Finishing off Week

Its a good week for finishing off.  Do you remember this cushion from earlier posts?  Just about done before it reached its first anniversary.

Animated Weaving

The potatoes are boiling over, the roast is overdone but before I go offline I had to share this with you.  Follow the link to see a marvellous animated weaving.

http://amovablefeast.blogspot.com/2010/08/mother-of-all-projects.html

Summer Playing

Well, August seems to have shot by in a blur of busy-ness. I can't believe it is almost two weeks since the Three Choirs Festival in Gloucester - I was showing work in an exhibition (which you can read about over on Gallimaufry) and singing in the choir for Jazz Psalm Sunday in the cathedral. Quick plug here- the BBC recorded the concert and it is apparently going to be broadcast on Radio Gloucestershire on Bank Holiday Monday and after that will be available on BBC i-player Update - 2pm on Monday 30th 107.40FM or online at BBC.co.uk. It is a wonderful mix of gospel and jazz with a large choir and fantastic musicians - highly recommended. End of plug.

So, you know how it is after you have worked really hard for an event and when it is over you feel a bit flat. I thought I would liven myself up by showing you some things I have been playing with in between acting as chauffeur for the kids.

First up, lots of printing on fabric to practice the layering techniques learnt with Ruth Issett at the Distant Stitch summer school. No particular plans for these at the moment, just lots of samples.

Using stitch as a resist. The one on the left was an impression of the one on the right (put the fabric on top and rolled over).

Layers of textile paint and a thermofax screen.

This sample was folded, stitched and painted several times - you can see the stages although they seem not to be in the right order.

Added monoprints.

Tried a fish stencil - not sure I like it!

A little piece made into a card.

I keep thinking I need to improve my control on my free machining, so I have tried working some patterns from Leah Day's blog http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.com/ - she posts videos to show how they are done. I have been practicing on 4" squares round the edge of a quilt sandwich that was a sample for my fish quilt. Not brilliant but getting better.

There is Beauty in the City

This is an ongoing project by artist Anna Francis which you can read about here.  The idea is very simple and  everyone is invited to join in - just request one of the magnets, place it in somewhere in a city that you think is beautiful or has special resonance for you, take a photograph and send it in.  The photographs are gathered together and exhibited as a group as well as being posted on the blog.  I have sent in my picture of a park in Bristol which used to be a quiet lunchtime retreat when I worked in the city centre.

Work in Progress - Headbands

Spent the day working on the first batch of headbands for the ceili team - here they are just waiting to have the crystals added.  The white and green match the trims on their costumes,  the black and orange one is to match my elder daughter's solo dress.

Exhibition Pictures

So, at last here it is in situ under the church tower.  I decided to call it 'Glimpsing the Storm' to make the connection with St Nicholas as patron saint of sailors. I rather like the way it has no visible support from the front as the pole is hidden.

You can also see 'Cogitation' on a low stand and other pieces hanging on boards - you may remember some of these from earlier posts.  And the good news is that one of the collages has sold.

Exhibition Details

Exhibition Mon August 9th to Sat August 14th

St Nicholas church, Westgate Street, Gloucester, GL1 2PG

I will be showing my hanging and some other pieces, there is also a quilt exhibition called 'Quilted Jewels' and engravings by Sarah van Niekerk.  The church is very near the cathedral and will be open 10:30am to 4:00pm each day and admission is free, however it is being used for a lecture on Monday 9th at 1.30pm and  a concert on Weds 11th at 2.00pm.  This exhibition is part of Three Choirs Plus running alongside the Three Choirs Festival so there will be lots going on in Gloucester all week - well worth a day trip if you are in the area.  See http://www.3choirs.org for more info

Still no pics of the finished item  - somehow whenever it is not raining (or threatening to rain) it is really windy so I can't get the hanging to keep still.  I will try and get some good shots in situ.  Meanwhile, back to double and triple-checking everything is ready.