STACS

I was invited to give an evening talk and a day's workshop at Shrewsbury Textiles & Creative Stitch this week.

They asked for my talk 'Pathways and Towpaths' where I show my hangings, framed pieces, fabric books, sketchbooks and workbooks as I talk about the various processes and techniques I use in my textile and mixed media work.

I always start with the hangings rolled up and unfurl them as I talk about each one.  By the end the tables tend to look more like a jumble sale!  I always encourage people to come up at the end and touch the pieces and ask questions.

The weather on the Tuesday evening was particularly foul.  It was really difficult driving through the torrential rain.  Kudos to all those who turned up - actually about 90% of the group.  Well done ladies. 

The next day 9 lovely ladies attended the workshop.  I showed them my explosion books.

During the morning we made paper samples of explosion books, star books, Turkish Mapfold and Hungarian Mapfold books.  All involve careful folding of square paper.

In the afternoon most of the ladies made a master collage sheet.  This involved cutting or tearing bits of magazine or painted papers and glueing them onto an A3 sheet of cartridge paper.

I had taken a selection of papers for them to use as well.

They made stunning collage sheets.

Sadly I seem to be missing one person's collage.  Sorry to whoever that was.

They then made their card version of the explosion book while the collage sheet was drying.  After which they turned the collage sheet over and having made a square template drew 12 squares which they cut out.  Drawing the squares on the back stops people thinking about which bit would look good.  These squares were then glued to the book.

This last one didn't have all the pieces glued down.  Some of the others were not completed because the ladies wanted to do more to the collage sheet at home.

I was absolutely blown away by the books they produced.

Thank you STACS for inviting me.