Cas Holmes, guest tutor

Cas has set up her own blog which she's asked me to pass on to you all. www.casholmes.blogspot.com

Cas inspired everyone to stretch beyond their perceived ability level by enabling and challenging our ideas. The intriguing methods of momigami, layering and stitch. Cas encouraged everyone to 'accept the challenge, follow their instincts and enjoy' the process.

Group pics between the rain!

Just a few pics to be getting on with to help us recall the stimulating workshop with Cas and the exciting pieces created. The group photos might have missed one or two people, but reflect the fun that was enjoyed both in and out of the studio. Cas Holmes is sitting on the right on the bottom step and Sian on the top step, second from the left. I hope those queueing for their final Urchfont dessert will succeed in disguising their expanded waistbands at home! Please send me your own photos so I can add to this 'cavalcade' and to replace those of last year's Summer School on the website.

New book by Maggie Grey

A lovely new book by Maggie Grey has just been published. It's called 'From Image to Stitch' and is full of fascinating ways of incorporating images into textiles. I'm certainly going to learn a lot as I've only really tried printing onto transfer papers (and then ironing off onto the fabric) and printing straight onto prepared fabrics. It's great fun to be able to get detailed images and photographs, scans or digitally enhanced designs onto the fabric surface.
Distant Stitch students who came to Maggie's workshop at Summer School last year will know how full of ideas she is about her subject so I know you'll also enjoy this book. Special treats on pages 61 and 75.

ISBN 978-1-906388-02-7

Close-up of 'Little Things'

By popular request, a detail of one of the small panels in 'Little Things' 10 x 13 cms (4" x 5"). The photo of Amelie has been digitally printed onto fabric and made into a tiny cushion - about 1 x 1 cm small - the fragment of wool blanket and button are both part of a collection I have of old textiles. The broderie anglaise cutwork embroidery is hand stitched as part of my teaching samples for the (very) old City and Guilds embroidery syllabus. The egg shells are free-range from chickens in my village.

An invitation to the latest 62 Group of Textile Artists exhibition at Catmose Gallery, Rutland. A series of 12 tiny panels based on Sian's grand niece will be part of the exhibits. Fragments of associated materials have been grouped and collaged. Stitched pieces of wool blanket, hand stitched 'broderie anglaise', tiny old buttons as well as digital prints of baby Amelie. You are invited to the preview and workshops - see above.

Creative Dialogues

General view of one of the galleries at the Bankfield Museum showing the design and embroidery 'creative dialogue' between Sian and Iris Martin. The photo below shows Iris' painting of 'The Cockle Gatherer' and machine embroideries 'Plant Studies'.

Mother and Child designs and eccesiastical embroidery portfolio by Iris Martin in glass cabinet at Bankfield Museum.

A busy spring (and therefore no time to add to blog, sorry) to build up work for an exhibition 'Creative Dialogues' with the Practical Study Group. This will be a touring exhibition, starting in the Bankfield Museum, Halifax then travelling to Walsall, Taunton, Peebles and Portsmouth over the next year or so. Hopefully this will give you an opportunity to see it. I've posted the invite to the Bankfield Museum and will put more detailed information on this blog as each venue date comes nearer.

My own contribution illustrates my 'dialogue' with my mother, Iris Martin. Design and embroidery pieces by both of us showing a close link in the sources of our ideas, although using very different ways of conveying them. I hope you'll find this interesting. The whole exhibition looks wonderful and there's a super full colour catalogue to collect as well as postcards.

For Daniela and Molly

'Hydrangea' - An embroidery by Iris Martin on a circular woven surface. This was made first by hand weaving around the warp which was created on a circular frame, 'dorset button style'. The weaving was then removed from the frame and further stitching and applied shapes added.