Get Plastered. Get Stuffed. Books by Maggie Smith

Get Plastered. Plaster, print and stitch      Get Stuffed. Shape, stuff and stitch

both by Maggie Smith

The first of these books, Get Plastered, describes the technique Maggie has developed, using plaster and paint, to add texture to her work. She sets out the information in a clear step by step way, then shows examples of hers and other peoples work using the technique. The results are effective, leaving me wishing for a spare day to have a play.

The other book, Get Stuffed, is a modern take on quilting, English, Italian and Trapunto, using mainly architectural details as inspiration. This part of the book formed the basis of a very enjoyable Day School the other week. I expect some of you will have seen the samples produced at a Saturday meeting. The second half of this book demonstrates some of the thought processes and experiments Maggie worked through to produce her range of dolls. It has a section on producing 3D vessels and sculptures. She also suggests different ways to colour and treat the samples produced, going back to some of the techniques in her first book.

As she says, the first book was about creating surface texture, the second one is about using pattern and shape to create raised surfaces and 3D elements on fabric.

I've finished the Get Stuffed sample, just need to get going on the Get Plastered one!

Monday Workshop

The workshop Monday 13th April is going to be an unstructured one. We will be passing on the Travelling Books and making up some Pound Bags for the NE Regional Day in May. If you have any bits and pieces, threads and/or fabrics,buttons, beads, etc that you no longer want bring them along. We could add to them from the donated threads in our cupboards and make up inspirational type bags to sell on the day. If none of this appeals then bring along some of your own work to keep your fingers busy while we chat.

At the following workshop, Monday 11th May, Barbara Schorah is going to start us on a small Hardanger sample. More details nearer the time.

CREATIVE CRAFTS SATURDAY 28th MARCH, 2015.

CREATIVE CRAFTS at Gateshead Leisure Centre on Saturday 28 th March, 2015   9.30am-3pm.

One stop crafters paradise
A professional show, offering those hard to find supplies not readily available on the high street. A good selection of both national and local exhibitors selling all things crafty.  From Patchwork & Quilting, Beads, Buttons, Ribbons, Card Making & Paper Crafts, Stamping, Scrap Booking, Wool, Fabric, Jewellery, Bags, Scarves, Linen and much more.....

Gateshead Leisure Centre. NE8 4JA (next to Gateshead Library)

Tickets £3.50 on the door  (under 14's free if acc by an adult)

Facilities  All on one level, good disabled access.  Cafe facilities.

Travel  Car Parking - free but limited, alternatively car parking at Civic Centre (£1 all day) with shuttle bus running every 15 mins to Leisure Centre.  Nearest Metro Gateshead Interchange.  Bus 52, Stand K runs every 15 mins.

For more information:
initialjcreativecrafts.co.uk       01661886814

STITCH CHALLENGE

  
We had a most enjoyable morning on Monday 9th February, 2015 for our workshop.
Carole Hood our workshop organizer had sorted three bags of words.  1.  Name of stitch. Cretan, herringbone, buttonhole, fly or chain.  2.  Shape of stitch. Regular or irregular.  3. Movement of stitch.  Diagonal, circular, meandering, haphazard, horizontal, square or vertical.






There were a few moans and groans from those of us who got regular - we can't do regular!!

It was surprisng what different effects were produced in under two hours.  So many varieties of colours, shapes, stitches.  To show how popular it was was we are repeating the class for next month which will be Monday 9th March.

Linda Danby - Cretan stitch, regular and square.

Carole Hood - Herringbone, Meandering, Irregular.

Stitch Magic

 I was going to save this review until later but in view of the next content of the next  Monday Workshop I thought it would be relevant now. This book has proved to be a most inspirational book. Jan Beaney  and Jean Littlejohn take stitch and thread and transform them. It is not a new book but I feel has become an exciting reference source carrying on from where Constance Howard left off. The authors assume that the reader knows how to sew the basic stitch but shows how the same stitch can look so different depending on how it is used. I like the 'Stitch Challenge' pages and wonder if this could be developed into a game of stitch 'Consequences' at a Monday Workshop. I would love to see comments from anyone else who has used this book.

Star Letter

Was wondering what to write as our next blog when along comes Stitch, Your Letters, Star Letter and Gill Roe(Guisborough EG). Well done Gill! The letter is about a piece of work that Gill made having been inspired by a Monday workshop about Dorset buttons. She says she found covering the rings with thread very therapeutic and something she could do whilst watching TV. With impeccable timing her letter arrived in time to be included in the copy of Stitch which had an article describing a project very similar to Gill's piece. We have a celebrity in our midst!

Monday Workshop

Monday Workshop 9th Feb is a Stitch Challenge! The idea is to explore a basic stitch in all manner of ways. Should be fun. You will need to bring: some fabric: threads in as many different thicknesses as you can, fabric and threads to look good together: basic sewing kit; embroidery hoop; needles to fit your threads. Sounds like a good follow on to last months workshop