tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78216519514685554032024-03-05T11:05:18.244-08:00Marion Mitchell EmbroideryMarionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08827696171436657030noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821651951468555403.post-26299464872461634492013-02-23T16:18:00.001-08:002013-02-23T16:18:45.188-08:00Stitching by the inchWell here I am again. Just popped out of the other side of weeks of constant work making up orders from a Trade Fair back in January and suddenly we've reached almost the end of them and I find myself with free time. <br />
So once the list of boring jobs are out of the way - accounts, stocktake, tidying up etc- I should be able to lift a needle and thread again. <br />
I did make time for a tiny piece of work during my Christmas hols, which became part of my sister's Christmas present. It was pieced together between cooking and cleaning and was made up of colours and fabrics that were to hand with no real thought or preparation. But I enjoyed making it.<br />
<br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6AJkbJjKscE61nmh0KaRwVbMpt0gsDuHoFIpP20nEPDTvoaWPssVJ6lMqS0Twwg-4KMGOjXVE8jBD6O3tjxjbZYZo2faBqIEW6qkG6mzFHdMtflakNBqWbOyO95vZdGWlz1CSUriYGkQ/s640/blogger-image-1390830198.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6AJkbJjKscE61nmh0KaRwVbMpt0gsDuHoFIpP20nEPDTvoaWPssVJ6lMqS0Twwg-4KMGOjXVE8jBD6O3tjxjbZYZo2faBqIEW6qkG6mzFHdMtflakNBqWbOyO95vZdGWlz1CSUriYGkQ/s640/blogger-image-1390830198.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ffL5rvE9YiAlNvss29LO7KaVtSFt_HKS1gS8UEI8NE0rk1AZeYlBElToNdKsXhS6abQDiQ24gyTb-KHXd1omhhTChDhsv2da0HJoaIO9QNdIgaP8d_B9UBkrwLF9yyhhe5iRCGfr2_o/s640/blogger-image-240641942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ffL5rvE9YiAlNvss29LO7KaVtSFt_HKS1gS8UEI8NE0rk1AZeYlBElToNdKsXhS6abQDiQ24gyTb-KHXd1omhhTChDhsv2da0HJoaIO9QNdIgaP8d_B9UBkrwLF9yyhhe5iRCGfr2_o/s640/blogger-image-240641942.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYf83Bbxi7a0MJs3EdnDYJahOA_jLbhP2ijYrPSykCr7DVkHUOiQdnb5xx-dGV_dPtp9JCgD_oTYNHoz7Rq2w5RszL4txdEJtMb_6nUckIxW_FkKNOL2-LyxSffBZ7Vn5BkIUnNCSpNfU/s640/blogger-image-705677548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYf83Bbxi7a0MJs3EdnDYJahOA_jLbhP2ijYrPSykCr7DVkHUOiQdnb5xx-dGV_dPtp9JCgD_oTYNHoz7Rq2w5RszL4txdEJtMb_6nUckIxW_FkKNOL2-LyxSffBZ7Vn5BkIUnNCSpNfU/s640/blogger-image-705677548.jpg" /></a></div>Marionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08827696171436657030noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821651951468555403.post-69282668667269613622013-01-09T13:57:00.001-08:002013-01-09T13:57:37.955-08:00January InspirationToday I was lucky enough to catch Forever Changes, a major retrospective exhibition of the work of Michael Brennand -Wood. If the name isn't already familiar, he is one of the most influential textile artists working in Britain today. <br />
I've loved his work ever since he first started exhibiting but I'd never seen any of it up close until now.<br />
If you are in Edinburgh the exhibition is on at the Dovecot Studios until 12 January and what's more, it's free!<br />
The studios themselves are well worth seeing too.<br />
http://dovecotstudios.com/whats-on/event/20/forever-changes-michael-brennand-wood <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHWXmVD2bk_GM283fPYjwVcTwKCbkrIhytWfV9UqAolQSVzZ5EHvFFJ0yepnupZmDFKZ6ZlnBe0HimaNZ4p0B5HE-50f2LVKYltZVIwb1u_OEl-Jnl0JLA0Xl3M3-QdkObTCWD4NVvpPk/s640/blogger-image--194496657.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHWXmVD2bk_GM283fPYjwVcTwKCbkrIhytWfV9UqAolQSVzZ5EHvFFJ0yepnupZmDFKZ6ZlnBe0HimaNZ4p0B5HE-50f2LVKYltZVIwb1u_OEl-Jnl0JLA0Xl3M3-QdkObTCWD4NVvpPk/s640/blogger-image--194496657.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-ju1QzZmVUobScs8fLcAcY7eg6ced4iEQgirJ_4rrBQtXtXKmc9iedGUULATNSo_Pz8fDQuwGhiWRHp5kl6U_nPAnfxzA2nisCfaFumVoGzUG5yxKZPDrqqwO3XCuZobwASRREPwmO0/s640/blogger-image-398612824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-ju1QzZmVUobScs8fLcAcY7eg6ced4iEQgirJ_4rrBQtXtXKmc9iedGUULATNSo_Pz8fDQuwGhiWRHp5kl6U_nPAnfxzA2nisCfaFumVoGzUG5yxKZPDrqqwO3XCuZobwASRREPwmO0/s640/blogger-image-398612824.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFlME49lbwVlMiBbi1JFAOaPcTdDCjl__v_ibbA9ao6G12bbECcrYib1LvTGQ37gS5r9ebarhc4kcUq69tkohr4JEYbSiMAxrVO8rK7QAnhEh8jqr-aWHgYreY4lj-lQ_SnjwUag4Zvio/s640/blogger-image--1109033391.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFlME49lbwVlMiBbi1JFAOaPcTdDCjl__v_ibbA9ao6G12bbECcrYib1LvTGQ37gS5r9ebarhc4kcUq69tkohr4JEYbSiMAxrVO8rK7QAnhEh8jqr-aWHgYreY4lj-lQ_SnjwUag4Zvio/s640/blogger-image--1109033391.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC64oLb4Z81NxmEHVbbUpK3_S1xcWShGSRNlbb9ba44mfNWQ7R28Py4if-RO9rQHwcnfe_NKzXJEii4OpRtrP_BKAvgSE3A6enNzP8knLKWotmfCSpylYbs3zg8KMI3SRncb4tZI6PTJE/s640/blogger-image-910921047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC64oLb4Z81NxmEHVbbUpK3_S1xcWShGSRNlbb9ba44mfNWQ7R28Py4if-RO9rQHwcnfe_NKzXJEii4OpRtrP_BKAvgSE3A6enNzP8knLKWotmfCSpylYbs3zg8KMI3SRncb4tZI6PTJE/s640/blogger-image-910921047.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdsgjXjEEptmJTnMlD5rkqeyMV3JxDKqY-hLaBRn2wyQMZCJuUeW84VyyCOxExyfF0powwj9EMgboxMhPFPIFiQdEsbEdfq5nrPcaUrPwNFgkYbXgWwYFgM5mhAVzmkagGeD6kEPU3_64/s640/blogger-image-1279986766.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdsgjXjEEptmJTnMlD5rkqeyMV3JxDKqY-hLaBRn2wyQMZCJuUeW84VyyCOxExyfF0powwj9EMgboxMhPFPIFiQdEsbEdfq5nrPcaUrPwNFgkYbXgWwYFgM5mhAVzmkagGeD6kEPU3_64/s640/blogger-image-1279986766.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh59oHAvpanj7wgyfIJsX3IVw2HbZCHS1KReQT2ggJFLUswv7Zi88H87Hp2HumXHixuttPonS2poeK3J6rwIFsaTFlK6MRyB8dkPEaIalU4WvzMQTPV9QmXA3v_XcRjgR3nHcNK7xc9_Hw/s640/blogger-image-524969397.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh59oHAvpanj7wgyfIJsX3IVw2HbZCHS1KReQT2ggJFLUswv7Zi88H87Hp2HumXHixuttPonS2poeK3J6rwIFsaTFlK6MRyB8dkPEaIalU4WvzMQTPV9QmXA3v_XcRjgR3nHcNK7xc9_Hw/s640/blogger-image-524969397.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghfzuPDW1cHrEM_F5DcS9cWNEkcxqh14ipt7gB_mHB4j3CNNzon01iGz8mxgJB9uULoUguz7ml4kIdL2XnPeCQedmxp-ZKjpqa20i0qxOTrAP5hyAGVE0mdaYxn0116MXzQsQyKZkWHw0/s640/blogger-image-1921914438.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghfzuPDW1cHrEM_F5DcS9cWNEkcxqh14ipt7gB_mHB4j3CNNzon01iGz8mxgJB9uULoUguz7ml4kIdL2XnPeCQedmxp-ZKjpqa20i0qxOTrAP5hyAGVE0mdaYxn0116MXzQsQyKZkWHw0/s640/blogger-image-1921914438.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu3Cc91iK8Xel_u4dHX-FtxUGvs4TMuFjE64mjGLbfpZl9WfrlRNcNRz4ujfuzw4szD5FAcrMfBa1xfOSWJyhSH3t2QJhA6A3JR3MUOndeIAR42gNPYcxqdn8KXUx9AjeOUirq5wjCnbY/s640/blogger-image-1076025312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu3Cc91iK8Xel_u4dHX-FtxUGvs4TMuFjE64mjGLbfpZl9WfrlRNcNRz4ujfuzw4szD5FAcrMfBa1xfOSWJyhSH3t2QJhA6A3JR3MUOndeIAR42gNPYcxqdn8KXUx9AjeOUirq5wjCnbY/s640/blogger-image-1076025312.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIystypPRqOcxxBy0iuUwd6JSzUDsydtarxY70XEdSxyq5-54kwTFCrGW_DDsN4qSFJQ3eYoEdRW-CvXyJaJPPjMr9K3DYkHQj3huXWxuKx2EfYRqWZGDsBrxW4I0A0qsO4DpoUT2pH9g/s640/blogger-image--511845496.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIystypPRqOcxxBy0iuUwd6JSzUDsydtarxY70XEdSxyq5-54kwTFCrGW_DDsN4qSFJQ3eYoEdRW-CvXyJaJPPjMr9K3DYkHQj3huXWxuKx2EfYRqWZGDsBrxW4I0A0qsO4DpoUT2pH9g/s640/blogger-image--511845496.jpg" /></a></div>Marionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08827696171436657030noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821651951468555403.post-18495432525224940582012-12-26T04:35:00.001-08:002012-12-26T04:35:56.257-08:00Christmas GreetingsIt's Boxing Day and I'm enjoying the feeling of nothing to do. The ham is boiling away on the stove, the trifle is in the fridge and our family will arrive later on but for now .... relaxing.<br />
Another year of embroidery wilderness due to the pressures of work.<br />
Except for a small piece of playing around last weekend. <br />
I'm going to give it to my sister for Christmas. Hope she likes it. <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-lFxDZkyRRM6G6Hl3yorf-2Lz8gvnRHnvUqq0QqMsCWtDHzAgUIW-ADTrY32VyaxknxtgiHJSg6rTV6GUIfHDc4Pzj0WY40bWHyycH5eBmgmFmSAxt5GRVdN2IiCIu7nocIRVS7cDMKA/s640/blogger-image--1254824006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-lFxDZkyRRM6G6Hl3yorf-2Lz8gvnRHnvUqq0QqMsCWtDHzAgUIW-ADTrY32VyaxknxtgiHJSg6rTV6GUIfHDc4Pzj0WY40bWHyycH5eBmgmFmSAxt5GRVdN2IiCIu7nocIRVS7cDMKA/s640/blogger-image--1254824006.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOuylzGi6gJDK7qJYzwz-I77PnAHohXTTgKWYVQXMl_fDe0cTUOafuGVHQSbXoYLLTBRU6VsRiuU4RCFsqzlKW8fENENAXaGWEI1RzZR1jwHkpEcEIiqAFb0O1tMIG6W7KmPLwjw8Ry_I/s640/blogger-image-1448059009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOuylzGi6gJDK7qJYzwz-I77PnAHohXTTgKWYVQXMl_fDe0cTUOafuGVHQSbXoYLLTBRU6VsRiuU4RCFsqzlKW8fENENAXaGWEI1RzZR1jwHkpEcEIiqAFb0O1tMIG6W7KmPLwjw8Ry_I/s640/blogger-image-1448059009.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSwcL4QAZLAxlwzGmwEHf557w57VKlecxwguZHcj5h9A5TUhlAMzcq5O9pW8_t9nbXLVN2Dulb9Im7biPWZ2RqgC7UEEeovES_fnKObDHGrtbiDxi4QArzvMlblaJsO-phadrvuXCx1U/s640/blogger-image-1201368882.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSwcL4QAZLAxlwzGmwEHf557w57VKlecxwguZHcj5h9A5TUhlAMzcq5O9pW8_t9nbXLVN2Dulb9Im7biPWZ2RqgC7UEEeovES_fnKObDHGrtbiDxi4QArzvMlblaJsO-phadrvuXCx1U/s640/blogger-image-1201368882.jpg" /></a></div>Marionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08827696171436657030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821651951468555403.post-38400334397376159422012-02-13T15:02:00.000-08:002012-02-13T15:02:16.051-08:00Just visiting againHow long ago it seems since I've been here.<br />
No work done - stitched work I mean.<br />
I'm living the life of a slave to our business and she demands all of my time..and more.<br />
A couple of years ago I could say that the first few months of the year were the quiet ones for the business, and I had some free time to myself. I was easing myself slowly back into the idea of working with a needle and thread again.<br />
Since then, there have been no quiet months. Of course the fact that the business is going so well is something to be celebrated. But it is at the expense of other ( important) things.<br />
I'm telling myself that we should be working as hard as possible just now so that we can have a cushion to relax against when we retire, but maybe we won't be allowed to retire. The business seems to have a life of its own.<br />
A bit of a ramble tonight, but I've just noticed that although nothing has been updated for a year at least, there are still quite a lot of visitors who spend time here, and I'd like to say thank you to you all - mainly it seems from across the Atlantic - who have stopped and looked.<br />
Come back again....I might have something new to show.<br />
Well here is something not new - over thirty years old actually. But it is pertinent as I made this sampler for my daughter when she was a baby, and now she has her own baby, our grandson. Sorry to say I haven't made a sampler for him - yet.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-Pmx2m5qsIl_y2L2YPuhxyOaMB4zwuHXPhmGyiSHLZEAeFOezPWzL3IY3-tPZWtFXZIbgtgiCcBe9CaV8LzjKAga_p9EnNO5MxsMuH5F__HrKdgE1LIoHgC_PThvz-WiyGSysiBxNL4/s1600/214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-Pmx2m5qsIl_y2L2YPuhxyOaMB4zwuHXPhmGyiSHLZEAeFOezPWzL3IY3-tPZWtFXZIbgtgiCcBe9CaV8LzjKAga_p9EnNO5MxsMuH5F__HrKdgE1LIoHgC_PThvz-WiyGSysiBxNL4/s320/214.JPG" width="267px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOccjWh7RL39MG9Gfe4DToEoS8KFJC5DTd0Iu3PQFWHkPT1i3IvlVoHNnNv5Igvzgy8o1zm6hvzNhB1YihO2EF5Ho4-_B9pNGmyD_nuXiHdmkzW3z-2zInvPlNlQNpEBuuCIyX01aob9A/s1600/218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOccjWh7RL39MG9Gfe4DToEoS8KFJC5DTd0Iu3PQFWHkPT1i3IvlVoHNnNv5Igvzgy8o1zm6hvzNhB1YihO2EF5Ho4-_B9pNGmyD_nuXiHdmkzW3z-2zInvPlNlQNpEBuuCIyX01aob9A/s320/218.JPG" width="267px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJoFAFX2jey7VYrzUqZUFBWFxPH4dtQUt3-2sNvQZyB9_o9q6u24l9XJTJZmLLsDVGsmKpF_oOnq0CSvH6ssLgu5v7X4ZSJaLk8lN_HGS5D-bWtgHHdgU-35F9J6kAx0JBfVK6s2WOvtM/s1600/212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJoFAFX2jey7VYrzUqZUFBWFxPH4dtQUt3-2sNvQZyB9_o9q6u24l9XJTJZmLLsDVGsmKpF_oOnq0CSvH6ssLgu5v7X4ZSJaLk8lN_HGS5D-bWtgHHdgU-35F9J6kAx0JBfVK6s2WOvtM/s320/212.JPG" width="285px" /></a></div>Marionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08827696171436657030noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821651951468555403.post-76050107636306277482011-02-17T12:31:00.000-08:002011-02-17T12:31:50.742-08:00PatienceThe time isn't here yet.<br />
There will be a chance to do some embroidery again, and move a step or so further but not for a little while yet.<br />
We are just too busy with orders from the Trade Fair in January but the list is getting smaller. <br />
Meanwhile I'm doing a bit of thinking and hopefully planning. There are a lot thoughts running around in my mind all the time, mainly about colour. It's difficult to actually grasp one and pin it down, but one day I will.<br />
We're off to London in a week or two for a few days of culture and possibly inspiration.Marionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08827696171436657030noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821651951468555403.post-81310057277824703222011-01-04T15:33:00.000-08:002011-01-04T15:47:26.740-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dq19W9fldKAQDWqiuPjhIJLnx_79zHC33D6iPSaST50J29sJXkuXYXy5yYKvT3e3-rOMQAvV56ApwqrVoTbHTIufmO3Hg_liKD73Co3iYJI4x8HimcWzX_9Afe6LaQUyY9eVeYMiahM/s1600/detail14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dq19W9fldKAQDWqiuPjhIJLnx_79zHC33D6iPSaST50J29sJXkuXYXy5yYKvT3e3-rOMQAvV56ApwqrVoTbHTIufmO3Hg_liKD73Co3iYJI4x8HimcWzX_9Afe6LaQUyY9eVeYMiahM/s320/detail14.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Playing around - fly stitches on rubber matting with added net and french knots</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4KBkufoSnkPGKOesYiJKJDtV21BY_Ut-VHSKCV-LKhvf86YJm92IrpdmpddRLoxXYgQpIMi0vs9iKCImSHrt69UjIFVZcitBa-e7WyjZJ2z4yrqMISSU3ZYejSpeBVKSN-VSZFz6p7TE/s1600/sketchbook+detail1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4KBkufoSnkPGKOesYiJKJDtV21BY_Ut-VHSKCV-LKhvf86YJm92IrpdmpddRLoxXYgQpIMi0vs9iKCImSHrt69UjIFVZcitBa-e7WyjZJ2z4yrqMISSU3ZYejSpeBVKSN-VSZFz6p7TE/s400/sketchbook+detail1.jpg" width="247" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Withdrawing threads from raw silk loose weave and working into it with nets and threads.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDjlCBF8D5Mgi2dZ0XMm9Ta1OckR2bbo5zg39DtwyxLsvNqUTtejrTjWxOg71DeM62mSuMQuEB1oFEGloeQNaS27L9hqPH1Tkjk4HHEdy3edlUDiRpOpQF16Q-xJItjQ7uHxFi1sQuv1U/s1600/sketchbook+detail2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDjlCBF8D5Mgi2dZ0XMm9Ta1OckR2bbo5zg39DtwyxLsvNqUTtejrTjWxOg71DeM62mSuMQuEB1oFEGloeQNaS27L9hqPH1Tkjk4HHEdy3edlUDiRpOpQF16Q-xJItjQ7uHxFi1sQuv1U/s320/sketchbook+detail2.jpg" width="235" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_671ioN6WxnvRtDYuAtnKo3xXRw3ls-FjftQmmdppXfz0fHsrQ07zHJ7iP-hOIp_A3TrC4VFRJqJH1Co2QoF_gZJQ83aOxzBtW6URJ7MVpRB1JqHk29NxRciNBfUCWzDdVZquLGQRGUQ/s1600/sketchbook+detail3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="111" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_671ioN6WxnvRtDYuAtnKo3xXRw3ls-FjftQmmdppXfz0fHsrQ07zHJ7iP-hOIp_A3TrC4VFRJqJH1Co2QoF_gZJQ83aOxzBtW6URJ7MVpRB1JqHk29NxRciNBfUCWzDdVZquLGQRGUQ/s320/sketchbook+detail3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Large cross stitches on sprayed canvas.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Marionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08827696171436657030noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821651951468555403.post-37129328188375476502011-01-03T18:42:00.000-08:002011-01-03T18:42:26.126-08:00New Year Break continuesI've just been to Edinburgh today to see an exhibition of Turner's watercolours, but I also wanted to see these amzing embroideries again - two shown here are from a seies of four entitled "The Progress of the Soul" by the Arts and Crafts artist, Phoebe Anna Traquair.<br />
They are a staggering six feet high, and are entirely stitched in silk and gold thread on linen. The detail, texture, colour, vibrancy, craftsmanship is a pure joy.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNEVuAEWg10vwQvtfZxkTAPa85ZjjUjTgwRyDuObFETYq4nmkeJunPFGkld5XAU-os2XHyObcwJexyrrD1Kuaxd3N_elOVDCnyy6byvOz0bdgZYu4zPbLUK-Zvnnnw8hdBuKw81T64GCU/s1600/NG%2525201865%252520A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNEVuAEWg10vwQvtfZxkTAPa85ZjjUjTgwRyDuObFETYq4nmkeJunPFGkld5XAU-os2XHyObcwJexyrrD1Kuaxd3N_elOVDCnyy6byvOz0bdgZYu4zPbLUK-Zvnnnw8hdBuKw81T64GCU/s640/NG%2525201865%252520A.jpg" width="258" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjUpZq7dOA_VH8aKMK_lE-C11ssdtTfSr15GgTJLKTzFSVSZMHYjvxXM5XBLVQ7zk2t_8aCsbiNlcMY9tR30vQ49ZuLj-84jF6yiX0WG9DUhslrz9BQ3IoTLdjycv0DQc5jVatoVxRwD8/s1600/traquair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjUpZq7dOA_VH8aKMK_lE-C11ssdtTfSr15GgTJLKTzFSVSZMHYjvxXM5XBLVQ7zk2t_8aCsbiNlcMY9tR30vQ49ZuLj-84jF6yiX0WG9DUhslrz9BQ3IoTLdjycv0DQc5jVatoVxRwD8/s640/traquair.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Marionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08827696171436657030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821651951468555403.post-4092139673937314812010-12-29T17:14:00.000-08:002010-12-29T17:14:28.380-08:00New Year, New IdeasWe're almost into the New Year. Time to start digging out the canvas, threads, fabrics, wool, needles, books..... and put them in a prominent place to remind me that this is the creative time of year. I made it all the way through to June last year, finding time to work on embroidery just for myself, before the demands of the business took over.<br />
This year I think I am one step ahead already - ready to dust off the cobwebs on this blog and make it a working diary again.<br />
One new embroidery book for Christmas to inspire, and a magazine subscription.<br />
Just a few more days to go... there is too much indulgence going on at the moment. You don't feel creative with a tummy full to bulging, and the house is full with family staying. I'm having a lovely time with them though, playing games and walking on the beach.<br />
But it's also exciting to think ahead to when the Christmas decorations are all packed away and my workroom is not cluttered with everything that was taken out of the living room to make way for the tree, and I have peace to start a new project.<br />
Happy New Year.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuiOMFv_4dCtsfru0OKUCreocLT8M-j0pkf_4-ywa9l8M1u4EsnY1SpTNpY3aMVMHlVtfATo6dADUcVJVJCv6NAuaDIjcbao7F66W3lG8seUPNnHg9L-0KqD10nE-PqK3s7khtMZq2kPA/s1600/edinburgh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuiOMFv_4dCtsfru0OKUCreocLT8M-j0pkf_4-ywa9l8M1u4EsnY1SpTNpY3aMVMHlVtfATo6dADUcVJVJCv6NAuaDIjcbao7F66W3lG8seUPNnHg9L-0KqD10nE-PqK3s7khtMZq2kPA/s320/edinburgh.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>Marionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08827696171436657030noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821651951468555403.post-86875713746605096122010-11-28T15:07:00.000-08:002010-11-28T15:07:07.341-08:00UpdateI haven't visited this blog for months because I didn't want to get depressed/disillusioned/frustrated by the fact that I have had to lay aside this aspect of my work while I concentrate on the business side of things over <a href="http://www.embroideredoriginals.co.uk/">here</a>.<br />
Since June we've given up all spare time to business work, but once more the end is in sight. You see we have an unbalanced year - the first half is relatively quiet and the second half is manic. <br />
Once Christmas is past things start to slow down and suddenly there are free evenings again, possibly even afternoons and I can start to think about doing some embroidery for myself.<br />
This year I've decided to start thinking about it earlier, so that when the free time arrives I've done the thinking and can make a start right away. Don't want to waste precious time.<br />
So tonight I've opened up this blog again and have reviewed the meagre amount of work I managed to do last year.<br />
Roll on 2011 - hopefully I can take a few more steps on the journey....Marionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08827696171436657030noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821651951468555403.post-32010665214509464012010-07-12T15:06:00.000-07:002010-07-12T15:06:43.454-07:00I Admit Defeat (I think)I'm going to bow out gracefully for a while. Even the ten minute rule has had to be abandoned for the next few weeks because the business part of my life has become just too hectic.<br />
It's not that I'm actually not doing any embroidery - it is in fact part of my business life. It's just that I'm not getting the chance to do anything just for myself. And that's what this blog is all about.<br />
So I'll leave off posting until I have a chance to get time to myself again. Hopefully it won't be too long. But summer is always crazy.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKeC0CaeNHqiaxApUjqtKKTK4ZMv_yoPzvXogzsUoPNtLEPnENhr4M5KG0jyW-fqGDILcTN2Q_VRtIvxNubF0QMn0p182LQ97jMS5FkDrwTWt7b8a4Rd9mHThrqlA8hlr5iitMGjnlWXo/s1600/white.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKeC0CaeNHqiaxApUjqtKKTK4ZMv_yoPzvXogzsUoPNtLEPnENhr4M5KG0jyW-fqGDILcTN2Q_VRtIvxNubF0QMn0p182LQ97jMS5FkDrwTWt7b8a4Rd9mHThrqlA8hlr5iitMGjnlWXo/s320/white.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqwswNkCCD6zAZ7UDF197P6_2rEl8_DFPvXWCypNby-W6yoprCZX-fij673LWRZC1hYXSFwhjV5suwCLIKvylps7FAQJSYUgwZRsczNG4eYS7VUHfUC95mGCKD-jXoJhQS0oqkUTPJO78/s1600/shorelines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqwswNkCCD6zAZ7UDF197P6_2rEl8_DFPvXWCypNby-W6yoprCZX-fij673LWRZC1hYXSFwhjV5suwCLIKvylps7FAQJSYUgwZRsczNG4eYS7VUHfUC95mGCKD-jXoJhQS0oqkUTPJO78/s320/shorelines.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPO1vxk3cCBfvmpto-BN9LdpPvBDuayDHqPh9CileexbW8Ndq3z68DFLQ5KGdpnnK9NxwgmNwS0S4HfZeDYPyr4TeEbkUunMOli1cGmyabFGQOmqTkHqMzwWB2T-hhdxKbNwHkn_ZLI6Q/s1600/dianthus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPO1vxk3cCBfvmpto-BN9LdpPvBDuayDHqPh9CileexbW8Ndq3z68DFLQ5KGdpnnK9NxwgmNwS0S4HfZeDYPyr4TeEbkUunMOli1cGmyabFGQOmqTkHqMzwWB2T-hhdxKbNwHkn_ZLI6Q/s320/dianthus.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN_FVu9s4KBCPwsNSJeplXu4OMrGEKzgEs-xGu-dfRh1BZfgsiLf31hMDUw9eDwZ9EyhdsCdk2WXMEquqnR_eLRUOYbag7r7WmDGnxavK5ak3kofXcZGiSiuM0uXHW1d2CBhvv8a3W3Rs/s1600/moss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN_FVu9s4KBCPwsNSJeplXu4OMrGEKzgEs-xGu-dfRh1BZfgsiLf31hMDUw9eDwZ9EyhdsCdk2WXMEquqnR_eLRUOYbag7r7WmDGnxavK5ak3kofXcZGiSiuM0uXHW1d2CBhvv8a3W3Rs/s320/moss.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvR-UaC8JLYKZBaU8IqV7_LuhwUK3w_VtH971-ow78eSIgpKpXeOhcWhwtm-1jZQfKAAuto-B8-xFug7r_IsimnN1805nZAnzgmFuFcuJPfW4iTHa3DigfwTManl5HlXrL9VvuKHOC31s/s1600/ford+grey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvR-UaC8JLYKZBaU8IqV7_LuhwUK3w_VtH971-ow78eSIgpKpXeOhcWhwtm-1jZQfKAAuto-B8-xFug7r_IsimnN1805nZAnzgmFuFcuJPfW4iTHa3DigfwTManl5HlXrL9VvuKHOC31s/s320/ford+grey.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dHRnYxduHj-bSMzmCoZl5d1fXZhZQR8QHN_dsjLFC2l8OHjrc-j6h5p1tE5daCJBhbTH3tY8T7U4h4SYcvUqjAJg5HFjaDUI00g4iufZ2gi8TKStUvOgHyn8wQXITT4d1aC7FALTa1c/s1600/old+school+ties.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dHRnYxduHj-bSMzmCoZl5d1fXZhZQR8QHN_dsjLFC2l8OHjrc-j6h5p1tE5daCJBhbTH3tY8T7U4h4SYcvUqjAJg5HFjaDUI00g4iufZ2gi8TKStUvOgHyn8wQXITT4d1aC7FALTa1c/s320/old+school+ties.jpg" /></a></div>All my threads, fabrics and bits and pieces are not far away though.<br />
Bye for now.Marionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08827696171436657030noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821651951468555403.post-14190165693605522932010-06-07T16:01:00.000-07:002010-06-07T16:01:45.584-07:00Now What?Time, where does it go? <br />
Not enough hours in the day. I ran on empty for a few days ( and nights) at the end of last week, but finally lack of sleep caught up, and I stopped functioning in a rational way, and had to go to bed early last night.<br />
The problem is being self employed. It becomes almost impossible to create a sensible work/life balance, as they say.<br />
Especially when it starts to get busy, like now. I could probably work 24 hours a day, if my mind and body allowed, and I still would be running to catch up. <br />
But some things have improved.<br />
1. The workshop is tidy for once, which allows a certain degree of control rather than the usual chaos.<br />
2. I am trying to keep to a simplified work plan. One order at a time, completed and dispatched before the next one is started.<br />
3. And still the ten minutes a day rule for my embroidery. I've been using those minutes to plan in my head rather than do anything definite as yet. But it's never far from my mind, which is good.<br />
4. And despite the lack of sleep, I seem to have an unusual amount of energy and stamina. I think it's because we have upped the production a level or so ( this is our business I'm talking about - <a href="http://www.embroideredoriginals.co.uk/">Embroidered Originals</a> ). This usually happens around now. The first few months of the year are quiet in comparison the the second half, which we have now entered. Each year I say that we have to build up stocks in the early part to help us cope with the busy times, and each year we run headlong into pandemonium and the stockpile melts away. <br />
5. So if I can apply some of this new found energy to my own embroidery as well....<br />
6. I think the answer for now is to try to produce some small pieces, which can be finished in a realistic time, and use them as stepping stones. I don't imagine there will be any theme running through them as yet. I'm still at the experimenting stage, so each one might have a different direction. But that's how you learn and develop, isn't it?Marionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08827696171436657030noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821651951468555403.post-45177419865617631902010-06-02T13:25:00.000-07:002010-06-02T13:28:50.597-07:00First Finished Piece<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I saved up all my daily ten minutes' worth for the past couple of weeks and made a concerted effort over the past two nights ( and I mean nights) to get this piece finished. It's not exactly finished to the standard I think I'm used to - but I made a decision to add it as an extra present for my daughter's birthday on Sunday (ssh, don't tell her). Once I make a (rash, impulsive) decision like that, it just HAS to be done.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So here it is...</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlx2UnYsqf8qYnPkxhls0R_DaR7vB4ASZ_vV0p9mONgA4Jr5zJd4ylQ-fXNy0VWFkxdQp-YTCnJZtjIRWS1f4_PqNg0BpyfP9c_2fQBZUB9HJkK6wGR6b2uEVQiCvcRCY-cGqCyR-G464/s1600/DSCF2442.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlx2UnYsqf8qYnPkxhls0R_DaR7vB4ASZ_vV0p9mONgA4Jr5zJd4ylQ-fXNy0VWFkxdQp-YTCnJZtjIRWS1f4_PqNg0BpyfP9c_2fQBZUB9HJkK6wGR6b2uEVQiCvcRCY-cGqCyR-G464/s400/DSCF2442.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT7UGjhyphenhyphen8TV3s5DVoufkGlIip0sJ0Brb5uchrxVRdQIbv4RLZOvp7UgiNYwhMyUGEhTAh3or7QZIgisbyOIh5RYv5oVGK5BXnAItv2bMeN_ABA8cei106MK9uwr20GtXurMCl4wis5n_E/s1600/DSCF2443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT7UGjhyphenhyphen8TV3s5DVoufkGlIip0sJ0Brb5uchrxVRdQIbv4RLZOvp7UgiNYwhMyUGEhTAh3or7QZIgisbyOIh5RYv5oVGK5BXnAItv2bMeN_ABA8cei106MK9uwr20GtXurMCl4wis5n_E/s400/DSCF2443.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Sorry, the tacking stitches are still in the corners! </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Now it's not a major work of textile art - it's not even a miniscule work of textile art, but it has the distinction of being the first piece to be completed in this new journey of mine. That's satisfying.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Interesting to note that this is one of the few pieces I've made which has not been framed. I like the softness of this work and I don't really want Laura to have to hang it.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Already planning bigger and better, but time is against me again. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">I think I'll set myself another deadline......</div>Marionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08827696171436657030noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821651951468555403.post-28573449102085726052010-05-28T17:34:00.000-07:002010-05-29T04:38:32.957-07:00Holidays over, back to work<a href="http://thecottageindustry.blogspot.com/2010/05/yes-off-gallivanting-again.html">This</a> is where we were for a few days. It was an inspiring place - for light, colour and texture. Work, as in making a living work, is demanding at the moment, but tomorrow I intend to DO MY OWN TEN MINUTES (see previous posts) and will post the results. It's a promise.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5GGzZEjLEWUHzru1Uo7ACgT7N5tfEVs4-P8Z2pWkS5OhXtQ1CZpcTyRqs-P5Hs9JimzRbo2P8HOFfOKoRjtSe4pyqsJqOd8zPgvOZbN9mMKSYXpvqtAtBvEUhQs2zHLkhrdh0NJ8OKTU/s1600/Marion+.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5GGzZEjLEWUHzru1Uo7ACgT7N5tfEVs4-P8Z2pWkS5OhXtQ1CZpcTyRqs-P5Hs9JimzRbo2P8HOFfOKoRjtSe4pyqsJqOd8zPgvOZbN9mMKSYXpvqtAtBvEUhQs2zHLkhrdh0NJ8OKTU/s400/Marion+.JPG" width="276" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">PS One picture tonight - a postcard, made and sent to Emma at <a href="http://emma-alittlebitofeverything.blogspot.com/">A Little Bit of Everything</a> for her 50th birthday. I was playing with techniques of fusing fabric with a soldering iron.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I've never done any swaps like this before, and she had sent me a lovely postcard in her own distinctive style - one of approx fifty she has made and sent out to blog friends all over the world - which must have been quite a challenge.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">She is now receiving daily a whole host of gems of work in return. What a good idea to mark a special birthday. She is posting photos on her blog if you want to have a look.</div>Sorry Emma, I haven't photographed the postcard you sent me yet. I'll do that tomorrow.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitus8SMgF9lgfBRrJFGXayphDCwvw626kKj3JwObLkPWJE1W83qB_iMJ6NzJaiWlib_LVJmdDqe-EYSnDRBFi1M7VtPbVjQR4mTHqZDOOv_D4FfIhAt5lMDKfcDiFmZrA-P3m0Qaadn48/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitus8SMgF9lgfBRrJFGXayphDCwvw626kKj3JwObLkPWJE1W83qB_iMJ6NzJaiWlib_LVJmdDqe-EYSnDRBFi1M7VtPbVjQR4mTHqZDOOv_D4FfIhAt5lMDKfcDiFmZrA-P3m0Qaadn48/s320/014.JPG" /></a></div>PPS Here is Emma's postcard to me. A collage of paper, fabric and stitching with stamped details. Very reminiscent of sea and shore, I think, and apt because she lives on the beautiful Isle of Skye.Marionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08827696171436657030noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821651951468555403.post-40881966183915463632010-05-23T16:40:00.000-07:002010-05-23T16:40:37.721-07:00Just Marking TimeProgress this week has been slow - well non existent, due to the pressures of the <a href="http://www.thecottageindustry.blogspot.com/">business</a>. It always follows the same pattern. The first few months of the year are quite calm and quiet, and then we hit May and it's as if the old machinery is whirring into life again. Our shop orders start to pile up and our own shop starts to get busy and on top of all that we are preparing for our summer and autumn of craft shows.<br />
But I'm trying very hard to keep the thought in my head that ten minutes a day to do my own personal work is achievable.<br />
Granted the past week or two has been unusual. We are going to have a small holiday, starting tomorrow, but that has meant working doubly hard to make sure every order currently on the books is made and shipped out before we go. It just means that I can go away with a clear head.<br />
All jobs are now done and we're up to date.<br />
I'm going off up north for a few days of walking and fresh air, and hopefully I'll come back with renewed energy and enthusiasm.Marionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08827696171436657030noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821651951468555403.post-4822843755059285772010-05-11T13:07:00.000-07:002010-05-11T13:07:07.815-07:00Considering the next step<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFlXxpbeXgHddGohsCsj8PRYKkrWUL6-wR5JudNwWzJuxd4l84om8556T8SlHLRNfASLy0loCROiM_AI9acMWH6MOUtuiTAT6_xlyMSd4wIyDzbcb9WQYpAWnJW5rABO4VEcun82kONqo/s1600/DSCN1759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFlXxpbeXgHddGohsCsj8PRYKkrWUL6-wR5JudNwWzJuxd4l84om8556T8SlHLRNfASLy0loCROiM_AI9acMWH6MOUtuiTAT6_xlyMSd4wIyDzbcb9WQYpAWnJW5rABO4VEcun82kONqo/s400/DSCN1759.JPG" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div>Today I've been thinking about how to incorporate this little bit of stitching into something bigger.<br />
This book - Indian Textiles - has been inspiring me of late, especially the idea of strong colour on a dark background.<br />
So I went back to it to see what I could do to link small areas of intense colour and large areas of solid dark.<br />
I'm still not sure about the eventual shape of the stitched area, but I quickly put together a border of squares in related colours which I think I might apply alongside in some way.<br />
Hopefully this will lead on to another area of plain interspersed with some repeated motifs from the embroidery.<br />
I should have planned all this from the start, but I'm still finding my feet again.Marionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08827696171436657030noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821651951468555403.post-48892575317391049172010-05-10T15:34:00.000-07:002010-05-10T15:35:17.829-07:00And A Little Bit More<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVp2tNiBP3Q1Ms9SuhJE4fMxnSj4MLZCXq_llVhsmxhGDR0dN4bjFxiiiCWeRkVjmBWFj-mu2gbQiZnuiJAuPu7SOSUKLQT5HrXpVTj0d9LUChlfI_D49L9tkUAOa9RxqWm1sBNLvfJSY/s1600/emb+may3_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVp2tNiBP3Q1Ms9SuhJE4fMxnSj4MLZCXq_llVhsmxhGDR0dN4bjFxiiiCWeRkVjmBWFj-mu2gbQiZnuiJAuPu7SOSUKLQT5HrXpVTj0d9LUChlfI_D49L9tkUAOa9RxqWm1sBNLvfJSY/s400/emb+may3_edited-1.jpg" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I managed a few more stitches today and tried a photo but still wasn't happy with the colour repro. So this is another scan. <br />
Tempting though it is just to keep on stitching, I need to do a bit of drawing to plan the next stage.<br />
I have a feeling that this wants to be just a part of a larger piece.Marionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08827696171436657030noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821651951468555403.post-81912719536648448392010-05-09T15:26:00.000-07:002010-05-09T15:26:29.678-07:00It's Growing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqMC_9AMTOile6-SLdKVZmH33TF36HSHanujb6Fz92ZG6TALVzXKOrUPdurK1K6PWiX-CAzuFFrF3nDdNqDRmqoZc_2b5vJ2vN6VD3GLc4Q2FQUNl0qcvQ4_cux-zEnYuaxdovYvnBnJ4/s1600/emb+may2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqMC_9AMTOile6-SLdKVZmH33TF36HSHanujb6Fz92ZG6TALVzXKOrUPdurK1K6PWiX-CAzuFFrF3nDdNqDRmqoZc_2b5vJ2vN6VD3GLc4Q2FQUNl0qcvQ4_cux-zEnYuaxdovYvnBnJ4/s400/emb+may2.jpg" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div>A few more stitches tonight.<br />
I think I'll need to take some photos in daylight tomorrow. This is a scanned image and the colour isn't true - it's even brighter in real life.Marionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08827696171436657030noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821651951468555403.post-71409235754096184842010-05-09T04:22:00.000-07:002010-05-09T04:22:11.981-07:00Circles continued<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxyHOxdmDgki2Movsgmjrf0av3_yxiF54qxMYiyehpUe1viC0InZuw34q9Lr7gtV7tJXDAHBmu5fU37d60wbMruNMgkXJxOcAnvDidd2fPH7bDf8J7eyBII1tLZEo0NehZSCBP71vcviY/s1600/emb+may.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxyHOxdmDgki2Movsgmjrf0av3_yxiF54qxMYiyehpUe1viC0InZuw34q9Lr7gtV7tJXDAHBmu5fU37d60wbMruNMgkXJxOcAnvDidd2fPH7bDf8J7eyBII1tLZEo0NehZSCBP71vcviY/s320/emb+may.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div>Working from the circles <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKXoDfpaluPpF592D5rjzEWru21xNHCuQHDot4aa4j7fPGhZasMG9q-JqfilaR_5w3zLYStcAPX9b-mbxeaWunlONPH1kpEQPEt4OYUEaxMqtIMLcGPQqiy-QbViQS90Lj5iirB9r6mjQ/s1600-h/Scan_Doc0003.jpg">sketch</a> again. I had an hour or two free yesterday to make a few stitches and chose a piece of wool flannel cut from a pair of charity shop trousers to work on. It is a very dark charcoal grey, almost black, and I was simply drawing designs with stranded cotton and felt scraps.<br />
I think this one will progress a bit further.Marionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08827696171436657030noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821651951468555403.post-38289847073181568852010-05-05T15:46:00.000-07:002010-05-05T15:46:06.356-07:00Ten MinutesIt was actually nearer twenty minutes today ( see previous post for explanation).Marionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08827696171436657030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821651951468555403.post-5193883981577904992010-05-04T16:35:00.000-07:002010-05-04T16:35:53.525-07:00After the HolidayThings have been different over the past couple of weeks. Normal routine was suspended while we were away at the Aviemore Trade Show for four days. And then we had a family weekend over the bank holiday to welcome home our daughter and son in law who had been travelling round the world for the past ten months. <br />
So, no new developments as far as embroidery is concerned.<br />
But I was reading a interview with Julia Caprara ( made a few years ago before her death) where she said that with her busy and full professional life she usually only had time to stitch for ten minutes a day. However if she made time for those precious ten minutes every day, she was surprised just how much she could achieve.<br />
I think I could manage at least ten minutes every day. No excuse.<br />
My goal is to have a start made by the end of this week. Basing some ideas on Indian textiles as a starting point. <br />
Ten minutes a day, starting tomorrow.Marionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08827696171436657030noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821651951468555403.post-82986172209404442312010-04-17T16:49:00.000-07:002010-04-18T01:27:52.960-07:00Painting or Pattern<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
Sample number 2 is in the sketchbook now, unfinished, but taken a little bit further and far enough.<br />
So what next?<br />
I've taken a little time to do some research, to see what other people are doing in the world of textiles. <br />
It's pretty overwhelming, and threatening to present me with a crisis of confidence. So much variety. Where is my voice now after all this time?<br />
There is some very challenging and interesting work being done, but there is also quite a lot of jumping on bandwagons too.<br />
I admire so much and so many people - <a href="http://www.doubletrouble-ent.com/">Jan Beaney, Jean Littlejohn</a>, <a href="http://magstitch.blogspot.com/">Maggie Grey</a> the list is long.<br />
But though I love their work, it's not me, I've decided.<br />
There is so much "painterly" work being done in textiles - creating layers of texture and colour, with increasingly diverse techniques and materials.<br />
<span id="goog_1751500401"></span><span id="goog_1751500402"></span> Maybe I would enjoy working that way, but really I think my roots are in pattern making. After all printed textile design was my main study.<br />
I think that's why I feel at home working on canvas. It's not far removed from the graph paper I was accustomed to designing on.<br />
I like the confines of the grid, but at the same time breaking out of it now and again.<br />
I mentioned in an earlier post that I studied North African textiles in my final year at college, and I was drawn to search out more information on world textiles in general. Tonight I hit on a wonderful <a href="http://themagiccarpet.biz/">website</a> selling Indian woven and embroidered textiles - and although I'm not in a position to buy anything, I found myself getting more and more excited at the complex patterns and colours.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ZF3WuifJCBHGdkYPp_XFw2U7R-xwl-i0cAi60Yw43SWh9vFBvdKJianLl4R9_vMyHffYs2vC5uS_JxUydZyk58UmbvAp2EbFZDZ38uibNNp5pjib4TMBwScY4C8jgDvJrI7qPzwWrbU/s1600/afghan+rug2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ZF3WuifJCBHGdkYPp_XFw2U7R-xwl-i0cAi60Yw43SWh9vFBvdKJianLl4R9_vMyHffYs2vC5uS_JxUydZyk58UmbvAp2EbFZDZ38uibNNp5pjib4TMBwScY4C8jgDvJrI7qPzwWrbU/s320/afghan+rug2.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX4MoPM0NcJt22WHtbkhphOjO27rBt62A4dgZdIGQrqlPo4_O1VWQ9M05Io0qIX1LFmuUYA5-jTM6ZIZ2YGjh_FIz_Dm94x2kwZ_6e2dElYmIYA-tVyvV1ecVfM8cPHqP_s5_-nwB2rUA/s1600/afghan+rug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX4MoPM0NcJt22WHtbkhphOjO27rBt62A4dgZdIGQrqlPo4_O1VWQ9M05Io0qIX1LFmuUYA5-jTM6ZIZ2YGjh_FIz_Dm94x2kwZ_6e2dElYmIYA-tVyvV1ecVfM8cPHqP_s5_-nwB2rUA/s320/afghan+rug.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0o4KOWP6pRtjk1Pb543jZS1JBApkkim7zRqdzRgbrJVTCJfvJK2XLe1zITSyCawoUf6KbBqpxGK9pSpuqjORRvHUfnXHwJLxKPaCeSkOUCc897WdSapVI7DNCXxfong7T6wd01foTUM/s1600/toran1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0o4KOWP6pRtjk1Pb543jZS1JBApkkim7zRqdzRgbrJVTCJfvJK2XLe1zITSyCawoUf6KbBqpxGK9pSpuqjORRvHUfnXHwJLxKPaCeSkOUCc897WdSapVI7DNCXxfong7T6wd01foTUM/s320/toran1.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifaNzhttgogMHGX55K6yOoMFDVL1X4CpOoJCqo1uPP3c8uUpFRN3CtpDRut7f902ISNm23sbNHwpgHF9-c9I-5jBPpyRuWqP1xdVCi7HQsRpvEMspm4wZv0FLYp3jXn5DY2QMISH7C-Pg/s1600/paulandtoran.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifaNzhttgogMHGX55K6yOoMFDVL1X4CpOoJCqo1uPP3c8uUpFRN3CtpDRut7f902ISNm23sbNHwpgHF9-c9I-5jBPpyRuWqP1xdVCi7HQsRpvEMspm4wZv0FLYp3jXn5DY2QMISH7C-Pg/s320/paulandtoran.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These images above are some of the textiles on that particular website. Maybe not everyone's cup of tea, but I'm drooling.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The image below is an Albanian coat, which really encapsulates the type of embroidery I was studying at college. I loved the strong areas of pattern and colour against the large expanse of plain indigo. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_sPJqAYzYwccmzVtAuei8M1xMlnYEms-B4VudZ7QKAWLYcudaxf7jM4ZipYW4a6VWOtXkLP9c4XW2rBbNU8WngXEiEjickfWDNClnWFYGA3eqDvShWuPZOFph6sIIp92ICCRxsdzlCWE/s1600/albanian+coat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_sPJqAYzYwccmzVtAuei8M1xMlnYEms-B4VudZ7QKAWLYcudaxf7jM4ZipYW4a6VWOtXkLP9c4XW2rBbNU8WngXEiEjickfWDNClnWFYGA3eqDvShWuPZOFph6sIIp92ICCRxsdzlCWE/s200/albanian+coat.jpg" width="143" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmENlTlqksUGl9sonZZ5FyHKvOSf_VynrlOG66bylToRc-6Dpqal9J9LOPlrP6lnRxHmGsAvLKPGHL4m8-5wji92foSO8nyobR2472m6IgSt65EgdUqIzomkFgpQkjkA7VRTB3tynZHI0/s1600/african+textile1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmENlTlqksUGl9sonZZ5FyHKvOSf_VynrlOG66bylToRc-6Dpqal9J9LOPlrP6lnRxHmGsAvLKPGHL4m8-5wji92foSO8nyobR2472m6IgSt65EgdUqIzomkFgpQkjkA7VRTB3tynZHI0/s320/african+textile1.jpg" wt="true" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVcvSAORpaJpWavrYiRhfoFx4OvEeJoUCiCZRxZecL9WgYPgAmVsVuUawX-6BBCR5U5ooj60J4ZNmPurVHMfkwHs5j3B1Ita-iqfhj2pClAXKOxDfxvpD1m9SInPzEsJ11WC_hyphenhyphenBs6FdU/s1600/african+textile2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVcvSAORpaJpWavrYiRhfoFx4OvEeJoUCiCZRxZecL9WgYPgAmVsVuUawX-6BBCR5U5ooj60J4ZNmPurVHMfkwHs5j3B1Ita-iqfhj2pClAXKOxDfxvpD1m9SInPzEsJ11WC_hyphenhyphenBs6FdU/s320/african+textile2.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div>And these other two images are taken from a book by John Gillow - <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/African-Textiles-Colour-Creativity-Continent/dp/0500288003/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1271547149&sr=8-1">African Textiles</a> which I have just bought on Amazon, along with World Textiles and Indian Textiles. Pretty extravagant, but hey, I could get a pair of jeans for the same money and they wouldn't give me half as much enjoyment.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/617jXrIDMNL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/617jXrIDMNL.jpg" width="320" wt="true" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">And while on the subject of pattern, I also came across an old friend, Raymond Honeyman, while trawling the internet the other day. Raymond was in the same course as me at college, and he had a very single minded approach to pattern, doggedly following his own path and ignoring his tutors. He has continued - very successfully - on that same path all this time, and I've come across his name from time to time. Anyway, I was pleased to find he has a book published , <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Passion-Painting-Pattern-Textile-Honeyman/dp/1869979230">A Passion for Painted Pattern</a> and I snapped it up. I've been dipping into it over the past couple of days and he has not lost any of his enthusiasm. It's a joy.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So now I've put my cards on the table. It's all about pattern. Handstitching, applique, canvaswork...drawing inspiration from world textiles.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Hmmm..</div><img height="96" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixtw6rYLToRFJJZ7J2_dNg_8Ro-_QkhVkEZAp2qMs2fXFV4TUyPb_kbkQppk6VC7x3E5binRdR-0DL5m3b596rzT51moTkAjLDNv0MbRUJM2aSdywTDI0dDtDNRHy7zwTHmNmMxY39JH8/s200/three+cords.jpg" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 91px; mozopacity: 0.3; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 1743px; visibility: hidden;" width="72" /> <div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixtw6rYLToRFJJZ7J2_dNg_8Ro-_QkhVkEZAp2qMs2fXFV4TUyPb_kbkQppk6VC7x3E5binRdR-0DL5m3b596rzT51moTkAjLDNv0MbRUJM2aSdywTDI0dDtDNRHy7zwTHmNmMxY39JH8/s1600/three+cords.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixtw6rYLToRFJJZ7J2_dNg_8Ro-_QkhVkEZAp2qMs2fXFV4TUyPb_kbkQppk6VC7x3E5binRdR-0DL5m3b596rzT51moTkAjLDNv0MbRUJM2aSdywTDI0dDtDNRHy7zwTHmNmMxY39JH8/s320/three+cords.jpg" width="240" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">PS As a footnote, I've just found this little piece of canvaswork I did a while ago called Three Cords. By coincidence,it bears some resemblance to the Albanian coat I think. Well very loosely.</div>Marionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08827696171436657030noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821651951468555403.post-32043939488521440772010-04-11T16:14:00.000-07:002010-04-11T16:23:04.239-07:00So What's Going On Here?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLugctzh_A8DiGJVXKChUpSEI9G9No3-BtA1ksITSIV6j-pOupwTQkEtl9nVFZBZAFMUkxe78w27A4vcOjDvT8mKaf0iw4AxAuf9ybQzGHvbtTmqXK7nepn7bwWFpoF_4euB9UV6kab2Q/s1600/Scan_Pic0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLugctzh_A8DiGJVXKChUpSEI9G9No3-BtA1ksITSIV6j-pOupwTQkEtl9nVFZBZAFMUkxe78w27A4vcOjDvT8mKaf0iw4AxAuf9ybQzGHvbtTmqXK7nepn7bwWFpoF_4euB9UV6kab2Q/s320/Scan_Pic0004.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div>Your guess is as good as mine.<br />
A few hours' work today. Still very much a sample, still got circles appearing as a recurrent theme, still looking for a direction.<br />
What I'm trying to with this is to explore working canvaswork stitches on an unlikely surface, in this case a piece of newspaper which has been bonded on to 18 count single canvas. To increase the durability of the newspaper, I've bonded a sheer chiffon on top.<br />
I'd had a colour scheme running through my head of retro-ish greens and light red, but I've added a little black as a contrast. Nothing has been planned ahead, simply moving from one shape to another, and making small decisions along the way.<br />
It's still be worked a bit more - I want to repeat the fan shape satin stitches at the top, somewhere else, and I need to work into the large white felt circle which is looking too stark. <br />
So we'll see what develops.<br />
It was supposed to have been a full day of embroidery today and I've been looking forward all week to this time to myself, but the fates were against me, and I didn't actually make a start until this evening.<br />
Oh well, just glad to have had a couple of hours anyway.Marionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08827696171436657030noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821651951468555403.post-67066868673069806842010-04-06T14:11:00.000-07:002010-04-06T14:11:30.189-07:00Nipping EyesI'm tired tonight so although I've just completed today's work (day job), I won't be embroidering or even planning. But I am looking forward to a whole day to myself soon with no interruptions. <br />
My brain has been active even if my hands weren't and there are some starting points waiting to be explored.<br />
The reason I'm tired was the ridiculously late night I had last night. Hours spent roving the internet researching old textiles. My final year study at college was into North African textiles and I didn't pursue it after I left. So now the internet trawl threw up a few interesting bits and pieces.<br />
I also lost an hour (or three) figuring out how to make this a three column blog. It worked, I'm pleased to say.<br />
Well it's goodnight from me, but first -<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKne7kfgFE0EwIsMIp5kcXLwx4Ih9aNLmiVTNtlh_TquO9Dsn13lQJsPZaahFODh0xFXFADCfSPLmrBu5-wfTlya3OJSXo-EjGR5D-Fdcup6FamW7dbEjw9FD4t6mHswtf-QvvShYaP30/s320/shorelines.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Shorelines 1989</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ZhJ8qpsG_aOn5e0h75I7yB7IN69jxjuzvZQaRnTjem_0TdMF3RM6UrN2Qwqcl_7a_zCHfSNapbm1go7FUbXku65-K8Nt120ObjtQXiRdxq3jKHW4wmB53Ja3fCu5psbFwxNLdMOTizI/s1600/colours+on+canvax.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ZhJ8qpsG_aOn5e0h75I7yB7IN69jxjuzvZQaRnTjem_0TdMF3RM6UrN2Qwqcl_7a_zCHfSNapbm1go7FUbXku65-K8Nt120ObjtQXiRdxq3jKHW4wmB53Ja3fCu5psbFwxNLdMOTizI/s320/colours+on+canvax.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Colours on Canvas 1987</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUYnrxD3a1jGDEAmKtYPa4jxNj4EKM1D41hyphenhyphend9_sVw1HtXZ0Ls7BjpJ3_UfevG3Gan697_-eNxDHVxcSJJgKsAK8ja_eQrfis28Rr4faxoFZObCJyM_huaeHlbHW2tCacxuB7FKN2Xrh8/s1600/floating+fragments.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUYnrxD3a1jGDEAmKtYPa4jxNj4EKM1D41hyphenhyphend9_sVw1HtXZ0Ls7BjpJ3_UfevG3Gan697_-eNxDHVxcSJJgKsAK8ja_eQrfis28Rr4faxoFZObCJyM_huaeHlbHW2tCacxuB7FKN2Xrh8/s320/floating+fragments.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Floating Fragments 1989</div>Marionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08827696171436657030noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821651951468555403.post-8981977184346582382010-04-04T13:30:00.001-07:002010-04-04T13:30:49.900-07:00Some ThoughtsI've spent some time this evening going a little bit further with the white embroidery. I've stopped and laid it down, then started again, not sure about whether it's worthwhile putting more time into it. It should go into the sketchbook now, with the important label that it was the piece which rekindled the flame.<br />
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I'm ready to move away from monochrome, I think, but I don't want to rush into anything too quickly.<br />
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I think I'll take a little bit of time to think and then work on more samples.<br />
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Some observations from the past few weeks:<br />
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Firstly the physical. After a 20 year gap, my eyesight has got bad - no more taking for granted threading the needle in semi darkness. My varifocals mean I can't focus on a wide area at once - bummer.<br />
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My hands are also weary from years of repetitive work in our business, so there are aches and pains. (Work through the pain).<br />
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Then the mental. At first I was nervous to start again. I found my pulse racing a bit and quite a high level of stress ( yes really). So much depended on me getting over the first hurdle and keeping going, and then there was ( and is) the worry that I don't have anything left to say and do in embroidery. Also the concern that I've been left behind over the years. So much has happened in the world of textiles.<br />
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But after the frst couple of sessions, I began to feel more at ease. It became an enjoyable experience finding my way again. The feel of the needle in the fabric, the rhythm of the stitch, the constant decision making like a puzzle to solve. It became very absorbing and alternately peaceful and exciting. Maybe I have been left behind. But then it's my journey. I don't have to run to catch up. I can go at my own pace, off on my own tangent.<br />
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Memories have started to return. Like the feeling of excitement, the buzz when a good decision made pushes you on in a new direction, when things are working out the desire to keep looking, from all angles, to think hard, not to leave it.<br />
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The idea that there is so much more to come if you let it.<br />
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Other memories - remembering where I was actually going when I stopped to pursue another career. It has taken this white piece to make me realise that unwittingly I've gone right back to the start, and that I had actually progressed ten years from this point before I stopped. I wonder why I went right back to the start? To what I was doing when I left Art College? Anyway, I now remember that I had moved away from so much work on canvas. Some of it was still there, but only as accents and highlights . This only makes sense to me, I realise.<br />
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I am not a tidy worker. Threads very quickly become tangled piles. I lose needles all the time amongst piles of fabric. Mounds of stuff build up very quickly around me, and the yet the work I do is usually not at all messy. Odd.<br />
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Finally what I've learned about working today - Well, we are in a digital age now. I do a bit of work. I record on camera. I upload to the computer in seconds. I can crop, enlarge, manipulate and finally post on the blog. All while the needle is still warm from my hand.<br />
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And the internet. So many people posting images and thoughts about their work. Fascinating and absorbing. I can find articles on historic textiles at the click of a mouse. I can converse with a like minded individual on the other side of the world. I can follow the progress of other people's journeys in textiles. And of course I can waste hours of valuable time.<br />
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I also found this slow cloth ethos, just when I needed it most. So I don't like working on a machine - I don't need to feel obliged to. I like the feeling of simple stitching through fabric, and watching the slow progress.<br />
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Last but not least I have space to work now, if not as much time as I would like. Thanks to the business, I have a light and spacious workshop. I can lay things out and leave them to come back to. I can work in peace and isolation. That's good.Marionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08827696171436657030noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821651951468555403.post-9573261943782493772010-04-03T06:21:00.000-07:002010-04-03T06:21:52.416-07:00All Together?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRKH1-7k3dfdAjMztOSo-ldL5TH4EbZpCKNIkhSM0Feu5RtOwIabqXo6GqX95oKtFTFQi38XkY5-M5y_1eodz3sF10KJUbWZrtSLGOdarNNy2mITccYlWGpt8uVdZqpNfYT0aIBs8Jp34/s1600/DSCN1697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRKH1-7k3dfdAjMztOSo-ldL5TH4EbZpCKNIkhSM0Feu5RtOwIabqXo6GqX95oKtFTFQi38XkY5-M5y_1eodz3sF10KJUbWZrtSLGOdarNNy2mITccYlWGpt8uVdZqpNfYT0aIBs8Jp34/s320/DSCN1697.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A better image of yesterday's work.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And how about combining all three pieces?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy34i01uux7VXDXS8d2rU76xDrjDY9ymOwX9MJgwyfoC3LHGFr4zRCKleCekBEDP2OI-vhUwoLWkpxbYiBobIMA766g_YhfZgBCstdeD3ZM6z3Q1uj1mmEzzWwxc8JrYvuLh8SZXwEaLM/s1600/DSCN1705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy34i01uux7VXDXS8d2rU76xDrjDY9ymOwX9MJgwyfoC3LHGFr4zRCKleCekBEDP2OI-vhUwoLWkpxbYiBobIMA766g_YhfZgBCstdeD3ZM6z3Q1uj1mmEzzWwxc8JrYvuLh8SZXwEaLM/s400/DSCN1705.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'll work some joining pieces to link it together. I've tried rotating the pieces and moving them around but this way seems to work best.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We'll see.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Nothing is cast in stone.</div>Marionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08827696171436657030noreply@blogger.com2