A snippet more...

Don't know how but I seem to have missed Jane's beautiful work off the blog yesterday, sorry Jane.

So here it is...

sample on the left and work in progress on the right by Jane

Back soon
Sue

Just a few snippets...

We haven't been posting on such a regular basis lately, but have no fear we are all working hard on our new projects. Just to prove it here are some snaps from this weeks meeting...

sketch book samples by Debbie

sketch book samples by Debbie

work in progress by Margaret G

work in progress by Liz

Work in progress by Rosemary

sketch book samples by Rosemary

sketch book samples by Barbara

I think you'll agree there are interesting topics and beautiful work in the making. Thanks for taking the time to join us, I'll be back soon with my progress so far.

Bye for now
Sue

“I SEE NO SHIPS”

I decided to use silk again for this piece so started by painting  some.  I then got some sequin waste and stencilled onto some of the silk using acrylic paint. I made a foam stamp and printed onto another piece of silk but this time with fabric paint. Finally I made a feather stencil from plastic and used Markal sticks.

Next I frayed some of the edges and patched the pieces together.  I wanted to appliqué the seagull but instead of using fabric decided to use the Tall Ships Souvenir Edition of the West Briton for the body, and for the wing I used the Falmouth Tide Chart for the week of the Regatta.  To make these more resilient I crumpled them up several times and doused them with a good coating of acrylic wax.  I used a fine machine needle so that I wouldn’t get large holes when stitching. Adding a bit of colour and an eye brought it alive.

I machine quilted the piece managing to incorporate some metallic thread for that bit of bling that I love.

Finally I added some text to finished the whole thing off.

I’m please with the end result.

Janex

Happy New Year to all...

After two weeks getting rid of bad cough and cold, I have at last got myself into gear and started my new project based on the traditional foods of cornwall... here is my first attempt to do something about Cornish Cream!

Feels good to have made a start at last - my plan is to do lots of sample pieces to remind myself of techniques I have learnt, and also try some new ones!

This piece was made on handmade silk paper made with cocoon strippings, painted with Koh-i-noor and then appliqued and machine embroidered. The table cloth is vintage and given to me by my cousin Franny who was clearing her stash prior to moving house.

Best wishes, Chris

Season Greetings

Merry Christmas Dear Reader from us all at Textile Maids.

Thank you for taking the time to read our blog throughout the year, we appreciate your company.

Wishing you a joyful festive season and a happy & creative New Year.

Best wishes 

Sue and The Maids

Meeting together

Hello again
We had a really lovely day on Wednesday. Seven Maids round the new table layout which meant that instead of paired tables down each side of the hall they were in a large square with the Maids looking toward each other. It worked really well and meant that during the show and tell session those that wished to could keep sewing. I liked it very much. There is not a lot of work to show yet as everyone is busy researching their chosen theme but what we are seeing looks very interesting indeed. It is great that we have been inspired in very different directions but within the overall confines of Cornwall.
I am looking forward to seeing how Chris tackles her choice of Traditional Cornish Food and Jenni's Portraits is really intriguing.
I took a photo of some of the samples being worked on. There should have been a piece of 'shrink polyester' work but Debbie had an iron malfunction so maybe next time.
Keep looking, the Maids will be blogging in from time to time and once again, Thank you for reading.
Margaret

November session

ST. MICHAELS MOUNT

DAWN BREAKING

I lost my way a bit this month, my mind has been a buzz with ideas and I am guilty of starting several projects without finishing off one first.  So you can imagine my cupboards and drawers are empty and all my textile and art stuff is out on the spare bed, the table, oops even the floor.  The beige carpet got covered with bright turquoise Brusho powder.  Which took my husband days with the aquavac and gallons of water to reduce to a shadow.

I had an idea to do St Michaels Mount in the sunset.  So off we went to get some pictures. It was a miserable day but all of a sudden the sun came out, bright behind the island in a strange watery light throwing it into a silhouette even though it was daytime.  

 

So out went the oranges that I intended to use, and instead I painted some Water Taffeta with pale blues, pink and purples.

 

I added a silhouette of the island, a boat and grasses (artistic licence).

 

I did get to the point of lacing and framing it - but badly, so I have now to do that again because I am not pleased with it at all. 

But it seems to have been put on the back boiler because my weird fish have taken over.

 

Janex