Saturday 13 April 2013

Beautiful Braids

I'm going to have to put aside my sketchbook play for a while and get down to the business of some "real" work, which today meant teaching at the Peterborough branch of the Embroiderer's Guild. Except of course it doesn't really feel like work to spend the day with a lovely group of ladies doing what I enjoy.
 
 
We were making a variety of braids on the sewing machine, using different types of threads. Although these can be used in numerous ways, by using dissolvable fabrics we turned the braids into beaded bracelets.

 
The photos below are just a small selection of the huge amount of work produced in just six hours.


There were yards and yards of braid... someone suggested they would make very snazzy shoelaces!

 
And most ladies made a bracelet too... decorated with a wonderful selection of beads and sequins. I do love a bit of bling!

 
Not everyone got around to dissolving away the background fabric (Which is why some look like they are stitched onto plastic)


 
But most people finished something to take home.


 
And just to show that it wasn't necessary to make a bracelet, Pam created this fabulous piece of fabric constructed from braids which I believe is destined to be a book cover... I'll have to watch Pam's blog to see the finished result!

 
Thank you ladies of Peterborough... it has been a lovely day.
And should you be interested I'll be teaching this again on 29th June at Art and Stitch.
 
Got to get my thinking cap on now as we are off to a village quiz night... don't want to end up with the dunce's cap!

18 comments:

  1. Beautiful work and the braids could have so many uses!!!
    Good luck in the quiz, I do love a good table quiz!!
    V xxx

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  2. Lovely work and they did so well to get all that done. I know how long it takes!

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  3. What a gorgeous collection of braids. I have never thought to make them on soluble fabric - it increases the possibilities enormously.

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  4. Thanks for relaxing and stimulating day Gina, l loved it.

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  5. Ooh, very nice braids and bracelets, glad you all had a good day

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  6. I would never have thought to make those into bracelets - how lovely they all are!

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  7. I love the bracelet - so pretty!

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  8. Sounds like a fun day, and the bracelets look great! What a good idea.

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  9. What super results Gina. It's lovely to see how people run with an idea during a workshop.

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  10. fascinating and beautiful work Gina. bet they were fun to make.

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  11. It looks like a lot of fun and what lovely results too! My favourite's the one with the purple sequins along the middle. :) xx

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  12. What pretties! I like to see what different things emerge from your classes, they are all very different and wonderful.

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  13. Thank you for such a great day. It may be a UFO today but it will be a wonderful ( I hope) 3D textile piece soon

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  14. Those braids look really fun to make Gina. And very tricky too, to get the bead placement just right. Looks like you had a great group of students!

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  15. Beautiful braids. It's such a nice workshop to do.

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