Soul Searching

The pictures will probably appear to have nothing to do with the words in this post but I promise it will all make sense by the time you get to the end... assuming you get that far.

 

I mentioned in my last post there has been some soul searching going on. In truth is has been going on for quite some time, on and off for years as some of my poor friends will tell you, but it has reached a climax over the past few weeks.

 

 

For a while I have been feeling a certain amount of discontent. It comes and it goes and just when I think I've sorted it all out, it rears its head again. I'm mostly fairly happy, cheerful and easy going. I'm easily pleased and my needs are few and simple... yet for a long time something has felt out of kilter. And I know it has to do with work.

 

But I couldn't quite fathom exactly what was wrong... I love machine embroidery, I quite like making things to sell and I really do love teaching. Encouraging others to learn a new skill, the interaction with students, passing on knowledge... I've done it one way or another for most of my working life. And I hope it doesn't sound immodest to say I think I'm quite good at it most of the time. It's both fun and satisfying.

 

But recently I've felt my enthusiasm for teaching waning. The constant packing and unpacking of bags, lugging them and a sewing machine in and out of the car, driving miles, constantly making samples rather than making work for me, the endless mess... it is making me tired. I still love that interaction in the classroom but all the other stuff that is dragging me down.

 

But I've held back from cutting back my teaching hours because if I'm not teaching then what else would I do?  I know I would miss the interaction. I've often thought I'd like to find a way to combine my other love - baking - with sewing but because I couldn't think how to do that I've not done anything. And the discontent continues.

 

But a combination of recent events have forced me to rethink. I reaslised with another birthday approaching soon if I don't do something to change my situation now I probably never will. So I've signed up to a course called Do What You Love for Life... and already only one week in I'm starting to look at things with  different eyes... And I feel it's okay to make changes even if I don't know what else I might do or where it might lead.

 

 Then this week I was forced into a situation where I needed to consider the future of a group that I have mentored for several years. It has been a really difficult and sad decision but I have decided that staying with Spectrum is no longer a viable option for me. But in doing that, It has made me realise that ultimately I would like to step back from all my teaching commitments.

 

Before I get inudated with emails from current students, (or Missenden Abbey adult learning!) I have no intention of giving up my City and Guilds teaching any time soon... current students and those signed up for forthcoming courses need not panic! But I have decided not to take on anything new for Guilds etc. I will obviously work all those dates I have booked over the next couple of years but after that... who knows...  it almost feels like a beginning of an adventure.

 

And what has all this got to do with the photos... well not a lot really, except on Saturday I was teaching at the Cambridge Branch of the Embroiderers' Guild where I really did have a lovely day. Nine friendly ladies who enthusiastically learned how to turn the plastic net bags that contain fruit, into stylish little book jackets. And when I put photos onto my Facebook page there were several requests for a tutorial. So today I have been busy writing, editing and adding to a workshop that I originally wrote for Workshop on the Web and it is now available in my Etsy shop. Instructions include how to make the fabric, how to turn it into a book jacket, or how to make it into a little flower brooch. But if you want to make the bodice you'll have to work that out for yourself!

 

Maybe the future will be digital teaching... who knows?

Part Time Blogger

I seem to have become a part time blogger! There was a time when I could turn out three or four posts a week no problem but these days it's a struggle to manage once a week, if that. Since I was last here I had a super day at the V & A... Nothing to show for it but I enjoyed learning more about egg tempera... And no, I have not managed any more painting! But I will!

I have been busy finishing off these shoes...

Spectrum, the group that I mentor, were invited to exhibit at Textiles in Focus, a three day show that takes place in  Cottenham each February. As part of the exhibition we have all put in work that came from a joint project called "Thinking outside the Box". Members of the group could start with any type of box they liked but had to create a piece of textile artwork from this. I chose to work with a shoe box and made shoes for Frida Kahlo... Part of an ongoing body of work based on the Mexican artist.

 

I was inspired by a quote from Frida... In 1953 following the amputation of her foot, she wrote in her diary the following words...

So, I made fantasy shoes to be her "Wings to Fly". This is my display at the exhibition which opened today.

 

But this is not all there is to see... There is fabulous wearable art from my friend Gill.

 

Super quilt and panels based on gardens and ironwork from someone else you might know...Jill.

 

Gorgeous colours from Jenny and Margaret.

And these stunning cushions... From Jill again... she's so clever! And that is just a small taster of what's to see at the exhibition.

 

As well as exhibiting I have been teaching at the show too, so spent a whole day this week just putting together kits for stitched needle cases. The first class this afternoon went well and there is another to come on Sunday.

 

We also woke to water pouring down the light fitting into our dining room this morning... but the less said about that the better! (problem now fixed and everything is drying out before the ceiling gets repainted. The entire house smells damp!)

 



But on a cheerier note, as so many of you sent good wishes... I'll finish with a photo of the newly weds... James and Lizzie by the Rialto bridge. I've just realised that I've become a step-mother-in-law!

Have a good weekend!

Time out

We've had a quiet weekend and I've been determined not to be ruled by my ever growing list of work projects, admin, jobs around the house etc and instead I've taken time off and I've made time to play which is not something I find easy to do.

 

 

Inspired by the patterns created by the arrangements of my cornflake cakes, I got out my sketchbook and crayons yesterday and spent a blissful few hours just drawing... and wondered why I don't find time to do this more often.

 

Pencil, kohinoor inks, neocolour II crayons and a black ink pen... and this is what I've ended up with. I'm not entirely sure where I'm going with this... but then that doesn't matter really.

 

And today I've recreated the same image but with decorated papers and a pot of glue. To be completely honest, it hasn't just been playing for the sake of it as I'm trying to "practise what I preach" in advance of our next Spectrum meeting but I've been reminded what fun this can be.

 

And now I'm sat by the fireside, feet up and knitting at the ready while Stewart cooks me supper... a rare but much appreciated event. And I'm making the most of it before the family descend tomorrow when I'll be back in the kitchen.

What a Swell Party

Well it was quite some party!

I'm not sure if the crowds came for the cake or the art but the crowds definitely came yesterday afternoon for the Spectrum private view tea party. There was a wonderful atmosphere... the cakes were fantastic... so fantastic I might have actually eaten four (I wasn't the only one)... four little ones mind you...

 

 

The artwork was amazing... very talented ladies.

 

Art Van Go made us very welcome... thank you Kev and Viv!

 

And the reception we received, the comments overheard and the feed back were all wonderful. We (that's a royal We... I didn't sell anything)  even sold some work which was very exciting.

 

At this rate I might even persuade the members of Spectrum they want to do it again!

 

Some people even made themselves a special frock for the occasion!

 

I was given some lovely flowers and a gift voucher... why, I don't know, because all I do is boss them all around, but both were very much appreciated.

 

And today I've managed to relax and enjoy the sunshine and actually get some work done in the garden. All in all a darn good weekend!

 

And I haven't forgotten... the recipe for custard creams...

 

I'm not going to type it all out but I'll give you a link to The Boy Who Bakes which is the recipe I use. Just a couple of things I would add, first of all I like to cut out hearts rather than circles but that's just me, and secondly  that the filling is very stiff and you end up breaking as many biscuits as you actually fill, which is not really a problem because you get to eat the broken ones! I tried to pipe it like Ed suggests but the nozzle flew off my piping bag breaking yet another biscuit. So I tend to put a blob of icing on one biscuit and gently flatten it with my finger and then carefully wiggle the top biscuit into place but do not put any pressure on them AT ALL or you end up with a load of crumbs. Of course you could just make a softer butter cream icing by using half the amount of sugar but then you would have to eat the bscuits the same day that you fill them so they don't go soft. But on reflection that's not really a problem!

 

And the person who asked for the spongey sponge recipe... it is just a Victoria sponge baked in a mini sandwich tin.

No Time to Stop and Stare

Typical really, when life is full to the brim and there are dozens of things I think I'll share here, there's not a spare moment to stop and write a blog post. This week has seen back to back teaching including a weekend at Missenden Abbey, a University visit with youngest son and not much time for anything else in between and as a result the March edition of Workshop on the Web came out a whole week ago and I forgot to mention it includes an article from me!

 

 

You've seen the samples before but this is a chance to learn with step by step instructions how to make your own book cover decorated with "Graffiti Doodles"

 

Or even a cushion should you fancy it...

 

I'll also be teaching this technique as a day class at Art Van Go in Knebworth on Thursday April 3rd and at Art and Stitch in Peterborough on Saturday 3rd May.

 

And speaking of Art Van Go, I will be joining other members of Spectrum tomorrow to set up our exhibition:

An exhibition by

SPECTRUM

a group of ten contemporary textile artists mentored by Gina Ferrari

present new work inspired by the theme

"TRANSITIONS"

11th March - 5th April 2014

Art Van Go

1 Stevenage Road, Knebworth, Herts SG3 6AN

 

There will be lots of lovely new work to see including some fabulous "Round Robin" pieces where each member started a piece of work in the textile medium of their choice - some stitched, others printed or painted, patchworked or felted. These were then passed on to another member who could add or alter the original work in any way they liked. This was repeated twice more but the fourth member had to finish the work. It raised many interesting issues about ownership, letting go and working into someone elses work. Yet despite these sometimes uncomfortable feelings everyone agreed it had been a worthwhile experience resulting in some fabulous work. The Balloons and Sunflower cushion are just two of the pieces of work from our "Summer" Round Robin.

 

 

And these two wall hangings were the result of our "Black and White" round robin

 

 

Would love to see you at the exhibition and if you happen to be free on Saturday 15th March do join us for tea and cake at our Private View from 12 noon.

 

p.s. I forgot to mention that Terry was the winner of the Country Living tickets. Enjoy the day out with your daughter Terry... the tickets are in the post!

Play Time

My head seems all over the place at the moment... At the moment? Who am I kidding, I seem to have spent most of my adult life feeling like this. Too many differents things going on and too many things pulling me in different directions. Piles of stuff that need sorting out, deadlines to meet... and endless paperwork.

 

 

I'm finding it hard to focus on one thing or another and as I result I feel that I don't focus on anything very well... and all this goes on against the backdrop of usual family dramas ranging from panic attacks to flat batteries! (Neither of them mine I might add)

 

I'm not entirely sure what the answer is. There is nothing obvious I can give up or change so instead I'm trying to work in my sketchbooks... just a little each day. Nothing mind blowing or ground breaking... but just doing.

 

Last week at Spectrum we did mono printing so I've been cutting and sticking some of my images and making nice pages.

 

Taking time out from all the things that have to be done...

 

Time out to play.

Birthday Bunting

I crocheted some bunting.

 

 

I used some lovely Planet Penny crochet cotton which was fabulous to work with. I took bits and pieces from various patterns and combined them to get the look that I wanted, finishing it off with some of my dyed buttons (one batch of scarlet dye produced all these different reds and pinks)

 

I pondered over how to best photograph it... it's not easy to photograph bunting in order to show it off at its best you know.

 

And in the end I decided it looked best draped over my dresser... but it didn't stay there as it was not for me. It was for a special friend who had a birthday at the beginning of the week.

 

But I might have to make some for me too... because I like it on my dresser... and I have a bithday at the end of the week. And the world needs more bunting...

 

....and cake.

Birthday cake... for my friend and me!

 

We did share it with all the other ladies from Spectrum.

Since I was last here...

• I have spent a couple of days with my Mum who is recovering from vascular surgery. She is doing really well. Luckily her surgeon was one of the more successful ones in the recent public reporting about the performance of surgeons.
  

 

• I've taught another afternoon of Creative Sketchbooks and we played with masks and resists. Lots of fun.
   

• Spectrum had an outing to the Henry Moore foundation. It was wonderful. The weather was fine and there was much to see, made all the better for being there with friends. I liked the sheep.

• We celebrated a wedding anniversary. Nine years... where did they go so quickly?

 

• I've started a tapestry. It was a rash decision against my better judgement. But I've done it. And I've told you so now I'll have to finish it. (But secretly I rather like it)

• I've taught a class on making braids at Art and Stitch and each of the ladies completed some beautiful work. I think they had a good time too.

• Last night Gill and I completed another Starlight Walk. We agreed it was good fun and we will do it again. But this morning I'm struggling to remember a time when the simple act of putting one foot in front of another didn't make so many bits of me ache.

 

Funnily enough there hasn't been much time for cleaning bathrooms, ironing or even blogging but I will be back again soon (perhaps after I've cleaned the bathroom). And if you follow this blog with Google Reader please find another way of following me after tomorrow... because I would hate for you to go away.