City and Guilds Module 5 - Form

My City and Guilds course has been taking a back seat - much like all my sewing in the last 8/9 months.

My job has expanded and changed, which is fantastic and I love it! But it has led to less time for me to create.... and less time to complete the work load that is a level 3 certificate.

BUT I am still working, slowly, steadily and in every spare moment that I can!

Module 5 was all about form and focused on the Media. I am not going to lie - it took me AGES!

But I think the results were worth the perseverance and time:

 My design development had to be presented in 3D, so I created a radio themed exploding box.

Which opened to reveal sections of design work based on the radio speakers, radio in society and speakers.

In centre I placed my artist exploration and explanation of the design element Form.

As part of the module I explored water soluble fabrics and created samples based around the speaker designs

I also explored using the computer to create repeat designs. I then cut acetate stencils to use in my new printing screens. This was stressful, but great fun.

I used the design to create a shadow quilting sample - hand dyed wadding and cotton backing fabric.

This technique uses water soluble thread. I kept forgetting it was water soluble when trying to thread the machine need.... yup, when you lick to get it through the eye of the needle it disappears!

Taking inspiration from Rosie James, I created a stitch sample of a 1930's family gathered round the radio. 

This unit was quite unusual as I didn't need to create a large final sample, but I did experiment with all the techniques I had learnt and created this simple piece. I am pretty pleased with it!

I was so frustrated that this module took me 6 months... but the satisfaction of getting it and then getting great feedback made it all worth while.

I am currently plodding through module 6 which is different again - no more design elements to explore, just techniques to experiment with, samples to make and design notes for a large piece that I will be creating in the future... all very exciting!

Much love 

Quilt in a Day

Saturday was a big day for me - my first patchwork and quilting day workshop!

I won't lie, I was extremely nervous.

Firstly because it was my first workshop teaching the skills I hold so dear, but also because I had planned for  6 learners and discovered I had 12 learners... 12 is a lot of people in a room at once...

I have 7 machines with 1/4" feet and walking feet, 6 of those have free motion feet... so they quite simply were not going to go around 12 people.. We had to borrow 5 from a local college, 4 of which we could get working..

You can just imagine my stress levels rising can't you!

Luckily it was a successful day and everyone learned new skills and a few quilts made the challenge of being ready for binding in just 6 hours!

Here are some of the photos from the day:

Working hard on patchwork

2 learners went off piste and tried something new, including free motion quilting a design:

Free motion quilting around birds on the fabric.

Another completed a design with quilt as you go applique:

I love this design of birds!

The jelly rolls came together really quickly to make a quilt top:

Adding a border to the strips to make the quilt larger.

Following the jelly roll colour progression.

Love these flowers, the reds and pinks!

The funky Trade Winds

Unfortunately this quilt went wrong... the seams went off on a tangent and curved... the poor learner was in tears, and couldn't look at her work. I have offered to sort it all out... getting the seam ripper out over the weekend. I am thinking about making the strips that are fine into a Scrappy Trip Along...

All in all it was a successful day, with 3 learners booking onto my 5 week course which focuses more on cutting and designing blocks using HST. Plus they had a waiting list long enough to book another workshop, so I am back teaching at Prema Arts on Saturday 9th.