Unusual fabric art

I found this link to neuroscience art on Allies in Stitches,

This is the world's largest collection of anatomically correct fabric brain art. Inspired by research from neuroscience, dissection and neuroeconomics, our current exhibition features three quilts with functional images from PET and fMRI scanning, a knitted brain, and two fabric pieces interpreting single neuron recording. The artists are Marjorie Taylor, Karen Norberg, and Patricia Jauch. Techniques used include quilting, applique, embroidery, beadwork, knitting, and crocheting. Materials include fabric, yarn, metallic threads, electronic components such as magnetic core memory, and wire, zippers, and beads.

Go on , have a look.

Bobbin lace and tatting

On a Wednesday nights I try and get to Stitched Up craft group meeting held at the Textile Workshop. I usually take some hand sewing that I can do easily whilst chatting. Last night I realised that I don't really have anything portable so I dug out my lace bobbins which need the old thread unravelling and my tatting shuttle which I haven't touched for years. Hopefully I'll get the bobbins sorted and paired ready to set up a practise pillow to take in one week for everyone to have a go.

quick practise run with the shuttle last night

my favourite bobbins are black with metal work like these

Take it further challenge (April)

I spent yesterday lunch hour shut away from customers and thinking about the challenge. So here it is
Changes
Positive/negative, good/bad, better worse, changing seasons, ages/stages of life,changing weather, decay, changing lifestyle/fashion, changing mindset.

Positive/negative keeps jumping out at me so I'll explore that more at the weekend.

Last night, however was a bit of a disaster as I spent an hour or so scanning more photos for Biker Ted when the computer crashed on the very last one. Typically none were saved so I have to do the whole lot again once I am in a better mood. Interestingly both computers crashed at the same time and mine is usually very stable.

Take it further challenge (April)

Sharon B wrote:

There are stages in life when it is almost unacceptable to change. For instance it is often implied that it is not acceptable to change when you are middle aged and the desire for change at this stage in life is often referred to as a mid life crisis. Yet often at the same time, in the work place expensive consultants are being hired to help corporations and institutions ‘manage change’. We are expected to adapt to different work stresses and embrace change in the work place but changes our private lives is framed as bit of issue. It amuses me when people say we have to learn to live with change as change has always been part of life. As soon as we are born we start to grow in other words we start to change.

How do you see change? That is the challenge topic this month.

Once again I came up with it by using ColourLovers If you have not seen this site before and love colour do check it out as there is much colourful fun to be had over there.

when I started this challenge, I had intended to play with the concept each month but I suspect that I may struggle with this one. The colours are okish but not enough variety for me.

Morsbags

If , like myself, you have fabric stashed that might never be used then this could be of interest. morsbags sociable guerilla bagging

You know you are in a Biker house when........

There's an exhaust system taking up space in the front room

A motorcycle engine taking up space in the back room

and two motorcycle wheels hiding in the kitchen cupboard

However, it wasn't until I uploaded these photos that I realised that the first two also include quilts. I also resisted the temptation to show the bike seats under the bed, the shock absorbers in the bedroom..............................

Wednesday, strange day.

In the morning I tend to eat my breakfast whilst reading e-mails and blogs in one room whilst Ian does the same in another room downstairs. This way we are not forever bumping into each other as we get ready for work. So when I heard doors opening and closing yesterday, I wasn't too surprised until I went down stairs and was hit by an intense smell of burnt toast and smoke. At first I thought the obvious, the toaster had jammed or something similar but no, Ian had put the wheat?filled sausage shaped pillow in the microwave as usual as he had a stiff neck and instead of heating up, it had burst into flames.
Breakfast was eaten with all the windows open, wearing heavy jumpers over our work clothes. brrrr............

You could still smell it when I got back yesterday evening but I did have a package waiting for me.

This felted bag came from Ruth who blogs as Permutations in fibre and was a giveaway on her blog a few weeks ago, aren't I the lucky one. Thanks Ruth, It really cheered me up especially since we still had the windows and door open to try and get rid of the smell.

Thanks Margaret

I had the following message from Margaret of Little works of Art

Hi Sue, I have just been nominated for an award by Barbara of Embroidery Overlaps as a blog that’ brings her inspiration and makes her appreciate the blogosphere’, and of course I have to do the same to 10 blogs that do it for me! You therefore meet the criteria that I would expect of such a blog. So consider yourself well and truly nominated!

A big thank you Margaret, its always good to find out who is reading ( if anyone) and I will certainly pass the award on in due course. One thing I have noticed is that we share the same taste in textile blogs!


Anyway, on the subject of Textiles, here is the Atc going in the post for Anna. The challenge was to use the washers sent to us by Anna. Layer of black velvet, heated painted Tyvec envelope, black net, hand stitch, machine stitch and breaded. The washers were wrapped with machine embroidery threads.

Red Marley Hill Climb 2008

OK this post is mainly for the bikers amongst you. Red Marley Hill Climb takes place on Easter Monday and last year we had a wonderful day out, sitting in the sun, watching the bikes go up and sometimes down the hill.
Today we ventured out wearing thermals, big boots, big coats with fleece lining, hats and gloves!! The Met office forecast was mainly dry, bright max 6C we got snow, hail and wind taking the temperatures down. Fortunately the snow was light and didn't settle or interfere with the racing at all.

This is the hill.

nearer the top

not everyone made it up

most of the bikes tried to defy gravity especially at this point

check out the colour of the clouds

I must admit that I am still not happy with my camera since I dropped it a few weeks ago so I will investigate the price of a new one, but today, the light was really against me at times which made things difficult. Compare and contrast with this

Nearly forgot, the reason the film in the previous post looks a bit weird is that I couldn't find the off button with my gloves on!!

Red Marley Hill Climb 2008

I am busy sifting through 200 or so photos of the racing from today so I thought I would let you see this first.

Red Marley Hill Climb 2008

I know a few people have been looking at my blog after searching for Red Marley Hill Climb Details so here are a link to their page and a link to last years photos.

Also, as far as I can find out, practice starts at 10:00am, racing proper from 12:00noon and will last until about 5:00pm.

Admission cost is £5 Adults, under 16s are free!

Old sewing tools

The big cupboard sort out continues so I thought I would post quickly about some of the older items.

This sewing case complete with knitting needles and cotton reels was found at a car boot sale, the assorted lace bobbins, rug tools and wooden knitting needle holder were found in a small antique/curio shop in Lincoln last year. The owner admitted that he had no idea what they were and was quite happy for me to take anything sewing related for a very small sum.
My late MIL s sewing box, just as it came to me except for a few buttons which have been used.
A collection of bone and bone handled stilettos, one is carved and opens to reveal a baby ones inside purchased in Scotland a few years ago. lace bobbins that are over 100 year old, bone tatting shuttle and assorted packets of needles.
Knitting stitch/row counter, advertising item maybe, cost me all of 20p at a car boot sale
Mother of pearl thread holder, sewing case, needle case assorted scissors and needle packets.
Fortunately, most of these items are small and inexpensive and give me great pleasure, some even get used from time to time.
By the way, I think winter has finally arrived as it is snowing outside,!!

Bank Holiday Playday

Today, Good Friday, sees the start of the Round Britain Rally and Ian together with Biker Ted were up and out early. The plan was to bag a few landmarks and attend a meeting of fellow rallyists to mark the first day of the challenge.
This left me to my own devices so I decided to have a sort through one of my cupboards to see what was hiding at the back.
First find was some pastel dyesticks and skeleton leaves, so I made some rubbings onto a piece of dyed cotton, added some batting, machine stitching ,metallic paint and voila a quiltie or postcard or ATCS, not sure which.
I really need to practise more with my machine stitching, suspect I try to stitch too fast sometimes.

I then found some old dyes that a fellow student had given me maybe 5 years ago. Rather than throw them out, I used them for some plastic bag dying for use as backgrounds and discovered that the brown dye did not work at all.
Most of the results were quite pale but I am sure that they will get used sooner or later
The silk fabric picked up the colours as lovely pastels

The only problem is that my room is even more of a mess now.!!

Hairless fairy

Several people have commented about the lack of face and hair on the fairy, firstly I am worried about spoiling things with a face and as yet have not found a suitable fibre for hair so for the time being she will be a very anonymous bald lady!!

Take it further challenge (March)

So here she is, the final version and a big thank you to everyone who commented about the skirt.

This has been a very interesting challenge especially for someone like myself who doesn't often work in 3d

For anyone who is interested, body is painted cotton, wings are free machine embroidery with angelina and beads and the legs are fabric wrapped pipe cleaners. All items are from my stash ( no, I didn't buy the beads at the NEC:))