Flutter by, Butterfly: Dissolving Fabric and Machine Embroidery Workshops

Butterfly Brooches
Machine embroidery on water-soluble fabric 

When I first got really interested in textiles as an art form (in my early teens) I was fortunate enough to be introduced to a whole range of exciting media and techniques by a relative undertaking their City and Guilds qualification. She was very generous with her time and materials and I still use a lot of what she taught me today. One of the things I was introduced to was water-soluble fabric. Not very helpful for fabric to dissolve in water you might think but artistically it has many possibilities; particularly when combined with another of my passions which is free machine embroidery.

Creating leaves with machine embroidery on water-soluble fabric 

Creating leaves with machine embroidery on water-soluble fabric 

Leaves created with machine embroidery on water-soluble fabric 

I've always been fascinated by transparent and lacy fabrics and water-soluble fabric enables me to create intricate, unique fabrics and pieces with embroidery. In essence the process is very simple; draw with the sewing machine onto the water soluble fabric (making sure the stitches all join up) and then dissolve the fabric in water, leaving the delicate tracery of stitches.

Small bowl created with machine embroidery on water-soluble fabric 

Small bowl (detail) created with machine embroidery on water-soluble fabric 

It's a material and a technique that I've returned to repeatedly over the past 20 years (writing that makes me feel very old) and I'm still fascinated by the challenge of using it to create a self supporting and unique textile. Towards the end of last year I was asked if I wanted to run some workshops that expanded on the skills I teach in my basic machine embroidery workshop. Working on water-soluble fabric immediately popped into my head and over the past few weeks I've finally had a chance to get up into my studio and work up a few samples and ideas.

Work in progress

Camberwell Beauty
Machine embroidery on water-soluble fabric

When designing workshops it's often helpful to have a 'finished object' outcome and this technique lends itself really well to making textile jewellery. With this in mind I decided to develop some brooches (a good one size fits all object) and decided that the beautiful jewel like colours of insects, specifically butterflies, would be a good subject matter. So, I got out my books, my sewing machine and my threads and I started creating.

Adonis Blue
Machine embroidery on water-soluble fabric

I've really enjoyed making my little flock, refining my technique and thinking of how I will share this with participants. I want my workshops to be 'jumping off points.' I want to share my skills and knowledge but more importantly I want to give people the confidence to take what I've learnt and bend it to their interests and to take it further, try things I've never thought of and see where it could lead.

Large White
Machine embroidery on water-soluble fabric

Butterflies
Machine embroidery on water-soluble fabric

If this has sparked your interest and you'd like to join me to learn the techniques I've used to create my butterflies and to have a go at making your own unique textile piece then I will hopefully be running a workshop at Holm Sown, Castle Douglas on 15th February (TBC) and one at The Eden Workshop, Plumpton on 3rd April (TBC.) Please contact the respective venues for more details and to book a place. I hope to see you there!

Purple Hairstreak
Machine embroidery on water-soluble fabric

Looking Back and Looking Forwards

Like all years 2018 had its ups and downs, although it felt like a lot more downs than ups to be honest! I haven't really felt like writing much on the blog at all recently and I haven't felt like doing my usual end of year reflection post so instead I've put together a couple of little slideshows of some of the things I've been up to this year. It's been a good chance to look back over all the good things from the year and some of the great projects I've been involved with. I'm starting this new year full of inspiration and positivity and am looking forward to a happy and creative 2019.

The first video is a mix of work I've made, exhibitions I've been part of, other things I've made and publications. The year started off really positively with an exhibition at RSPB Geltsdale and other highlights included having my Shadow-work tutorial published in Be Creative with Workbox magazine, the Embroiderers Guild '100 Hearts' project and exhibiting with Decorum at Farfield Mill. I had a bit of a creative slump in the second half of the year but I feel like I'm back on the up now with lots of new ideas to try out this year.

The second video is a mix of the workshops I've run and the projects I've been involved with through my roles at Heathlands and Prism Arts. My favourite project has to be the Processions banner made with a group at Prism Arts, both the making and the procession itself far exceeded my expectations and it was a real pleasure to work with everyone in the group. This years Heathlands quilt was also a lot of fun and I've run lots of workshops where I've met lovely people, been inspired and seen great work being created. Here's to more exciting collaborations for 2019!

One of the things I've definitely got better at over the past year is living in the moment more and enjoying things more. If I have a new years resolution it's this; to enjoy the simple things and not worry so much about the bigger picture. Here's to a happy, peaceful and creative New Year for us all!

Changing Impressions: Remembrance Workshops at Cumbria's Museum of Military Life

Objects and samples ready for the workshop

Earlier in the Summer I wrote a couple of posts about projects I've been involved in connected to the centenary of the end of the First World War. One of the projects I've been involved with was designing and delivering a drop in workshop (two actually) for Cumbria's Museum of Military Life as part of their Remembrance 100 programme.

Stitching

Making a rubbing

Adding stitching

In all honesty drop in workshops are not my favourite; the activity needs to be accessible and achievable in a very short time frame but should also be able to be extended if visitors want to stay, you never know how many people you're going to get and a lot like busses participants tend to either not turn up at all or all come at once! However, they are a great way of getting people in to museums and offer an easy way for people to participate which I do think is a really good thing.

Exploring colour

Rubbings and stitching

Adding stitching

Memory and how it changes over time is a theme I'm currently exploring in my own work so I was interested in creating a workshop that looked quite broadly at remembrance; what it means to remember and how that changes. (I wrote a bit about this on my post about the Remembrance 100 exhibition if you're interested to read more.) I'd also been asked to give the workshop a textiles focus, which was good for me as of course I love working with textiles.

Getting involved

Getting involved

Getting involved

I decided to create a workshop called 'Changing Impressions.' Using fabric crayons and cotton fabric I encouraged participants to make a rubbing of an object, creating an impression of it. If they wanted to they could then further embellish their rubbing with stitch. The idea was that by taking a rubbing from the object you would create an impression of it; it's from the object and bears a resemblance to it but it's not the same in the same way that our memories of things are not the same as the actual things (or events.) Further embellishment further changes the memory of the object imprinted on the cloth, just as each time we revisit a memory it subtly changes.

Workshop results

Workshop results

Workshop results

I really enjoyed running the sessions, both were well attended and what I loved was seeing participants, particularly the children, become very engaged in what they were doing and focusing on the process. In our increasingly fast paced world I think it's increasingly important to find time to stop, slow down and properly engage with an activity, especially one that uses the hands. I think I created several converts to hand embroidery, more than one child was heard to ask if they could go and buy threads to do some sewing at home. It was also lovely to see family groups sit and work together, supporting and encouraging each other and creating memories as well as exploring them.

Workshop results

Summery Summaries: Part Three: The Heathlands Project

Pieces for the Stitch a Tree Project

Because I'm at The Heathlands Project every week I often forget to blog about the projects we get up to. I've been at Heathlands for over 8 years now and I still love working here, I love the sense of community and also the opportunity to get involved in all sorts of projects and the freedom I have to try all sorts of things with my groups. I always like to get my Art and Textiles groups involved in projects as it provides a great opportunity to get their work out there and challenge people's perceptions about what they can achieve.

Stitch a Tree

Materials

Designing a tree

Earlier in the year we got involved with the excellent Stitch a Tree project. The project aim was to connect people around the UK to show support for displaced people across the world. Artist Alice Kettle then collected all the trees and has joined them together to create a ‘forest.’ I really liked this project because it was simple and achievable but also touched on some very important topics. I also like working on projects where lots of small pieces come together to create a unified whole. 

Work in progress

I thought this was a lovely project to be involved with. I also worked on this project with my Tullie Textiles groups so between them and my Heathlands crew I was able to send at least a copse worth of trees down!

Tree details

Tree detail

Bugs Quilt

Bugs! The Heathlands Project 2018 Quilt

Every year with my Textiles groups at The Heathlands Project I make a quilt and usually we send it down to The Festival of Quilts in Birmingham. Although it's quite stressful getting it all finished in time and I always end up giving up a day of my free time to get it completed I do like working on a big project like this. I made the first quilt with them in 2011 so this is our 8th quilt.

Designing our bugs

Tie dye patches

It's a really good opportunity to introduce and experiment with a whole range of techniques and it also gives some of the now more experienced participants a chance to develop their skills further and show them off. This year we re-visited tie-dyeing and also experimented with embroidery, applique, and needle felting. Each person's patch is unique and beautiful and I love the way their personalities shine through. Using the same materials and equipment each person produces something so different but when put all together they all work so well.

Work in progress

Work in progress

Work in progress

This year we chose the theme of 'Bugs!' as we'd won a roll of beautiful organic jersey from the lovely folks at Pigeon Organics printed with bugs. I devised an unnecessarily elaborate but entertaining system of joining it all together involving elastic loops and felted balls. We got some lovely feedback from the judges and we're already planning next years quilt!

Details

Details

Details

In addition to our group quilt this year I also sent down two individual quilts that members of my Textiles groups had made. Both of the individuals had worked so hard to create their pieces and we're so proud to have their work included in the show. Getting it all organised was hard work but well worth it for the sense of achievement they both got.

Feedback for our Bugs quilt

One of the individual quilts entered

OCN Courses

Group rag rug

As well as our internal groups we've also been running an Open College Network course in Environmental Arts. For this course Adult Education provide us with a tutor who comes along and delivers the accredited course. It's a great opportunity for us as it means we get a new person with new ideas coming in and the guys gain a qualification. Over the length of the course we've tried things such as paper making, rag-rugging and weaving. The course is continuing this term in the form of 'Seasonal Crafts.'

Paper making

Weaving with plastic bags

Rag rug hedgehogs

Summery Summaries: Part One

Tatting, Tullie Textiles
May 2018

It's happened again; despite my best intentions I've ended up being really busy and have not kept my blog up to date, oh well. I keep this blog for a number of reasons, the primary reason being that I find it a really good way to review and reflect on what I've been doing. It's also a good way of sharing what I'm doing and on a practical note of keeping an easily accessible record. I enjoy writing posts on here, regardless of whether or not anyone reads them but I do find that when I'm busy it tends to be one of the first things that falls off the to do list. I can then sometimes find myself in a situation where I want to write about something but feel that I must write up what I've missed writing up before. To get around this I've decided to do a couple of summary posts; that way I'll have a record of what I've done but won't feel like I must write up everything I've done since the last post in great detail and I'll be able to get back to blogging about what I want to when I want to. That's the theory...

Suffolk Puffs, Stapleton WI
July 2018

As always I've been busy with my regular groups at The Heathlands Project and Prism Arts but also with lots of other projects. These include my Tullie Textiles group, workshops and other bits and pieces. I've done a couple of sessions for different Women's Institute groups this summer; a talk for Carlisle's WizCraft group and a Suffolk Puff demonstration and mini workshop for Stapleton WI group.

Suffolk Puffs, Stapleton WI
July 2018

Suffolk Puffs, Stapleton WI
July 2018

I'm always a bit nervous about working with WI groups as there are women there who have far more experience and skill stitching than I do. However, so far it's always been a lot of fun and everyone has been very receptive to my ideas and we've had some really interesting conversations. It was interesting doing my talk for the Carlisle group as it was a good opportunity to review where I'm up to with my work and have a think about what's next.

Crazy Creatures from KS1 at Wiggonby School
April 2018

Crazy Creatures from KS1 at Wiggonby School
April 2018

Crazy Creatures from KS1 at Wiggonby School
April 2018

Earlier in the year I was invited back to Wiggonby School to run a couple of creative workshops for the children. This is my third year running sessions for them and I always enjoy it, it's a very friendly school and I'm always very impressed with what the children create with me. This year I worked with Key Stage One in the morning making crazy animals from recycled materials and then in the afternoon I worked with Key Stage Two making wildlife portraits with fabric pastels and stitch. They all created some fantastic work and I think it's really good for the children to have the opportunity to try something different.

Wildlife Portraits from KS2 at Wiggonby School
April 2018

Wildlife Portraits from KS2 at Wiggonby School
April 2018

Wildlife Portraits from KS2 at Wiggonby School
April 2018

I run a monthly group at Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery called Tullie Textiles. We meet on the second Sunday of each month and each session I choose an object from the museums collections to look at and I demonstrate a textile skill or technique. It's a lovely group, really friendly and I always look forward to the sessions. Some of the group have been coming for a few years now but we also get new people coming in which is great, I love it when I'm demonstrating something and then some of the more established members help newer members. I also really like that one thing tends to lead to another and it gives me a great opportunity to try new things and then share them with my group!

Standing Wool samples, Tullie Textiles
September 2018

Fabric Tassels, Tullie Textiles
August 2018

I think that's enough catching up for now. Hopefully I'll do another couple of catch up posts soon and then something resembling normal service can resume. Or not!