I'm keeping up!!!

July has flown by!!  I  got my  August pages ready last week on a cold, grey day, when we were having new windows fitted and I had to keep out of the work men's way.  Although I used blue last month, I wanted my August pages to be bright and sunny, something I haven't seen much of.

 I covered the pages with gesso first and when dry applied Brusho.  As it wasn't vibrant enough, I re coated the pages with acrylic paints cyan and white.  Painted some card letters with golden yellow acrylic and when dry dotted them with Pebo pearl touch dimensional paint.

The sunflowers were cut out from paper napkins and more Pebo paint applied to the centres, when dry I applied metallic rub-on (brown) to the spots.  I have gone back to journalling on squares for this month, and used up some scrap booking paper I already had.
Follow the link here to see more journals.

Stop me......

From buying any more fabric to dye!!!
I started sorting through the packing case where I keep my fabrics, to prepare some hand stitching to take to my mothers, when I go in a few weeks time.  I wish I hadn't started, I couldn't see the floor!  As Nickie and I are not going to Art in Action now, I know what I shall be doing instead.  Mind you I do NEED some heavy weight calico like we used on Saturday s workshop. LOL!

 At our EG meeting last night, I bought these threads and fabric.  Although I normally dye my own material, I bought this bundle of fabric as it contains vegetarian silk- something I have never heard of.

 Kezzy has been in my playroom.  She has been making some wall art for her room.

 She found the words in Hobbycraft- two coats of black arcylic paint and gemstones to co-ordinate with her new bedroom colours.

My daughter Sam, came round for lunch with my grandson Zach.  He loves to make and stick like his bigbrother Josh.  He enjoyed rummaging in my bead and button boxes looking for interesting bits to use in his next project.

Myfanwy Hart

Myfanwy Hart of Winifred Cottage, came to our Guild tonight to give a talk on 'The Embellisher'. She bought along several different makes and models for our members to try .

Jock was in charge of the 'shop'.

 Here's two of our members experimenting.

 At our Regional Day, one of our YE got the visitors choice award.  She came along tonight to collect her prize and cup.

 At the Linda Miller workshop on Saturday, Dot happened to mention that she had been on a course with Linda before and had made some panels.  We asked if she would bring it to our meeting tonight for everyone to see and- VOILA!!  That panel and the two ends are all machine stitched!!!!!

All that stitchin'!

Everyone who was on the workshop bought their work along for our members to see what they had been up to.

Linda Miller workshop.

A great workshop, we all learnt so much. 
The day started off with Linda taking us slowly through the different stages she uses to make her pictures.

And then we had to go and start work!

 Sheila with her piece of work, well under way.

At the end of the day, we had a show and tell.

 This was Sue's first go at machine embroidery!  Didn't she do well!

Here's everyone's work. Linda worked us very hard, LOL.

My work was a bit different to everyone else's, I wanted to stitch a picture of Percy Bysshe Shelley.  So, just 2 different threads used so far.

Some more machining, and then some hand stitching-might save that bit to do at my Mother's when we go there for a break in a few weeks time.

Just a quicky!

 Spent a lovely hour yesterday in Billericay, viewing the exhibition 'Bags of Texture'  by Octopus.  It finishes tomorrow, if you have a chance to view it.

Lucky me!!! I am doing the Linda Miller workshop tomorrow.  Must go and pack my bags.

Joining in again!

I have taken part in two of these swaps organised by Kate.  Really enjoyed taking part and receiving some lovely work in exchange.  Click on the link in my sidebar to find out more details if you want to join in too!

Tropical Wings

Blue Morpho 90-120mm wingspan.

Owl butterfly 90-150mm wingspan

I had a lovely time at Tropical Wings, managed to find a few butterflies who posed long enough for me to take a picture.  I will have to go back without children next time!

Contemplating!

Tonight I have been catching up with some of my blog reading, some more to read tomorrow.  I am trying to come up with an idea for my next project for FET, but nothing grabbing me at the moment.

I'm late, I'm late.........

This is the first time I have not completed my calendar journal on time, life has been a bit busy here.  I have n embellished my journal as much as I would have liked, but hopefully now that Regional Day is over, next month's pages should be more interesting.  I have yet to make my July pages, with a bit of luck if the appointment hubby and I have tonight doesn't go on to long (I don't hold out much hope of that!) I might get started.  This challenge was set up by Kate of  the blog Kathyrnwheel, follow the link to see all the journals that are taking part in this challenge.

Kezzy had an appointment at the dentist this morning to plan the next step of her orthodontic treatment, as it didn't take long, I was able to start on my pages for July before going to work.  

As it was Kezzy's Prom on Sunday, I used the colour of her dress and the balloons she came home with as my inspiration.

I prepared the pages with a coat of gesso first.

When dry, I  used these paints, in various shades of blue and applied them with a sponge in a random manner.  Tonight, because the meeting had been postponed until tomorrow evening, I was able to carry on with July.  I sprayed over the pages with Angel Glimmer Mist in Jazz Blue.

I have wanted to break away from square boxes for my journalling, so this month was an ideal opportunity to do so. I cut out stars in white card and outlined them roughly with a fine pen.  Once applied to the page, I dabbed more Glimmer mist with a sponge over them to take the starkness off of them.  Sequin stars were applied randomly over the page.  It was only after I had finished that I realised that the stars are very appropriate for this month - July 4th, Idependence Day in U.S.A.

 Just need now, to start journalling on them.

Lee Creswell, one of the members of F.E.T. is an Internationally known silk painter.  Some time ago she asked could she use some images of my work for an article she was writing for their publication.  Her article was accepted and two pieces of my work are in her article. ;0)

Our Regional Day

The doors opened at 9.30, ( and we were ready just!) our visitors had a cup of coffee and biscuits to start the day.

 Nickie (Chelmsford Chair) kicked off proceedings with her  welcome speech.(rather her than me!)

Gill Riordan (Regional Chair) and Nickie gave out Long Membership badges next.

Denis Nothduft of the Fashion and Textile museum gave the morning lecture on Zandra Rhodes.  Some wonderful photos accompanied his talk.  I hadn't been aware of this museum until I got in touch with Denis to invite him, and now it is on my list of places to visit.



Pauline Hannon,(Chair) gave us a talk on  the Embroiderers' Guilds plans for the future.

Then lunch, some people ate outside as the weather was so good.  Others enjoyed the food provided by the  Writtle College retaurant.

There was plenty of time to view the exhibitions.  Our Branch has members that belong to various textile groups and each group exhibited 3 pieces.

No Regional Day is complete without Retail therapy!!!!

There was also four demonstrators to watch and talk to.

The competition was 'Paradise Gardens' and we had lots of entries, both from adults and Y.E.  Pauline Hannon, Gill Riordan and Lesley Morgan were the judges.

2pm saw the start of the afternoon lecture, sponsored by Madeira, given by Lesley Morgan.

After her lecture, it was presentation of prizes to the competition winners and raffle.  It was then over the the Writz for a cup of tea and a slice or two of home made cake.

DUUHHHH!!

Now that Regional Day and Kezzy's Prom night are over, I have started doing some tidying up.  I hadn't realised how much reading I need to catch up on!  When I was at Barleylands, I thought I had missed out on buying Art Quilt Studio published by Somerset Studio.  Guess what?  I hadn't! LOL

Regional Day Competition.

Over the last few weeks, in between writing my school reports and tying up the loose ends for our Regional Day, I have been making an entry for our Regional Day competition ' Paradise Gardens.'  I hadn't posted any of this work, so here is a brief 'recipe'
My inspiration is my own garden, where I am fighting a constant battle with the slugs and snails  who want a free meal!

 My 'flower pot was constructed with a technique I learnt when on a workshop with Lynda Monk.  Flowers were layers of sheers, machine stitched then cut by hand.  Stem were  made with wires wrapped in flt. 

 My plant label was a photocopy of a real plant label coated in Omni Gel several times to make a decal.  Applied to craft vilene which was then coated with Mod Podge Gloss. Snail trail was UHU glue and a very fine glitter. 

 Embellished fabric into sponge to create earth, and bugle beads cut to size for my 'slug pellets'.

 The snails were made with Heart paper clay and silicone rubber.  Leaves from felt and sheers which I then attacked with my soldering iron.

I had great fun experimenting to create my piece.  I am not sure what to do next, it should really be something for FET, but waiting for inspiration to strike-in the meantime I am thinking 'hanging basket'. Watch this space
Photos of the Regional Day I hope to post tomorrow evening as it now past 1 a.m