ICHF Event’s Sewing for Pleasure / Embroidery, Fashion & Stitch / Hobbycraft 24/03/2013

Visiting exhibitions really motivates me. Whilst wandering around, I often feel the urge to rush back home and get crafty - they give me my fix, not to mention loads of ideas! I particularly enjoy a craft show, where it’s not only an exhibition, but also an opportunity to meet the artists, stock up on supplies and to spend a day (or two) among like-minded people. ICHF Event’s Sewing for Pleasure/Embroidery, Fashion & Stitch/Hobbycraft shows (3 shows in 1) at Birmingham’s NEC were no exception.

I didn’t buy a lot… I’ve bought so much in previous years, which I’m yet to do anything with, that I’m more restrained nowadays. I was on the look out for upholstery/interior fabrics for my bags, but in the end all I bought was a lamp and a rather brilliant greeting card by artist Michala Gyetvai, whose work absolutely blew me away…

Michala Gyetvai – A Winter’s Walk (Painting)
Photograph originally uploaded by Abby Swanwick

Michala’s work always starts as a sketch, in media such as oil pastel on coloured paper. She then develops this into a painting, a textile piece or in the case of the artworks above and below, both. 

Michala Gyetvai – Snow on snow 
Photograph originally uploaded by Abby Swanwick

The way she manipulates fibres and stitch to emulate the marks she makes on the page, leave me in absolute awe – both flow alike.
 

Michala Gyetvai – Rhapsody of Colour
Photograph originally uploaded by Abby Swanwick

I like the way Michala displays her work, mounted onto a canvas, which helps the piece to keep it’s undulating shape. Her use of colour is incredible, incorporating so many more shades than I would see in a scene like this, but so true. 

MichalaGyetvai – Rhapsody of Colour (details)

Photograph originally uploaded by Abby Swanwick

She embellishes either old blankets or her own handmade felt, before adding stitch by both hand and machine.  

MichalaGyetvai - A story within my stitches

Photograph originally uploaded by Abby Swanwick

  
To be quite honest, I struggled to tear myself away from Michala and her exhibition – as she too is so approachable. I’d love to have a go at working with felt, fibres and stitch the way she does, but I’ll never be able to create works as awesome as these!

Another artist whose work I stumbled across, and whom is one of my personal favourites, was Susan Chapman. Susan is always a joy to talk to, so free in her experimentation and forthcoming with her knowledge – I’m guaranteed to feel inspired following a visit to her exhibition/demonstration space.

SusanChapman’s exhibition/demonstration space

Photograph originally uploaded by Abby Swanwick

 

Susan Chapman
Photograph originally uploaded by Abby Swanwick

I’m drawn to works that incorporate people, whether that be drawn, painted, stitched or appliquéd etc, and it’s for this reason I was drawn to Susan’s work in the first place.

Susan Chapman
Photograph originally uploaded by Abby Swanwick

That was before she incorporated another love of mine... handwriting!

Susan Chapman
Photograph originally uploaded by Abby Swanwick

I’ll freely admit… I’m afraid of using colour within my work and although Susan isn’t, I really like that these artworks are simply black and white!

 

Susan Chapman
Photograph originally uploaded by Abby Swanwick

In addition to the work on display, Susan encouraged passers-by to sign their name on to pieces of plain white cotton for use in a piece of collaborative work… I couldn’t let this opportunity go by, (bottom right) not when I was signing the same piece of fabric as Ineke Berlyn and Edwina MacKinnon (whose work I also admire/adore).

The work of many other artists caught my eye, however, I can’t possibly mention them all, else we’d both be here forever… so for my final offering, I give you textile group, Studio 21. 

Studio 21 - Chinese Whispers
Photograph originally uploaded by Abby Swanwick

I was drawn in by these pieces, created in response to sound. You can tell can’t you?! I like the simplicity in the raw edges, the straight lines and the minimal use of colour. 

Studio 21 - Chinese Whispers
Photograph originally uploaded by Abby Swanwick

I appreciate the three-dimensional quality to this work. Again you can see the subtle influence of sound, in both the mark making and the form. 

Studio 21 - Chinese Whispers
Photograph originally uploaded by Abby Swanwick

These pieces remind me of samplers (they may well be samplers). They’re a great idea to trial a stitch or an idea on a small scale.

It’s fair to say that if I could only afford to visit one show next year, then ICHFEvent’s Sewing for Pleasure/Fashion, Embroidery and Stitch/Hobbycraft at Birmingham’s NEC would be it. It caters for all crafters and is much more manageable in size… definitely quality over quantity!

Now all I need is find some time to have a play…

Thanks for dropping by :-)

Abby 

'Sew'... I finally found time

Despite having a 'To Do' list the length of my arm at the beginning of the week, I actually managed to make time to sew!

Excuse the rather 'off-the-cuff' photo, but I thought you might like a peek at the trial designs for my up and coming Autumn collection...

Trial designs for my up and coming Autumn collection
Photograph originally uploaded by Abby Swanwick

I'd love to hear what you think/would like to see, so please feel free to leave a comment.

Thanks for dropping by...

Abby

Print Club (Intermediate) 10.03.2013

Apologies for not having posted in over two weeks, the day job has been somewhat getting in the way… a double-edged sword! However, T and I still managed to find the time to undertake Iain Perry’s (aka Print Garage) Intermediate Print Club last Sunday. This time, rather than printing using paper stencils, we exposed our designs onto the screens using a light sensitive emulsion. T went ready prepared, having designed for his screen on the computer, but I’ve been so busy, I had no choice but to wing it by hand… it’s more fun that way.

Design development

(Left) Photograph courtesy of Toby Lea
(Right) Photograph originally uploaded by Abby Swanwick

Once again, I went along armed with photographs from my trip to New York some five years ago. By tracing from these, I developed a design incorporating the repetition of the Chrysler building, overlaid with an illustration of Brooklyn Bridge and an authentic New York-style lamp/sign post.

Deciding on which elements should be which colour – planning my screens/layers/separations

Photograph courtesy of Toby Lea

The brief was to create a print, using at least two colours, but using only one A3 screen. Therefore, each colour separation/layer could be no bigger than A4 in size and would sit side-by-side (slightly unconventional, but both effective where cost and time are concerned – so why not?!). This meant we either had to use registration marks (small crosses in the same place on each layer) to line up the separations, or be content with lining it up by eye. 

Tracing my design out onto the acetate 

Photograph courtesy of Toby Lea

If the truth be told, I took so long in designing and tracing my design onto the acetate (ready for exposure), that for once I was content with lining the elements up by eye… very unlike me!!!

We traced our designs onto special acetate using black markers, so as the light wouldn’t penetrate the emulsion/screen below where we’d drawn, during exposure. 

Two of my three colour separations, Magenta & Cyan

Photograph originally uploaded by Abby Swanwick

We used the same print beds, screens, squeegees and ink as we did during printclub for beginners. I decided I’d repeat the image of the Chrysler building three times, in three colours. Two of the separations were of the same silhouette-type image, for which I reused the one screen twice, by washing it out in between colours and repositioning the paper, rather than exposing the same design onto a screen twice. I simply had to use cyan (turquoise) as one of my two colours since it’s my favourite – can you tell? By overlaying the magenta (pink) with the cyan, I was able to achieve purple too – a free colour as it were!

The third of my three colour separations, Black

 Photograph originally uploaded by Abby Swanwick

The third, a more detailed illustration, was effectively my second ‘screen’ - although both designs actually resided side-by-side on the one screen. I’m really impressed that such a fine, hand-drawn line printed so well on this layer – love it!

Finished print

Photograph originally uploaded by Abby Swanwick

I adore this print – even if I do say so myself. It will definitely be going up on the wall! Finally I’ve done something with those mementos from New York and what’s more, Iain‘s Print Club has given us the perfect grounding to get set up at home. T and I can’t wait – just watch this space...

You can see the work of the other students who took the intermediate workshop (including T’s delorean) here.

To see the work created during previous Print Club events, click here… and then why not sign up for yourself?!

Whats on... March 2013

Mini-egg cookies, before & after.
Photograph originally uploaded by Abby Swanwick

There's not a lot that I can actually show you this week, as I've been working on the secret commission that I mentioned in my previous post. However, I'm pleased to announce that yesterday, I both finished AND photographed it... so watch this space!!! In the meantime, I thought you might enjoy casting your eye over these delicious mini-egg cookies, that T and I made last weekend, (so delicious - they've all gone!).

Anyhow, I thought I'd mention a few (or 10) exhibitions showing in March, that caught my eye. I'll be popping along to (and posting about) as many as possible... so if you're looking for something to do this month, then why not check them out for yourself:

Until 9^th March 2013, ‘FourFront’ - Manchester Craft and Design Centre

Until 10^th March 2013, ‘Talking Textiles’ - Shire Hall Gallery, Stafford

Until 10^th March 2013, ‘Telling Tales’ - Shire Hall Gallery, Stafford

Until 23^rd March 2013, ‘World Eco Fibre & Textile (WEFT) Art’ - The Brunei Gallery, Russell Square, London

28^th Feb - 25^th May 2013, ‘Traditional Twisted’ - Unit Twelve, Stafford

1^st-3^rd March 2013, ‘Knit & Stitch it 2013’ – FIVE, Farnborough

1^st March – 28^th Apr 2013, ‘Local Attraction’ - Ferrers Gallery, Ashby De La Zouch,

Leicestershire

14^th-17^th March 2013, ‘The Spring Knitting and Stitching Show’ - Olympia Two and West Hall, London

16^th March 2013, ‘World Textile Day’ - Minerva Arts Centre, Llanidloes, Wales

21^st-24^th March 2013, ‘Sewing for Pleasure’, ‘Fashion Embroidery & Stitch’ and‘Hobbycrafts’ (3 shows for the price of 1) – NEC, Birmingham

Nowhere near you?! Then visit the excellent websites below, for possible listings in your area:

www.textilesociety.org.uk

www.craftanddesign.net

www.twistedthread.com


Thank for dropping by and 'Happy Friday' :)

Abby x

Print Club (Beginners) 10.02.2013

T has always wanted to have a go at screen-printing – in fact this was one of the first conversations we had when we met (having realised we have similar interests and creative backgrounds). I’ve printed before, both at university and then at college on the foundation diploma, however I’ve been looking for a low-tech, cleaner solution, enabling me to print on both paper and fabric at home. Therefore, I booked T and I onto Iain Perry’s (aka Print Garage) PrintClub for beginners, held at Jennifer Collier’s Unit Twelve, for T’s birthday.

We received a warm welcome on a cold, wet Sunday, from both Jennifer and Iain, and he quickly set to work with a demonstration: showing us how to cut paper stencils, with which we would make our prints, (as opposed to exposing screens). Although I’d done this before, Iain’s induction was not only perfect for jogging my memory, but also for picking up alternative tips and tricks. What’s more, his incorporation of a simple yet sturdy print bed, (not something I’d used at college), offers the option to achieve prints of more than one colour, due to the ability to align each colour separation with the previous (registration)– something I’d not known was achievable with this process. Furthermore, Iain removes the cost and the hassle of buying specialist screen-printing inks, by adding a printing medium to acrylic paint (and yes, there is one available for use on fabric too!!!).

Meanwhile, Jennifer was very attentive with plenty of hot drinks (including decaffeinated coffee and earl grey), biscuits and encouragement. Unit Twelve was the perfect workshop space (albeit a little cold), offering everything you could need and more: aprons, umbrellas and inspiration from the gorgeous work of both the artists’ in residence and the regularly changing exhibitions.

Now I don’t want to give much more away regarding the actual process, for I highly recommend you try Iain’s Print Club for yourself, but I thought you might like to see what I achieved…

Upon booking the workshop, we were advised to bring inspiration with us to draw from, therefore I took along photographs, and mementos such as tickets, collected during my trip to New York, five years ago (I’ve been meaning to do something creative with them ever since). I had hopes of producing several different prints during the 6 hours, therefore initially selected to reproduce a graphic of the Empire State building, believing that this, in a single colour, would be a good/simple starting point to reacquaint myself with the process. 

Plan
Photograph originally uploaded by Abby Swanwick

However, upon beginning to draw my design onto newsprint, I quickly realised (as per usual with anything I seem to do) this wasn’t going to be as simple a task as I’d first thought. The lines I needed to cut, were too close together and even if I were to manage it, (unlikely), the stencil would be too fragile to achieve an accurate print.

Stencil/Screen 01
Photograph originally uploaded by Abby Swanwick

Iain moved around the room, discussing our ideas with us and providing expert advice based on his experience with the method. He therefore suggested that I separate my image into what would be two or more stencils, allowing space between the design elements and the opportunity to print using multiple colours – something I wouldn’t have thought to do myself.

Unfortunately, printing with a paper stencil doesn’t allow the most accurate/delicate of outcomes, especially where type/letterforms are concerned, but you can create a quirk about your work that’s not so achievable with a light-exposed screen.

Stencil/Screen 02
Photograph originally uploaded by Abby Swanwick

Not that you can tell from this photo and despite being a bit nervy, I did venture into the unknown and print with a second colour – all be it grey!

Finished print
Photograph originally uploaded by Abby Swanwick

I have to say, I was very pleasantly surprised by the outcome/combination of the two stencils… (excited enough to seek T and squeak at him!). I love the art deco feel to my print. What’s more, the grey alongside the black gives depth to the image, suggesting an optical illusion.

I now look forward/feel able to take what I’ve learnt at Print Club, combine it with my pre-existing knowledge and have a play in the comfort of my own home… with some fabric! (as this process is suitable for printing on both paper and fabric - with the correct medium). This doesn’t mean to say I’m not looking forward to Intermediate Print Club on 10^th March; T has also booked himself on to it and we cannot wait! I’m looking forward to the possibilities that exposing a screen will offer in addition to what I’ve learnt here.

You can see the work of the other students who took the beginners workshop (including T’s interabang) here. I particularly like Kate Johnston's pinecone!

To see the work created during previous Print Club events, click here… and then why not sign up for yourself?! (includes a deliciously generous slab of cake…)

I just popped by...

Photograph originally uploaded by Abby Swanwick

to share my excitement, at having won a giveaway from Craftseller magazine, (a great publication containing copyright-free projects and lots of great advice in regards to selling your handmade crafts - the only magazine I actually read from cover to cover!) for a free screen-printing workshop with Iain Perry at Print Garage. I literally never win anything!!! What's more, it's a complete coincidence that I've just completed the basic print club workshop with Iain, held at Jennifer Collier's Unit Twelve (more to come about this...) therefore I was able to book myself straight onto the intermediate follow-up session in a months time - for free! Happy days :-)

So much to do-so little time!

You could be forgiven for thinking I’ve been slacking, but this couldn’t be further from the truth! Apologies for not having checked in with you during the last fortnight, (when I’d promised to pop in weekly – I’m not doing very well am I?!) only it’s been all hands on deck these last four weeks, to prepare for T’s best friend’s wedding. Rest assured I have still been crafting – however the creations were somewhat different to the norm!

First of all, I was asked to sculpt some dinosaur wedding cake toppers (odd I know, but it all made sense once I’d heard the readings during the ceremony) from fimo (coloured, oven baked clay) inspired by the work of Jennifer Walker (hence you won’t see these for sale on my website, as I have made them as a one-off gift only, so as not to tread on anyone’s toes) – not something I’ve ever done before, but I was up for the challenge! However I soon regretted showing such willing, as each one took literally hours to perfect (and perfect they had to be, since it was me making them!!), not to mention the frustration involved with sculpting one to look like the other (brideosaurus lost her head at one point…). Non-the-less, I’m really pleased with the outcome, and the bride was delighted with her ‘cake’ (I say cake, but it was actually cheese…) toppers.

Photographs originally uploaded by Abby Swanwick

My second and final creative endeavor in aid of the wedding, was my fascinator. Just where do you buy them?! I looked and looked, but any I found were either the wrong colour, or quite frankly hideous. What’s more I loathe paying for any item I’m capable of making myself. Therefore I took a cheery little trip to Hobbycraft to purchase a comb, a faux purple rose, purple feathers and some tulle, and set to work. This project too, took far longer than I’d expected and I was rather worried that the finished piece was a little on the large side (as I dislike wearing hats/items on my head as it is), but T managed to talk me into wearing it on the day-and what’s more I received many compliments… so it was well worth it.

Photographs originally uploaded by Abby Swanwick

If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter, (bear with me, I’m still learning-advice welcomed) or you’ve visited my website lately, then you may have seen that one day, during the bad weather, (the first lot) T and I were snowed in; therefore I took the opportunity to put the Christmas presents he lovingly, yet painstakingly hand-crafted for me, to good use. 

(Incorporating not only my love of knitting, but also my love of stars and the colour turquoise, I simply adore my new knitting needles!)

Photographs originally uploaded by Abby Swanwick

Photographs courtesy of Toby Lea

At this point in time, they’re not available to buy online, but snoods can be knit to order in almost any colour of your chosing for £22. Suitable for both men and women they’re made from beautifully variegated, acrylic yarn (for I don’t know about you, but wool brings me out in rash). * End of shameless advertising *

           

And finally to mention, I’ve received my very first commission! I can’t tell you too much at this point in time, as I promised my client the first peak and what’s more I don’t want to spoil the surprise for the recipient of this gift. Therefore, watch this space…

Once again, thanks for stopping by… I’ve got lots coming up, so be sure to check back for what I hope to be, far more regular updates.

Abby x