Still Crafting

I'm still stitching this little piece inspired by a photo I took a couple of years ago in Ullapool, this is my favourite colour palette ( you may have noticed). my stitching speed is almost snail pace but it is such a comfort to have a piece of work on the go.

With the help of my friend Paula this piece was finished off last week. A different colour palette for me but still that orange hit, that always thrills me.

This and That

First of all I want to thank everyone for their lovely comments on my last post and to explain why I have not replied individually as I normally do. Typing is getting a more and more lengthy task as my fingers are losing  feeling, so I thought I would use my time to craft rather than type. Please keep the comments coming, they mean a lot to me.

I have done another screen from the Gocco machine,  another Iris and been playing in my sketchbook with stencils. I'm looking at those iris on the screen and thinking how they would make a circular design, oh well that's something to try when Paula comes tomorrow.

I've been using my inktense blocks to draw imaginary still lifes, I'd like to add some stitch to this if I can.

More pages in my sketchbook using gelato and art stick pens and finally something finished!

My good friend Bev (who teaches C &G) at Beecrafty amongst other places said two or three weeks ago that she would finish this piece off for me by backing it. The amazing thing was in the fortnight or so she had it I'd forgotten all about it, so it was a lovely surprise when she brought it round with a very professional looking binding. Thanks Bev.

More Adapting

I think this may be my last piece of embroidery, hand dyed, hand printed cotton and silk organza. It's  slow process but I hope to get it finished. This is not the end of crafting for me, there are so many other things I want to try it's just a matter of managing my energy levels and thinking small ( very difficult) for me.

I have so many crafting friends that are coming up with ideas for me to get inspired by. For instance my friend Paula brought along a gelli plate for me to play with.

Many pages later I have another sketch book filled with lovely imagery. This is such a pleasing thing to do and takes little energy and it fulfils that need for colour on a grey day

 Jean my friend from the Trident group I belong to also brought me round a heap of goodies last week. Gelato pens from Faber Castell ( kind of akin to lipstick) and some new art sticks from Derwent. Both ideal for filling up sketchbooks when I'm confined to my bed.

Jean also brought round something called a Gocco machine, I love it, I can only describe it as a craft level thermofax  machine. Alas it is no longer made in this country but can be found occasionally on Ebay or from abroad. I started off by drawing some iris heads. I am surrounded by flowers at the moment (birthday last Monday)

An image is drawn and then by some magic and the flashing of bulbs an little screen is produced.

And then on Tuesday I received a postcard from Tina (Aka Sweetypie) with the most restrained piece of work she has ever produced, I love it!  I will post more often now I have my PC set up so I can work from my bed ( my new centre of operations!). 

Adapting

I can no longer pretend that motor neuron disease is not having an effect on my crafting, this week I have had a serious falling out with my sewing machine. Paper seems the way to go, it has more rigidity than fabric for free motion work.

These fabulous Kimono silks were a pressie from my good friend Jean, I wanted to do something that reflected the Japanese style of mixing pattern. Not all of this piece will be used, I will select areas to put in a frame that has three apertures.

I treated myself to some Inktense blocks on my last visit to Artvango, finally got round to playing with them.

They are as vibrant as the pencils and are good for sketching as they cover the paper quickly.

I'm using cotton rag paper which is easy to machine on. Didn't have the energy to set up a still life so I used the plastic bottles on my work table as a subject.

I also have a 'raggy' on the go, lovely and soft to stitch into for those moments when only stitch will comfort me.

Starry Eyed

I've been stitching through 16ml plywood for the past two days. These stars were cut with a jigsaw painted, stencilled and waxed. I made the holes with my trusty dremil (actually my husband ended up finishing the drilling) and I threaded a large bodkin with red wool and stitched. They may end up hanging or just spread around the house, we made 16 altogether ranging from 18" to 4".

 It's starting to feel like Christmas.

Business as usual

I feel so much better having something to focus on, stitching was what was needed. I'm not stitching in an embroidery kind of way but using my needle to make marks and to try and inject some dynamic into this very static and geometric layout I've made.

It looks completely different with the hand-stitching. I am going to add some beading once I have machined all the black areas

It's quite a big piece (as usual) 20"x 30" so it will keep me busy over the next few days.

Good Friends

Not much blogging lately, I have been absorbing bad news and planning my response to it. The hospital results came through as bad as bad can be. That is the only reference I'm going to make on this blog to being ill. I plan to go on stitching and crafting as long as I am able because that was what I started the blog for in the first place.

So.... this piece I'm working on is a linen background and transfer paint printed Evolon. You will recognise the plant shapes  from previous work and drawings. I have made acetate stencils from my plant drawings because I know I will use them over and over again.

 Today was spent in the company of friends from the Calico group I belong to, it was good to catch up and be with like minded people. We met at the John Clare museum in my village and started the seasons festivities over lunch.

Just have to find my stitching mojo again!