A Special Day and some new work

Allendale Forge Studios held its official opening last Thursday when HRH Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex came to visit.  It was a lovely day - here are a few of us waiting to be presented.

It was very busy in the run up to the opening as we all wanted to have our pitches well stocked and looking good.  I have just started a new series of locally inspired pictures which are developments of the technique I described a couple of months ago.

These are approx A4 size but I Have decided I like this technique enough to try some larger pieces now.  I really love using the fibres to build up landscapes - so much easier blending them than mixing paint!  These two and a seascape are for sale in the Forge shop.

It's official - Quilting is good for you!

Thanks to chittle chattle for sharing this link  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2002862/Why-quilting-uniquely-good-us.html#comments which confirms what we dedicated quilters, embroiderers etc have known all along.  Our art/craft or whatever we want to call it is good for us.

Here is my latest attempt.  I'm surrounded by the most wonderful landscape but often find it difficult to capture it in fabric.  This piece uses simple raw edge piecing and free machine embroidery to try and capture the feel of a dusky evening view.


I got a nice surprise when I looked at the back.  Seeing  the quilting in black and white has set me thinking about a winter version.  Before I get to that though I have others to finish - why is it always more tempting to start something new than to finish what is on the go?

Print and Stitch and a new use for the Aga

Visiting the local art shop with my daughter in search of paper for her I came across a printing material that was new to me.  It is a type of lino but much softer than the usual and finer and texture so that a more delicate line is possible.  I decided to cut a similar design in both of them so that I could compare them and  here are the results.  The picture below right shows the two blocks.I usually struggle to cut the traditional lino and find it a faff to keep heating it up but I had a brain wave this time and decided to do the cutting by the Aga.  I put the block on top of the hot plate from time to time and had no difficulty at all.  Why has it taken me so long to think of this?I also made a small flower block in the new lino and  after printing this with fabric paint and over painting it with silk paints I then machine stitched it and made two ATC's.

For some reason Google is refusing to put the photos where I want them and in the wrong order so apologies if this post looks rather odd.

Quilts at Belsay

I spent yesterday at Belsay Hall, Northumberland, helping to steward the exhibition of quilts which has been put on by Region 15 E of The Quilters Guild.  It was lovely meeting fellow stitchers and talking about the quilts and other items on display.  From traditional to contemporary there really is something for everyone to enjoy.  If these pictures whet your appetite the exhibition is on until Sunday 22nd May.

I didn't put my bed quilt in tothe exhibition for as you can see below Jack the Border Terrier would miss it!

A Day to myself

Yesterday I had the whole day to myself - well apart from all the animals.  Once they had been walked, fed etc I settled down to play.  Since reading an article by Erin  Partridge in Cloth Paper Scissors Magazine which described combining a drawing on artists vellum with felt and stitch I had fancied trying something similiar albeit in my own way.  Erin used overdyed commercial felt with hand needle felted accents as a background.  I decided to use transfer paints to create an impression of a landscape on white felt.

This is the felt after ironing the transfer painted paper onto it.

The next step was to embellish wool tops and felt fibres to create my landscape.  This came out of my head but was inspired by the wonderful landscape here in Allendale.

I drew the sheep on artists vellum using a permanent drawing pen

The next step was to cut him out and apply him to the background with Acrylic Medium

I also tried two more using images of moorland birds

I think I like the birds best but they all need some stitching to finish them.  These are approx A4 size but I think I will also try some larger ones as I really enjoyed building up the landscapes with the fibres and also being able to get really fine detailed drawings.   All I need now is another free day............

Pins and Needles 2011

For the first time I have a stand at a needlecraft show!  It has been very hectic getting it all organised but Pins and  Needles yesterday was great fun.  I really enjoyed meeting so many interesting stitchers and chatting to old and new friends -  and there are still two more days to go!  If you are at the show do pop by and say hello.

Web Page goes live!

I've not posted in a while because I have been busy creating a website.  I thought all of the work would be in creating the content but that was only the start.  I won't bore you with the details but by virture of reading many help files and forums and the patience of my son I now have a web page.  If you would like to take a look the address is http://www.patashton-smith.co.uk/   I'd really appreciate any feedback anyone would like to give.  There are still a few things to sort out - the photos on one page have jumped for example but hopefully the teething problems will soon be sorted and I can get back to stitching.