New books to look at!

 My arty buddy Lesley & I swapped books & I thought it a good idea to work thru them & make samples as I go. I don't think I'll be infringing copyright by showing you my samples (well, I hope not  anyway!) Most of you may have Stitches, Straps & Layers by Maggie Grey (see my blogroll for both - I see a new improvement is that we can't grab links anymore, am I missing something? also, we now have a neat 'filmstrip' display for pics but can't over enlarge them to see detail! ;( ) but since it came out I've only managed a quick sweaty glance thru while at a crowded stitches show & I'm so glad to read it now. Every page has mouth watering images & techniques to try.

There's been  no light today & the flash has turned the stretchy burgundy 'velvet' very dark. The first few excercises are to foil backgrounds & work into them, layering so the foil just peeps thru.  I only have/had some small samples of foil & Icertainly want some more gold, lovely stuff! The top one is my attempt at a landscape like Angie Hughes' sample in the book, no top layer , left, gold organza on top with 'stretched' satin stitch,  & the right is trapped threads under chiffon with stitching. Pretty heavy handed with the foil, need more practice ;) (or a cooler iron!)

These 3 are skelatised leaves (bought) top, leaf under foil, then black lace, with pink organza on top

with a little hand stitching. left, machine stitching veins on a blue leaf & the foil negative of another leaf with outline stitching. Right, leaf, foil, small piece of chiffon.

The above is foil, sprinkled sequins (I knew I'd find a use for the sequins one day!) with black organza then black & gold stitching. I heat gunned some holes in the bottom one - it'll need more stitching & I'll make them into cuffs.

A pink  (very pink!) & version of the above, not burnt, with beads made out of the same fabric. With ribbon or without? I quite like a bit of variety.

A brooch & samples

 and some earings out of the same all about an inch, plus. It's difficult working out the left or the right. I made these as I'd made one at my exhibition when I lost my lovely silver seahorse one morning - I'm sure it's under the bed somewhere!

I grabbed the finding from deep in the studio & the 2 bits of turquoise from an old neclace & the tiny cube with an 'M' on it from my jewellery box. At 'work' I got the copper wire into a twist & made a bead from little bits of fabric & paper from my week old bits box  & shoved it up!  It's about an inch & a half & altho I can't sleep in it I love it!

 Welcome to my new followers! one or 2 of you don't have a link so I can't visit - comment, if you can, & I'll come over ;)

My third postcard

My third postcard is from Marion at Embroidered Origionals. I'm hoping to meet her at Gardening Scotland next week, but we might not be there on the same day.

What can I say? I knew Marion was studying ethnic patterns, but look at this.

This is gorgeous, finely cut sparkly organza, such colors. All three cards have had beautiful tiny stitches.

I am spellbound. Thank you so much.

Last night I went on a studio visit over to Plockton, about a 40 minute drive on the mainland, with a friend from the Sleat peninsular, Patricia Shone a ceramicist. It was organised by a new group called Aos (said ooze, meaning a collective, I think, in Gaelic) formed when the Art Certre in Portree closed down. They arrange visits, talks & workshops & send regular info about what's happening here & away. Vital when you're living on a faraway island. The Treeroot Studio is owned by Jane Inglis, showing her jewellery & mixed media pieces, her mother Barbara's textile pieces,Patricias pots  & another member of the group's work, Emma Noble, a printmaker. All of it really beautiful work.

On the way home the view just before the house looked pretty great, so I took a shot - you can just about see the narrow rainbow in the passing shower.