Adele Thomas Textile Art

Why quilting gives you a sense of wellbeing

2011-06-15T04:50:00.000-07:00

Pictured above: Detail of 'Pearls of Wisdom', 98" X 98", by Barbara Barrett and Nancy Atkinson

"Quilting improves your health in ways even exercise can’t manage,” according to the Daily Mail. The newspaper said that making quilts is “uniquely good for you”.

This news story was based on a small survey that interviewed 29 women who belonged to a quilting group. The survey asked them about the satisfaction they got from quilting. The women, the majority of whom were retired, explained that they felt a sense of satisfaction from the creative process and, in particular, problem solving, working with colours and being able to lose themselves in their work. They also said that they enjoyed the social side of the activity, sharing tips and the inspiration they got from seeing other people’s work.

The research found that these people felt they benefited from their creating activity, but it did not objectively measure health or wellbeing. While it may inspire people to try this particular activity, it does not necessarily mean that quilting is more likely to have positive psychological effects than any other hobby or exercise. Overall, the design of this small study allows only limited conclusions to be drawn.

Where did the story come from?

The study was carried out by researchers from the University of Glasgow. No source of funding was listed for this study. The study was published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Public Health.

In its headline, the Daily Mail suggested that this study had looked at the effects of quilting on health. The study interviewed a group of women who made quilts, but did not objectively measure any aspect of their physical or mental health, or compare quilt making to any other type of hobby.

What kind of research was this?

This was a qualitative survey of women in a quilting group in Glasgow. The survey asked the participants about their experiences of quilting in relation to their wellbeing.

What did the research involve?

The researchers contacted women who were members of a quilting group in Glasgow. The group had existed for eight years. The 55 members were all women, and most were white, British, middle-aged or older, and middle class. The group met monthly in the evenings.

The researchers gave a preliminary questionnaire to two people, which they intended to refine for use in the wider group. However, only minimal changes were made so they included these people’s answers in their analysis.

The researchers interviewed 29 people, which they recorded using tapes or notes. The interviews lasted between 26 and 100 minutes. The transcripts of each interview were analysed by two researchers to develop connections and overarching themes present within the responses.

What were the basic results?

Nine of the participants were under 60 years of age and the remaining 20 were between 60 and 80. Twenty people were retired, seven were employed, one was a student and one person was partially retired. Ten people had less than 10 years’ quilting experience, eleven people had between 11 and 20 years’ quilting experience, and eight had over 20 years’ experience.

The themes that emerged concerned the practical process of quilting, the social side and the end product.

Some of the qualitative reports of quilting included:

Quilting was an accessible way for participants to be creative, incorporating different colours and textures and work with their hands to produce a tangible product. The women said that this offered a sense of wellbeing that they did not find in their jobs.
Participants identified that the use of bright colours had uplifting effects on mood and that this was particularly important in winter.
The majority of participants said that they became captivated by the creative process, which they likened to a “flow” - losing themselves in their quilting, displacing their anxieties and relaxing them. Participants said that these psychological benefits continued after they had stopped quilting.
The participants said that quilting required problem solving, such as designing new patterns and incorporating shapes. Even those with more years’ experience reported that they continued to find new challenges.
The participants reported that quilting was good for keeping busy, developing skills while being able to produce something at the end.
The participants appreciated the social side of quilting, and although the majority also made quilts alone, they enjoyed sharing ideas and skills with others. They said that seeing other people’s quilts was an inspiration to develop skills, and that receiving a quilt and receiving praise from others boosted their confidence.

How did the researchers interpret the results?

The researchers said that “quilting seemed to possess some distinct properties for enhancing wellbeing that would not be replicable through physical/outdoor activities”. They say that “modern life may be seen as suppressing creativity and yet creativity may be something that humans intrinsically desire”. They said that “creative crafts also offer important choices for people who either are not interested in outdoor activities or who have problems which make this difficult. Quilting (and probably other creative hobbies) appears to be useful in maintaining well-being in older people, which may become increasingly important as our nation ages further”.

Conclusion

This qualitative research asked 29 quilters about their experience of producing quilts and why they enjoyed it. The study did not measure any aspect of health or compare quilting to other hobbies. It is not possible to conclude that quilting has benefits for health. However, this study is useful in that it describes people’s positive experiences from pursuing a creative hobby and the social benefits they felt it provided. As the researchers pointed out, this is an accessible hobby for people of every age, and this qualitative research may inspire people to try quilting or other creative hobbies.

This research was conducted from a public health perspective, looking for activities that promote wellbeing among the population. However, since this research asked people in a long-standing quilting group about whether they felt quilting had benefits, the results are unsurprising. It’s possible that the positive effects experienced within the group may not be felt by everyone. That said, it seems plausible that creative hobbies, such as quilting, would bring some sense of fulfilment or relaxation. For example, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) already recommends arts therapy for the treatment of certain mental health problems.

Further research is needed to see whether quilting and other hobbies are good for mood, wellbeing and health. Ideally, studies in this area would take the form of a randomised control trial, perhaps measuring changes in factors such as blood pressure or wellbeing scores in groups assigned to try a new hobby, and comparing these changes to people performing no activity.

New inspiration!!!

2011-06-10T07:56:00.000-07:00

I had to show a picture of my latest inspiration. This is my first grandchild and she is as beautiful as can be!
She inspired me to make her a quilt. I chose happy colours because she is a very welcome addition to our family and she will bring happiness to all those around her. I chose thick brushed cotton for the back, so it is soft for her to cuddle up in. I stitched little messages onto it, to remind her that she is loved and to remind her she will never be alone. The picture makes the quilt look quite puffy but I used cotton wadding so it is in fact very thin.

When the student is ready the teacher will come!

2011-02-05T03:34:00.000-08:00

As many of you know I have been floundering round trying to find my way to produce better art. So here are a few of my discoveries about myself. I think I may actually be an art quilter rather than an embroiderer! I think I love printing as much as I love dyeing! I am going to start a fine art degree to improve my drawing and observation skills in October and I have found a great teacher! Follow this link existential neighbourhood blogspot. My Husband bought me "Art Cloth" by Jane Dunnewold for our anniversary and it has opened my eyes! I had got stuck and I was fumbling around in the dark. So thank you Jane, I appreciate all your hard work and dedication. Here is a link to her website artclothstudios and to the facebook group Jane Dunnewold. What an exciting journey, I am so happy =))

New family member

2011-02-04T04:20:00.000-08:00

This is the inspiration for my first ever quilt (not yet finished) She was born last weekend and is very pretty as you can see. So I may be a little more distracted than normal ;-) Off to do my homework now.

FibreFest 2011

2011-01-14T08:53:00.000-08:00

On Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st August Fibre Fest 2011 will be held at Bicton College. This is a beautiful venue and will be a fantastic weekend. I will post more information as I know it. The college also has accommodation through the summer and there will be camping facilities also. I will be there all weekend, demonstrating and enjoying myself also.

Jan Tillet will have a stall there and she also will be selling and demonstrating. This is her surf bag and I think it is absolutely gorgeous. I took a class with her recently and she is a fantastic tutor. Well worth coming just to see her =) So by now you must be convinced so I will see you there!

The pick-a-pocket challenge and other things

2011-01-12T17:45:00.000-08:00

The Thread Studio have a great challenge that interests me, check this out
pick-a-pocket challenge
The history/herstory of pockets is rather interesting. The were not sewn into the clothes but tied on.

I thought I would share some of my feltmaking that I have been doing on my course (another reason why my blogging has suffered). Great course and I really recommend it if you live in the Devon area and have always wanted to learn to felt. Here is a book cover I made after the first few weeks of the course. Call Bicton College and ask about the fibrecrafts course, it runs on Mondays and Tuesdays. I have also just applied to do fine art at Plymouth uni, so wish me luck they may not want me =/

Projet Afghanistan Embroidery.

2011-01-11T03:03:00.000-08:00

I thought I would grab a few minutes to add something I found out about yesterday.

ProjetAfghanistanStickerei-Embroidery-Broderie

The Embroidery of the Hazara women

The ethnic group of Hazara is a Mongolian descendant and the third largest ethnic group in Afghanistan. They belong to the Shiite minority in Afghanistan and are usually slaves to the other ethnic groups, especially the Pashtunes, often abused as scapegoats for anything and everything. They have often been victims of massacres and after decades of banishment and wandering, they have finally settled in the so-called Hazarajat in central Afghanistan. Many of the population also live scattered throughout the rest of Afghanistan, in Pakistan and in the Iran.

Close to Herat in western Afghanistan, former fugitives who have returned from the Iran have founded the new community of Shahrak, together with the Hazara who remained in Afghanistan during the war. The little town Shahrak can be seen as a kind of ghetto as nearly the entire population is Hazara. The DAI have been supporting a women´s community centre there for several years. Here, courses in alphabetization, English, sewing and tailoring and even in drawing and karate are offered.

The Hazara women are known to be excellent embroiderers within the traditional Afghan textile skills, as they master a great variety of embroidery techniques. It was important to me to enrich this geographical area in which the DAI is very active, with an embroidery project, and also to resurrect other embroidery techniques. The first attempts developed in written form and the first results, though meager showed a great deal of promise. In the summer of 2009 I travelled to Herat for the first time to meet the women from Shahrak. We discovered that only those women, who had not left the country during the war, were really proficient in the traditional embroidery craft. Others, who had found asylum in the Iran, completely refused the old technique or had completely forgotten it.

Although the Hazara women are considered to be more independent than others in Afghanistan, I met very shy women (I did not even dare to ask for a photograph when I left) and it was only due to the indispensable intercession of Mrs. Aquila Nazari, the Directress of the women´s centre possible, to persuade 5 women to relearn this old embroidery technique.

We met three times to build up mutual trust and to decide on the technical conditions for the new project. We discussed and decided on the prices that should be set for two different types of embroidery, Keshide (which is a colorful needlework similar to the Venetian Tapisserie) and Kandaharidusi (of the Tshadris, the complete veiling which is all in white). The embroidery should be made solely with silk yarn, sponsored by the “Madeira Yarn” company. As the women lost most of their belongings during the hardships of the war, they have nearly no traditional patterns, so I sent them a collection of photographs of these patterns after my return to Freiburg.

The first delivery from Shahrak arrived in Freiburg in the late spring of 2010. In the end, 17 women actually participated in the project. The appraisal of the embroidery work showed us that some of the women had kept strictly to the sent patterns, whereby others had skillfully managed to combine them. Some pieces of work could even be described as very successful improvisations.

Many thanks to Rateb Assimi from Heart for his very friendly assistance and his open house!

Pascale Goldenberg Goldenberg-Freiburg@t-online.de

Workshop demonstrations

2010-10-06T03:12:00.000-07:00

This is my demonstration table for the West Country Embroiderers annual general meeting. I was really busy and had lots of questions about my workshops. I love teaching, I love sharing ideas it is so mutually beneficial. I met some really lovely people and that always makes me happy. Life is chaotic but good right now. I also started a wonderful felting course with my youngest daughter, I will get photos of the work for that done too, but right now it is a lovely day and I am going for a walk. =)

Why I haven't been around...

2010-08-29T13:18:00.000-07:00

I have been busy recently because my oldest daughter got married yesterday. Here is a picture of my mum and I before the wedding. I am taking today off and I will be back to work tomorrow and posting what I have been doing. But in the meantime here are more pictures.

Embroidered Postcards!

2010-08-11T03:37:00.000-07:00

When I was growing up I spent large amounts of time with my grandmother. She was 70 when I was born and she had one of the strongest characters I have ever met yet. One day she showed me the embroidered cards that my grandfather sent her when he was in the army in 1916. Beautiful embroidered flowers and butterflies, with little cards declaring his love, they married when the war ended. He had been a prisoner for the last 6 months of the war and they had fed him uncooked rice. He then had to operated on for severe stomach problems and very nearly died. While he was recovering he was taught to embroider.

My Nan had a dressing table mat with the needle in, just as he had left it for as long as I knew. The uncooked rice didn't kill him but the cigarettes the army gave him did. It is ironic to me that so many are killed and injured through the folly of "friendly fire." Of course this was a powerful story to the imagination of a small child and the beauty of the threads completely enchanted me. I desperately wanted to make beautiful pictures with threads. I didn't have any embroidery threads for a long time, I used sewing thread for years. But the idea of these gorgeous pieces or work coming through the post has always sparked my imagination. Here is the first one in this series.

More inchies for West Country Embroiderers

2010-07-24T04:53:00.000-07:00

There is a season for everything and it is my season to be busy. After being invited to work with the Kingcombe group, I was encouraged to teach. So I added my name to the list of tutors for WCE and started getting bookings fairly quickly. I was asked to do a table for main AGM in September. I then had the task of filling a 6ft x 2ft table with inchies and postcards (that is quite a lot). Since I was told most of the ladies prefer hand work I had to decide on quite traditional techniques with a modern twist. So the background to these are Angelina fibres on dyed fabric. Then traditional hand stitching to decorate and edge. I thought I would do them in range's so each group can book the class in which range they like. The next ones will have a comical twist. Although they are fiddly they are great fun to make, and as you can see make rather nice phone charms.

The proper tools for the job!

2010-07-16T12:40:00.000-07:00

Since I was asked to do a display at the West Country Embroiderer's AGM I have been thinking about what to do. Now I wanted to keep the traditional die hard hand embroiderers happy, but I also wanted to introduce something new. So I thought that these new inchie and trading postcards are just the thing. I thought the inchies are just the perfect size for phone charms, earrings, brooches, mirror charms and more. They are quick to make and you can hand stitch till your hearts content on the stabilised background. Then cover up the back and blanket stitch around. Nice way to make a quick gift too.

The reason for the title is for years I have struggled with drawing straight lines on fabric and then cutting out with my dress making scissors. No longer, I now have a cutting mat, ruler and rotary cutter (thank you Dad) it is wonderful, my lines are straight, my measurements are accurate and I now know that a job is better done, when you have the proper tools for the job!!!

Now it hasn't been all stitching, we actually managed to get out into Dartmoor a couple of weeks ago, get some exercise, take photos and do a little drawing. This place is magical and although it isn't as close to my heart as the Purbeck's I do love it almost as much. The atmosphere was so healing and uplifting I could have happily slept in the car just to have another day there. I know it is close but I have been trying hard to use the car as little as possible (change begins with me). So enjoy the pictures, it is a wonderful place.

In the distance is the wood that my daughter and I are going to head for next time. It will be an all day excursion with water-soluble pencils and cameras in hand. We are truly blessed!

A wealth of materials!

2010-04-30T17:08:00.000-07:00

I am not too sure if it is me, or that there are far more wonderful supplies than there used to be. The colours and ideas are just amazing and it inspires me to the point that I am almost overwhelmed. Today I ordered from the knitting4fun the yarns are absolutely gorgeous for felting. I also came across this company that I can not wait to order from 21stcenturyyarns. In the past I have always done all my own dyeing and I am sure I still will ~~most~~ some =) the time. However, I know that I just can not resists getting some yarns that I can enjoy straight from the postman.

For example these balls from knitting4fun, the ideas are just swirling round my head and now I can't sleep. Bobbles on felted hats, bags, buttons for coats and on sticks in a flower pot. They have them with different patterns and some with mirrors on. I would love to hear your ideas too.

Follow the sun!

2010-03-25T16:26:00.000-07:00

The flower was machined onto Romeo and has a very organic look, especially as I changed the bobbin threads in different colours. The background is dyed felt, painted bondaweb, dyed scrim and dyed threads darned into the fabric.

As before but FME onto polyester chiffon which as then reduced down with the soldering iron.

after felting and stitching, I thought this could still do with more texture, so I cut back in places also.

I am hoping that with this show of bright colour it will guilt the sun into coming out a little and so the leaves will grow on the trees. So far nothing at all is growing in my garden, it seems too scared to come out. I really like to develop my sketching skills this year, I think this is vital, I am constantly reminded when I look at my work that this is my weakest point. I have soluble pencils and book ready and I am excited at the prospect of being in nature and appreciating in the great blessing of it all =) I am spending the day stewarding tomorrow, so I had better go to bed.

Time to think!

2010-03-22T06:28:00.000-07:00

One of the things that I really need is... time to think. When I don't have that I struggle with my work and I feel that it just doesn't flow. I know this month has been mad, trying to get work together, but in future I am going to schedule in time to think and ponder. It is a necessary process in the way I work and I believe we all have different work processes. I am just not as spontaneous as I thought I was. It is interesting learning so much about myself as a person through stitching. Having said that I think it would be fun to do a group of work that has minutes to plan so that there is no over thinking time. It is like a living experiment to see what happens =)

Fear

2010-03-19T07:47:00.000-07:00

One of the things I am learning at present is that a lot of artist suffer with fear. I am not really an anxious or fearful person in life at all, but when it comes to my work I do get pangs of anxiety quite often. The first time is right at the start of a piece of work and then almost though every stage.

I have just finished this machined flower and I am not at all sure if I am happy with it. I haven't found the method to stop it stretching and so after I have made them they won't lie flat. I am not even sure this is a problem, it might be a great thing adding texture and interest. The last one was machine straight onto Romeo this one I put onto a polyester sheer. I am sure in my head I have the information I need, but anxiety that the exhibition is getting close. I only had a month to get some work together and this is actually paralysing my brain from working efficiently.

Off to add it to its background now...

2010-03-17T16:57:00.000-07:00

Another in my sunflower series. (WIP) This Sunflower is machine stitched on Romeo. The background is dyed felt with painted Bondaweb. Thn dyed scrim is then hand darned. It will then be stretched onto a deep edged box frame. The trouble I have found so far is that the Romeo stretched. The result though is quite pleasing to the touch. I will post photo of the finished result.

The start of the Sunflower Journey

2010-03-10T05:13:00.000-08:00

This is the first Sunflower in my new theme, I have kept it quite realistic and is still a "work in progress". I really like the idea of developing a theme rather than a technique and it will be interesting to see where this takes me. An exciting journey for an artist the beginning of a new path. The head of the flower is going to be burnt back with a soldering iron and the leaves need to be finished with needle lace. I love the contrast between the traditional technique with the modern.The background is wool felt with gathered silk. All hand dyed except the polyester head. Back to working on it, the exhibition is looming closer and I must not waste too much time.

A very busy time of year

2010-03-03T03:28:00.000-08:00

I am working on Sunflowers as my theme at the moment. I am desperately trying to get some work done as I have recently joined a group that exhibit at Killerton House every year. Here is the link to the details embroidery exhibtion I have much time to get a few pieces ready, so I won't be writing too much on here. Needless to say I have been dyeing frantically and sewing late into the night. I wanted to work on something happy and I think I can say with exception that Sunflowers make everyone smile when they see them. I will post my work as I do it, although I am hand stitching at the moment so it is taking ages :-) If you would like to leave any comments about your memories or thoughts on Sunflowers please feel free...

Embellished felt!!!

2010-02-19T00:45:00.000-08:00

Now I have done the machining and started the handwork the texture has really begun to show up. It was hard not to add any further fabrics into the design as I usually throw everything in. Sandra nearly had a heart attack when I mixed some wool top with fine angelina :-)

When more hand stitching has been worked into it, the results I think will be more textured, I am only using midnight blue though, I don't want to overly complicate the design.

OK, I am off now to take my girls out for the day. Happy stitching everyone!!!

Workshop with Sandra Coleridge - Fun with Embellisher's!

2010-02-16T08:45:00.001-08:00

I decided that working from a shed in the bottom of the garden can be somewhat isolating so I joined the West Country Embroiderers. I started last week and today I went to their workshop with Sandra Coleridge 'Fun with Embellisher's'. Not only is her work striking with a very natural freedom to it, but she is also an excellent tutor. I highly recommend that if she is in your area take her class. If you follow the link you will find her contact details to ask about courses.

I went to a group once where I was informed there wasn't anything left for them to learn, I thought that was sad, it is possible to learn from others all the time and although I had my embellisher for several years today I learnt a great deal.

As you can see I had not finished the machine stitching, it is worked in the same colour as the background, Sandra usually uses black. I rarely have anything in black so I used blue. It left the design a bit flat compared to Sandra's where the contrast from the black made her colours sing. Next time I do something similar I will dye the felt midnight blue with slate grey.

I will finish it tomorrow still a bit cold to work in the shed at night, I think it is crying out for some hand-stitching also so I had better get the dye out again (still have blue hands from last night). Before anyone asks, the pink is going, pink is going to be on a completely different piece. I was just having a play to see how it went. Pictures to follow tomorrow................

Beginning of the year new lease of life :D

2010-02-07T13:28:00.000-08:00

I am feeling way better, so watch this space for some new work. Already in Devon it is warm enough for me to go back to my shed to get on with some work, won't have a chance till Wednesday so come back then. This piece of work was based on the Walter de la Mere poem "When the Rose is faded" It brought to mind the beauty of youth and how although we grow old inside we are still young. Her beauty has faded but the rose within her is vibrant and strong. It is still a WIP so this week she will be finished. I was thinking of framing her, not something I have ever done or wanted to do with any of my work, just out of curiosity to see how it looked. Be back Wednesday =)

2009-11-15T18:49:00.000-08:00

The reason I haven't been posting is that I have iron deficient anaemia, I feel so exhausted I really haven't done anything of worth, well anything at all really. I am now on a serious diet of iron supplements, red meat, green veggies and hopefully I will get my level up from 5 to a more healthy 12! So if anyone has any great ideas about chicken liver recipes I would love to hear them, I have some in the fridge and can't bring myself to cook them or eat them.

Textile Beads!

2009-07-29T00:50:00.000-07:00

Before the end of term got the opportunity to go into my daughters old school and teach them the joys of textile bead making. Although they really wanted to get on with their project of embellishing a cushion cover which they were doing a fantastic job of, they really embraced the idea of making their own beads and did a fantastic job! Here are some of the pictures that their teacher took of the finished results. Well done year 10s!

Wave Curl

2009-06-20T12:41:00.000-07:00

Ammonites

2009-05-14T06:18:00.000-07:00

This is one of the pieces that I am making for an exhibition to raise funds for a friends school. It started as a cyanotype print and then was embellished with hand stitching. I decided to leave the shells I like the shadow of them there.

2009-04-27T06:18:00.000-07:00

Our April challenge at stitched textile design group was to make a piece of work 12 x 12 to fit into a CD case as the display case. The inspiration for the work was a garden in full bloom. As always there were some very different entries. I was going to do something different but Annette got there first and so I had a rethink. I decided on free canvas work. I was able to design quite an abstract garden but it still had a feel of an abundance of colour and shape. Now I look at the finished work I wished I had sprayed the canvas green to give it a denser look, even gold I think would have worked better than silver. That is why the good old doing a sample first is such a good idea instead of rushing into it :D

The threads were all space dyed using the recipe for dyeing on this page. I wish I had changed the thickness of some of the threads also. I must add notes to the back of it to remind me.

The wonders of Spring

2009-04-04T08:08:00.000-07:00

On reflection this has to be my favourite time of year. I love the sound of the lambs in the field behind our house and just the excitement of new growth. I watch everyday as the buds start on the trees and the luminescent green of the new leaves. Having the surprise of the guinea pig that was given to us having babies was a nice surprise too, I have enjoyed them running and jumping around the pen.

I am getting ready to do some work for my first exhibition. I am still in the development stage of looking at my source inspiration and developing those ideas. My thoughts at present are that I need to have a look that makes my work distinguishable from others, but I still don't have a "thing," so I thought I would tie my work together by having something dyed in Indigo in all of them. Since I am putting in 6 pieces of work in, I thought it may give it a look of unity. I have to be honest I don't expect to sell anything for a while. I just want to get people used to seeing textiles at an art exhibition. I know there are those who still don't see it as art. The art or craft discussion...... I think it's both. But maybe after a while it will sell at those venues rather than just craft fairs. Maybe its just here that it is a issue. If you have any comments I would love to hear them.

If you need a guinea pig let me know there are 3. A white curly one like a little sheep, a black and white one and the caramel and white in the picture. Not quite sure of the sex yet, they are going on an adventure to the vets on Monday for a check up. Will let you know.

2009-02-04T15:54:00.000-08:00

Christmas Gifts

2008-12-30T05:59:00.000-08:00

I love having a wish list! I go through all the new and exciting books coming out and get to list the ones I like, so when it comes to Christmas and birthdays I don't get any nasty surprises. It helps out family members too who really don't understand exactly what it is I do or like. I am sure you have had the similar problem at some point. Any way this is the book I got from my mum this year and it is rather fascinating. The photographs are gorgeous and it is well written. I recommend it to anyone happy to experiment and isn't too precious about their sewing machine. I actually keep a workhorse machine for stitching anything out of the ordinary.

My new years resolution is to be more organised this year. So I am starting early to go through things that can be recycled, sorted into order or even thrown away. I try to make my goals smart goals. So it needs to be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely. One of my presents from my lovely friend Dale is a Mothers Helper Organiser, so that I can keep track of it all.

Keep you eyes peeled, I will be listing books that I would like to swap. If you are interested in them let me know with a book you would be will to swap for it. My first swap is Silk Unravelled by Lorna Moffat. Love to hear about your new years resolutions too!

2008-11-15T02:40:00.000-08:00

I often meet my mum in Bridport, it being almost half way between us. Just outside there is a hill with a few trees standing guard on top. Not being local I am unaware of the history of the hill but I just know it has one. So if anyone knows please tell me.

I am slogging my way through the essays needed for the 7303 teachers course, I am learning some things that I won't need, but on the whole it has been very enlightening. I am so pleased that we are beginning to teach in a better style than I was at school. I remember hours of copying notes off the board for biology. Thickness tests in maths that I think were designed to cripple our confidence. So now we have co-operative learning where the student gets involved! At last, they have only been doing it in the states for countless years.

Politics is always a can of worms isn't it. I just took the canvassing sign off my door because I found out that the party I was going to vote for lied. I am hoping that we can put pressure on politicians that unless they are upright and honest we will not vote for them. I know I am an idealist but why not?

Autumn Leaves

2008-11-04T06:10:00.000-08:00

I wanted to play around with some plastic. I have been quite focused on natural materials for a while and felt like a break. I was in a post card swap with the surface design group and so thought I would use the colours from heated plastic to represent the changing colours of Autumn leaves. Anyone who knows me knows I have a great love for Oak trees, the English Oak in particular. I have a huge one at the bottom of the garden and I live in Oak Close. I love the shape of the leaves, the texture of the bark, the shape of the tree and the colours as the seasons change just for a start. Even the leaves decomposing back into the earth is a beautiful process to me.

So I painted up some Lutrador with Stewart Gill paints. Then glued the iridescent film on with 505 spray and free machine stitched the veins and outlines. You can't see it with this photo but I then cut back the plastic in some places, and heat gunned other places (in a well ventilated garden) I wanted to hand stitch and add beads too. I have learnt though that I must know when to stop and I can over do things with too much detail. Heating the plastic brought out some unexpected colours and was well worth the effort.

Yahoo Group - I did it!

2008-10-09T18:43:00.001-07:00

Ok I did it! After thinking it over for a while and decided to go for it. I started a Yahoo group for the more experienced stitcher's and textile artists. The first competition is to make a piece of art based on Autumn / Fall. The prize is the book how to make Fabric Memory Books. If you would like to join then the link is on the right hand side it is called Stitched Textile Design. There will be a short questionnaire to separate the genuine experienced stitcher from the spammers and advertisers.

I have been so busy with my teaching course, starting up my family history again and my new job as Handwork teacher at the local Steiner school. Today I taught them finger knitting using all their fingers, 2 finished a scarf with a tassel on the end by the end of the session. The school is small only 2 classes. The class sizes are very small, class 1 has 6 and class 2 has 5! After being used to classes of over 30 it is like being in heaven.

Next week we are going to felt some leaves to hang on the nature table tree. Maybe make some felt acorns too. what fun!

Housework?

2008-09-28T13:58:00.000-07:00

Dust if you must, but wouldn't it be better

To paint a picture, or write a letter,
Bake a cake, or plant a seed;
Ponder the difference between want and need?

Dust if you must, but there's not much time,
With rivers to swim, and mountains to climb;
Music to hear, and books to read;
Friends to cherish, and life to lead.

Dust if you must, but the world's out there
With the sun in your eyes, and the wind in your hair;
A flutter of snow, a shower of rain,
This day will not come around again.

Dust if you must, but bear in mind,
Old age will come and it's not kind.
And when you go (and go you must)
You, yourself, will make more dust.

Remember, a house becomes a home when you can write
"I love you" on the furniture.....

Nearly Completed

2008-09-18T02:04:00.001-07:00

The recycled wall hanging is almost completed for the swap despite ongoing chaos in our family. I am at the point in my life when I have children beginning their independence and needing assistance and parents beginning to lose their independence and needing assistance also. It really is a lesson in the cycle of life. My oldest daughter has just moved to South Wales and after visiting her to go emergency food shopping, I rather though Barry to be a rather pleasant place and so if my middle daughter does decide to go to Cardiff Uni, I don't think I will be too worried her, (I know I will be, I am finding them leaving home hard, I really love all my daughters company). My parents who have always been very strong now need me, which makes me feel rather intimidated as to whether I can meet their standard. I feel a little nervous and don't feel ready for this yet. So I sew, I sew into my work how I am feeling, my joys, my sorrows, my failures and my triumphs.
This piece is called a day at the beach, after spending a few hours at Chesil Beach with my mum, sister, youngest daughter and brother. My sister lives in NY so I rarely see her. My Dad wasn't there but the denim is recycled from his old work shirts, so he is there stitched into the family day out so he part of it still. Adele X

So much to learn!

2008-08-27T14:59:00.000-07:00

I am about half way through this hanging now, couldn't do a thing today because I stitched so much yesterday that my index finger actually hurts! I have added some surface stitching and thought I would keep the colour scheme simple blues and sunset colours. It still needs a couple of days work but it is beginning to take shape.

So instead I have been playing with a new FREE toy that my friend Carlston told me about. It is called FreeMind and it is the most amazing mind mapping tool. It is going to make my life so much easier. I taught my daughters mind mapping instead of writing pages of notes years ago, it is colourful and makes learning easier and fun. With this software I can do the same thing and add links to it like pictures, website links, research and it keeps it all linked together. Great for Family History too! I am going to show the girls how to use it tomorrow. If you do anything that requires organising information it is definately worth a look! I love free software on the computer, I also use GIMP it is a powerful image manipulation software, I think as good as photoshop. So is also worth a look into, there are some amazing people out there writing some awesome programmes for free. I also use OpenOffice this saves buying microsoft office. Just those 3 programmes I think have saved me several hundred pounds! Which means I can spend it on fabrics, threads and dye! Oh happy days :D

2008-08-21T13:58:00.000-07:00

Here is the beginning of my recycling wall hanging. Its made from some of my dads old shirts that I pinched to make into a quilt each for my girls. As I write "make a quilt" I smile because after sewing nearly all of my life I haven't actually ever made a quilt! I have covered chairs, made curtains, wedding dresses, clothes, evening bags, wall hangings and brooches, but not once a quilt. I am not sure why. But since the start of these art quilts I have been more favourably disposed towards quilts and even patchwork as long as it is abstract or unusual. I have a book on landscape quilts and I love them and I saw some quilts by Kaffe Fassett and immediately fell in love with them too. Anyway this is as far as the hanging got today and after my daughter goes home tomorrow I think I will get comfy and get on with the stitching. It is for a swap for the Surface Design yahoo group and I was pleased that the swaps aren't only postcards. We also did a 3D bird swap and made totas. I like yahoo groups and am really pleased when I discovered them, I have learnt so much from everyone and had little pieces of art come through the post. One of the great things about hand stitching is that you can take it with you most places and do it on the sofa while listening to the chat of the family. In the workroom it can be a bit isolating sometimes. Maybe get some sketching done tomorrow, found an Inn that was built in the 13th century half an hour away today. Maybe get some photos too.

2008-08-19T14:39:00.000-07:00

You have to try Wordle, it is rather fun. I haven't quite got to grips with everything that can be done with this but I thought it was a great idea for an art quilt or wall hanging or some such thing. http://wordle.net/
It plays around with text that you paste in and makes some rather lovely word clouds, look at the right hand side. This Wordle is made from Alma 37:37 and it is now firing all sorts of ideas of possibilities. You can print it off and I thought of printing it onto chiffon? Anyway, I need to post some of the recycling wall hanging pictures tomorrow. Maybe I can put some text on that too. Tired tonight, so its is short and sweet.

Flying Solo

2008-08-08T14:10:00.000-07:00

Well college is over and it has taken me a little while to relax. Of course I did have my oldest daughter come for a few days at the same time as my ex-husbands girlfriend and their little girl (my daughters half-sister) who is 3. She is delightful and reminded me very much of Enya at that age...pink...pink...pink! So as soon as I could I jumped back into a swap and am going to do a wall hanging (I just love them don't I) from recycling. I have some ideas of torn denim in different shades hanging off driftwood, with maybe a beach groin and some kind of beach flower. Maybe sea glass and shells? I feel so free that I don't have to stick to any of my themes, history or featured artists. I might even work without all the backup work first, maybe some sketches. It is funny I have butterflies and feel a bit nervous about it. No tutor to advise me, a bit like the first time you drive alone after passing your car test, remember the feeling? I shall start tomorrow and shall take pics as I go to record my first solo project :D

2008-07-19T14:04:00.000-07:00

Not a great picture or work of art but this is my last project, my 3D item based on Black work. It has a bit of a story behind it and maybe others can learn from the telling of it.

I had done my design book and my samples and was happy that I could make the bowl in a week...not this bowl another bowl. However, I didn't realise how difficult having a molar extraction would be and didn't realise it would have been a good thing to get some antibiotics from the dentist. To cut a long and very painful story short I had one day to make my beautiful vessel. I started early that morning layering the beautiful silk fibres over the plastic cylinder I had chosen to give my vessel its shape. Italian silk waste so it had lots of textures and used this little packet of methyl cellulose that was great for silk fusion. I then left it in the sun to dry, it was a rather hot day on Wednesday. I then went to my workroom to machine stitch an intricate design onto some soluble film, it was all going well and I was feeling confident that I could pull it off. By 6 pm the silk had dried so I cut the plastic form and tried to pull it out and my silk paper all fell apart! Don't panic I thought! I will go and rinse out the stitching and maybe use it on another kind of dish, but the soluble film would not wash away even after putting it in a 30 degree wash cycle. I was getting very panicky and Enya the gorgeous girl that she is did a great job in calming me down. So rethink... I got out some softsculp and promptly melted it to a shred I was making mistakes because of pressure. Enya suggested stitch the fabrics onto the softsculp and then lets iron it, as she was setting up the ironing board and iron for me and behaving as I had done often when she was panicking. So from 10pm to 1am in desperation this is my 3D offering and all down to my amazing daughter.

Lessons that I learnt on that little journey....have a week to get over tooth extraction, get the antibiotics, when you have only a little time play safe there isn't time for risky things to go wrong, when things do go wrong it can be salvaged if you persevere, when it comes to children you often reap what you sew and a little prayer goes a long long way :D

2008-07-17T10:07:00.001-07:00

I have finished! The end of 5 years of studying a very intensive stitched textiles course. I feel very relieved as I was beginning to think it was beyond me and I have begged my daughters to study now while they have no other commitments. My poor family had to support me almost to breaking point and my Bishop had to release me from 2 of the 3 things I do at church one of which was enrichment leader and I loved it!

Other than learning about the obvious lessons to be learnt, I have gained other lessons along the way. The things we decide to do can effect who we are not just as individuals but also as partners and parents too and in sequence this changes our families. Consequences sometimes flow along the people we touch (metaphorically speaking) a bit like a virus. Positive consequences as well as negative ones. The more support I needed the more skills my family learnt or the more stressed I became the more niggly everyone else became too. From the moment I knew I was expecting my first daughter I have tried to be a good mum. I have always tried to be a good wife, in fact that's partly the problem I try to do my best I can at everything. So in the pursuit of doing my best at creating meant that I have been a terrible mum and wife over the last few years. But they grew and developed from the experience and I have a heartfelt gratitude to all of them for supporting me. So from this moment on there will be healthy food in the kitchen, country walks on a Saturday and my work will remain in the workroom. I don't want to promise anything else because I could get carried away out of elation at having finished the course and then have to do my best to keep to all of it!

Ariel View

2008-07-13T12:44:00.000-07:00

This piece of work is a based on a design taken from an ariel picture of Maiden Castle (Dorset). Although I really love Devon I still have a deep felt belief that west Dorset is home. I still get homesick for the Purbecks and the coast there. I don't think it will ever leave my system.
Although this piece of work is small 7" x 5" it took nearly 2 days to do. I have oversewn the edges now but can't update the photo as the work is still in college. I found that indeed putting door stops at the back of the sewing machine to put it at an angle makes it easier on the back and neck. Great idea! Thank you to whoever thought of it. I have been looking at Jill Smiths work - links to her sites are on my list. I just love it all, so full of energy and vibrancy. Have a look it's so worth it. She does giveaways every now and then to so keep a look out. I got a great Quilting Arts magazine from her one time, thanks Jill!

Drawing to a close

2008-07-12T12:04:00.000-07:00

Well it's nearly over, ploughing through the last project now. I will be very happy to have a break through the summer. Do you get a break when you are a wife and have 2 teenage daughters at home? No I think in holidays you actually have more to do! However, there will be time for walks on Dartmoor, Fingle Bridge and some west Dorset (Corfe Castle here we come). How I love the SW of England, not just casually but in a deep heartfelt way. I am quite emotional about it to the point where I don't want them building houses here for anyone moving from other parts of the country. I am possessive about the green hills and don't want them spoilt! It's almost like the opposite of the movements of the industrial revolution. Moving from the cities to the country. I went to school in Corfe for a while, the girls entered through one gate and the boys through another and we played in separate playgrounds, I miss the days of civilisation when it was alright to play British bulldog and have skipping ropes. Is it healthy to be reminiscing at my age? Well too many unlike able changes are happening and its unsettling!

Musings

2008-06-24T05:55:00.001-07:00

I am so tired and stressed out I just can't wait to finish this. This course is so intense that it either kills ones creativity or you have a baptism by fire either way it's jolly hard work! I will from now on advise any to do an A level or a degree, the work is acheivable and is worth more than a C & G Diploma. I am just going to get this done, some of it may not be my greatest work but at this point I really don't care anymore. My creative daughter has learnt from my mistakes and is going to do A levels and then a Degree, much smarter than her mother obviously! We went and had a chat with the lovely people at Falmouth Uni and she has decided that's the place for her, to be honest I wanted to go too :D Oh how I wish I could! Anyhow back to work, just dyed up some more cotton lace, gorgeous stuff. And even if I don't like the wall hanging much, maybe I will when its finished. Which is usually the other way around, I love making it then feel a little dissatisfied.

Dyeing Days

2008-06-18T03:45:00.000-07:00

I have been busy dyeing my fabric and threads for the site specific wall hanging. It is based on Palestinian embroidery, so the main colours are red, magenta, purple with a small hint of green (only on 1 lot of thread). I changed the way I dyed this time. I soaked the threads and fabrics in soda crystals (washing crystals) and sodium bi-carbonate solution and then squeezed out the excess. I then made up the dye pots with a urea solution. I then painted on the colours. Covered in plastic and left over night. This one when I opened up I noticed I had left some blank spots (probably over cautious not to get a muddy mix of colours) so I overdyed a little bit. This is not going to re sit for 24 hours for the dye to fix. I have also been using synthrapol for the first time to rinse. The only accident that I have had so far is knocking over the magenta after I had taken off my gloves to answer the phone. I know have bright pink hands :D I am aiming at getting the threads for the most part slightly lighter shade than the fabrics for them to be seen. The silk velvet I dyed for my samples was so scrumptious that I couldn't stop looking at it! I love my dyeing days they make me happy, excited, and very fulfilled. I have to restrain my self from dyeing everything and looking like an explosion in a paint factory, it is so tempting though that I might still just do it. I will add the recipe for the solutions in the blog.

2008-06-09T01:03:00.000-07:00

I had to put up a picture of Enya's textile course work. The brief was to create a theatre costume and embellish. I got to put up some close ups of the leaves that can't be seen here too far away. She chose to make a costume for Titania queen of the fairies from midsummer night's dream. I am so proud! She doesn't like the kind of stitchy textile work that I like but she does her own thing, and good for her! The dangly bits hanging down are so cool too, handmade leaves and beads, bottle tops and bells! So now she is finished I can get into my shed again to do some work. Looks like I will need to expand as she is thinking of doing this in college with art and photography. Better not let the ward activity director see it, we do a full scale pantomime production every year and Enya will be costume maker and designer before she knows it. She looks so at ease in her dress, I always said she was queen of the fairies!

Just one of those days..........

2008-05-30T14:58:00.000-07:00

It started out great up before anyone else settled down at the desk and then the phone rings. In fact it rang many times. My step father just found out his car emissions are low enough not to have to pay car tax, unfortunately according to DVLA his model car gives out so much he has to pay £120.00 a year. He needed to know the emissions bands, then, DVLA telephone number then Toyota head office, then DVLA local office telephone number, then watchdog telephone number you get my drift? Check your MOT emission figure against the one on your log book, it will be interesting if everyone is being overcharged.
My dad and step father have several things in common, they don't like computers, they always call me to find out or order something they know I can get because I have a computer and they think I sit around all day waiting for the phone to ring to look up phone numbers, find information and order parts for cars, phones, cameras, etc. Of course I am not I am here to take my daughters to where ever they want to go, help them do whatever they need to do, shop, clean, wash.......... I know you are all nodding knowingly. So no college work was done today, not a smidgen!

Thursday 29th May 2008

2008-05-29T14:19:00.000-07:00

History since 900AD is completely finished and is right up to date with a couple of pages for me to add to as I feel like it in the future. As soon as I can I will list all my resources so that anyone else on the look out for history information can get it. It took a long time, I looked for particular works of embroidery and then did individual internet searches for each piece. I did find quite a lot of Opus Anglicanum in churches and museums abroad as it was often requested by Bishops and other clergy as it was so beautiful and perfectly worked. I printed the pictures out on glossy photo paper and used 2 different labeling machines to highlight particular details as I tend to write a lot and it was turning into a publication in its own right. I have to say that one thing I did learn is that we as textile artists need to have our own websites if we are truly serious about selling our work. Prospective clients probably don't buy textile books, so we need another way for them to be able to see our work and order a commission. How difficult or expensive that is I don't know watch this space. On the whole a productive day, even got to spend the day with my youngest daughter as she did her GCSE art homework a collage of her own face. May be allowed to photograph it!

Tuesday 27th May 2008

2008-05-27T13:22:00.000-07:00

Visited the Subtropical Gardens in Abbotsbury, with sketchbook and pencil in hand! Yes my tutors will be astounded that I actually have listened to the advice to take them everywhere with me. Mark making is an interesting process and it does help you think in textile. I was making notes too, french knots here, experimental smocking there, burning, slashing and even melting. For example look at this picture, can't you just see it in sheers with some of the layers burnt into with a solder iron? Of course you would need a light source behind it to get the full effect. A lampshade or a screen? Back to serious business tomorrow of the site specific hanging. I have made a template to record commissions on if I should be so lucky. It was a good process to think of the questions to ask a client and made me think of lots of considerations, colour scheme of room, atmosphere, light direction, wall size etc etc. Off for an eraly night to make an early start.

Sunday 25th May

2008-05-25T13:51:00.000-07:00

Well the 1m piece is definitely finished even though I think there is something wrong with it, I am not spending any more time on it. Tomorrow head first into the site specific wall hanging (I have to work small this time no choice!) I have done rudimentary designs on it if I can find them? Then I also have to do the 3D and my research work. I am beginning to realise that I may not get it all done by the end of July? I am going to work everyday on it, repeatedly try to persuade my mum that I am far too busy to visit her and try to let my daughters know I do love them and I will spend much more time with them as soon I I finish my work. My youngest daughter is doing a theatre costume for her GCSE work, I have to take photos of the leaves she is making they are GORGEOUS!!!