Embroidery Machines and Shimmer Ornaments

 Pop over to my new Blog for my latest post. Find out where these Shimmer ornaments are going!

Enjoy!

Day 1, Art Challenge on FaceBook

I was asked to participate in the 5 day Art Challenge on Face Book. So for those of you who aren't on Face Book, here's what I posted yesterday:

My friend, Rhonda, has challenged me to participate in the Art Challenge on Facebook. I'll start day 1 with 3 early pieces.

Voyage of Discovery was designed and created to celebrate the 500 years of John Cabot's discovery of Newfoundland. I made two of these. One is hanging in Bristol, England and was delivered on the day The Matthew set sail for NL. The 2nd one hangs in my dining room.

Cod Fish (3-D fish) wall hanging was made for an exhibit and is in a private collection.

Field of Daisies has 115 tiny hand embroidered daisies, done in a hoop, stiffened and then added, one at a time, to the landscape (private collection). This piece was inspired from a workshop I took with Valerie Hearder early 2000 when Val lived here in NL. Thanks, Val!

Guild Presentation - Voyage of Discovery

The Cabot Quilt Guild has a committee of talented ladies who look after the guild program for the year. They may introduce a new technique, have a slide show, a book talk, a guest presenter . . . the list goes on. This month, I was the 'program'! The committee felt it was time for me to do my 'stuff'. Since we have had quite a few new members over the last several years, it was decided that I should give a general talk about my art work.

I had no difficulty with a title as my first piece of original art was called "Voyage of Discovery" - very fitting, as it was completed the year I retired from teaching. Since then, I have been on my own voyage of discovery into all things related to textile art and embroidery. I love to experiment / play with new materials. However these days, I find it difficult to get much time to do that and I miss it. Note to self: make time!

I am not a quilter of quilts like most of the guild members. However, here's a couple I have done: Sheep at Stonehenge, and Quiltennium Dreams. Photos of some more of my work can be viewed HERE.

I decided to do a power point presentation of my art as well as have some actual pieces on hand. One thing I did discover while searching through my photographs to prepare for this presentation, was the importance of taking good photos! In the beginning, I was learning (still am really) and the images were not always taken in good light or were a bit fuzzy. I was told over and over to use the RAW mode on my camera as the images can sometimes be 'fixed'. You can't do much fixing if they are jpgs. I am now using the raw mode on my camera - live and learn. There are a few pieces of art that are sold and I wish I had better photos of them! Oh, well . . .

I do have to 'tag' all of my photos as it makes it easier to find certain ones. Some of them are done but not all.

The presentation went well and I was asked to do a workshop on some of the techniques I use. I am teaching Fantastic Fabrics (surface embellishment on fabric) next month. I have taught that one before and it tends to be lots of fun for participants as it is completely stress free! I also have to prepare a project for another workshop in the works, on making fabric clapboard. That was the topic for a presentation I did a few months ago for the Eastern Edge Quilt Guild ! Now, to get back to work!



Cod Fish - the fish are in 3-D. This is in a private collection.

My Sewing Machine Cover!

Here's a sewing machine cover that I custom designed for one of my machines. This machine has its own plexi glass table that was made especially for it. It is much larger than the commercial ones. I also had a extra thread holder that clipped onto the top of the machine. As a result, an ordinary cover wouldn't fit. Below you can see the various sides of the cover. The unique part of this cover is that it wraps around the machine with the back opened. I also slit two of the sides to fit over the table. (Two different machines were used to photograph the cover). The fabric is plain muslin that is sandwiched and free motioned all over.

The grey cod fish are original pieces that were stitched on my embroidery machine while the orange fish were traced onto fabric and then stitched out using free motion stitching. I put pockets on both ends and in front. However, I find that I don't use them. It's much easier to hang my small scissors to the back of the machine in easy reach (hook just to the right & behind machine). In the beginning I put stuff in the pockets and never remember that and kept looking around for the stuff on the table so I figured 'what the heck' and kept them empty. I have also learned not to move things around in my room as I can never find them afterwards!

You can see my stained glass window in the background. Go HERE to see a full view.

Battle Harbour, Labrador

I will be having some of my shimmers ornaments at Battle Harbour, Labrador this coming tourist season.  Battle Harbour is one of Newfoundland and Labrador's Heritage Properties. In the 1770's, the mercantile salt fish premises at Battle Harbour were established by the firm of John Slade & Company of Poole, England. "Battle Harbour served as the gateway for Newfoundlanders seeking to fish unmolested in the resource rich waters of Labrador." Because of it's rich fishing history, the shimmers selected for the historic properties are: whale, cod fish, dory and polar bear. The polar bear is my newest ornament, made especially for this venue but will also be found in St. John's as well.

To view some art work on salt fish, visit Janet Davis's Norton's Cove Studio. Scroll down to see Lineage and the rest of her work on salt cod. Also, of interest is Janet's Salt Cod Study.

If you are interested in making a dish using salt cod, check here.