doodling about

Having a doodle cloth is fun,

you find things you didn't expect 

 as you  adjust the tension between the threads

 networks appear

 flowers bloom

 windows open

 sparkle happens !

finding the edge

I am experimenting with the machine - it occurred to me that any piece done within a frame would of necessity be restricted, initially, to the dimensions of the frame. So here I have wandered about with differing threads looking at where the edge is within the space delineated by the circular frame. It is mad and uncoordinated because I am just learning. I'm also looking at different threads, experimenting. There is gold, sewed from the back, to see how it worked in the bobbin rather than the needle. 
I bought some metallic thread needles to try out, and have some outrageous holographic thread I couldn't;t resist somewhere recently. Things might get horrifyingly psychdelic! It reminds me of my endless hours with the Spirograph as a child - there were never enough pieces of paper, nor any of sufficient quality, and the pens were horrendous, but there was a mesmeric rhythmical quality to the activity and you had to be jolly careful. I think I prefer thread!


I'm finding the edges of threads as well as fabric and machine.


A heart appeared as I was stitching - can you see it?


We'll see where it goes!

more machine embroidery

This time with the lovely Linda Miller. We had a fabulous day, learnt lots and I actually managed to finish my little piece once I got home and refreshed my memory on how to do that really clever edging. You can see how she does it here. I'm rather pleased with my first finished bit of machine embroidery and can see how addictive it could become, after only two workshops I'm feeling a definite sense of achievement! Thank you Linda for a great day's teaching.
Now how can I find time for this as well as ........

A little stitched celebration

One of the Embroiderers Guild members has a significant birthday approaching and we have all been asked to contribute a flower. They will be gathered together to make a little book of floral celebration - a delightful idea, but I had been scratching my head wondering what to do. Watching Jude, Joe and others, creating cloth stories from scraps and whimsies is a huge inspiration, so I rummaged through my scrap bag to see what I could find. With hellebores in mind, I found this, a scrap from a very long ago dress that Mum made for me to go to a cousin's wedding when I was I my teens. With a little thought and a few more bits and bobs scavenged from Mum's multiple button boxes and more scraps from my stash, I came up with this, which will, I hope, give pleasure.

I may add a little more stitching just to bring the front and background cloth together, but I think it's pretty well what I want.
Behind the fabric, you can see a piece of knitting that has been on the needles for rather too long, but will be a lace snood when its finished. I'm really enjoying making it; challenging, but it always makes sense if you pay attention. As I knit, I often ponder on the hows and whens of the craft - someone a very long time ago worked out that you could make a fabric from looping thread together with needles, but from that to the sort of complex patterns that make up, for example, Shetland lace, is a very long step and a wonderful example of our very human ability to take the very simple and introduce artistry and complexity into the mix, creating beauty of all sorts.

Magic!

Tomorrow we are off the the Norfolk/Suffolk borders for a proper holiday. Best I go start packing I rather think! I'll be quite without access to the Internet while I'm away, and will, weather permitting, get wonderful views of the stars as we're in a cottage that is part of a farm complex in the middle of rural Suffolk. Bliss.