Staying true to you, embroidered bowl!

I’ve been soul searching of late….i love creating using fabrics but I find trying to make a living at it extremely hard going.

I recently hired a stall for a week and found out the hard way that trying to sell items that people can buy in the shops is soul destroying.

So what do you like to make, I asked myself?! I like creating fabric the most. I am happiest if I am dyeing, sewing crazy patchwork, free machine embroidery, hand embroidering and embellishing fabrics.

Well do that then!

So along came my idea for a free machine embroidered bowl.

I rooted out my stash of thick washaway film and loaded it up with thread and fabric waste (!) with a few leaf shaped pieces of hand felted felt.

Then ontop a layer of gold fabric mesh. This then was hooped ready for leaves to be free machine embroidered on to.

You have to go over your sewing lines several times as they will not hold the shape once the washaway film has been wetted out.

I usually go over board at this stage as I find it very hypnotic and soothing! So I was strict with myself and stopped.

I ran the hot water into the sink with the plug in and slipped the embroidery in. I use hotter water as this film is thick.

I then placed it over an upside down bowl using it as a mould. As I’m smoothing it over I am thinking I don’t like this but I couldn’t put my finger on why. Anyway leave it to dry.

When it was dry I really didn’t like it! OK not to worry it can be saved….i re-wet it and left it to dry flat. So what is wrong what can I do to bring this back…how about adding more embroidery? How about adding fabric? How about just putting it your sample sketchbook!

As you can see I added some hand felted leaf shapes.

To make it easier to add the fabric and embroider on top I sandwiched it between some more washaway film. The bowl would also need more of the film as it acts like a glue too. The film allows the shape to fix into the shape of the mould when wet and left to dry.

The pictures below shows the embroidery drying on the mould.

And now I have to wait until it’s bone dry to work some hand embroidery and perhaps some beads.

And I have to stop myself from fiddling with it!

More pictures completing it.....mind i'll never be rich at this work rate!!!

Thanks for reading.

I am hoping for some comments!

Comments

Wildflower UnderFoot previously Lime n Choc Embroidery Fabric!

What came first then? I love walking about the wild areas near where I live. They are not big spaces, they're spaces people have forgotten and not used! As I walk I ponder on life's stuff and look about me. I know this sounds deep but I do like the freedom of it! I had already started this fabric...sewing lime green shiny fabric onto a muslin base adding hand dyed lace in places on top. The fabric was sewn down in gathers and pleats in waves. Don't know why but I decided chocolate coloured lining fabric is what was needed between, beneath the pleats. Then green lining fabric was added to balance the lime green... Lots of machine stitching to bed the chocolate sections in. It was at this point I decided to cut the piece into 3....for better or worse! As this is now a piece that is in the making for months...how many I've forgotten.... Lots more machine sewing adding texture and a littl

Phew!

I am so happy!!! My little girl is now a Mrs! She makes me very proud of the way she has conducted her life so far. An honest, hardworking, empathetic smasher of a daughter! She lives in Australia now with her new husband and they had decided to get married here in Liverpool, UK! So not only have we all had to cope with the 'stress' (if that's the right description?) of arranging a wedding but poor daughter and husband had to do it long distance! Any hoo after 8 months the wedding went off beautifully! I had to walk her down the aisle as her own dad died 17yrs ago...I cannot remember being that shaky nervous EVER! They look lovely together! Arrhh well back to 'normal' life and plans to get myself over to the land of Oz for a hol! I had a good week selling my wares last week...(well won't pay the bills yet !!)...most important sales were the fabric I make and the dyed fabric I sell. Funny I miss looking at my sea

Adore Lamor Fabric Dyeing!

I love fabric dyeing! I was looking at the fabric I have for sale on my ebay shop and the fabric that flew off the shelf and knew I had to replace....woohoo!! Which colours was the question, as I'm walking my dog through the wildflower meadow in my local park! Ah yes meadow colours! Buff no brainer! So here we go kitchen and diner transformation...ta da....chemistry lab! No really everything has to get covered by a cover, as the dyes get everywhere! My complicated and expensive tools (!) Although the metal measuring spoons and the thermometer are essential and a brilliant buy as they make ME more accurate in my measurements! I use 100% cotton calico PDF ready to dye fabric. The fabric is steeping in warm water to open the fibres to take the dye. Keeping an eye on the temperature of the water, it should be around 110 degrees to add to the powder dye. Yes they are soup pots! Here they dye is measured and mixed. I

Embroidery Hand Stitching

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