Angie Hughes inspired us ...

In her talk last week Angie provided some practical suggestions for getting started at times when we may not feel motivated to stitch or when we need help to find a starting point. She also gave us a short demo of making simple print blocks using Funky Foam, and then block printing repeat designs.

Members found Angie's talk really inspiring, and enthusiastically took up the block printing challenge.  Here are some of the lovely, colourful results.

Judi didn't make her own stamps for the Saturday working session, but later found some Funky Foam and had a play.

"I really enjoyed the process and have completed two zipped purses/pouches. On both, I have used some free machine techniques and also appliqué and cord on the second one."

At Saturday afternoon's show-and-tell, Janet showed the piece she had printed in the morning, featuring a stamp she had made.  She decided subsequently that she didn't like the white cotton background, and so added colour after stitching it.

She has also added couched metallic thread around each square and sequins on the lower edges of the shells, lined it with a piece of blue and white batik cotton, and made it into a Kindle cover.

Sue C said she loved this workshop. "I have only done a sample at the moment, four stamps are machine stitched and four hand stitched, but I am really pleased with it."

Carol had never attempted using acrylics, fabric and blocks made from Funky Foam, and enjoyed just playing with the idea to get the feel of things. "Now I have experienced this, perhaps I will use the technique in a future stitchery project."

Sue B kept her design simple with a strict colour palette, and added some stitching to her blocks.

Gill's photo shows the pink piece on the left ready to go into her lockdown book.

She says, "I split my time during the morning: one hour making stamps, 1 1/2 hours printing, one hour sewing.  It was a thoroughly enjoyable week-end shared with everyone."

Caroline's trial prints:

Her fabric prints show the striking effect of a change in colour scheme.  As shown here, they are work in progress; one is machine stitched, the other hand stitched.

Shay made her prints into cards:

Still with cards, Shay has shared photos of some she made following our February "Take a Photograph" session, and which are also printed. They were made by pressing stamps into the little blue foam blocks (we've used these previously with Angie) to get negative prints, and stitched.

It's wonderful to be able to see so many members' fabulous pieces.  If you have further images to share, do send them in: leamingtonblog@gmail.com