Tidying up loose ends ..........

I'll begin today with saying Thanks so Much to Allbear for your lovely comments about me leaving the bear world. I haven't seen TBS yet - must go get a copy. Kathy has always been supportive of my work - right to the end it seems! I will be there in spirit if not in body and I wish you all every success.

Only two weeks - well in fact less than that now - before my C & G course starts and Im excited to say the least. Have been madly trying to tidy up all the loose ends and unfinished projects so I have an almost completely clear slate - not that its ever likely I will catch up with everything - but I am making progress.






After several months of intermitted work I have at last completed my quilt. It was a huge learning curve as its the first quilt I ever made - but I really really enjoyed it especially towards the end when it was all coming together.

It has nothing to do with my upcoming course where the work will be completely different and experimental - but I still love this type of machine embroidery too.

Have also started another C & G course in the past few weeks - its a preparing to teach course which is required when working in the Adult Learning Sector. Has been a bit hard slog at times trying to take in all the acronyms but Im beginning to get there and see how it will benefit my teaching and therefore hopefully also my students. Lots of theory and reading at the moment


Those that know me well will know that when Im not stitching I love to garden. Its all looking a bit green at this time of year but still full of birds and there are some interesting bits that are worth a look. This view from lower down the garden shows just how green it all is but take a look at these fab pink nerines - they are enough to brighten any garden and do it regularly every year with no fuss at all.











The colour is even more striking when you see them in the flesh - more Barbie than bashful!



One last picture for today - and here she is............


Looking a bit grey now shes ten - but doing pretty good for an oldie. She still thinks shes a five year old - but needs considerably less excercise now!



Have a nice free afternoon now so will make the most of it and go stitch!!

More Embellishing

I mentioned yesterday what fun I was having testing out embellishing samples so here's a few pictures. This one is felt embellished with wool roving, covered with chiffon, cut up and woven then embellished again. It is amazing the different effects that can be acheived with this machine. So far no stitch on this piece - but that could change once I decide what Im going to do with it.

For this piece I decided to use cream felt as the backing as I wanted to create a softer more gentle look.


I love the way that the colours blend into the background but still give texture and interest.

I think it would make a lovely bag with some stitch and beading added.

I love this piece - lots of bits of silk scarves, silk roving, knitting yarns and stitch. My sister is really great at finding all manner of scarves for me at car boot sales so I have quite a stash to use.

Remember I said I had a new camera - well obviously it needed a pouch - so here's what I made with a piece of the above fabric. Just added a velcro closure. It feels nice as well as protecting my camera from knocks and scratches.

Lots of people ask what they can do with their samples so perhaps this will give an idea. Just cut them up and make something. The great thing about the felt backing is that it doesnt fray of course.

Hopefully get some pictures of the quilt up soon - coming along nicely now.

Apologies

Didnt I say I was new at this blogging!? So sorry - I have two comments that I havent responded to - I will get there soon I promise!

Firstly to Gina - thank you and I hope we will meet at the Abbey. I too am teaching there as well as being a student to Pam so I hope our paths will cross soon.

And to Icky Bears - thank you so much for your lovely comments. Im not sure if we met or not but I really appreciate your thoughts.

Must keep this blog more up to date - sorry again!

Embellishing

Been a few days since I posted again - busy busy with my Embellishing machine! I've been sampling all the things this great machine can do and so far have only got as far as using felt as a background. I always enjoyed using felt as a backing for hand needle felting so it was a natural progression for me. Of course i since notice that lots of other people like to use felt too - notably Maggie Grey who is such a big inspiration to all of us stitchers and textile people. Ive taken tons of photos since this sampling is preparation for an online class - which probably wont be available until the new year - but I have so much else going on in between that Im trying my best to be organised with it all!

Was also my birthday last weekend and I was lucky enough to have a new compact digital camera so there will be no stopping me now - and just in time for the fungus season - Im sure Im not alone in finding fungi fascinating? Will be longer walks for Amber and in places where Im likely to find interesting textures to photograph - Im sure she wont mind! The picture above shows what happened when I played with a close up of moss - still trying to learn all that programme can do - but already I can see this as a basis for an embellishing project.

Still also working on my applique/embroidered quilt which Ive promised myself will be finished before I start the C & G course. Getting there ..............

Will try to post some of the embellished pieces tomorrow.

Bears are gone .............

My best of intentions have already flown out the window! I had intended to update this blog at least every other day - but with this past week being so busy with packing up bears to get off to collectors - I havent had time for much else.

The picture on the left is a fabric book which I made as a sample for one of my online classes. Its a really fun book to make as it includes lots of different materials and techniques. I included pictures of my family printed on organza and fabrics and just had fun with each page really.

My mother loves it and Im tempted to give it to her - but I also really like it myself and dont keep much of my work. She will be 80 - next April and David (son) suggested that I made one for her. What a great idea - solved that problem of what to buy! I will include lots of family stuff that she will love. Better than giving her this one I think.

The other photo shows a trio of 'reworked' objects which is the basis of another class. I had fun transforming an old picture frame, a paper mache chest and a sketch book into something pretty to have around the house. I used a postcard of a fox to fill the frame as we have a family of foxes visiting our garden regularly and they are just fascinating to watch. The frame etc includes transfer foils, FME and 3D poppies.

Must get the workroom really really sorted out - so much stuff around that I probably dont need any more. Having said that - you know what happens as soon as you throw something out ........... maybe hang on to some of it at least!

Really looking forwards to starting my C & G course now. Am getting up to date with finishing all the unfinished projects so I have a clear desk ready to start.

Decision Day...........

Ive been deliberating the past few months on whether to keep my bear design business running alongside my new interests - or to close the door and start with a clean slate. After much discussion with hubby Richard I have decided that now is the right time to close it. It was in some ways easy since Ive been scaling things down for the past year or so - but - equally it has been my living for the past 16 years. However now the decision has been made I feel releived. Of course there will be people who I see regularly at the shows who I will miss and I hope we will keep in touch. I have a few stock pieces left which will gradually find their way to new homes and a ton of stock in the way of fabrics, joints, you-name-it that has collected its way into my workroom over the years. Probably most of this will be used in my workshops but I wont be restocking. Its a strange thing after all these years...............

The piece pictured is called 'Sweet Dreams' - its a little 10" bear dressed in her P.J.s. The little rabbit is tea dyed and the moon on which she sits took way more hours to decorate than it should! One of the things Ive really enjoyed in making bears is making 'mini scenes'. Some have been much more elaborate than this one - but all help to tell a story.

Looks like the next few days are going to involve letting everyone who needs to know - know what my future plans are - paperwork and yet more paperwork!!

New Directions

This is my first post here and Im not really quite sure where to start so will begin with a little background.

For the past 16 years I have worked within the collectable bear and doll industry - designing and making one of a kind pieces for collectors around the world. This has led to travelling and teaching in many countries - all of which I have thoroughly enjoyed.

However - now its time for something new and Im beginning a City and Guilds machine embroidery diploma course being tutored by Pam Watts which I am really excited about. This blog is named New Horizons to represent the changes in direction I am about to take. The piece pictured is also called New Horizons and is one of my all time favourite pieces and I thought it appropriate to use it as a link from my past life into the new!

Machine embroidery has been calling me for some time now and Ive enjoyed working away on my own with my books for inspiration but now the time has come to concentrate my efforts and see what I can do in a new field. I am looking forwards to the adventure!

For those who might be concerned about me leaving them in the lurch - dont worry - the classes for bear and doll making will still be going ahead. I will still be teaching my mixed media classes online. So my life will still include all the people who have been so kind to me over the years but my days will be concentrated in new directions. In time I hope it will lead to more fun classes as well as extending my knowledge and enjoyment of sewing.

Embroidered Apples

We have recently redecorated our kitchen and adjoining conservatory and I wanted to add a wallhanging of some kind to go with the new fresh styling. This particular piece was inspired after a visit to Art in Action which was held at Waterperry House in Oxford. The day we visited was so wet that exhibitors in some of the marquees were digging trenches to allow the 'river' to run out of them! Literally ankle deep and more in some places. Didnt stop the work being fabulous though and I came home fired up with ideas and ready to begin my picture.

This piece is about 24" X 30". The background is made up of pieces of upholstery fabrics, the apples are layered organzas - which were cut away after stitching and the backgrounds stitched with both free motion and automatic stitches, text and monograms. The gold diamonds are foils bonded and stitched. It was so fun and freeing to work I was almost sorry when it was finished!