The week that got away

Where did that week go? Had a great time doing the Regional Day in Penrith and good to meet some blog followers. They all asked about Smudge and were told to look at Clive's shoes for his latest exploit. They were his respectable black leather shoes, only worn on posh occasions. They are now his 'very scratched by a certain bad cat' shoes. He'd obviously been in the wardrobe.

Had a chance to go for a lovely walk around Ullswater and found this tree trunk, decorated by coins - great texture.

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It has been all work since I got home - on the mags and on the books. All coming on well. As I haven't had time to attack my catalogue here are three from the Catalogue Killers group. this is by Genie.

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This one is from Jen.

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Before and after.

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Finally this is from the Wabbit - you may remember her horrible neighbour did away with her catalogue. This one has been in her dishwasher but she doesn't recommend this - she is still dealing with the pulp that got away!

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To finish - this pic below is from an asylum seeker from next door. They have a newish cat who is a nasty piece of work and all their cats hide in our garden. This one is taking refuge from the rain under my spraying table (two bricks and a paving slab that is great for using spray cans of paint).

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catalogue 3 -one step forward

Hi folks

Had a bit of a giggle about all your catalogue tales - especially the new form of composting. Glad you are enjoying the ride and thanks to those who put their name down to be told when the great book launch give away is happening. That is getting even more exciting, as Lynda and Carol are joining in the give away.

Excuse me not doing individual comments but I have just grabbed five minutes for a catalogue update. I can't tell you how frantic it is getting both WoW and Quiltwow ready at the same time as editing two books. I am running on caffiene and not much sleep - I will pay later.

So looking forward to the Regional Day and to meeting up with Jackie. It will be like a holiday and I am not going to collect emails while we are away. We are going on Friday and plan to call in to the embroidery exhibition at Ramster Gardens in Surrey on the way home on Sunday. If you haven't been, do try it - not just lots of lovely stitch to look at, but a wonderful garden and the cakes in the tea-room...... I have two pieces in the show which is a bit of an accident as they are my new Celtic pieces and that is what my talk is based on next weekend. Whoops. I have loads of other stuff to show so don't think they will be missed. The web address is http://www.ramsterweddings.co.uk/events/

Now to catalogue 3, which I thought was nearly finished. I sneaked away from the desk last week and met up with three of my bestest friends, Jane, Ellie and Sue. We had a lovely lunch and then they looked at the catalogues. I don't usually inflict my work on my friends, but Jane had asked to see them and, as she is a great paper person with a good eye, she sorted out the latest one. This is what I planned.
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Much the same as when you last saw it but more colour on the top - I sprayed it with Starburst Stains and added two beady bits that I made with Val.

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The bottom bit had two Celtic knotty bits (ooh good, I can take it to the talk) made from Hearty type clay. Here's a detail.

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I love the way this has worked and plan to do more of this combining Hearty with WS paper.

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However, the gang (designing by committee) didn't like the bottom bit and Jane thought it would be better if the top was rotated - as above. I think she is right and I proposed a cruciform shape with this as the top. I shall cut up my last catalogue to make the upright - see below. It's great to have a second opinion - at the last Beyond Stitch meeting Sue transformed the piece I was working on - it was much better when she'd finished. Hope she's not going to demand a share of the book royalties! I'll buy you lunch instead, Sue!

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Back as soon as possible, hopefully with a completed Cat 3.

Catalogue 3- The Bumps

The next catalogue tutorial is so big that I’ve had to do it in two parts. I have invented a new technique of catalogue carving. The first part is coming along below.

But I must tell you that the first glimpse of the new books - Stitching the Textured Surface by Lynda Monk and Carol Mcfee and my Stitches, Straps and Layers – can be seen on the d4daisy site. http://www.d4daisy.com/

For those who have requested it there is also a ‘Tell me when they’re ready’ button so we can email you when the books are available. I’d advise you to get on the list as I’m planning lots of prizes for those ordering on the first day – goody bags of materials, ATCs and postcards plus some pieces of work. Such excitement.

First the comments:

Thanks for the Easter wishes, Scissors

Heather – this catalogue is a bit like yours so might add inspiration

The leaves were actually printed on the cellophane Aussie Jo. They did a bit of a disappearing act when I zapped it with a heat gun, so I’m trying an iron.

Love the photos Genie

Becky –glad you like our bits of nonsense. Yes, we buried our catalogues in the autumn and there have been some hilarious incidents with them. More details on the d4daisy site – follow the links through to the free classes – you don’t need the passwords for the catalogue info.


A Bendy Catalogue

Perhaps undulating is a better description. Here is what it looked like at the beginning. It has been disinfected, dried and brushed. It has two interesting little dips for treasures. I want to work to a Celtic theme so I shall have to make them jewelled spirals, I think.
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Using a craft knife I carved the bottom into points that hung over the lower page.

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At this point it was discovered that shaving into the curves produced an interesting surface, resembling rock strata.

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Then it was out with the Hearty clay - papery stuff aka Model Soft or Model Magic. I flattened a walnut sized piece and pressed rubber stamps into it, using suitable swirly patterns and a Sherrill Kahn droopy bit that I'm fond of.

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This piece was pushed onto the left top corner of the catalogue. I used a little Golden Matte gel on the page to make it stick and then pressed the edges of the clay to mould it around the corner. The stamp was pressed into the edges where the pattern had been disturbed. This method is easier than sticking it first and then stamping but that is an option on awkward surfaces.

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Now off to the experiments box to find something to take the lower part down. Just the thing -a piece of water soluble paper reinforced with kozo fibres.

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I painted the Hearty at the top with acrylic paint in dark turquoise and black. When it was dry I used gold metallic wax. I will probably paint the papery areas like this too, but I'm keeping my options open at present.

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The bottom section already had some motifs but I added two Celtic ones by squashing a stencil into Hearty clay..

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This was applied to the papery surface by pressing the edges into the base and, when quite dry, doing some stitching. I left it a little flaky and lifting in some areas. It will be painted with acrylics to match the base.

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So that's where we are at the moment. the next blog, in a few days should see the finished piece.

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Hope you are enjoying these catalogue tales. They have been a bit of a marathon to write, but I'm learning lots. Can't see me teaching workshops on it though - the students would need 6 months notice.

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Not Quite the Next Catalogue

A longer break than I had expected but it’s been a very busy week. Had a great time at Bromley branch of the Guild – lovely people and good to get back into meeting people again. We stopped off at Chartwell for lunch, back in the old routine of finding a National Trust House for a quick visit and a bite to eat.
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I took the icon catalogue along and, believe it or not, there were some people who hadn’t heard about the art and science of catalogue killing! I don’t think they could quite believe it had started out as a Dwell catalogue. Which brings me to the comments:

Genie’s catalogue looks great. I would so love to see it in the flesh.

Hope the wabbit weathering works OK. Let me know if you change your mind.

Will look forward to seeing the face develop, Heather.

Sojourner - thank you so much for the honour. Can’t guarantee to comply with the conditions, as I find it hard to narrow down my favourite blogs. Lovely to receive it, though.

I bet your catalogue will look super Mags.

Jackie – you know what they say about great minds!


I am getting ready to work on the next catalogue – one with bendy pages. I am determined that this one will have some texture on it so I’ve had a dig in the failed experiments box and come up with a couple of interesting surfaces.

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The piece below was made by stitching together patterned cellophane and heavy metallic organza and then using the heat tool. Kim Thittichai wrote us a great article for Workshop on the Web on using this for vessels – she sells patterned cellophane at

www.nid-noi.com

Sam Packer has taken this a stage further and written an intriguing article about trapping with cellophane - that will be in the June issue. So I won’t tell you too much about how this was made – you’ll find it there.

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So search out some textured bits and bobs for the next catalogue bash next week.

I am working all weekend, getting the next two books ready to go to the designer. Did sneak a little time off for a big family gathering at Pizza Express. JS is not going to let an excess of vegetation interfere with his pudding.

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Back at the coalface - we've begun the update of the d4daisy site - should load next week. We'll have details and pics from the new books and you will be able to go on the ‘tell-me-when’ list. I am so excited about Lynda and Carol’s book. It opens up all sorts of possibilities and I am going to put everything on hold as soon as I can to try out their ideas.

I received my copy of Design-IT, the magazine of the Computer Textile Design Group. It’s a very good group and you should check their web-site
www.ctdg.org.uk
Look at the Gallery – there is some great art there. In the mag there was an article on using channels by Marlene Allinson. The channels option is under the Image Menu in PSP and it separates the colours, RGB (red, green, blue) is the most usual separation. You get a greyscale image for each colour and they can be recombined when you’ve played with them. I won’t give away her secrets but here are some of my results.
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This Alium had lots of different colours.

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Which look good like this.

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This photo from the Chartwell visit is of some huge dead leaves on a compost heap.



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There wasn't really enough contrast for the channels and it needed more work afterwards, but I finally produced a good image.



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Back soon with the next step in the catalogue series.

Catalogue 2 - Icon

Thanks for comments on the video. I think Bonnie did it really well. We were very squashed together and she said that, as this violated one's personal space, the natural reaction is to move away. To counteract this Bonnie said she would prod me with her elbow and I was to move closer. You can see this happening - it's like Pavlov's dogs - I must be easy to condition. Hope it doesn't happen on a bus - I might be arrested.

Ann - aka wild child, we had been leaving our catalogues out to overwinter. There have been hysterical stories of stolen catalogues, divorces due to husbands binning catalogues and so on.

Even if the cat seems as hard as a rock, it can usually be cut to reveal layers below which won't be so hard.

I like 'Death by Art' - could also be accidental art.

Can't you wet the pieces Robin? Then squish them together.

Wabbit is sure she can knock up another catalogue soon, so I haven't got to send her one. Clive is disappointed - he said he couldn't wait to see what I put on the Customs declaration!

Today's catalogue workshop was supposed to have stitching in it but it ran away from me and got itself finished without any. Next week's curly pager will absolutely certainly have stitching.

I love today's effort, which was inspired by the two image that appeared as a result of the weathering process. As one of them resembled a Madonna I decided to go for an iconic theme. The catalogue was used just as it was - no gesso.

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The pic below shows the Madonna and the two weird 'watching' figures.

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I scanned in a couple of designs from my icon sketchbook. There are plenty in Google images - many copyright free. The one shown below is just printed on ordinary printer paper.

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That was OK but the thought of a gleam of metal was appealing, so I stuck tissue paper to A4 printer paper, using a glue-stick around the edges. Various rips are to be encouraged, as it is going to be stuck to metal foil.

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I used very thin copper foil rather than metal shim. I wonder if chocolate foil would work - could be worth a try and such a good excuse to eat chocky. Golden gel was used to secure the tissue to the foil. A soft metallic glow comes through the fine tissue.

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The metal was torn into a rectangle and various places were tried on the background. Luckily my watchers were in a good place and I avoided sticking it over them.

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A strong glue is best for sticking the metal to the catalogue. I used Bostic, a contact adhesive - these have a strong smell. I use a scrap of Vilene as a spreader.

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Put in place on the background and then rub all over the metal. It will follow any undulations in the catalogue. Be careful not to rub away the tissue - at the end this will need a matt varnish.
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I didn't want to overload the piece with bits and bobs but I found this wonderful piece of cast paper, made from a large metal block with a leaf design. It already had a pale blue colouration from the metal block. As yesterday, it was glued and wet around the edges to integerate it.

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Further integration took the form of damping water-soluble paper and pressing it around the edge of the metal to soften it. A little dilute walnut ink was dripped onto the wet paper. This was the only colouring used in the whole piece.

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The final touch was to use Aquarelle crayons to emphasise the background figures a little and then a little metallic gold wax was applied to the leaves and some of the background.

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This piece looks even better in the flesh as the foil gleams so beautifully.

That's it for this week - I'm off to do a talk in Bromley tomorrow.

Catalogue Killing

Well here we go for the first catalogue bashing blog. Bear in mind that everyone’s catalogue will be different, so there will be several blogs over the coming week or two, all featuring different methods. My first one uses no stitch at all, although this could easily be added.

This is the plainest of my catalogues. It is quite thin (I ripped one in two) and very stiff and cardboard-like. A lot of the text has worn away and it was very dirty. I disinfected it and gave it a really good brush with wire - see Monday’s blog

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1) I wanted to cut an area out to be a focal point so, using a craft knife I cut down into the surface. Although a hard surface this proved quite easy (when past the outer layer) and a rectangle was cut away. I had intended to set an icon image in here but, as it had torn quite flakily and looked good, it was decided to leave it as it was. The piece that was cut out was kept for later.

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2). The whole thing was then given a very light coat of gesso, missing out in some places where there was text.

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3).Followed by a light spray of diluted Quink ink and Moonshadow Mist.

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Then it was off to the bits and bobs box - aka the failed experiments stash. Here all kinds of little treasures are to be found - pieces of cast water soluble, snippets of Tyvek, metal shim etc.

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4). One of the biggest mistakes made in composition is to apply too many embellishments to the surface. I am as guilty as anyone and sometimes I hear Val’s voice in my head saying ‘You’ve got everything but the kitchen sink here, Maggie’. So,wanting to keep the austere look of the piece, just two items were selected - a piece of cast paper and some melted embossing powder on scrim - just paint on parchment paper, sprinkle with UTEE and melt. Dip scrim into it while hot. MIND YOUR FINGERS - HOT!
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5). The cast paper was made from one of the mini moulding mats so it was ideal for a border. I broke it in two and glued it to the catalogue with Golden gel (any glue would do here) .

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6). It is essential that elements such as this look as though they form part of the base and, to this end, the edges of the cast paper were wetted and ‘squashed’ into the catalogue. This took a while to dry

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7). The central area that was cut out earlier had metallic wax rubbed into it - gold acrylic paint could be used instead. This must be allowed to dry, preferably overnight
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8). Now try using spirit dyes or Adirondack Alcohol Inks on top of the gold wax/paint. If you haven’t used these before go to the free taster on www.workshopontheweb.com where there is a tutorial. I squeezed a little stonewash blue over part of the surface and then used red pepper on top, straight away so they bled into each other.

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9). I then made three little frames from the rectangle cut out in step 1. It was cut into three and the middles removed to form the tiny frames. Three little scraps of colourful catalogue (from the gouged out bit) were then used as the base and the frames stuck on top, with a cut out of Grungeboard to make them stronger.
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10).They were too proud and stuck up too far so I took the craft knife and cut into the catalogue again so that two of them could nestle.
That’s this catalogue finished. Here it is, together with a detail of my favourite bit.

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Tomorrow I’ll post about a variant of this catalogue method and next week I’ll do a curly page one. Here’s a quick flash of tomorrow's method, in which the colours revealed some interesting areas. One looked like a Madonna. Can you see her? there are also a couple of creepy 'watchers' looking on.
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In the meantime, happy killing.