Summer School 2

After a few days with the pale fabrics I decided I liked them after all.  Now we had two days back in the studio to start using them.

Right at the start of the four days I had said I did not want to make a hanging nor did I want to make a book.  I was all booked out after making so many for Festival of Quilts.

I played with the fabric tearing up strips and bonding them to a piece of acrylic felt.  In my head this was inspired by the costumes that are worn at the Venice Carnivale in February.  To be honest it was okay, but not really doing it!

I used one of the fabrics I didn't like to make a box.  That really didn't work.  It does with paper but not this fabric!

With the very palest fabrics I tried out the different parts of how you fold to get the box above.  Each piece is part way into making a box.

By the end of the day I was particularly frustrated.  Thankfully for all concerned Liske has phenomenal patience.  She did however point out what I had said at the beginning of the Summer School.

I went home and made these from paper.  The largest box was made from a 21cm square.  The rest of the boxes were from 19, 17, 15 and 13 cm squares.

I gave myself a good talking to that evening and went back to make a hanging and a not-a-book.

I cut the fabric into strips of different sizes and moved them around so the fabric wasn't how it was originally.

Then I cut each strip into rectangles.  They are supposed to look a bit like buildings.  I decided to put some plain blue between some of the rectangles - a glimpse of the Grand Canal maybe?

I machined each strip together and then machined the 5 strips together.

I'll let you know how this progresses.

I'm going to introduce you to the not-a-book in another post.

Thanks for joining me today
Bernice

Summer School 1

The theme of this year's Summer School at Littleheath Barn Studio is Buildings.  If you've read Getting Ready you will know I was struggling with choosing between in canalside redbrick buildings and the beautiful architecture of Venice.

I chose Venice.

We started with making marks on fabric.  I used stencils, thermofax screens, procion dye and white acrylic paint.

I also tried marking making with hot wax.

And drew with charcoal procion dye. I also used a screen for breakdown printing.

All the above photos were taken whilst the fabric was wet.

My usual complaint when I've washed out my dyed fabric is that it is all too bright or too dark.  Not this time!

Very washed out!

One side

The other side

When I get back to the second set of two days of the Summer School I think I may make more marks on the two very pale cloths with fabric paint.

I also need to decide what I am making with these fabrics.  I don't want to make hangings and if I make a book it needs to be different from all the others I've made lately.

Watch this space!

Thanks for joining me today
Bernice

Festival of Quilts 2023

Festival of Quilts is over for another year. I didn't take many photos this time.  In the past I've taken lots of photos and then don't look at them, particularly those I take for inspiration because it's a risk that you end up making a very poor copy.  However I did take a few.

Steph Redfern

I loved this idea from Laura Kemshall for displaying sketchbooks.

Laura Kemshall

As it was the show's 20th Anniversary there was a gallery of winners quilts from over the years.   'Flight' won first prize in the Art Quilt category in 2013.

Jill Exell

This was the prize winner in this year's Modern Quilt category.

Vendulka Battais

Outside the Creative Textiles Studio was this beautiful tribute to the wonderful Christine Chester.

Christine Chester

I worked a half day in the Creative Textiles Studio for each of the four days - on three of which I showed my fabric books.  And talked and talked and talked!

I was so encouraged by all the lovely comments I received about my work.

The show is an amazing opportunity for retail therapy.  The majority of stands have massive stocks of patchwork fabric but probably 20% sell haberdashery and other items.  The only thing I really needed was some iron-on interfacing and maybe some machine threads.  The show offer made buying 3 reels of cotton cheaper so guess what!

Lady Sew & Sew sell the most amazing fine soft calico.  I still have some left from last year but I'm saving the postage if I bought some more.  (It's amazing how you convince yourself you are saving money!)

And then!  There were Paintbox Threads, Perle from Little L's and the beautiful Valdani threads.  The Valdani threads are from a wholesaler in Australia and the FOQ is their only retail outlet, so of course I have to stock up.  There are some stockists in the UK apparently!

Next year's Festival of Quilts is Thursday 1st August to Sunday 4th August.  Put it in your diary NOW.

Thanks for joining me today
Bernice