A few more stitched selfies

It's lovely to be able to share a few more members' selfies that didn't make it into the previous post.

This is Jenny's first one, which she says was sewn on a linen weave fabric and the background printed using an Indian block and fabric paint.

Jenny's second selfie was sewn on calico and background machined, and the blouse hand embroidered.

The hair on both has been coloured in with Pablo crayons and Neocolor 1 crayons - both water resistant. Specs were coloured in with Derwent Inktense and painted over with water. 

Judi also had fun with different versions of her selfie, and hers too show the effect that a different background can make:

Beth has included her original tracing from her photo for comparison with the stitched version:

Many thanks to everyone who sent their photos for us to enjoy.  

October Talk: 'A Sense of Place in Stitch' by Haf Weighton

Our next Zoom talk is on Friday 2nd October.

Members should log on to Zoom at 6.45pm for a prompt start at 7pm.

Haf Weighton is a Welsh-speaking artist, based in Penarth, South Wales.  Working with paint, print and stitch, her pieces are responses to the many places she has called home.  

In 2018 Haf Weighton's work was showcased at the Saatchi Gallery, London and at her own gallery at the Knitting & Stitching Show, Alexandra Palace, London.  An experienced teacher, Haf has also judged many competitions, including the Art and Design Competition for The Urdd National Eisteddfod of Wales.

On Friday evening Haf will talk about her work, the stories behind her favourite pieces, education, influences and techniques.

Saturday 3rd October - At home stitch session follow-up.

At the end of her Friday talk, Haf will set us all a task to sew at home the following morning, and then there will be a short show-and-tell / questions session on Saturday afternoon.

Those who would like to take part can log on to Zoom at 1.45 for a 2pm start for a short show and tell/questions session, finishing at 2.45 / 3pm.

 

 

At home work session: Painting, stitching and embellishing buildings

Is there a building that is important to you or holds significant memories? 

For this workshop you will need a photo of a significant building to work from.

Haf's work ranges from large, imposing public hospitals to pretty, chocolate box cottages. Using Haf’s work as inspiration, you will learn at the end of her Friday night talk how she drags paint across the surface to create backgrounds.  She will then show you how to use tracing paper to create an outline of the building. It will be up to you to embellish the piece using fabric collage and stitch for our show-and-tell on Saturday. (See suggested requirements list.)

This will build on skills we have already learnt and tried out recently with Nicky Barfoot's stitched selfie summer workshop, and will allow us to be even more experimental in our approach to stitching buildings. Your finished picture could even have a bicycle or car in it, or a front garden of hand stitched flowers.

Revealed! Our Stitched Selfies

After a super-efficient Zoom AGM on Saturday morning, which covered all the branch business in what must have been record time, we had fun in the afternoon looking at the fabulous stitched 'selfies' created by members.

Again on Zoom, Nicky Barfoot, the textile artist who supplied the inspiration and instructions for the project, joined us for a show-and-tell session.  

It was fascinating to see how members had interpreted their portraits in stitch - we all know that the way people see themselves is often different from how others see them. Nicky had very helpful comments for anyone who wanted a bit more guidance, especially with stitching eyes and 'ageing' faces.

  

Diane used calico as her base, and free motion embroidery.  The hair was cotton embroidery thread, and she used Inktense pencils to add colour and detail. Diane thought it was a great project.

Wendy said, "I couldn’t find a photo of myself that I liked so I found one of someone I don’t like!  I had great fun doing this (I know it’s silly).  I’ll call it a stitched caricature ...  I used embroidery and applique and really enjoyed using coloured pencils on fabric for the first time.”

Margherita had fun using some funky yarn for her hair. She says she found the project really enjoyable and will probably do another one.

Sue thought “the worst part was taking the selfie!” and so her granddaughter gave her some advice.

In her second selfie, the hair is created using blue patterned fabric.

Ruth's two selfies are very striking - and different, and make use of patterned backgrounds:

 

Julia chose a selfie taken by her daughter at a Hallowe'en party: 

Julia says: "I interpreted the photo by stitching on a base fabric of calico. The white side is stitched onto cotton organdie which was cut back. I used tea for her colouring but it unfortunately caused the thread to bleed in places into the organdie, but not the calico. Her hair is coloured with watercolour paints. The background is appliqued and stitched to remind her of the Day of the Dead Festival she went to when living and travelling in Mexico.

Shay's selfie is a really accurate interpretation, and it also makes great use of a colourful background:

Last, but certainly not least, Gill did her own selfie:

and one of her dog, Tommi (not strictly speaking a selfie!):

Gill is our very talented Programme Secretary, and our thanks go to her for organising this super project with Nicky and the very enjoyable Show and Tell session.

AGM and Stitched Selfies

This is just a quick reminder, that the Leamington & District Branch AGM takes place this coming Saturday, 19th September.

As is our "new norm", it will be held via Zoom, with two sessions: the business meeting in the morning, starting at 11 am, and then a 'Meet the Artist' session with Nicky Barfoot in the afternoon, 2 - 3 pm.

Members have received details about how to log into both sessions, but please contact the Branch Secretary if you are unsure.

If you are unable to attend the afternoon session, it would be great if you can still send photos of your stitched selfie/s for everyone to enjoy. Please send photos to:

leamingtondistrictprogsec@embroiderersguild.co.uk  OR  leamingtondistrictitrep@embroiderersguild.co.uk

If you could add a few lines to indicate the fabrics or art supplies you used, that would be even better.

We are looking forward to seeing lots of members on the day.

Textile and needlework books

We have received the generous donation of a variety of embroidery and needlework books. 

The books are shown below, and we are asking just for a donation of £1 per book to help boost our branch's JETS funds.  If you are interested in any of them, please email: leamingtondistrictprogsec@gmail.com

Secret Santa Sorted! - by Liz

Although it isn't a seasonal topic quite yet, this delightful little project came about as a result of last year's Secret Santa swap. Branch Chair, Liz, shares details of what she did with her gift: 

At the Festive Jolly last December, my Secret Santa present was a very small box covered with lovely red fabric. When I opened it, it contained an amazing number of small pieces of fabric with a mainly Indian feel to them, together with some threads and beads. Whilst I have kept the box, I didn’t at the time think to record the contents. However, there were sufficient pieces to create this book cover! 

I arranged the pieces onto the reverse of an elderly cushion cover kit that had a blue transfer print of a basket of flowers on it and tacked them down. Then I began sewing in a variegated thread from the reverse using some of the transfer lines as guides. I think you can make out the edge of the basket running up the spine. The flowers became rather lost so I ran another lighter thread through the stitches. It seemed to need more leaves, so I made a small template in paper and drew round it a few times. I used it on the sleeves of the cover too. 

Then I used the really useful method Jenny Rolfe showed us for making a book cover at a workshop, many moons ago, and so my Secret Santa is now sorted and many thanks to the member who put it in the sack!