DESIGN TO STITCH

Student work - Design

To Stitch

Detail of hand stitch
Lovely work

***NEW*** WORKSHOPS

STITCHED SCAPES

Coming soon - delayed by Olympics :-)

WOW

Well done London for making me cringe, laugh, cry, Nobody does it better.

What class Steve Redgrave carrying the torch and the youngsters all together lighting the flower cauldron, total class, sobbing again!

Watched with my family, a great occasion always to be remembered.  We even moved the TV into the sitting room and watched it in 3D.

Just wow x

PUT THE FLAGS OUT

OLYMPIC FLAG

UNION FLAG

SWEDISH FLAG

Where ever you are, welcome to my country, may your athletes do you proud and may everyone be safe x

Hand stitching is ready at my feet, cupboards are filled up with food, flag is out...........yey x

WELCOME TO THE WORLD

Welcome to LONDON 2012 - The  Olympic Games

I wish good luck to all athletes, may they enjoy their individual experience of the Games

LET THE GAMES BEGIN

X

QUILTING & BLACK PUSS

Ah ha Black Puss is called Gizmo... what a silly name for a striking huge pussey cat

 

Gosh he is a stealth cat,frightened the life out of me.  He sneeks around so quietly and slowly and strolls in and out of our house, I turned round and the bright emerald eyes were staring at me, made me jump.  So  I shut the sliding doors, clunk...yep I have broken them, ooh there is going to be one really happy man when he returns from coaching in seering heat and visiting an even hotter hospital.

I have tried to hide it behind a curtain and a chair, I want to go and quilt my Lecien hanging, dilemma quilt /door/cat hmmmm Maybe Ill watch TV!!

TOO HOT FOR THE CAT WITH MANY NAMES

Here is Pusseo aka Charlotte aka lotte aka puss aka stinky......poor little thing!

Thought this was funny look at her paws, made me chuckle

I had a lovely day today with my masterclass students, I actually remembered to take some pictures of one of the stages in their development of a piece based on flowers

All the fabrics have been coloured by the students, I am being secretive about how we did it as I am offereing this workshop later on this year online

Beginning to weave

These were commercial fabric except the background - beginning to stitch

Vibrant colours

Subtle palette - starting the next stage

Auditioning applied elements

Completed weaving with an interesting colour choice

As this is masterclass, the time ran out to show any further stages

Soon my group AFFINITY will be exhibiting at Bosworths Garden Centre, Burton Latimer, Northants, for the whole month of August.  I am not sure which pieces I will exhibit, I will make the decision this weekend, mirror plates have been bought (thanks Katy) I will post more and images in a further blog.  Time to sleep to get up early as summer has arrived, thanks for reading x

TIDYING UP ART

This is a link from Cas Holmes, it is hilarious, I have this book & my students one year actually did it

Hope you enjoy it

WORRY

7 am this morning, much shouting in the tiny cul-de-sac that I live in.  Ambulance & then a Police car to next door but one, new neighbours, then a paramedic car.  Eventually they got in at the back of the house.
Being very nosey I saw a young man being taken away in the Police car and the paramedics were there nearly 3 hours.
My mind boggles... I didnt see if any one went in the ambulance, I am busy quilting my Lecien hanging whilst waiting for the F1 GP and especially the Tour de France

Bradley Wiggins - superman

Back to quilting, hey the sun is out, beautiful day.  My husband is competing in the Masters British Athletics championships in Derby in the Triple Jump, please wish him good luck x

MINI FREE WORKSHOP

One of my NEWSLETTER subscribers has sent me these images of work she have done from the FREE mini workshop.  Thank you Els http://dufiletdescouleurs.blogspot.fr/

Its not too late to sign up and still receive the workshop.  By the way it would be lovely you could visit Facebook and 'like' me I am trying to get to 100.  Link is on the side bar

The sun has arrived today and at last Ive got the washing dry, some of it from 5 days ago, I hate it draped over everything. I am not feeling too well, a huge mouth ulcer, broken tooth, headache ...blah blah you know how it goes. 

However, you will all be proud of me.  This morning mad mower morris started playing his guitar, it was so loud and I had such a headache that I went round and confronted him.  I could get no answer and took to hammering on his sitting room window.  He was very apologetic and actually very nice, said he had a new guitar and new music and got over excited.  It all went much quieter, lets hope he remembers, I had never met him before and I was shaking, not good to have confrontation with someone you dont know but he was quite nice.  Felt so fed up that I took to chopping off my hair, eventually it looks okay, a bit short.  So I took to chopping up the sleeves of a tee shirt.  Good job I was alone, I got a bit scissor happy & chopped up a little bag that |I made yesterday.  Must be sun stroke!!!!!
Must get some pictures done of the latest stitching, perhaps tomorrow
By for now, thanks for reading

London prepares, all getting very exciting x

WHERE DOES IT GO?

A bit of a ponder.... Time... very annoying to me, cooked up by ancients and does not seem to fit within me.
One day last 10 hours and another lasts 30 hours
When I worked for the Government the afternoons dragged by like days, but today the afternoon flew by in minutes.  So I have decided to give up time!!  I already dont wear a watch, my bedside clock is set so wrong that I cant remember how wrong it is & I lose myself completely when I am sewing by singing or humming tunelessly

As we all prepare here for the wonderous event that is the Olympic Games, time becomes even more valuable.  Careers are forged and lives changed by the smallest amount.  I have been indulging in a sport TV program fest over the past week where the Olympic motto

Citius, Altius, Fortius,

faster, higher, stronger,

shows how relevant time is for our athletes.

What do you think?

Maybe its cause I am so tall that my head works at a different rate to the rest of my body (joke)

This picture is St Pancras International station, with the famous clock & the wonderful rings

I am hopping mad at the potential border control strike next Thursday.  How DARE they.  The games are about the ATHLETES, nothing else, nothing.  Many of their family members will be arriving for the opening ceremony, to cause such chaos is just plain mean

Well this manmade thing called time has caught up with me as I am being nagged to go to bed, cause the clock says so and not my clock.  I am a night bird, so I am going to watch a creative video online and thumb my nose at time!!

(Back in my box)

GOT 'EM

In my hands 2 tickets to the athletics, Im going, I just cant believe it

BEAUTIFUL

I have in my sticky little mitts, 2 Cd's full of 950 photos of the wedding.  They are truly wonderful

Images are over 10 mb each & the detail is wonderful.  \this is low resolution to post on here

There is a really fun short video, but I can work out how to get it from Picasa web albums yet, if I do Ill post it.

I think the photos are so stunning because it had rained heavy & washed everything, then the sun came out with dark colouds gathering, I think this photo shows that.

I have sent our this months newsletter which has a FREE workshop included.  If you would like the workshop then please sign up for the newsletter on here & sometime this week it will be sent out to you.

Official ones arrive

My family, as daft as me and my husband, gave me a great old laugh this morning, thought it might brighten your day, especially if in England where its rain again x

plink plink PLOP

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH  STOP THE BBBBBBBBB RAIN ........PLEASE!!!!

Our BOAT meeting tonight (very appropriate name) was working on a page in our monthly book, the colour is Blue.  I think I should use this picture.

How about this for news.... I applied for  Olympic tickets.  My DH is an athlete, he is over 60 Masters triple jump champion, has held this title & the long jump titles nearly every year, indoor and out since he was 40.  He has competed for his country, came third in Europe.  We didnt get ANY tickets.

Last night he got an email from a friend offering him 2 tickets to the stadium qualifying rounds.  200 metres (YES YES YES, Usain Bolt), womens javelin & mens triple jump qualifying.  £65 quid each and a view over the finishing line.  I am still astonished, of course we jumped (heehee) at this offer.

All the tickets have names on them.  But according to the Olympic ticket site as long as we have his telephone number we can have his tickets

We have to be there 2 1/2 hours before the start, which is 9.30am.  Gulp....ah ha my DD lives only a tube ride away, she does not know that she is putting us up yet!!!!

I will remember my camera I hope.  No food or drink is allowed & only a handbag or small back pack (a given size) to fit under your seat is allowed, food and drink is very expensive.  But tell you what I DONT CARE.  My voice will be part of history.  I shall shout & cheer & no doubt knowing me I shall also cry.  I feel so very fortunate, but am not totally easy until I have my ticket safely in my sticky little mitt :-)

Wowie....... x

ZION

A year ago my artist daughter was approached by Coombe Abbey to be part of their art in the natural environment project.  This is her response

 

'As organic being we live and inhabit within a physical space, which supplies us with information. As glorified sensors, we manipulate and change this space accordingly to our will, needs and desires. Zion is self-reciprocating documentation of the artist's experience of Licky Hills; allowing a visual diary of the unconscious effect of the park upon the artist, and conversely-the artist's affect upon the park, in a somewhat symbiotic way' (Artist statement)

'From the moment I encounter the tree, it affects me and I affect it (by drawing), then our futures are entwined! Hence the linking of the circles and squares and the 'growth' aspect- representing the possible ways the entwined futures could progress' (Artist response)

This is one of the trees a year on.  The artists marks have become one with the tree, part of its DNA & history, new bark has grown, old has been shed & disappeared either into dust or taken to be sold on ebay!

How do I feel about this?  I sit on a fence.  I find this image both beautiful & inspiring & disturbing.  Others have added their marks to hers, but no-one has defaced the tree, no one has defaced her marks, they are blatantly added or secretly added names & scrawl.  Natural graffiti

Remember she was invited to this project

What do you feel?

The trees were not damaged, within a few years it will all have vanished.

STITCHING IDEAS

Berwick-on-Tweed

Before the rain, captured from the car on the journey to Lindisfarne

Take a slice of the picture above and convert to a pencil sketch.  This would work so well for thread painting, maybe onto silk, even raw silk would give the extra texture then using a tooth brush to splatter the effects before stitching

I just love the texture of the walls of the Abbey.  Worn away by the wind and rain, they look like skeletons

This is the beautiful soft pallette that the stones contain

Two close ups of the texture, I find these very inspiring, the second one reminds me of a real sponge

St Cuthbert

I am very pleased with this shot, if you click on it it should enlarge, the colours are beautiful, also the outline shape

Hopefully some ideas for you to consider with these images or your own

I am watching the doubles tennis its the final set very exciting, its at championship point for the wildcard pairing.  Lets see what happens.....they have won!!!!!!!!!!!!! fantastic how wonderful, what a fairytale ending

X

THE WEEK

Hi, a whole week has flown by since the excitement of the wedding and our mini holiday

On Monday this happened

Where I work at Bee Inspired was about 100 yards from the Olympic torch relay, so we trotted down the street, stood on a concrete planter and absorbed the fantastic atmosphere, like steping into another world.  Quiet normal / wild, loud music (ITS THE FINAL COUNTDOWN...stuck in my head all week)  So out came the phone camera and a video taken of all the build up, the huge amount of security, the huge amount of police, the huge amount of vehicles, the slightly bubbling at the back of my mind of arnt we in recession..?? and then she was there with the torch and my phone said no memory so its a big thank you to Katy for sending me this.  Tons of people, it had been raining (so when in summer of wet 2012 does it not) But there was a fabulous turnout, we didnt go down to see the swop over of torches as it looked a bit manic, so we trotted back up the hill to carryon using our smashing machines to make a flower vase all excited & glad to have been a very small part of history.
You know the story of the Accuquilt Go machine & how it was gifted to me & the quilters in our area by Margaret Taylor.  Well Ruth has just sent me this picture of her lovely quilt

All made with the Go dies, lovely arrangement of left over fabrics, well done Ruth & thanks for sharing

Yesterday we had a DAY / NIGHTER.  In which I taught in the morning 8 fabulous students & we had a visit from 3 ladies from Lahnstein, one of our twin cities.  This provoked much merriment in class, it is so lovely to share ideas & they were lovely people.
Then in the afternoon it was STASH our patchwork group where lots of different items were being constructed,  I was basically faffing about, but did manage to finish a piece, that I forgot to photograph & is going to hand in the shop, will promise to get a picture next week
I also managed to sew the binding on a heavily quilted piece, when I have finished hand stitching the binding Ill post a piccie of that too.  I have intentions of altering the quilt but see what you think first

Today it is pouring & I have been watching the first free practice of the British Grand Prix which is taking place about 25 miles from me.  There ar 18,000 people at the moment there all hoping for a bit of respite from the weather...hmmm.  fat chance of that

I still have pictures to post of the Abbey & the castle of Lindisfarne

This is the famous Celtic cross that appears in many publications & is where the children bid me a happy birthday, I shall always remember that little boy who so made my day.

These are the patterns on the cross, if anyone would like a picture sent to work from then please do email me shelaghfolgate@aol.com

The detail is astonishing

This is those tomb it is

William Grossman d 1900

I am off to do something mildly creative after having lunch, I dont think I have ever seen the grass as lime green in July before, everywhere is so clean & scrubbed but oh please bring the sun back

Thanks for reading x

LINDISFARNE

Hey Mr dreamseller, where have you been,
tell me have you dreams i can see?
I came along, just to bring you this song,
Can you spare one dream for me?

You won't have met me, and you'll soon forget me,
so don't mind me tugging at your sleeve.
I'm asking you, if i can fix a rendezvous.
For your dreams are all I believe.

Meet me on the corner when the lights are coming on,
and i'll be there, i promise i'll be there.
Down the empty streets we'll disappear until the dawn
if you have dreams enough to share.
Lay down your bundles, of rags and reminders,
and spread your wares on the ground.
Well I've got time, if you deal in rhyme,
I'm just hanging around.

Meet me on the Corner by Lindisfarne, one of my all time favourite groups & songs along with Lady Eleanor.  1970's visit to the Library (hey what is that!!?) to find out about Lindisfarne Island.  Last week was my birthday, not the biggie but a gift from my wonderful children
This is the Lindisfarne tale (or the gospel according to Shelagh)

Lindisfarne Island or Holy Island, is cut off from the mainland for about 6 hours at a time, depending on the tides.  It is accessed by a mile long causeway.  There are no barriers, no one in charge, its up to you to decide if it is safe.  The suggested times are posted.  This was my birthday morning, bright blue sunshine and the traffic just starting to cross, I was very excited (not crying yet!)

What terrific texture & how clear everything was

This is not rain (for a change) its sea water.  There is part of the causeway that is a bridge because the water never receeds.  I must say this was very exciting

Holy island

In 635AD Saint Aidan established the first monastery that became the beacon for early Christian learning throughout Britain.  It was also here that Bishop Eadfrith created the magnificent 7th century manuscripts, known as the Lindisfarne Gospels.  The island was also the home of Saint Cuthbert  whose life was full of religious dedication

The wall is the edge of our hotel.  Lindisfarne Abbey & Church

Eadfrith, the Bishop of Lindisfarne was the scribe who worked for many years in his cell painting and copying the words of the four gospels.  The parchment was made from calfskin,  cured to withstand paint as well as ink.  Each skin formed two pages.

He used a pin to prick out lines to guide his work.  Using a quill made from goose feathers or thick reed he also made the dark brown ink, which has not lost any of its original hue over time.

40 different shades were made from flowers and fruits for purples and pinks.  Yellows and greens came from minerals and dried insect eggs gave him the reds.

More greens were derived from vinegar poured over copper.  The blues came from a stone found in the Himalaya.

For us who dye this is wonderful information

Ill be back with the next installment, got to go and eat now, thanks for reading.  There is so much information on Holy Island on Google if you are interested.

One final note, the Olympic torch passed yards away from where I work today, it stopped raining and I have no image as I took a video which gobbled up all of my space - lol.  Ill post it soon x

WEDDING TALES PART THREE

And so to EDINBURGH we went, to the caves.  Sounds a bit dodgy but was completely  wonderful with real candles and a lazer show and a huge arrangement of cupcakes, with the largest one I have ever seen

With its own fascinator

Much jollity was had by all, scoffing a Hog roast & delicious 'mixed up' stuff (according to my DH) & he was the fastest eater of the dessert which promoted huge laughter.

Our Swedish family & friends all sang a song in Swedish to guitar accompanyment (hmmm spell check not working)  Turned out the song was all about sex!!!!!  I had forgotten that link until then.

A lovely group of tall, slim very good looking people, lucky us!!

We staggered home to the aforementioned expensive hotel & tastefully grey bedroom

The view from out window - the most haunted something of the other...blahblah it said on the outside, good job that does not spook me

Here is Edinburgh Castle with the Olympic rings in front of it, could they be any bigger I thought

I heard moaning in a pub from the natives about the Olympics but kept my English voice very quiet.

This shop was just around the corner from the hotel, at first I thought it was a textile shop (duh...wedding tired) then realised it was the Edinburgh Fringe, great little graphics I thought

One set of famous steps.  Knee crunchers I thought, interesting line design though, especially the railings

Map of Edinburgh, I have an image on the blog of a street map of London like this one, I thought that was cute

Random picture of Edinburgh, strange what you take on a holiday isnt it?

Then we we all had lunch together before we set off for our holiday, more on that in another post, but to satisfy the lack of stitching here is a piece I have just finished for my local Masterclass course

Hand stitched during the European Athletics, where we got disqualified in the womans 100m relay and dropped the baton in the mens.  Grrrr.  then I was in tears, cause the BBC did a montage of all of our gold medallists at the Olympics since they have film.  I didnt realise there were so few.  Only 3 have double medals.  Daly Thompson, Seb Coe & Kelly Holmes.  I didnt count but there only seemed to be about a dozen, I felt so proud that the tears dripped.  What is up with me I have cried nearly everyday for the past 10 days.

Had a little accident earlier, tripped over the wire from the laptop whilst looking at Dales blog and went flying across the room, landed on a wicker chair (its okay) & kicked one ankle with the other heel.  Try doing that...impressive eh.  Wow what pain, I moaned so much that I got a huge packet of hand cut crisps from DH which I have scoffed and now feel a bit quesy

Back soon with tales of Lindisfarne...oh yey! thanks for reading x