Lockdown work

The sun is shining and things are improving finally. Some of you have been taking advantage of having extra time to work.

Thank you Debbie for your lovely photographs. 

The three pieces consist of  a hand embroidered folder for Debbie's Yoga books. The books are a little "ragged" in appearance and needed protection. A book cover on felt for a book Debbie is very fond of which was becoming very fragile. Finally a bag, made from an unwanted, donated piece of material.

                                        

 

Debbie is a big fan of blue, hand embroidery and felt. Just in case you may have been unsure 😉

Thank you Debbie for brightening our day.

How are we?

It's been a traumatic year for the country, indeed for the world, and it's impact upon us all is immeasurable. 

It's very hard in these difficult days, to be creative for some of us but some have managed to find joy with stitch.

Thank you Annie for your pictures which have brightened up my day. Annie was inspired after a recent visit to Moseley Old Hall. The inspiration came from a gentleman's hat from the Stuart period.

I hope you can find peace and joy by being creative in any of it's many forms. 

Thank you Annie. 

Stay safe everyone, 

Jude xxx

March 26th, 2020

I never thought I would say these words...

"closed until further notice."

However, in the words of dancer Twyla Tharp...

"Art is the only way to run away

Without leaving home."

Be safe everyone 

Jude 💕

"Marching On..."

The weather outside may be frightful and the conditions may be hazardous to our health, but for 12 of us 'Connect in Threads' led us here as usual...like the Windmill; we never close

Progress is being made on the 'Hand' project

Margaret Bos has a lovely subtle rendition using print and stitch

Lillian's 'A Bird in the Hand is worth two in the Bush' will be hand embroidered in tones of brown

Janet C is hand embroidering her 3D hand with black cottons

Dina has enjoyed drawing her left hand from observation today with brilliant results

Debbie's hand will be in this great colourscheme using felt

Ruth's hands are being hand embroidered but there is more to come...possibly the rings and maybe cuffs at the wrists? The background is a great addition to this piece

Ruth is also working on her 'Vanishing Bee' project. Maybe with the help of Reduction paste, more of the final bees can be distressed and erased?

We all love Annie's Colour Books - (they smell wonderful of varnish)

Meanwhile, Annie's work has moved to a large, bright felt hanging

Alma's charity work today for shipment to USA are these knitted angels

Margaret Bos is near completion of these 2 lovely hand embroidered, appliqued vintage fabric pieces for her daughters

Elise's work from a Guild workshop in mixed media using paint, stitch and paper

Elise is also working this lovely flower head...

...and this weaving trapped in soluble fabric will be machine embroidered

Elaine's grand-daughters are extremely fortunate to have these wonderfully stitched needlecases - all in tent stitch from 'bits of thread to be thrown out'.

Elaine's indigo table cover is stunning and nearing completion. It will be edged in red for a dramatic effect

Congratulations to Amy, daughter of Margaret Bos for passing her finals. Amy loves doughnuts and now she has a cushion "The world is your Doughnut".

Di is working on a small table cover in patchwork

Such talent is always a pleasure to witness and share each month.

Thank you for attending today ladies, despite the circumstances.

Jude

"You need Hands" February 2020

 Jude introduced the new group project - preserving our individual hand prints in textiles. We will all tackle the idea in our own style of work.

 Sylvia's playing with design ideas

 Margaret has begun on fabric with a henna inspired pattern

Ruth's is also on fabric. Fabric printed hands on a great background 

Sketching began

Janet has padded a glove and has begun to hand embroider the lines of interest 

Annie is working in her own colourful way with hand appliqué

Pages from Annie's Colour Books - there are 3 books

More colour! Elaine's tiny stitches

All made from a thread box heading for the bin

Elise is working on "Lord of the Rings" project 

Dawn 

Dawn's delicate piece follows a Suzette Smart workshop

Joy continues her enamelled ceramics piece 

Cheryl's family pages on fabric with embellishment and stitch

Pat D continued her cushion 

Gill is using fabric prints on black for greeting cards

Dina is enjoying designing for the leaves project

Close-up, working in the negative space

Jude's bird drawings for a travelling sketch book

 

Pat P has begun a stitch diary in a 12" hoop

Debbie's story of her curtains which have travelled from home to home, now find a new life potentially as a book cover "Every Picture tells a Story"

Margaret Bos is working on aged fabric pieces for her daughters 

Pat W was working on this wonderful colourful quilt before she died. 

We are now finishing it off by taking it in turns to hand stitch 'in the ditch'. It will then be given back to Pat's family. 

Thank you ladies 

Jude x