Take a Stitch Tuesday Challenge catch up

I joined in the TAST challenge, [click here for details] but so far have only put one photo on Flickr and week 9 starts tomorrow! I have been doing them [not always in the same week], but I wanted to do something with them, my original idea was to make up a picture with the stitches as I did them...but I couldn't think of what to do. A friend gave me a book about the Victorians, and it sparked something. As I like doing altered books too, I thought I would combine both the samples with extra bits of lace and ... and alter the book too. I didn't want to alter it too much as I still wanted to be able to read it, so mainly just paint effects, the sample and a label.

Of the eight so far, I have had most trouble with the first stitch, diamond stitch. Some of the problem was that I didn't read the instructions properly, but I've done it a few times now and I've not taken to it. I was quite embarrased that I had so much bother with it as I have done City & Guilds Embroidery, although this is the first time I've done this stitch. I tried lots of different stitches on the course, but not all and most so far on the challenge have been new to me, it is good getting back to basics. I find I tend to stick to the same old stitches so I'm enjoying taking part in the challenge.

This is the sample on Flickr which is made up of knotted loop stitch and diamond stitch.

I hope to put the next 4 on tomorrow

Too busy for Tea

Click here for more images

Screen printed background fabric, painted fabric cut into shapes, applique, freehand machine embroidery, wrapped around a canvas frame. 61x61cm

The two original drawings that inspired the work were combined.

Happy Face

It was sunny today & I spent some time in the garden

Honesty Plants & Illustration Friday - Ahead

I found this honesty plant in my garden, they normally look good with seed pods but I thought this looked great without. A friend thought it looked like a work of art as it was. The photos don't do it justice I'm afraid.

This is my entry for the Illustration Friday challenge which is 'Ahead'

"Look out, there's an elephant ahead!"

Elephants x 4

All the same shape and size [20x20cm] the elephants were done in different ways.

Above - painted/stamped [with handmade roller stamp] using acrylics, the elephant was hand embroidered, and padded before wrapping around the canvas frame.

The acrylic painted fabric was very stiff to stitch through!

Below - the same as above but colours and stitching was reversed.

Below - painted/stamped canvas, the pattern was etched into the paint.

Below - painted canvas, etched pattern on grey paint, painted/stamped organza fabric, hand stitched outlines

Part of the 'Layers' collection.

Mythical Mail - Aladdin & Bambi

It's all L

Click here for close up pictures

This is another picture from the 'Layers' collection and so guess what - it is made up of layers. The background fabric has been screen printed with my own design using a thermofax screen. The labrynth is painted fabric which I cut out & moved to applique onto the background - big mistake, it ended up in a crumpled heap & took ages to unravel. The tree, leaves & bird are also painted fabric. The lace, lamp and letter are inkjet prints on lutradur, the lace & lamp were made 'holey' with a soldering iron. These items were appliqued onto the background. Freehand machine embroidery was used for the other items. Wrapped around a canvas frame 61x61cm. It is called 'It's all L' because there are 28 items beginning with the letter L. Can you find them all?

Flower Book [p25,26,27] Poppy

The poppy is made from fabric [inkjet print of one of my photographs] & has been machine embroidered & cut out. The fly [which was also on the photo] is made from shaped [with scissores] sequins.

Bird ATC, stencil prints, painted paper flowers & leaves with machine embroidery, lace, magazine picture.

Robin watercolours [if you're wondering why there have been so many robins in this book, it is because I had an old calendar with a photo of a robin for each month, which I copied, magazine snippets.

Altered FDlower Book [p24]

Altered Flower Book [p23]

The photo of the flowers towards the centre was a work of textile art, similar to some that can be seen on my website . The echinacea flowers seen at either side were originally for a piece of artwork [fabric - stitched print] which didn't go to plan so has been recycled for this book.

Mythical Mail - Ugly Duckling & Illustration Friday Challenge

I printed the gift certificate, the stamps were recycled as usual.

The letter says Dear Duckling, I'm enclosing a gift certificate which entitles you to a free makeover, then you may become beautiful like me. Harry Gant. [or should I have spelled it - arro-gant]

The first post for Mythical Mail started in February.

Below is my offering for the Illustration Friday Challenge - this week the word is 'detective'

Are you wondering what this has to do with detective?

You are the detective & you have to find the criminal. A clue - it's a fish. Another clue? It's a fish with a mask. [click the picture to enlarge]

Too Complicated

This is another one from the 'Layers' collection on show at an exhibition in Stockton.

I started with a sketch book doodle, which I enlarged to fit this canvas 61x61cm.

I painted the enlarged drawing with fabric transfer paints and then transferred it to fabric with an iron. Everything was outlined with machine stitching. Some other shapes were handpainted directly onto the fabric and then appliqued on to the main fabric. It was trimmed and applied to a painted canvas.

The picture below is the original doodle.

Altered Flower Book [P21,22]

the butterfly picture is an ATC, an 'altered' original painting & digital painting, printed, the robins are pen & watercolours

all about dandelions, the top half are photographs of dandelions found in my garden instead of lush grass!

Altered Flower Book [p19,20] + Cake

painted pages, collage, watercolour paintings, stencil, magazine snippets, embroidery [below]

I've been icing a cake today. I've never tried that ready made coloured royal icing before, so I thought I would give it a go. I was thinking of doing a cake for my daughters wedding [not in the bright colours like this one], but ...still thinking.....

Mythical Mail Book - Mrs Tiggywinkle

Linked - Illustration Friday Challenge

Chains & jewellery are usually linked

Pen, brush pens, metallic pens, felt tips

Bill & Ben [Mythical Mail Book]

Does anyone remember the Watch with Mother Series - Bill & Ben? [I'm thinking of the first black & white series which ran in the 1950/60's, yes, I know, I'm showing my age admitting that!]

For those that don't know it - the characters were string puppets set in a garden behind the potting shed & 'Weed' grew between the two large flower pots in which lived the flower pot men, Bill & Ben. Their language was a bit odd with words sounding like loblob, flobberpop, and weed replied with a long weeeeeeeeeed sound. Each episode ended with the lines "... and I think the little house knew something about it, don't you?

Time for Tea

Another picture from the 'Layers' exhibition.

A vintage tablecloth was used for the background which was painted in some areas. The table, chairs etc were painted & outlined with coloured watercolour pencil. Individual cakes etc - paint & hand embroidery, mini buttons, beads. The items were applied to the background. Wadding & backing fabric applied. Quilting/stitching around all items & on wc pencil line. The 'wallpaper' on background was hand quilted. Wrapped around a frame. Size 50x70cm

This one was even harder to stitch in places than the canvas one posted a few days ago [Early Bird] as there were more layers to go through. I had to use pliers in one or two places it was so stiff but my fingers have recovered!

Click here for close up pictures

This is the original doodle that inspired the above

2 more pages from the Altered Flower Book

painted with dyes, flower stencil, the card with the white flowers is a friends business card and has a picture of some of her lovely work - cut paper, layerd

collage using pictures from magazines, the butterfly is made from a picture of tomatoes

Mythical Mail - Cinders

The early bird catches the worm

Painted canvas, lots & lots of hand embroidery [quite hard to do on painted canvas!]

Painted background canvas. Embroidered canvas applied to background in layers.

61x61cm

for more images & close ups click here

This picture is part of the 'Layers' exhibition with Vervey at Stockton

my website

Mythical Mail - Goosey, Goosey Gander & Illustration Friday Challenge - Dip

 Illustration Friday Challenge - Dip

Altered mini newspaper & tag

the relevant article reads:

"Religious Intolerance once again shows it's ugly head says Goosey Goosey Gander"

"An old man was thrown down the stairs yesterday for refusing to say his prayers. He was a non beleiver and refused to say any prayers in the old people's home. Goosey says religion  should be banned to stop this kind of thing happening again".

Mythical Mail - Jack & the bean stalk

A lot of the words are hidden behind the beanstalk which lifts up partly, but not so that I could scan properly so I have copied it:

The envelope is addressed to

Jack Bean, Pulse Farm, Pea Lane, Stalkton, Nutshire

and the letter is from Stalkton Council, Nutshire and reads

Dear Mr Bean

We have received complaints about the size of your beanstalk as it is obstructing the view. Are you aware that you need to obtain planning permission for a plant of these dimensions?

yours faithfully

Mr Builder, Planning Regulations Department

{this is page 20 of the Mythical Mail book which includes recycled stamps}