Time to catch up on some stitching!

After two months in the states I am back home catching up now with my textiles. Just returned from a week at Rydal Water in the Lake District where every year a group of twelve contemporary textile artists meet up and stitch, walk and chat all week. Whilst we all get on with our own work we gain so much from each other in the working environment.

Whilst the weather was cold with snow on the highest peaks we had some lovely sunny spells for exploring around Rydal water and hills. The Rydal beck was in full spate and will I am sure, be a source for a future piece of work




I am currently working on a couple of pieces based on coral atolls and reefs. I am using dyed cloth which I discharge through stencils and screens to create the images of the coral reefs. I then over dye and screen again to try to introduce depth into the piece. The larger piece for a challenge called 'On the Edge' is on its way, having free machined around the 'coral' I now have to machine stitch the 'ocean. I used some dilute Golden  irridescent pearl paint to highlight the coral. This will be a work in progress for some time as there is a lot of machine quilting to do



A smaller 12 inch square piece got finished during the week. This piece used similar techniques to those planned for the larger piece but I added some free machine embroidery, french knots and a little bling in the form of rhinestones to add some sparkle.

  It is  for a SAQA Benefit Auction which takes place later this year which raises money to help support the cost of travelling exhibitions. So the piece is winging its way to the USA for the Auction..

Jean