Block prints on fabric

When I went on a textile workshop in October, I used a couple of my floral printing blocks on fabric as well as the beetle image suggested by the tutor.  My floral images didn't really lend themselves to all the colourful embellishment techniques taught on the day.  I had thought to abandon them, but I have since added some simple embroidery stitches which makes them suitable for other projects.

Block print on curtain lining, some additional
paint added, hand embroidery, sewn onto
a backing of painted paper

Block print on calico, hand embroidery,
with gold thread embellishment
(This is similar to work posted here)

Urban sketching

 

A few scribbly people sketches -
water soluble Pilot G-TEC-C4 pen

There was lack of enthusiasm for our sketch meeting this month due to the cold and wind.  However, just a handful of us opted to find out if the pop-up craft market in the central library in town would provide both shelter and inspiration.  It proved to be a good choice - plenty of interesting and varied handmade items on display, plus a hot drinks and cake stall and a warm and lively atmosphere.  Possibly more chat than sketching, but an entertaining couple of hours.

The December edition of Drawing Attention is also available to read online.

Hand printed fabric

I am not sure where these embroidered pieces are going to end up, but I am enjoying experimenting with painted and hand printed fabric.  It's also good to curl up in an armchair on a dark winter's evening and "draw" over my block printed images with needle and thread.

Lino print on calico with hand embroidery
(approx. 3.5" x 5")

Cotton  sheeting, pigment dyes, printed with handmade stamps 
 using Inktense colours, hand embroidery
(approx. 21" x 3.5")

 

More textile explorations

I was recently gifted "The Quilting Arts Book" (author Patricia Bolton) - a friend's charity shop find.

One of the chapters suggested using Caran D'Ache Neocolour II water-soluble crayons for painting on fabric* - definitely a prompt for experimentation.

I had no particular project in mind, so tried printing with these crayons on a scrap of old sheeting.  Add to this some wadding, another attempt at free-motion sewing on my machine, followed by hand embroidery and I had a small piece of fabric which I felt was worth taking further.  Lined with another off-cut, stiffened with some canvas and I ended up with this tiny container.

* Although ironed to help set the colours, I doubt they would withstand washing.

Fabric container approx 3.5" tall

A textile workshop

 Earlier this week I attended a very enjoyable workshop with Jan Tillett.  A lot of kit to take with us - sewing machine, various fabrics, threads, hand-sewing kit, cutting board, quilting ruler, etc. - it seemed to take ages to gather it all together. However, Jan was well organised with wooden printing blocks, fabric scraps and paints, net and plenty of glittery bits to add to our creations - plus, of course, some inspiring samples of her own work.

We printed onto colourful fabric backgrounds, then collaged our postcard size pieces with tiny scraps of bright, sparkling fabric and net, before using free motion stitching to secure these to a backing piece.  Areas could then be enhanced with more paint and hand-stitching.

I had prepared my own foam print block, as well as bringing along some of my small lino prints, but realised the latter were too detailed for my very limited skills with free motion embroidery.

My effort at outlining the beetle with free motion embroidery was so dire, I made an attempt to improve  matters by using hand stitch.  Not brilliant, but a process definitely worth refining.

 

Foam block and intermediate stage of fabric piece

Lino prints on calico

As you can see from Jan's work below, I need a bit more practice!

More tales from the lockdown quilt project

In October last year I posted some photos of six large panels made up of collagraph and stitched squares made by members of the public and brought together by printmaker Sue Brown.

The panels have been exhibited around the country, including galleries in Cheltenham, Stroud, Salisbury and Worksop.

Myself and a couple of friends saw the exhibit for a second time last week and spent a long time discovering images that we had missed or forgotten from our first viewing.  It really is a fascinating and inspiring display of work with nearly 600 stitched contributions.

A seventh panel has been started and I am hoping my second contribution will be in time to take its place on that.

4" square embroidered on
commercially printed fabric

My first contribution was
embroidered on a collagraph printed fabric

Windsor Castle

I happened to be visiting a friend in Henley on Thames for a couple of days and we took the opportunity to travel to nearby Windsor today and join those laying flowers outside the Castle.  So many tributes to our amazing Queen Elizabeth II.