This will be a brief post from me this time as I frantically prep for overseas adventures…

Early this month our textile group had a workshop entitled Paper, Ink and Textiles given by Justine Warner (www.justinewarnerartist.com). She is a familiar tutor to our group as we have previously (a few years ago) undertaken her workshop involving ties. In fact at one point, she was known as the ‘Tie Lady’ meaning that donated ties would appear in bags on her door step!

 

This workshop was a new venture for Justine who demonstrated her ‘accidental inked finding’ with us that she has now perfected into an abstract landscape form.

With both tables and us protected against being possibly inked in the process, we followed Justine’s instructions to create coloured sheets of paper. The sheet sizes were ideal for long landscapes and initially we worked on inexpensive paper to get the hang of the technique. Then we were let loose on the thick watercolour paper.

 

The timing was such, that we had all the messy work done before lunch, giving us time for our work to dry.

Recently, Ruth posted about hand stitching into paper, so it is quite a coincidence that I had been machine stitching into paper around the same time.

As you can imagine, machine stitching directly into watercolour paper is the perfect way to create perforated shapes that decide to separate! So, it is no surprise that we used an iron-on interfacing before starting our stitching.

Again, we were given clear instructions on how to create our ‘implied’ landscapes and how to use the various bits and pieces (fabric, wool tops, threads, metal leaf, netting etc) to enhance our work.

All too quickly the afternoon was over….time just evaporated! Sadly, this meant that no one piece of work was finished (so I have yet another WIP to complete!). The collective display was impressive, and each piece looked so different. Adding a simple paper ‘frame’ to view each, really turned the creations into stunning works.

These are just a few of the pieces that I particularly liked from a workshop that I enjoyed and was all too short.

 

Switching tracks (all will be become clear, I Hope) –

On Saturday, five of us from our local group attended an NWR (National Womens Register, Formerly the National Housewives Register) national conference held at the Hopetown Museum, Darlington.

I digress, but wow what a place….Hopetown is an ambitious £37m rail history museum, finally open for the 200-year celebration of passenger rail travel (the first being from Hopetown in Darlington)….I will definitely be going back to fully explore the offerings for every age, ability and technical know-how (most of which are free).

After the morning speakers and lunch, it was time to disperse to our various chosen workshops. Solo, I joined the ‘craft’ workshop with its seasonal theme of pumpkins.

The tutor brought lots of furnishing fabric offcuts and gave us clear instructions to make a small or large pumpkin, and if we had time maybe two.

We all set to sewing, and there was much light chatter. When you are part of a group, either local or national, you are one amongst like-minded people, so I found it easy to chat with my neighbours sharing our supplies and stories.

On this occasion, whilst I did bring home a big pumpkin WIP, I set to and completed it that same evening….woohoo, an achievement. Both now have a place on the table. Happy Halloween👻

 

I will be keeping my eyes wide open during my adventures, particularly for creations and inspiration of a textile nature, and hopefully I may get a different slant on something I know. If I do, I will report back!

 

Inspiration is all around us….I hope you see something every day that will make you pause and take note.