Satin Stitch Chains

This week I have been mostly satin stitching chain links!

In a previous post I showed you the start of the next piece in my Dancing in Fetters series.  I had used a thermofax screen to print chain links ready to stitch.

I started with the broken chains and some thin variegated thread.

In close-up these look like seagulls!

I used a solid colour Paintbox thread for these chains.

And then an Anchor 6 strand embroidery thread for the heaviest chain.  The problem with this was that there were 12 threads to push through the fabric where the needle eye was threaded.  A sore thumb and finger was the result!!

However, it was worth it to see the weight of the chain lighten and break across the 3 sets of footprints.

And so - it is finished.

I'm calling it 'Dancing into Freedom'.

Thanks for being here today
Bernice

Book Covers

During this year of attending Maps & More at Littleheath Barn Studio I became somewhat addicted to printing fabric grid patterns.

And then not knowing what to do with the fabric.

But recently I made these book covers:

8x8 inch Maps & More workbook

8x8 inch Venice sketchbook

11x11 inch Australian Connections workbook

A5 Octopus sketchbook from Maps Summer School 2022

Love them!

Thanks for being with me today
Bernice

Inspired by John Piper

This week I went to a Jenny O'Leary workshop at Littleheath Barn Studio.   It's not often that workshops use architecture for the inspiration so of course I was going to sign up.

I found some John Piper images online of his paintings of Venice - where else!!

Jenny introduced us to a variety of tools and ideas for a more experimiental and user-friendly way of doing batik.

Firstly we coloured our fabrics with ink.

I added pattern with oil pastel rubbings

I drew with the oil pastel

I added more inks - this time dark brown and blue - before bleaching some of it back with Milton.

These pieces are too dark for me but there are possibilities.  I may well cut the fabric up and collage it back together.

I have learned some new techniques and I know how to do it again to have a more muted colour palette.

Thanks for be with me today
Bernice