April 2018

Our April meeting brought another fun exercise, this time by Robyn . It was an exercise on extending a square, but using fabric and Vlysafix. We were all given two squares of black fabric already prepared with Vlysafix. We were then let loose with some fabric scissors and an iron to create something interesting. The bag above was Robyn's example.

Annette had used some orange fabric as a base for her exercise, though being photographed in two separate lighting areas, the two samples look like two different colours.

Gerri had used printed fabrics for her base.

Jenny used a neutral shade as a base to give maximum impact. The two samples  will be used as a background on which to add some more stitching, and maybe some more colour.

After completion of our fun play time, the four of us continued on with show and tell.

First up was Gerri's crewel work, the result of a class with Dianne Magro, held at Mollymook last year. The piece will now be made up into a bag. It was a great delight to Gerri to finally complete it.

Jenny had completed a baby quilt for a new great nephew. Made from a printed panel, Jenny has quilted it by machine  giving  emphasis to the designs on the panel, and a diamond grid in the background.

This counted and drawn thread needle case is the first of Jenny's UFO's to be completed . Commenced in January 2017 as part of an on-line challenge, it was left for some months while working on other projects. Jenny had finished off the stitching, lined it, then added a twisted hand made cord and tassel for decoration, and a hand made toggle for closure.

Jenny had also turned another UFO into another needle case. This piece was started in an Alison Snepp workshop way back in 2013. The end result was supposed to be a little hussif, but Jenny decided some time ago to turn it into a needle case. The piece had been left sitting with all the stitching complete, and a piece of homespun fabric with it, ready to be finished off for about five years. Another hand made toggle was made as a closure.

This is Jenny's needle roll from our March fun exercise by Annette. Extra feather stitches, french knots and woven wheels were added in both stranded threads and metallics to compliment the foils. A hand made twisted cord and toggle were made as a closure.

Sheila, although not present on the day, created a name plaque for a granddaughter using the instructions by Jenny Cochran Lee in the September/October 2012 issue of 'Cloth Paper Scissors'.  This is the fifth name plaque that Sheila has made using this technique.  

Sheila had another day of space dying threads and fabrics using bright colours.  All kinds of threads, laces and fabrics are placed in the dye with interesting outcomes.

Gerri had competed an alter cloth which now resides with the veil that she completed last year. Both are now in their rightful place in Ulladulla.

Jenny had completed another bobbin lace book mark. This one was an effort to tackle double eyed spiders, which so far have been a challenge. More practice is required to perfect them. The book mark is worked in Guttermann Sulky thread with a purple gimp down the side, and is a pattern from Australian Lace.

 Susan  has decided to be a long distance member of our group, contributing via technology. Her personal challenge for this year is working with the chain stitch family. She has done a long sampler, of line chain stitches on striped fabric.

Susan is also working on a table runner which uses part of a 70's tablecloth transfer. She is adding to the design in her own way, working with fabric and  threads she already has.

Gerri had completed two  beanies using 4 ply sock yarn purchased in Guyra a few weeks ago. One ball was sufficient for both beanies. Each beanie has a strategically placed opening for a pony tail/long hair to pop through, still keeping ears warm in winter.

Annette had made a coffee cup for the Craft Fair. She had seen the slogan on a car many weeks ago and thought it was very good. 'There Is No Planet B'. 

Annette has also been achieving two outcomes with one action. While riding her exercise bike each day, she is practising her drawing as well. Riding and drawing for fifteen minutes, getting better at both.

Our little group will meet again in May, so please come back for another visit to see what we create.

March 2018 - Fifth Saturday Fun Day

Our inaugural Fifth Saturday Fun Day was held in late March.  Unfortunately, the Easter weekend prevented some members from attending.  Sheila hosted the event and was joined by Annette and Robyn. 

The aim of the day was to do mono printing, and we concentrated on using the Gelli plate.

Annette played with printing and overprinting producing  a variety of interesting prints on a range of papers and fabric.

Robyn had seen the Brigit Koopsen resist printing video found at:   http://gelliarts.blogspot.com.au/  and was keen to try the technique.  Robyn had a number of magazine images and first did some successful prints on paper.

Then Robyn did a number of prints on fabric with equally good results.

Sheila worked with the round plate and attempted to print on reusable shopping bags.  More printing days are needed to completely cover the bags.

The weather was perfect and we were able to work outside and spread ourselves around on several tables.  Insert mono print 4.

Our first Fifth Saturday Fun Day was a success and we are looking forward to our next day in June.  Will it be another messy day or a home visit or a gallery visit?

March 2018

Our little creative group met in the library again, beginning the day with a fun exercise by Annette. We were all handed a little kit which contained the beginnings of a cute little needle roll, and a blindfold. The object of the exercise was to stitch blind onto pre-prepared fabric, then later we added some foils.

This is our results of stitching blind. The sample on the left is Annette's finished one

This is the results of our samples once we ad added some foils.

Annette's finished needleroll, both inside and out,  to show us what to turn our creations into.

Following this fun little exercise, we continued with show and tell

This hanging by Sheila was her entry into last year's Margaret Oppen Competition. The theme for the competition was 'Diamonds and Other Treasures'. Sheilas hanging consisted of paper, wrinkled and stitched to create faces. The diamonds have been machine stitched to a background.

Jenny had finished stitching on her 'A year in Stitches' blackwork/drawn piece and was beginning to put it together into a needle book.

These two samples of needle darning are by Robyn. The patterns are by Heath Matthews and Robyn is using Pearle 8 variegated thread.

Jenny had finished the final band on her blue drawn and pulled sampler. The band is a Schwalm design from the book 'Schwalm Whitework' by Renate Fernau. This is the final band on her sampler which so far has taken 7 years of work. 

Annette had started on her coloured pulled thread 'Peacock Feathers'. The instructions have been carried around for many many years and now hope to be completed

Wendy had taken on board some suggestions from the group last month to add  to her 'Stitching on the go' pieces. Suggestions were to add smaller daisies in finer thread to the top one,  and to add red to the bottom one. Wendy is much happier now.

Gerri had been making biscornu pincushions using up scraps from her stash. They feature some surface stitching and button embellishment.

This journal cover of Sheila's is made from an old carry bag that was beginning have seen better days. The better parts have been re-purposed onto this cover.

This is Sheila's new carry bag. It features an old cross stitched rabbit that has been re-purposed.

. This organza work is by Gerri,  for the installation at the Craft and Quilt exhibition. She has used both single and double stranded thread in her surface stitching. The colours  reflect the seasons.

These are Christmas teddies made by Gerri using a tartan fabric and polyester filling. Faces are embroidered using surface stitching.

Gerri’s mandala uses surface stitching to explain that all comes from the heart. This reveals how Gerri enjoys coming to our little group meetings at HQ. The mandala includes the needlework that we do; various aspects of our new building - the library; the walls designs; the sharing of coffee and ideas, as well as friendship experienced in the group. The Mandala was our design exercise from last month.

Gerri has also made some very quick needle cases using scrap fabric and embellishments from her stash.

In preparation for Easter Gerri has used rice paper decoupage techniques with a spray sealant to make these eggs. The eggs were made of paper mache.

. This is Gerri's contribution for the postcard installation that the EG will have at the  craft and Quilt exhibition. Gerri has used all manner of fastenings, combining stitching for repairing and joining fabric.

Sheila's personal challenge for the year is to create art every day. She will be changing her focus each month. January was to do an expanded square every day. The photo above and the photo below are just two of her expanded squares.

In February, Sheila's art focus was on collage, using only an architectural magazine and creating an alphabet. The above two photos are of her letter W and P.

In December the focus was on stamp carving. Above is her trial at stamping pattern repeats. 

Annette had made these socks on 2.75mm needles using Bendigo Woollen mills multi coloured sock yarn. The pattern was also purchased from Bendigo Woollen mills.

Jenny is in the process of knitting herself a new cardigan using an alpaca/wool blend in 8ply from Bendigo Woollen mills.  Using the Paton's Classics for Women pattern book, combined with a decorative pattern  from her 'Harmony Guide to Knitting Stitches' book, Jenny has finished the back and is now working on her left front.

Now for some fun Australian Flora and Fauna Christmas decorations worked by four different members of the Southern Highlands Evening CWA group. 

A fun day was had by all. Please come back for another visit next moth to see how we are getting along with all our challenges