Sunday 13 January 2013

Let it Snow


Just before Christmas I was invited to join a group of four friends who meet on a monthly basis for a bit of stitching and chat, with a view to possibly having an exhibition. It was all lovely and very low key but they do set challenges to keep each other working and motivated.


 One of the challenges has been to work on a textile piece inspired by the weather. These will then be passed around each member so we can all add to or change the original piece before passing it on to the next person. The others had already started their weather pieces before I joined - some were printed, some stitched and others dyed.


I knew I would like to make a stitched piece but up until now I wasn't feeling very inspired. But today I've been in the studio all morning and have come up with this piece of fabric inspired by the the weather forecast for the coming week.

It is free machined in white and silver thread onto a backing of silk net. The sequins were an after thought because I felt it needed more sparkle.

It was a nightmare to photograph but I'm quite pleased with the result...

And also quite pleased I'm not the one who has to decide what to do with it next!

It was quite tricky trying to work on something unfinished without a view to the end result but a good exercise in not being too precious about one's work... after all the next person might decide just to chop it up. I'll let you know!


It might not be snowing around here yet (and I'm hoping it won't) but it's feeling pretty chilly, so I'm going to come out of the studio and camp on the sofa with my knitting. The fire and a cuppa beckon!

24 comments:

  1. I can't keep just reading your posts without making any comments, especially with this one of course. It looks gorgeous,Gina. I would dread it if I would be the one to cut it up.
    looking forward to see you later this month, weather permitting!! xx

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  2. Beautiful, bet it looks wonderful in real life with that silver thread.

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  3. It's la lovely reflection of the weather at he moment. I bet free motioning on that sheer fabric wasn't easy though!

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  4. it's beautiful Gina but I can imagine it would be a nightmare to stitch too. how did you manage not to get snagged up in the loose weave?

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  5. Well heaven forbid they chop it up, it's beautiful!
    I do hope it's not our weather for the week though.
    V xxx

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  6. Very cool! (no pun intended) Love this. I hope the next stitcher goes with your beginning and creates more sparkle, snowflakes, and maybe tiny snowballs.
    I'm not sure I could easily surrender my work to other people's creative ideas........especially one as nice as this!

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  7. It is beautiful already Gina. The next person will have fun I'm sure.

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  8. So pretty and delicate. It will be interesting to see how the next person adapts it.

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  9. It's beautiful, no-one will dare cut it up. I've been stitching today too, my 'arboreal' piece.
    And I'm hoping it does snow so I than take tomorrow off and sew some more!

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  10. Gosh, that is just lovely - like everyone else, I'd not like to be the one to follow that - though presumably you'll have the challenge of adding to someone else's work as well - hope you'll be posting pics of all of them when they're finished?
    Oh - and I'm with you on the lumpy woman in the Pilates mirror - I always chose the spot with my back to it!! ;-)

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  11. That's so pretty. If I were the next person I think I would be very tempted to just hang it up in my window ;-)

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  12. I love this idea Gina,a very liberating way to work.I hope you don't have too much of the white stuff this morning, we have a good couple of inches here in the 'borough.

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  13. It's beautiful and would make a lovely wedding veil for a winter bride! I would be nervous of altering someone else's work in case I didn't add anything worth adding.

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  14. There was a sharp intake of breath down here when I read that line...'the next person might decide to chop it up...' What!!! I know you have to go into these things expecting the unexpected but if someone chopped it up I'd be mortified... unless they made a book structure from it maybe? Sunny and bright here but shivery cold. I see the forecast is that you will be in the snow's firing line. Hope you escape from the real stuff and that this work is the closest you get to it this week!

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  15. It's so pretty Gina - I hope the next person doesn't cut it up!!!

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  16. Oh, I do hope you keep us posted on what happens to this GORGEOUS piece!

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  17. The snowflakes are free motion ? they are lovely.... and on netting too...wow..... that must have been tricky...
    It will be interesting to see how the next person treats it for sure..... very gently and beautifully I hope!

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  18. It is quite beautiful, I hope no-one will chop it up!

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  19. A lovely delicate piece and I agree with Gill, I'm sure no one will want to cut it up. I hope you get to take pictures of the end result.

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  20. What a beautiful piece, it'll be very interesting to see how someone else takes it on and an odd feeling too I should think.

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  21. Happy New Year Gina! That is gorgeous - I would be very reluctant to pass it on to the next person.......! Lucy xx

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  22. What a challenge to add something to this delicate piece! If I was on the receiving end I might just hang it in the window and gaze at it.

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  23. I'm just catching up with your blog while the snow continues to fall, thickly, outside my window - and your stitching is much more beautiful than the real thing!

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