Concertina Sketches WOYWW 343

Having been away for a couple of weeks and brought a pesky virus back with me along with a lot of rain it would seem. I have been subdued on the work front and I think that's why I decided to sketch ideas concertina style with all my bits at hand and music to match my mood (and mask the sound of the wind outside). This way I can work up several ideas at the same time on a small scale (by just playing with cut out figures and bits from magazines) in the hope that one or two may inspire a larger painting. Here I have used inktense blocks, neocolor wax/oil crayons, gouache and coloured pencils.

This one has already shown some promise and I now feel like working this up to an A4 size tweaking colourways. I think it now looks like 3 people waiting to board a train.

Time to get a coffee and work into the sketches a bit more now the surfaces have dried. Thanks to Julia for hosting WOYWW as usual - have a good Wednesday.

Jackie

Collagraph Angel WOYWW 340

Today I am finally making my angel cards which I started a few weeks ago (post 18th Nov). The prints were made on black paper for a stained glass look. I use the old catalogue as a glueing spot - any glue over the edges goes onto the paper which is then discarded. Here's how I got to this:-

 

I first printed the block in white emulsion paint (have loads in the garage) and then over printed the outer part in blue. I add a bit of medium to the paint to extend  the drying time (you can use KY lubricating jelly for this - honestly).

 

The angel is then overprinted in gold. I had no acrylic gold left left so I mixed silk paint outliner with a bit of orange acrylic paint. The printed angels will then be backed by some coloured card stock and then glued onto blank cards.

I will not be posting for the next couple of weeks as I am away for a 'noughty' birthday treat but I will be catching up with what everyone else is up to. Have a merry week - I will.

Jackie

Knitted Mouse WOYWW 339

My table is a jumble of little projects to finish off before I go away in a couple of weeks. The main one is a knitted dissected mouse which I have to finish before the weekend - including the framing - so that I can get it posted off. The Lab Rat pattern was downloaded from Etsy here if you are interested - well maybe not it is an odd thing to want. Reminds me of 'O'Level biology when we used to get the same rat out of the fridge every week to dissect a new bit - the smell of the preserving fluid was awful. Teenagers these days are spared such delights. I am having my first go at needle felting here and just laying out the innards. Still got to put eyes and whiskers on.

I have a blue necklace to fix, a punk sock monkey to repair and a couple more dog ornaments to do for my daughters - sold theirs at the craft fair. Well I'll get a coffee first and then get on with the felting and check out other desks at the next coffee break.

Just a bit of info for those who are interested in stitching. This is a good link to free copies of an online magazine Through Our Hands - yes I know another hour following links - but maybe worth it.

Jackie

Maxstoke Christmas Tree Festival

It was a cold and wet day for the start of the festival in the Warwickshire church but everyone inside was warm and cheery. The trees were down both sides and decorated in many ways by local groups and charities - of course we 'Shedders' (me, Avril, Maureen and Steph) had to give ourselves a bit of a challenge and make our tree from scratch using bits we had to hand. In this case the 'spiral' was cut from an odd piece of wood and covered in layers of old music, and the centre from an old broom handle. Ornaments were from papier mache, scraps of fabric and sheet music - the 'sputnik on the top was a covered ball with cotton buds. 

The tree behind was decorated in biscuits but unfortunately in the damp church atmosphere the sugar 'glass' inserts had started to melt onto the carpet. Lucky there were no church mice or the ornaments may have disappeared overnight.

The tree from the WI was covered in folded paper angels and underneath there were pieces made from folded paperback books (instructions available on the web for those interested here)

All the ornaments on the Coleshill Stroke Club tree were knitted and the choir had done a tree covered in musical notes along with their mugshots.

There was also a tree done by a couple of Birmingham City Football Club fans - team hat at the top. Had to show my husband this - he is an Aston Villa fan (mind you they haven't got much to celebrate this season).

               

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Jackie Mackay

Proddy Rug Brooches WOYWW 338

Back on the table with fabric this week finishing a brooch. Started these yesterday and intend to make a few more for the craft fair at a local Christmas Tree Festival on the 28th. It's a good way of using up tiny pieces of fabric - in this case cottons and scraps of ribbon (the tartan fabric at the back was once my pyjamas). This technique can be used to make a nice wreath - if you have the time. There is a great tutorial on this link here and she does it how I do it but I use a pencil and an embroidery hoop which works fine on small pieces.

Last week I made some paper/fabric for angel wings - here is the result. The bodies are made from lace overlaid onto heavy vilene.

Our tree for the feastival is finished except for the lights which have to be attached to the central broom handle. It is made from scrap wood cut into a spiral with collaged old sheet music, and the ornaments from 'odds and sods' stuck onto polystyrene balls and cubes.

Off for a hospital check-up now so I will check what everyone else has on their desks later. For folk who do wonder what WOYWW is all about click on the link box in the right-hand column. Have a good week.

Jackie

Collagraph Cards - WOYWW 337

Up and about early this morning getting the Christmas collagraph ready as I am off out to continue working on the tree for the Christmas tree festival with friends in the Artists Shed, Steph, Avril and Maureen. The white oblongs at the top are my samples for making angel wings (for decorations). I have sandwiched gold mesh between 3 different types of tissue - all free with shopping. One will be posh because it has Jaeger printed on and worth at least another 50p - although at the end of the day you won't see it really. 

Chose the simpler of my 2 angel designs, traced it onto carton card and then I cut it out and applied it with PVA glue to a piece of Daler board the size I want my print to be on the card. First coat of glue applied to the whole card as a seal so it will be dry and ready for another when I return.

This a collagraph card (a reject but you get the idea) I did a couple if years ago and made in exactly the same way - notice I forgot the tail but I have now glued a new one on. Well off to get organised all the bits I have prepared for the tree and I will blog about that later in the week.

I will catch up with your desks later.
Jackie

Embroidered Treasures - WOYWW 336

This week my desk is the small table in the conservatory where I like to sit and hand sew whilst listening to music. Here I am making some more little 'caskets' made using the free pattern from a Quilting Daily project - the freebie link here The flowery knitting on the hessian is part of a group project that is slowly being put together and the messy bits on the floor is drawing stuff such as charcoal because it is right next to my standing easel.

Having loads of disperse dyes (heat transfer inks) leftover from my teaching days I decided to make some inked papers to colour man-made fabrics that would  normally probably end up in the trash - scraps of lace and old net curtaining. I then laid some of the coloured fabrics onto a base fabric and stitched them down, using those set patterns on the sewing machine that you very rarely use, and then bonded the result to some heavy vilene.

The pattern for the 'treasure' was cut from some wax coated freezer paper which I ironed onto the fabric (easily peeled off when you're done), cut out the shape and machine zig-zagged the outer edges. Add a bit of couching and beads and your done. I enlarged the pattern to do a few different sizes. I just need to add a bit more stitching and beads to the latest and cut through the button hole opening. Now I'm off to what other folk have been doing.

Jackie

NEC Art & Crafts Fair

Today I went to the National Exhibition Centre primarily to check out  the art materials. Very disappointed. The stands were all very similar but I did manage to buy some new brushes to replace the ones I have ruined (I'm tough on the poor things). Then I went through to the sewing and craft section - loads of stalls dedicated to stamping and card making but not one sold pipe cleaners. Don't ask. I saw that the best bead shop in the UK (in my humble opinion) Spellbound from Lichfield was there - a great place to visit with really knowledgeable friendly staff.

Another stall which drew my attention was Worn and Washed Fabrics. As a keen recycler I love the idea of using used fabrics to make quilts and these are so lovely and soft with a real homely look.

Having become involved with Whats On Your Workdesk Wednesday I have seen other desks full of paper crafting things which are new to me - well now I have seen a lot of the stuff folk use and watched a few of the workshops so I will have a better grasp of what folk are talking about.

Jackie

WOYWW #335 Cornwall

Here is my workdesk this week - last week I was out and about in Devon and Cornwall (see blog earlier this week) and managed to fit in some quick sketches in my book - fortunately the rain held off and I didn't use the brolly once. My table has looked like this since Monday afternoon since I didn't have time to do more yesterday. Most sketches were done in Polperro which is so picturesque even I succumbed to the typical views. I am in the midst of working a couple of my favourites up and I think I will elongate the houses even further to make it feel more squashed in which is how I felt when I had to keep standing right in the doorways to let traffic pass. The large drawing is done on painted newspaper and I have added news/magazine papers to the background to loosen it up a bit then sketched rough outlines with charcoal.

Whist there I popped into the Polperro Arts Foundation and chatted to artist Nicola Sweetzer-Sturt about her super collographs (something that I love doing myself) - which reminds me must get cracking on Christmas cards - where does the time go?

Jackie

Eden Project Visit

Last week I had a bit of a break touring Devon and Cornwall and managed to get along to the Eden Project. There were loads of children since it was half-term all getting their faces painted for halloween. This is the fantastic Weee Man sculpture made out of scrap metal and electrical equipment designed by Paul Bonomini. More info here. 

I was looking forward to seeing the smelliest plant in the world - the titan arum. Unfortunately or maybe fortunately the flower was not at it's stinkiest - just the bud and another couple displaying fruits after the reproductive stage.

 

Since my photos do not make the size of the plant apparent below is a video which should give you a better idea.

Jackie

WOYWW #333 Knickers?

Last week I was given a challenge to see what I could make from my 92yr old mum-in-law's disposable  knickers (unused obviously). Well here are my efforts. The material is an elasticated mesh making it a bit tricky to sew definite shapes. 

The snowman was easy - double layer rectangle made into a stuffed tube. Hat made from one of my old socks and a little hand knitted scarf.

Flowers were made using single layer over-locked circles with machine made cords. I did colour some of the fabric with transfer-inked paper but this was not very successful - I think the colour wasn't right. May try colouring it again some other time. 

Finally  I thought I would show you one of the finished books using Hungarian  stamps that I put on the blog a couple of weeks ago.

WOYWW #332

This week I am working on the kitchen table because over-locking (serging) can be messy but that also means I have to finish this by lunchtime. Been finding more ways of using up the fabric from old clothes. This time my coat and skirt (I do like orange). I have already used some for rag rugging. This machine is about 30 years old and still does the job, thankfully. The jar on the side is where I put all the cutoff bits of thread - just because I may find a use for them in another project.

Overlocked circles pleated and then stitched together to make a brooch. The stamens are made from machine made cords over strips of the fabric and the center is dotted with french knots. Each flower is about 6 inches across si it should make a statement on a plain jumper.

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 331

Well here is my first WOYWW post having been encouraged by Christine AKA bishopsmate. I do not have a work-desk as such because I have several areas in the house that I use depending on what I am doing. Today I am in the back room (dining room on special occasions) where I usually do machine sewing and yes it is its usual mess.

Since I am having a machine day I usually try and fit in several things that may just need finishing off. I have finally made my ragrug square into a cushion and just finished the covers for 3 hand-bound books using the old postage stamp albums. The older stamps I collected and this was then taken over for a while by my daughters but they were never as interested as I was. 

This page is for Hungary but some of the countries no longer have the same names. The stamps are applied using free-machine embroidery. This machine is over 20 years old but still does the job. My friend Steph is coming a bit later this afternoon to use it to write a label for her granddaughters quilt. That technology was cutting edge 20 years ago.

Looking forward to seeing what other folk have on their workdesk.

Jackie

Making Books

What to do with the old postage stamp collection? Stamps manhandled and worthless can be re-purposed. I see a lot of folk are using them to decorate bowls and picture frames or for jewellery. I decided to appliqué mine to handmade books. Having done one and put it on the Artistsshed Etsy site I have decided to make a couple more using Russian and Polish stamps.

I have made my own sketchbooks and notebooks for many years now using samples of fabrics I have designed/created for their covers. For anyone who may be interested here is my simple way of doing the bindings using off-cuts of wood as my frame. Very low-tech.

Piece of card marked with the position where holes for thread are to be made with a large sharp needle. Finally laying up the signatures (page sections) for stitching together. You do not need to use a frame but it is easier especially if you have a lot of sections.

Now just need to do those covers.

Jackie