sewn, no machine work involved.

Shelter from the rain.....A new pure stitch piece.

 

 

This stitch piece, was done on pure cotton canvas, with black thread.

I free machine embroidered the piece, using my sewing machine.

 

I like to base my work on poems and illustrations that I have worked out myself and then use these as a basis to stitch........

 

The piece was based on a poem that I wrote and a watercolor piece,  which I have pictured first.  The below stitch outcome has been designed through inspiration through the poem (as written below) and watercolours.....

 

The Torn Umbrella

 

She stood,

Uncontrollably sombre,

Staring at the grey forlorn sky,

It seems to slowly engulf her,

Tainting her mood with its own.

 

She didn’t realise how long she had been

Standing there,

It had seemed like seconds,

But her feet were sore.

 

A storm has come,

Unable to move,

A brief blank expression

Frames her face,

Time had worn down,

Her former grace.

 

Standing uncovered,

The storm slowly evolving above,

Detains her mind,

Slowly seeping away,

The thoughts behind,

Carrying her away.

 

Quick enough to stay,

She plays her last card,

The plastic umbrella that has

Become her guard.

 

Someone is near,

Yet she does not hear,

They stand close,

Staring at her fragile existence,

Reaching up to her umbrella,

Gently tearing particles

From its frame,

Helping the storm to gain.

 

Both stay in a stance,

But she does not like this unemployed

Gesture,

Fending for herself,

She lays a hand

On the frames shoulder,

Making clear her distant view,

Never to ensue.

 

The person remains in silence,

Holing onto possibilities,

A determined character,

Willing to wait.

 

A tree stands near,

Time twisted all over its chest,

Even leading up to its arms,

These have bred to become many.

 

She stares at the twisted branches

 Of time,

Seeing the contradictions they behold,

 

She must though make a choice,

To let in,

Or let go,

She must know.

 

Her skeletons frame wears thin,

A quick decision must commence,

 

No protection is best,

She gets so wet,

The clouds anger sustaining,

This watery flow,

It feels so good,

A setting free,

Now a victim of what might

Be.

 

Time is all she needs to repair,

The umbrella must be torn,

No shelter for protection,

From the hurtful sentiments of rain.

Only then will she learn to trust,

What she loves and must.

 

No clouds or storms will envelop her,

No umbrellas to hide her

From the rain.

Only a new jacket,

 With the option of a hood;

This way she can still see

What is good,

But is never far from the protection,

And the affection she needs.

 

With this option of a hood,

Yet this time a vague uncertainty,

And a reluctance for it to be used.

Never again will a plastic protection

Be abused.

 

The form still beside her….

 

Yes sadness could grow,

Yet happiness may also sow.

 

 

 

 

 

21st of September 2013 Customs House - Felt Bag Making Workshop

This is the workshop that I am advertised to be teaching on the 13th of October......but the date has been changed to the 21st of September.

Have a phone or call into The Customs house, South Shields to book!

Bag Making Examples Below:

Upcoming Exhibition at The Customs House in South Shields, North East England

An exhibition I am part of, saw my "space" last week.  Not that I am letting go what my exhibition is yet!  But it will contain my original Watercolour paintings, Drawings and previously unseen Textile pieces.  More info to come soon!

Open from Saturday the 30th of November 2013 to the public.

The Spring Knitting and Stitching Show - London March 2013

Just back from the show.

Really enjoyed teaching all the workshops!

Met some lovely people and got some great experience.

Here are a few photos.  Obviously none of me actually teaching students, but a few of the area etc.....

1.Me standing beside the Workshop Listings

2.Me outside the rooms where I taught!

3.The boxes etc holding all my teaching materials...ready to be used!

4.The Workshop List....I'm on, but it is hard to see the names on the list.

Under Two weeks Untill The SKSS......PREVIEW

Well, it is now under two weeks till the Spring Knitting and Stitching Show happens in London!

As I have previously blogged; I will be teaching three different workshops each day on the Thursday and Friday.

I thought I would give a visual taster of what you may make if you come on one of the workshops, which can all be booked beforehand at:  http://www.twistedthread.com

They can also be booked whilst at the show...........but their are limited spaces!

So, here's a little preview of the workshops.........

Stitch a Birdie Mobile!

Use materials to hand stitch your very own birdies, to create a mobile, or simply a cute brooch!



Machine Stitch a Fabric Heart

Use pieces of already hand dyed felt and other fabrics to machine yourself a gorgeous heart, that you can fill with lavender and wadding!



 

Hand Felt Ball Necklace

Learn how to make felt balls, using gorgeous fibres, with the prospect of making yourself a necklace!



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So there is a taster...........come and book to see what it is all about........

The spring knitting and stitching show - London march 14-17

Workshops at the show are now available to book on the official website. I am teaching three each day.  They are as follows....

14th march (Thursday) 

• 10.30 am  Stitch a birdie mobile
• 1pm Hand felt ball necklace
• 3.30pm Machine stitch a fabric heart

15th march (Friday)

• 10.30am Hand felt ball necklace
• 11.45am Stitch a birdie mobile
• 2.15pm Machine stitch a fabric heart 

If there is one you fancy, book through their website! 

http://www.twistedthread.com/pages/exhibitions/viewExhibition.aspx?id=41&view=eventgroup&eventGroupId=62

See you there!