Sewing Notions Video

Black Books - Favorite Place from DaBrainkilla on Vimeo.

Just love this notions video. For those that like unpicking:)

Chenille Fabric Wall Bag

I made two bags a month last year and it inspired lots of my students. This is a bag I made from a kit using a Chenille fabric technique. See the post on my blog HERE 
I wrote an article review on how to make Chinelle fabric and the Olfa Chenille Cutter on So Crafty Magazine HERE

1. Instructions for Making Chenille Fabric
2. My Recommendation To Buy On Amazon
3. Olfa Chenille Cutter click to view video
4. Chenille Wall Bag using Olfa Chenille Cu...
5. Additional Reading 
6. Chenille Book To Buy

See how you make Chenille fabric by watching the video. I used the cutter and its great fun and easy to use.

Snow Magic

Due to the snow, I have had to cancel my classes this week and so I had the opportunity to do lots of reading and research. The snow has been amazing and when I did venture out, the sun made the snow sparkle like magic. I did some research on myth and legend surrounding snow and found some interesting sites! I liked the fairy and nature myths. 'Faerie', meaning, 'conscious intelligent, animant energy'. I found this beautiful video that also contains excepts from the film "Fairy Tale- a True Story". My first choice video above contains the Frost Faerie and beautiful music.
Watch a montage of the film 'Fairy Tale- A True Story'.

 This also led me to investigate more and I came across a film" The Gateways to Faerie" by John Crawford a famous puppeteer who makes fairie houses and gives workshops.



Enjoy the videos and consider your own magic!
Visit John Crawford's website HERE

 Happy New Year everyone.Hope it is a good one. I have been Spring Cleaning my Studio as I have been working in it the last few days preparing to go back to teaching my Mixed Media, C&G and Patchwork and Quilting Classes. There are changes to the venues as some of you may know, due to decisions out of our hands and the closure of The Gallery. See the New Year Post on my website by clicking www.art2inspire.co.uk If you want to see the dates and days please visit my Blog Quilters Cottage Norfolk.This video so inspired me to get sorting and stitching. Hope you enjoy it.

Fabric Dyeing

 I am fabric dyeing and printing over the next few weeks with the City and Guilds classes, so this video shows you an easy way of getting your colour variations and maybe you can then make a colour wheel like the one in a previous post.

Mono Printing

 Its all about printing at classes this week and of course it often starts with paper techniques then transposes onto fabrics. This video is a good one to get you started with mono printing.

Colour Wheel for Textiles

 We are making colour wheels over the next few weeks at City and Guilds and I thought this one is just great for Textile Lovers.

 I have started teaching City and Guilds Creative Textiles again @The gallery Dereham on a Monday and Wednesday and this week the sessions are about continuing to make marks.Rubbings from different surfaces and how to translate them onto fabric. Carole a 'Frottage' Artist has a novel and creative ways of creating surface marks from the world around her.

  'Fottage' a technique in art of obtaining textural effects or images by rubbing, lead, chalk or other mediums.

Amazing Artist

This is an amazing video of Ralph Slatton's work. A printmaker with amazing insight and detail. The twist on his work, drawing on common thoughts, legends and stories. Very dark and sinister in places but isn't that life's cruel fate?
Visit his website HERE

Hunger Games

 At the weekend we watched Hunger Games. The Trailer really captures the essence of the film. About survival which has an element of truth and science fiction. Our future? Hope not!
Have you see it?

Art Canvas

I saw this video yesterday and love the results of the combination of paper, paint and canvas. Watch and enjoy!

Battleship

Watched Battleship this evening, well worth watching, great effects and story. Watch the trailer and see what you think. Are Aliens out there?

Ruth Issett Demonstration with Colour

I just love colouring and embellishing ordinary fabrics or paper and making them into exquisite pieces of work.
Embellishing with lots of stitch, foils, glitz and beading. You can see more of the mixed media on my Blog HERE
Hope Ruth's Mixed Media Demonstration inspires you to have a try.

Cas Holmes

I went to the NEC Birmingham yesterday to visit' The Festival of Quilts', Exhibition. There were so many wonderful quilts, textiles, artists showing and demonstrating their work and of course lots of opportunity to buy amazing materials and books for inspiration.
Several of us spoke to Cas Holmes who is originally from Norfolk, so we had some fun with that!
"Normal for Norfolk!".
I brought her latest book, "The Found Object', and as you can tell by the title, what her work is all about. Her exhibition was outstanding and the integral way she joins art mediums together is often invisible, making the work seem transparent in nature.
 As you may know my work also encompasses found and recycled objects. I am always trying to find the 'magic within' everyday often overlooked objects and extol the virtues of recycling.
The interview above is an overview of Cas and her work in her studio.
Visit her website at www.casholmestextiles.co.uk

Crafty Camping Holiday in Dorset

Stewart and I spent five wonderful days last week in Dorset at 'Crafty Camping'. Which is run by Guy Mallinson. It is a luxury campsite with yurts, a tipee and bell tents in a magical woodland. Stewart throughly enjoyed the two day pole lathing course with Guy and Adam and seven other course members. I was lucky enough to take my sketchbook and work in The Bodgers Shelter by the trout pond opposite the tipee and then on Saturday worked in the Woodland workshop while Stewart continued working with wood and enjoying the outdoor life. Dudley the dog and Tommy the cat helps too! Vicky and her fabulous team created wonderful food for the lunches and I have come to the idea that Vicky is a Goddess, who creates amazing sticky chocolate puddings! Thank you so much to Guy and your woodland team for making our 25th Anniversary holiday a special one.
Visit www.guymallinson.co.uk to see the retreat in the woods.