I found a few more photos from Dorothy Caldwell’s Expressive Stitch workshop that led into my previous post This workpiece, on black+tan cotton, has never been out of my sight for long, really, as I’ve repeatedly pinned it up and taken it down from my design wall many times over the years as space permitted. I’ve never got sick of it , and now I realise just how much influence this workshop has had on the what I’ve done since. Some of these styles I haven’t used much, like the heavy line of 6-strand embroidery floss couched down with one thread.
There are 7 dots down the left side of the black, and I remember there were instructions to begin stitching a particular way begnning at each of those dots. The triangular insert, (upper RHC) wandering couched line, and the dotted line+french knot filler (lower RHC) were added after the blindfolds came off.
Here’s a closer look – I don’t think I’ve ever done a trianglular insert, but there’s some interesting potential there…. and that next line down covered with irregular stitches I’ve used quite a lot, as I also have with running stitch + dots or knots .
After learning about Kantha we worked our own personal images, though I don’t remember what the instructions were. Obviously I didn’t finish one and am pretty sure it’s still unfinished in the sample box…was I going to display it with the white on black as a pair, perhaps? I get the eucalyptus leaves and gumnuts, but have no idea what the two adults and child one was about …
I’ve often commented how hard it is to achieve irregularity, as it requires fighting against the natural rhythm of your stitching !
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Your comments and images from Dorothy Caldwell’s Expressive Stitch struck a chord, as I realised I was in the same class. I dug out my samples and notes from this workshop, and the long strip with the blindfold stitching to start us on a daily exercise. I haven’t looked at these samples for years, but your comment about the influence that this workshop has had on what you’ve done since rings true for me as well. Dorothy’s stimulating and generous teaching opened a freer way of working that I’d been trying to find for years. I see it as the beginning of my journey into creative stitch, after many decades of ‘practical’ sewing and making everyone’s clothes and wishing I could break the mould. A supply of used, often torn and stained geological sample bags became my favourite fabric, donated my field geologist husband. I asked for the old ones that were going to be thrown away – what treasures!
Your image of the kangaroo tweeked my memory, I recognised it! I’ve always felt I knew you somehow but couldn’t work out from where and your 2 latest blogs have answered this. Nice to read that Dorothy’s workshop was important to you also.
Gwen Marston made the same observation about how difficult it is to make irregular grid quilting lines in an article where she encouraged quilters to try quilting them without marking or guides for a more folk look. You think you’re being random, in fact work to not space them accurately and before you know it, you’re quilting those grid lines pretty evenly.
As for your mention in the previous post of the men that show up online wanting to be “friends” that led you to using the stitched kangaroo in lieu of a photo of yourself, I’ve had my share on FB and they usually make me laugh with either their sporty cars (no draw for me) or their super patriotism (equally no draw). Haven’t had too many since I’ve been using a pic of my feet sporting hand-knit socks . . .
Thanks for replying, Anne – goodness !!! sample bags supplied by your field geo husband !!! possibly knows or knew Mike, who is a retired exploration geo, too! That has been responsible for my peripatetic life – which pwhich might have plenty in common with yours – Kalgoorlie x 2, Darwin, Mt.Isa, Denver, and now Montevideo UY. Fancy you remembering my motif – yes your name has always had a touch of familiarity, so did we meet in WA because you lived there? (as we did, Perth 1994 – 97) or did you fly in to Fibres West 2005 from somewhere else?
Thanks for commenting, Sheila. Yes, the same regular/irregular difficulty exists when hand stitching raw edge applique, too, and I often find myself needing to unpick a bit or renew my concentration to restore unevenness.
Your comments and images from Dorothy Caldwell’s Expressive Stitch struck a chord, as I realised I was in the same class. I dug out my samples and notes from this workshop, and the long strip with the blindfold stitching to start us on a daily exercise. I haven’t looked at these samples for years, but your comment about the influence that this workshop has had on what you’ve done since rings true for me as well. Dorothy’s stimulating and generous teaching opened a freer way of working that I’d been trying to find for years. I see it as the beginning of my journey into creative stitch, after many decades of ‘practical’ sewing and making everyone’s clothes and wishing I could break the mould. A supply of used, often torn and stained geological sample bags became my favourite fabric, donated my field geologist husband. I asked for the old ones that were going to be thrown away – what treasures!
Your image of the kangaroo tweeked my memory, I recognised it! I’ve always felt I knew you somehow but couldn’t work out from where and your 2 latest blogs have answered this. Nice to read that Dorothy’s workshop was important to you also.
Gwen Marston made the same observation about how difficult it is to make irregular grid quilting lines in an article where she encouraged quilters to try quilting them without marking or guides for a more folk look. You think you’re being random, in fact work to not space them accurately and before you know it, you’re quilting those grid lines pretty evenly.
As for your mention in the previous post of the men that show up online wanting to be “friends” that led you to using the stitched kangaroo in lieu of a photo of yourself, I’ve had my share on FB and they usually make me laugh with either their sporty cars (no draw for me) or their super patriotism (equally no draw). Haven’t had too many since I’ve been using a pic of my feet sporting hand-knit socks . . .
Thanks for replying, Anne – goodness !!! sample bags supplied by your field geo husband !!! possibly knows or knew Mike, who is a retired exploration geo, too! That has been responsible for my peripatetic life – which pwhich might have plenty in common with yours – Kalgoorlie x 2, Darwin, Mt.Isa, Denver, and now Montevideo UY. Fancy you remembering my motif – yes your name has always had a touch of familiarity, so did we meet in WA because you lived there? (as we did, Perth 1994 – 97) or did you fly in to Fibres West 2005 from somewhere else?
Thanks for commenting, Sheila. Yes, the same regular/irregular difficulty exists when hand stitching raw edge applique, too, and I often find myself needing to unpick a bit or renew my concentration to restore unevenness.