Wednesday 31 May 2017

Patchwork Applique

I started doing a few patchwork blocks earlier this year. My plan was to make a quilting/patchwork book of samples but I've changed my mind. I may just make a quilt of them even though they don't all match. Or something else that I've not thought of yet.

Monday 29 May 2017

Yellow Coin Purse

I made this purse from fabric that I'd made for the City and Guilds course, so it is quite old. The purse itself is not brilliantly made, the fabric was quite thick and hard to manoeuver and to be honest I didn't measure it out properly.
To make a fabric like this start with a piece of  background fabric, I used calico [UK], then apply small bits of fabric, ribbon, thread etc [don't leave any background showing thru]. Then top with chiffon or some other sheer fabric. To get the fabrics to stick use 'bondaweb' or 'wonder under' either side of the bits, ie on top of the calico and under the chiffon.


Sunday 28 May 2017

Watch the Birdie

I painted the parrot above but the bird below was taken from a greetings card. The vintage image was from a cookery book, I gave it a bit of colour with paint.


Wednesday 24 May 2017

Looking Back 2 - City & Guilds Embroidery - Quilting

More City and Guilds samples, this time mainly patchwork and quilting


Log cabin


Somerset star

Shadow quilting

Hexagons

Sewing Machine Smocking

Suffolk puffs




Monday 22 May 2017

Looking Back - C&G Embroidery

I'm still trying to have a good sort out and I came across another folder containing samples from my City and Guilds Embroidery course. Recycle somehow or bin?

One of the first things we had to do was collect white threads in different textures and thicknesses [I've still got some of these threads!] Above is a sampler of Cretan stitch

This one is chain stitch

And this one is straight stitch



The three samples on canvas are Florentine embroidery

Holbein Stitch

Greetings card with hand painted fabric and embroidery

Cutwork

Detached filling stitches
I've also got quilting samples which I'll show some other time.


Friday 19 May 2017

More pages from Sketchbook 54

Vintage images as well as drawing and painting on the first two photos

An ink drawing of my friend's owl ornament


Sunday 14 May 2017

Dragonflies

This is a design for the Spoonflower fabric contest.
The contest is to create a watercolor design featuring insects.
Voting begins May 18th

Wednesday 10 May 2017

Painting and Drawing

Painted background with ink flowers, also real carnation.
More drawing practice below.

Getting some ideas from a book called Fancy Designs 1920