First ISG Experiments

This morning I took the plunge to begin working on my series based on images from Jordan. I have always been interested in in using writing in quilts and these will be no exception. I've created 2 Thermofax screens with a section of text about Jordan which I will use to create background interest in fabrics. The text can be read and does make sense but its function is to create pattern and layers of texture. I am also using some arabic calligraphy to create interest.
This morning I have printed a short length of my own dyed fabric, just to see how the inks, meshes and my ideas work. I may use the length later but it is an experiment. My main concern today is that my hand dyed fabric is very creased and is reluctant to shed its creases!!
Next I want to look at some patterns that I can seek to repeat to form designs.

Ideas of Inspiration

I have joined this blog recently, a lovely collection of themed images which we contribute to as we find suitable pictures. They are an ecclectic mix. This month we have been posting images of things connected to L, anything related to a Star and now images connected to M.
I have enjoyed having another reason to take photos regularly and to really look at objects.
I've put 3 of my images here for you to see and a link to the blog.

Setting my goals for 2011

Now that I have attended the first "Independant Study Group" meeting I'm able to share my goals for this year.
* To produce the fabrics needed for my ISG projects myself, learning to dye, print and distress fabrics and to be able to replicate these.
* To master the step between research and a final design in a systematic way.
* To use my experience of visiting Jordan to provide the stimulus for my ISG work.
* To produce a quilt in this theme for FoQ 2011
* To learn how to sustain working in a series and to have sufficient preparatory work to produce at least 2 further pieces once the course is over.
* To take part in the Journal Quilt project and to use my Jordan theme for this.
To be prepared to work outside my comfort zone more frequently.

I am really looking forward to working with Bren Boardman and my fellow tutees, they are a really interesting group of textile artists with the common theme of being sharers and teachers in their own right.

2010 Goals - Learning from the mistakes?

At the start of this year I set myself 4 initial challenges and its now time to evaluate my achievements:
* Joining Contemporary Quilt and undertaking their Journal Quilt challenge of one small quilt each month for a year. This will focus my thinking and ensure that I try a number of variations on a theme. - Achieved - all 12 made and a great learning experience
* Taking part in Region 7 CQ group quilt for FoQ 2010 - to use printing, stamping, sheers and other skills newer to me. - Achieved - It was scary starting this as I had no idea what any of the others were creating and because it was so open ended except for the size, I enjoyed it.
* Taking a Machine Embroidery, day a month course with Angie Hughes at The Bramblepatch - need to have greater confidence. - Definitely have more confidence on the machine and am now happy to machine quilt my work.
* Producing a quilt for the Margaret Every Challenge cup in June 2010 -0 just because I love the use of lettering in quilts and the challenge fabric is full of lettering! - Achieved and the quilt has gone to a good home with a very good friend of mine!

This would suggest that my targets were not sufficiently stretching - I'll have to think hard about what to to try to achiev this year.

A new beginning, another year...

Happy New Year to you all. We had a very festive evening last night with family and friends and its been a quiet day here today.
My fabric cupboard is almost cleaned up, with parcels to go to a school textile dept, embroiders guild and linus with all the fabric I have hoarded for so long but can't see myself ever doing anything with. Its quite a wrench to part with some of it but I need the space!
I think I shall have to take a trip to IKEA to get more storage boxes and some shelving, then I really will have no excuse not to work productively.
I'm working with Bren Boardman, a day a month, this year and have started to get my sketchbook and a folder together as I will need to have a clear idea of how to use the first session which is next Saturday. Its too expensive to waste even a moment! I will try to keep you up to date with my progress and the developments I make over the year. I'm going to base my work around my trip to Jordan.

Rounding off 2010

I have spent the last few days trying to bring order to the chaos of my sewing room. Nothing grand, it has to be able to be turned back into a spare room when we have multiple guests, but it gets very untidy and I really don't have enough spaces to put things. Added to this I am really bad at throwing things away! I always think that it might come in useful somewhere down the line!
I have thrown out no end..... Old books I'll never look at again, out of date magazines, culled for odd images and articles which are now filed. The shelf unit is done and tomorrow I have the fabric stash cupboard to deal with. Things are now more logically stored, but I suspect I need to label the drawers, or I will spend valuable time trying to recall where I put things! The thought of starting a new year with a tidy, ordered space is a good one.
I feel quite up about the progress I have made on my journey this year, the JQ's have certainly helped boost my ability to produce a series of work; the Region 7 challenge was just that, and I will approach any further group efforts with more confidence. The UFOs have dwindled to just 2 and they will be done before too long and more than anything I have so enjoyed the time working away with fabric and thread and am really looking forward to the JQ challenge for next year; spending a day a month with Bren Boardman working on a series of small quilts and my big aim of producing a quilt for NEC in August.
Full set of 2010 JQs assembled for posterity, then they go into storage!(Yes I know the photos wonky, can't get far enough away from them to photograph properly!)

Hold on tight stripy horse!

Finally I have finished the second snuggle quilt! I really did take on more than I could reasonably do in the time, so its been a bit rushed and I'm really not happy with the way the fleece backing behaved, or was it just my ineptitude! However it has shown me that i can deal with representational figures and that should I want to include some in future I can do so with some confidence.