This is the final collection of small Journal Quilt pieces made as part of the Contemporary Quilt Group challenge. I made one piece a month. Each piece is 8 inches square and my aim was to sample different background textures and line techniques. Soon I will make a limited choice of stitching methods to make a new large wall hanging. I now need to come up with a way of displaying these pieces - maybe on a linen background.
I made two of these faux chenille rugs as Christmas presents. The first had a more complicated stitched pattern but I have run out of time with this one so it is simpler.
The technique is easy but the stitching and cutting rather hard on the fingers. I used two layers of denim and four layers of other fabrics including some plain coloured curtain lining and some cotton batik. Dyed rather than printed fabric works best. The fabrics are layered up then stitched diagonally on the bias of the fabric. The layers, excluding the base, are cut through. Then comes the fun bit - you shove it in the washing machine on a long wash then tumble dry. Unfortunately you need to tumble dry it to bash up the fibres. Some people attack the fabric with a wire suede brush. With luck, the fabric fluffs out to make a really lovely soft textured surface. It is a great way of recycling fabric and the rug just gets softer the more it is used and washed.
There is a down side!
Cutting the fabric puts a lot of pressure on your thumb joint, however I invested in a new pair of Fiskars Servo cut scissors and they are brilliant. You need less pressure to cut.
The technique is easy but the stitching and cutting rather hard on the fingers. I used two layers of denim and four layers of other fabrics including some plain coloured curtain lining and some cotton batik. Dyed rather than printed fabric works best. The fabrics are layered up then stitched diagonally on the bias of the fabric. The layers, excluding the base, are cut through. Then comes the fun bit - you shove it in the washing machine on a long wash then tumble dry. Unfortunately you need to tumble dry it to bash up the fibres. Some people attack the fabric with a wire suede brush. With luck, the fabric fluffs out to make a really lovely soft textured surface. It is a great way of recycling fabric and the rug just gets softer the more it is used and washed.
There is a down side!
Cutting the fabric puts a lot of pressure on your thumb joint, however I invested in a new pair of Fiskars Servo cut scissors and they are brilliant. You need less pressure to cut.
I haven't been posting on my blog recently as I've finally got my Liz Brooke Ward stitched textiles Facebook page underway.
https://www.facebook.com/LizBrookeWardstitchedtextiles which you may like to look at as well.
(However, hopefully I am making up for the lack of posting today.)
https://www.facebook.com/LizBrookeWardstitchedtextiles which you may like to look at as well.
(However, hopefully I am making up for the lack of posting today.)
One of the visitors to the Cotswold Edge Exhibition at Westonbirt last October told me about a British Lichen Society Photography competition. Although I am not a member I had posted some of my earlier lichen appliqués and embroideries on it a couple of years ago so I decided to submit some more photos of my work in category C) Abstract ."An artistic or expressionistic photograph - what do lichens mean to you? "
This photograph of my work, (which has already been sold) has been commended and will be displayed at the British Lichen Society AGM held at Kew Gardens on 15th January 2015.
The British Lichen Society www.thebls.org.uk/
I am really delighted - especially as under no circumstances could I be described as a scientist or even much of a photographer - just an inspired stitcher!
On the same subject of stitched organisms, I have also been asked to submit some of my lichen embroideries for an exhibition at Noyes Museum of Art, New Jersey. This isn't until Spring 2016 so I have plenty of time to stitch around 40,000 French knots.
Noyes Museum of Art - Oceanville, New Jerseywww.noyesmuseum.org/
Work planned for this year? Stitching resolutions?
Make my new bodies piece and also a companion for the Hellebore I made last year - a Wild Arum. it's another plant that I find very intriguing - not least because it is carnivorous.
That will do for starters!
This photograph of my work, (which has already been sold) has been commended and will be displayed at the British Lichen Society AGM held at Kew Gardens on 15th January 2015.
The British Lichen Society www.thebls.org.uk/
I am really delighted - especially as under no circumstances could I be described as a scientist or even much of a photographer - just an inspired stitcher!
On the same subject of stitched organisms, I have also been asked to submit some of my lichen embroideries for an exhibition at Noyes Museum of Art, New Jersey. This isn't until Spring 2016 so I have plenty of time to stitch around 40,000 French knots.
Noyes Museum of Art - Oceanville, New Jerseywww.noyesmuseum.org/
Work planned for this year? Stitching resolutions?
Make my new bodies piece and also a companion for the Hellebore I made last year - a Wild Arum. it's another plant that I find very intriguing - not least because it is carnivorous.
That will do for starters!
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