A blog about making art and other things using cloth, paper, paint, colour, stitch, and all sorts of exciting techniques, some of which I'm sure I still have to discover! I hope that the joy all this gives me is visible in what you can see here.

Monday 24 November 2014

'Around the World' blog post!

Something a little different from my usual post this Monday morning, an 'Around The World' blog post.
Janet McElroy asked me to follow on today from her blog post last Monday, and you can see some of her wonderful patchwork and quilting here

I have met Jan in person a couple of times at the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham, but we first met through a website sponsored by Popular Patchwork magazine, and from the start I just knew she was going to be a really fun, as well as
 talented and enthusiastic lady. Her quilting especially is just magnificent, and I am in awe of how prolific she is! I dare you to hop over to her blog, you'll not regret it, I promise.

Before introducing some of the blogs that I enjoy, here is a little bit about what I am working on at the moment. After buying myself a Gelli plate a few weeks ago, I am enjoying experimenting with paint and paper, as well as cloth, but I find that if I produce a paper piece that I like, it's easy to take a photo of it, and then print it out onto some canvas ready for stitch. Here is my latest, a robin in the snow! Brrrrr.


Although I started out with patchwork and quilting about 15 years ago, I soon began to investigate 'art quilts', and now I would describe what I do as more mixed media. I really enjoy using paint, crayons and fabric dye for surface decoration on my work, as well as plenty of free machine stitch. Mind you, I'm not too sure that my sewing machine is very happy about this!

Now that I'm retired, I have lots more time to indulge in my craft, and it has become so important to my life, that I can't imagine how it would be not to disappear into my sewing room everyday, and to focus all my energy into my work. I find I get quite grumpy if I go a day or two without it, so maybe it's become almost an addiction!



Last thing at night, before I sleep, I think about what I've been working on, and the following morning, I usually start the day by having a soak in the bath, and a good think about where I'm at, and the best way forward with whatever I'm working on.

The person who is going to be following on from me Next Monday 1st December, is Tessa Spanton. I have known Tessa for many years, mainly through our shared interest in art, and Tessa produces some really wonderful silk paintings, and also silk scarves, ties and jewellery. Click here to take you to her blog, and enjoy feasting your eyes on her beautiful works of art.
Tessa also regularly writes articles for Leisure Painter magazine, and teaches watercolour as well as silk painting.

I must also take this opportunity to give my son Ben a mention. He is an extraordinarily talented designer/maker of fine furniture, and restorer of antique furniture. He doesn't have a blog, but his website is a must, http://www.benstonardfinefurniture.co.uk/
I hope you have enjoyed this ramble, and the links to others blogs/websites I have included. 

7 comments:

  1. Hi Cath, what a fabulous post you have done and I am so pleased you linked to your Son as I am in awe of his work, roll on winning the lottery. I love what you are up to with the Gelli plates, just the sound of them makes me smile. The robins are brilliant. Your work is like Maggi's absolutely stunning. I am going to give Art quilting a bit of a go, thanks to Maggi's encouragement, not sure how I will get on but we all have to start somewhere and this poor little house cannot take any more big quilts ha ha ha. Keep up the good work Cath. I am now trying to get your link onto my Blog. I may have to get Annette to do it for me as sometimes the Wordpress just beats me. Thank you Cath for following on, between you and Marian I think I made good choices.

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    1. Thank you Jan, I'm sure you will do very well indeed with your art quilting, your free machine quilting is just so lovely, and as far as I'm concerned, that's half the battle. I am looking forward to seeing what you produce.

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  2. A great post Cath, I'm glad that you joined in. Your son's furniture is fabulous.

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    1. Thanks Maggi, and thanks for taking a look at my son's website, he really is so talented, and works very hard at his craft.

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  3. This is a lovely post about your work and I enjoyed looking at your son's website. Your gelli plate sounds fun. Thanks for mentioning my blog but yikes I am a week out for making my post shall I do it today or next Mon?

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  4. I've done it today! Sorry it's a day late. x

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    1. Hi Tessa, I have just read your blog post and it is fantastic, so many thanks for taking part.

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