Winter Solstice…

 

 

 

 

 

Keeping warm…

Chill from the windows – draughty, too cold! Some make-shift curtains called for.

I found some calico and treated us to some fleecy interlining

A little bit of unpicking as I remembered I had a ‘walking foot’ to smoothe the stitching!

I tend to learn by making mistakes – in making I work out how to make! So I kind of find myself having a go – unpicking – re-thinking and re-working and something emerges as I work – it isn’t the ideal way but it is is my way of understanding. That process was wonderfully captured in this image – a blur of thinking, making, re-making

Some tabs to run along the cord – ad hoc ‘rail’ – red bias binding left over from Christmas – cheerful and why not?!

Ooh – they work! A week now and creeping down in the early morning light it is true – warmer and a sense of achievement – they may be make-shift but I made them and they work and we are warmer!

Caring with crochet

It started with winter present making and a desire to keep loved ones warmly held

And, yes, loving the chunky texture and ‘big-stitch’ look of big wool after delicate thread stitching!

Crochet is wonderfully rhythmic and I don’t feel stressed about any un-picking like in knitting, as one tug on the strand and it easily unravels so I can remake stitches.The repetitive action relaxes my mind – back to the meditative again and those interesting connections!

There was a continuation too – the finishing of a small random blanket from bits and pieces of leftover wool that someone had watched ‘in the making’..

Some research into making mittens brought me quickly back to Attic 24 and I so enjoy the colourful joy here! Christmas night had me finishing a pair of these till 2am – hey ho – I had made a mistake and didnt see it until I laughed at the resulting muddle – quietly though, as everyone was sleeping! I am fascinated and intrigued that the children in my family then got so involved and enjoyed the designing and decisions they could make in requesting neck warmers and mittens for me to make for them during the rest of our stay. They shared the mistakes, the problem solving, their thoughts about colour, and watching the process and this was as much a part of giving as the ready finished gift… why do we worry so about these matters of presents, when actually I realised this ‘making’ time was what was a memorable delight ..

Bobble edge courtesy of Attic 24 – SO easy and flowing to follow for someone like me who often finds patterns really hard and frustrating to understand

And so to sew – next time the trials and tribulations of keeping warm and of some very ad hoc curtain making! Oh, and in the background new exhibition work brewing in my mind…

 

inching along

I am part of a ‘quilt challenge’ – a fragment piece every couple of months with each person having chosen a theme secretly and a blog to share work! I like the difference creative play on an unexpected theme gives – have a look at the first offerings here

the first piece – soft fine turban cotton layered with bamboo wadding, silk threads for hand stitch, charcoal free machined, pen drawing…

the feel of the layers, the slow smooth stitching together creating those textures

the drawing of grasses and earth showing through and threads cut, drifting in the air

hand stitched knots – flakes floating down

coral stitch frame for defining an edge and leaving edges floating

the memory of a walk

capturing an experience – the sound of birdsong, energy of small darting feathers seeking food, trickling water, sharp cold enlivening the senses

 

 

 

 

 

water meadow snow walk

The same walk – along the water meadows early in the morning to capture the fleeting snowfall

After the silence there is birdsong and darting movement, the sound of snow melting, trickling then gently streaming

Crackle of ice underfoot, sharp cold that invigorates the senses

Observing the changes the blanket brings to the landscape

The urgency to catch the sights, sounds, feel of these moments before they disappear

A white little egret in a tree…

The sluice gate had a vibrant energy I wanted to catch into my creative process!

an in-between time

March and half way through the first quilt making for a little project called ‘inching along’ – more when this is ready to share…

An in-between place and time, a ‘there and not there’ place and a need to capture ‘winter’ (the first theme) in ideas and samples with the days growing lighter, warmer – though this may still turn back, and the mists are beautiful…

Thoughts – warmth, layers, snow-covering, comforter quilts, texture and touch, changing light, calm shapes and colours, half hidden under covers

And then, a walk in the snow

Snow that changed and hid part of what was there, and then melted fast

I did some drawings

And now, the warmth of special bamboo wadding from Kay, some fine turban cotton the bright white of snow – white silk thread to catch, hold and texture, layers (always layers), and charcoal to bring through the hidden ground.. and some threads loose and waiting..

samples towards a finished piece