Caught with Camera at the K&S Show on Saturday

That was a great day at the K&S show – thanks to all who came for your great company. I took lots of (indifferent) pictures as record shots – to tell the truth I was a bit shy about taking any pictures even when I had asked permission and I nearly dropped my camera when, as I framed up the third knitted flying duck, a stern voice behind me ‘Hey, no photographs PLEASE!’. I muttered nervous apologies only to find the voice came from a giggling Jennifer – I should have known!

So, here are a few pictures – just a selection of the many exhibits that appealed to me. Obviously, the Julia Caprara exhibition was truly gorgeous but I'm guessing everyone took piccies of that so I have only included one of hers here (at the top - not a typical one, as far as that exhibition showed).

Knitting and Stitiching expo

Hi all, I have uploaded some photos onto my blog for you to look at, I will also try to upload a few onto this blog, however, I have got stressed enough uploading them onto my blog!

Please take a look they came out quite well

Anita

http://englishtudorrose.blogspot.com/

Oh! What fun I am having!

Following my experiment in trapping and sewing down various coloured and textured yarns under some organdie, I am on the next chapter of the ‘Beginner’s Guide to Machine Embroidery’ and having great fun. This piece starts with cutting scrunched up pieces of various coloured and textured fabrics into scraps and pieces and dropping them on to a plain fabric background; catching them down quickly with some plain stitching – in gold thread in this example.

Then, using various metallic and fancy threads and variable widths and lengths of zigzag stitch, the pieces gradually become a textured, coloured montage.

The instructions include ‘when you think you have done enough stitching, just a little more is required! Add a few more lines, ensure all the fragments of applied fabrics are secure and stitched down, then add one more line of stitching – and it will be finished’. This has a familiar ring so maybe it will become my mantra.

I think I have some more lines to do consider this just a work in progress.

Talking Textiles

On Wednesday we went to Braintree for the first time to visit Braintree Museum and the 'Talking Textiles' exhibition put on by EAST. There is a charge for entry but Iwas able to go in for half price due to my student card!

The exbition is in quite a small space but it is not overcrowded and it is full of interest. everything is beautifully and professionally presented.

I liked everything in the exhibition but if pressed I would admit that my most favourites were the pictures worked by Delia Pusey on home made paper based on myths and legends. They have an oriental/fairytale feel. The work of Libby Smith is collaged with words and layers and very much appeals to me. Both of them did work that I would have liked to have done, so much so that I bought a small piece by Delia; an impulse buy I will not regret!

Carol Dixon displayed work based on her grandfather's shed and Lorna Rand had made kimonos using graffiti photographed in Prague and transferred onto fabric. Both are themes I am interested in and I was lucky enough to be able to have a long chat with Lorna about her work.

The exhibition closes on 16 October and I would thoroughly recommend it. (Warning to my fellow stitchers, the exhibition contains tassels! very good ones too.)

I also went to the Warner Textile Archive. I was able to look again at work by EAST based on the archive which was at the Knitting and Stitching Show last year. I had a quick look at the archive but it was overcrowded with a group having a guided tour. the archive closed for the year on 30 September and re-opens in June 2011