Prick and pounce design transfer method

Hand and Lock...Epic adventure

I am recovering from a whirlwind trip to London to attend a tambour beading workshop at the very prestigious Hand and Lock! It was a really awesome experience just visiting the company let alone attending the workshop. The whole atmosphere of the place is steeped in craftsmanship, tradition and the highest level of quality. I was struck by how incredibly talented the people working there are and how they have invested their lives in honing their skills to the highest level. I was really blown away, but it got me thinking about my own work. I have always loved embroidery, but have tended to invest my time most recently in machine embroidery to the exclusion almost of enhancing my hand embroidery skills. iIstarted to think that it may be valuable to start to try to blend the two skills a little more to enhance the effects of my machine embroidery. I definitely intend to do some sampling using the Tambour beading technique and am considering incorporating this on some small coin purses as part of my final collection.

http://lindalightleyunit3.blogspot.co.uk/

Tambour beading

I love this example of tambour beading on tulle by Linda Lightley. I love the mix of different colours of beads and sequins. I found the technique very tricky as it seems like a sort of cross between sewing and crochet. It was so easy to get the hook caught on the delicate fabric and to lose all your stitches. I will definitely pursue it as a technique as the finished result is so worth it. Practice makes perfect I guess, so I have already bought myself a hoop with a stand to get started.

Prick and pounce...

I have long been a bit bemused by how to transfer embroidery designs properly and so have usually drawn them onto dissolvable stabiliser which can be washed away. I have finally found that the correct way for image transfer is the "prick and pounce" method which involves overlaying the design onto the chosen fabric usually on tracing paper and then pricking the paper over the design. A chalky powder called pounce is then rubbed gently over the design leaving the outline of the design on the fabric which can be joined up by a suitable pen or pencil. Just wish I had learned this sooner!!

E is for Eclectic

I have been playing around with my photos from Blackpool and some of the work from my sketchbook. It seems I am still fixated with this idea of street art and I thought I would experiment using CAD to do my own graffiti art. I have combined a few of my own photos and manipulated them digitally and then used my ink blot drawings as an overlay. I was really pleased with the outcome as I love the sharp angular graphic background in contrast with the abstract ink drawing. Also feel the ink has a sense of splashing up in the foreground like waves. I like the asymmetry of the print which I think makes the scarf very contemporary. I may need to consider the finishing size of the scarf, but think ultimately it may make a great scarf as the drapes and folds would have fabulous contrast... Would love your comments on this one!

For the love of the LOO....!

On our way back from hols we pit stopped at a fab cafe in Harrogate called Fodder, not only was the food awesome, but the loos were equally stupendous...got me thinking yet again about by FMP....layered plastic bottles ...hmmm??

sweet murmuration.mov

Murmuration at last...!

I have spent the past week on holiday in the idyllic countryside of the Ribble Valley, by as work was never far from my mind I persuaded a very unwilling bunch to leave the rural delights and head for the seaside so that I could get some snaps...the enthusiasm at the outset was pitiful but I have to say by the end of the day we had al had a fab day out in a very clean and friendly Blackpool. Having been a number of times over the years i have to say i have never been a real fan, but I had a truly memorable experience at the end of the day! Just as we were about to leave the sun started to set and I decided to catch the remains of the light. We stopped at the North pier...I went below the pier and got some shots from the beach and then went onto the pier itself. The experience on the pier was thrilling...it was almost totally deserted and yet music was still being played down the length of it.... at the end I felt like I had found treasure not only did I stumble upon a stunning vintage carousel ride but also found sone smaller beautiful fairground rides which i suspect dated back to the forties! All this was combined with a murmuration of starlings swooping around the end of the pier in delightful patterns and formations. I felt truly blessed as all this was framed by a stunning sunset...heavenly. Here are just a few of the photos I took...

I love the contrast of the silhouettes in these photos of the pier and the birds and adore some of the angular patterns in the structure beneath the pier.

I was totally enchanted by this little organ in the centre of a small carousel ride, I love the colour palette and all the different shapes and elements of the pipework and little drum. i feel really inspired to incorporate elements of this within my work....I just couldn't stop looking at  all the detail...I only wish I had more time to take more photographs of it. 

I was struck by how pretty even the lighting was on the fairground ride, I thought these bulbs were typical of the attention to detail in these very elegant fairground rides...loved also how rudimentary the wiring looked and even how decorative the electrical box was...

I took this shot as we were driving along the sea front, although the photo is not the most perfect it's one of my favourites and I feel it has lots of scope for development digitally.

Painterly sensation...

I have become somewhat obsessed with the notion of wearable street art and the whole eclectic mash-up look...it seems that I am playing catch up though judging by this amazing collection by Luke Brooks...

philippawagner.co.uk

I am so inspired by this garment...struck by the beauty in the contrast of colour and the abstract design which while appearing really urban and grungy is also really feminine and beautiful...totally buzzing!