Does Not Equal

Sewing Machine Mania

2008-05-31T06:32:00.005Z

I have been making decisions again. Following my L5 spinal disc injury in January I have been trying to recover - it now looks like I will never be able to lift very much weight, so I have reluctantly decided to let all the sewing machines go. I have always liked old machines, am not a collector (although I do own a few) and have restored them and sold them on for a long time. Shown above are a Wheeler and Wilson 9 from 1896 or thereabouts, and a Singer 29k15 Boot Patcher machine on a treadle. I have some rather more practical machines too, link and prices here
I'm sorry to see them go, but I am looking at quite a long term recovery here. I go for my MRI scan on Monday, to confirm the problem.. If it means surgery I do not quite know how I will manage...

And here's the little beast that did for my back....

This is Doreen...

2008-05-16T19:54:00.003Z

Life Class on Wednesday night. Great fun and some nice drawings. Here she is again in a slightly more negative light..

And one more...

All charcoal and pastel on paper...

All Done...

2008-05-12T05:24:00.005Z

And what a week. Probably my best Spring Exhibition since the first one, and I had a good time. On Saturday I had a visitation from Hannelore, who drove 140 miles each way to see the work, and took home a small piece she has wanted for ages, my Silken Roses:- Here in whole and in part

And my mermaids, which weren't in the show, went to a good home too. And right at the end of the day, the Green Man I made to replace the one I sold on Tuesday found an admirer and went home with her.

So I am happy but exhausted, and now I have to get on with some work..

Update on Physiotherapy..

2008-05-09T20:24:00.007Z

Nice man. Did all the tests my other chap did, asked lots of questions. Treated me mostly as an intelligent adult, which is nice. Confirmed the diagnosis - I have a trapped nerve on the L5 disc in my spine and consequent numbness and lack of function. I went home at 12. At 1 he rings me, asks a few more questions, tells me I am to be sent for an MRI scan - probably next week.. Such efficiency!

And then I had a good afternoon, sold a big kite

and a flag. And some books and other stuff...

And had a long talk with my friend in Silverdale.

And came home and had a very nice supper.

And made a webpage for my 2008 Journal quilts Here

Ah, it's a hard life (not)

Physiotherapy

2008-05-09T05:37:00.003Z

I have spent the last few years collecting, fettling, and sending-on sewing machines for a charity that supports self-reliance projects in Africa and elsewhere
Workaid
Much needed work from 2 perpectives - I hate to see old machines junked, and I do like the idea that someone in some dusty African village is working for their livelihood on a treadle or hand-crank machine very like the one I use every day..

In January, I went to collect a couple of machines from a house in Suffolk. I arrived late in the afternoon, to find a treadle and a handcrank, and no-one to help. And I injured my back. Again. Three times in 3 years is one too many.
I have reluctantly decided to give the machine collecting a rest for a while, and I'm off to see the senior physiotherapist this morning, for a referral for a possible MRI scan, as it isn't healing on its own.

In a way I'm relieved, as it's hard work with little reward apart from the satisfaction, but I will miss the things. Not that I am short of old machines...

And then back to running the Exhibition. Last 3 days, folks, and so far it has been a good one.
Image at the top is a detail from "Ancient and Modem", a piece I made to take to the Quilters' Guild conference this year and am showing in the exhibition. Half green-man, half robot, whole-cloth quilted. The green-man is on old linen, the robot on polyester satin.. £100

Comments and more pictures..

2008-05-08T19:18:00.005Z

First, a painting - Garden Of Eden
This one sat on the easel for weeks, just as an underpainting, then fell out of the brush in an evening or two. Sometimes this happens - the thinking process seems to be a big part of the end result, almost unseen. Other times I find that a steady progress can be made on a piece, with no fits and starts. 24 inches square £275

Then another book - this one is called "Clearly An Alphabet" It has recycled tracing paper pages with remnants of text and lines on, and is filled with words associated with transparency, clarity, and see-through-ness. I have made a few Alphabets, some flow more easily than others, and this one was particularly gratifying to do. I finished with only one letter missing - J. (Jelly, of course, added later) The alphabet parts of these books are meant to be added to - I hope they will be evolutionary in their future lives...

Many thanks to all for comments on my postings over the last few days. I have been in Hibernation all Winter - lacking motivation and full of Sloth. Now the Spring has arrived; my HbA1c is 5.5; I have had a breakthrough on my acupuncture, and I feel like I may be able to Get On With It All....

More Pictures from an Exhibition..

2008-05-06T18:37:00.006Z

Sold my "Green Man - Oak and Ivy" today. He is going to Canada as a wedding present. Seems appropriate, as the green man is Fertility personified..
And I made another in a fit of industry. Photo when finished..

More of my Books below - sorry for the poor images, not up to my usual standard.
On the left is
40 The Hive

All manner of things beginning with B...
Found text, wooden box frame, glass, cutting.. £25

and on the right is

41 Apparent Places

Found text, wire, beads, hand-dyed linen thread; stitch, disassembling, assembling £47-50

Left to right:-

43 The Book of A
Found text, wire, hand-dyed linen thread; stitch, disassembling, assembling £47-50

44 An Ecclesiastical Abecedarium
Handmade paper, found text, handwritten alphabet text; stitch £15

42 Tassell Book
Found text, hand-dyed linen thread; stitch, disassembling, assembling £23

I think I may have to make some more of these...

Tree and Leaf...

2008-05-06T07:02:00.005Z

..which is the title for my Spring Exhibition
Actually started on Saturday, but it has been rather a hardwork weekend and I haven't had time to sit down here before this. I had my usual panic about whether I would have enough work to fill the space and whether it was good enough and coherent enough, but it seems to look all right. The business next-door-but-one had a Grand Opening on Saturday, with much fanfare, big signs, loads of customers - so that didn't hurt. Then they decided not to open on Sunday or Bank Holiday Monday, so I've just spent 2 days apologising for them. Grrr

Anyway, the Big New Thing for me this time is my Artist's Books. I have made a Cabinet full and they are getting a great reaction - I thought that people would think they were silly, but they seem to be much appreciated. Whether anyone will buy one is another story..
Top image is a Japanese bound book in A3 size, image below is "Hanging Book"

"48 Hanging Book
Bamboo, pencils, found text, hand-dyed cotton thread; stitch, disassembling, assembling, suspension.. Approx 14 inches high £55"

Whizz...

2008-01-31T19:13:00.000Z

Some days you get the feeling that the world runs OK, especially if you don't try too hard. I spent all morning being filmed for short online video how-tos that will be hosted by a chap who does such stuff locally.. He was very professional, and it all went as smoothly as a particularly smooth thing..

Last Monday, I finished quilting a piece I have had layered since November. It was printed (offset and screen) and I was very pleased with it, but sometimes its hard to work on top of a good image. Anyway, I finished it, and decided it needed blocking, so I pinned it out on my big table, spritzed madly, and left it to dry. Tuesday afternoon I have my Beginners and Intermediates class, so I left it there to show them the "blocking" process - none of them has seen this as I can't demo and then leave a blocked quilt, they need the table space to cut out. As they were all coming in and setting up and rattling around, a couple came in looking for the Cafe (which was closed) and fell in love with the piece. Paid me a deposit and came back for it this week. They bought it as a Golden wedding present for themselves. I am utterly chuffed, but I do feel that I would have liked to get to know the piece a little better..

Ah, well, need the money..

Further to the Postcard Thing

2008-01-22T08:58:00.000Z

I spend more time than is healthy on Old Sewing Machines - note the capital letters, as they are Important... And I belong to Treadleon
a group of Old Sewing Machine Collectors and Users

And there has been a big conversation about all that thread that gets left on old bobbins, and wound on top of with the next colour, and how some people just can't bear to throw it away...

Personally, I unwind it all and junk it - the underneath layers are compressed to uselessness and the outer layers can have only a few feet - the record is 38 colours on one bobbin.

I made the postcards from Old Sewing Machine Fabric, unwound threads, and net. First two OSM users to ask, can have....

Posting Postcards

2008-01-17T09:23:00.000Z

Well, this morning I am sending out 8 of the cards in the post below. I have already had one in exchange - from America...
Taught postcards yesterday afternoon - then came home and made a couple more. I am on a roll with cream and textures, having sorted out the boxes of fabric I find I have 5 full boxes of cream and a box of scraps... Oh, joy! Cards in the image (one on the left is not finished, needs buttons and beads) will be for sale..

Reconstitution

2008-01-11T20:05:00.001Z

I made a piece (in black, white and pink, for an online challenge) ...(link here)...
which I was not keen on. I gave it to another artist, who put it in a dyebath and made it very orange, and stitched some more, then gave it back. And I stitched a bit more and then I hung it up. And I still didn't like it.. So, as part of my New Year ohgodwhatdoidowiththis annual chuckout festival, I cut it up and made postcards. Now I quite like these.. If you fall in love with one, send your address and I'll send it to you...
If you like, you can send one back...

Teaching schedule..

2008-01-10T17:19:00.001Z

I have made a programme for the first quarter, and I am hoping to do much more teaching at the workshop this year..

Sunday 27th January 1 till 4:30
Patchwork Purses £15-00
Easy patchwork and quilting techniques to make a pretty purse in a choice of styles...

Sunday 3rd February 1 till 4:30
Absolute Beginners £15-00
An introduction to basic sewing machine techniques and troubleshooting; you don’t have to fear your machine. You will make a cushion and take it home ready to use...

Tuesday 12th February 11 till 4
Spiral Quilt £25-00
Foundation piecing and invisible machine appliqué combine to make this impressive quilt. Suitable for beginners..See image above...

Saturday 23rd February 11 till 4
Japanese Bookbinding £30-00
Make two delightful and useful Japanese-bound books with your sewing machine.. No glues! Price includes paper and boards for the books.

Friday 7th March 11 till 4
Play With Dyes Day £30-00
Procion dyes, screen-printing, and transfer dyes. Make your fabric sing with colour... Not for complete beginners

To book any of the above,
please ring Helen on 01508 548137, or email helen@raindropkites.co.uk
www.helenhowestextiles.co.uk
Workshops held at 4, The Raveningham Centre, Beccles Road, Raveningham, Norfolk NR14 6NU

6 trees

2008-01-10T15:02:00.000Z

Six pieces of 12 by 10 inches. I like this slightly odd size - these were made for my exhibition in November 2007. Oh and hello again, sorry for the long break. Life, you know...

Actually I have been finding it hard to motivate where the computer and my websites are concerned. Too damned tired and it's cold up here. Must try harder...

Got my magic back..

2007-09-23T18:12:00.000Z

....it's been gone for quite a while. Started a new Art class (Printmaking, Thursday mornings, with Avril again..), have cleaned up the workshop, made a few outstanding orders and am feeling like the world is the right way up again. I am preparing for my Autumn Exhibition, which is to be called Made/Remade, with Heather Hasthorpe and some other artists, and feeling stronger than for ages. And I bought some new shoes (waterproof!) a new cycling jacket (likewise!) and had a haircut... and I'm nearly thin enough...Bring on the world, I can beat it... Image is "Journal" by Heather, from a series to be shown at the Exhibition...

November 24th to December 2nd, 11 till 5 each day
at 4, The Raveningham Centre, Beccles Road, Raveningham, Norfolk NR14 6NU ....

Sun Dancing and All That

2007-09-14T20:34:00.000Z

..no image for this post, as it has been a most interesting experience, but no photographs were allowed.

Went to Wreningham, in Norfolk, to be a Dog Soldier for the first Norfolk Sun and Moon Dance. Nick Hurn was Chief, and Sammy-Jo Harvey and Cindy Hurn were the Moon Mothers. 10 dancers took part, and about a dozen helpers helped, drummers drummed, and dogs chased sticks....

I feel revitalised, and am amazed to have had such a good time while working so hard. I have been on a sort of sabbatical from life for the last few weeks - no creativity and lots of scut work, and then I went to Hampshire to teach, to my Qigong Instructors' Course in Shropshire, then to the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham, then back to chaos and a very untidy workshop... I still have to catch up with myself, and have spent all this week playing with dyes and printing. And you should see the place now...

I will be teaching Japanese Bookbinding on Saturday October 6th at my workshop at Raveningham.

Email me on helen@raindropkites.co.uk
for details...

2007-06-28T19:27:00.001Z

This is my Green Trees piece, which went to the Festival of Quilts last year as part of my attempt to swamp the show by entering (almost) every category... I have made a whole series of monochrome Tree Pieces in a variety of sizes - this one is about 30 inches tall... I sent it to the Horizons exhibition for Textile Art Group Suffolk last year, too, having noticed (after the fact) that it has a very nice horizon in it...
It's on here because I have been invited to teach this quilt as a one-day wokshop at Quilter's Haven in Wickham Market, Suffolk, on Saturday 10th November 2007.. and I've put it onto my Teaching list

Here's One I Made Earlier...

2007-06-18T19:20:00.001Z

My piece for the Contemporary Quilt Suitcase Collection, on the theme "Figure It Out"... It's called Fat Man Washes His Hair...

The joys of Life Drawing in one's own bathroom...

Sorry...

2007-06-16T19:37:00.000Z

...for the long delay.. Normal service will be restored as soon as possible. The whole diabetic thing seems to use energy like a city kid on speed, and as for the rest.. I have damaged a hamstring (too much kicking) and am limping and cursing (and not getting enough exercise - suggestions not involving swimming welcomed) - but I have been making the most of the last couple of Art Classes for the year.. I don't know what I'll do without - perhaps I'll have to do some structured Art Practice on my own..
Here are some images from today's frivolities - I took in a sewing machine and did some Life Drawing directly onto fabric.. Great fun, and I think these have potential..

Screen printing...

2007-05-17T20:26:00.000Z

Well, this is one of a series, but I'm tired and haven't done the reduceandcrop thing with the rest. Later, later...

Pastel mono-screen-print. I love the results but cannot stand the chemicals, want to find a more user-friendly medium to pull through the screen... This was about number 3 of a series of six, all modified and redrawn between each pull, and steadily more complex as it goes..

Mutual project...

2007-05-12T06:44:00.000Z

This is the piece I have just put together for Textile Art Group Suffolk's Summer Exhibition at Snape Maltings, near Aldeburgh, July 13th to 25th. The theme/title this year is Spectrum..

Each of us has made a piece of work 5 inches square, having been given a colour by Glenda Gerrard, and ~I have mounted the results on a canvas - it is to be displayed on the diagonal, with the red at the top, but I haven't worked out how to make the image do that yet...

Off to Art Class again, to make prints again... I plan to rework some of my earlier drawings onto fabric, in screen monoprint, and perhaps some more pastel monoprints, too...

A painting...

2007-04-27T13:22:00.000Z

This isn't my usual style, but I worked out that it was done on the day or very near to the day when I tipped into the diabetes, so perhaps it means something. It's acrylic on board, about 13 by 15 inches, and was done very quickly. Perhaps it's an underpainting for something else. Or perhaps not...

Blood Sugar and such...

2007-04-24T21:00:00.000Z

Well, officially I have joined the ranks of the insulin-challenged. I have to visit the doc tomorrow, and then I have to run the rest of my life. I have been heading for this for a long time, and in a way it's a relief for me to have gone over the hill and to be sliding down the far side...
More later. If you are reading this and have personal useful experience, I'd like to hear from you. If you have a story about your granny and her shortened life, please save it for another day. or another person, thanks.

helen@raindropkites.co.uk

2007-04-24T06:02:00.000Z

To Keene Quilters, at Stock in Essex yesterday to teach Fabric postcards, in the afternoon.. A very big class, and all seemed to have a good time, and made some very nice cards (some of which are shown here)..

I am always amazed, and amused to see how many different ideas can be produced from one basic and simple starter, and it is fun to see people's fabrics and trimmings..

On a less happy note, I await the results of my blood sugar test from Friday. Looks like I have tipped over into diabetes, and I got in to a message on the machine from the surgery "nothing to worry about, but ring us Now.." something utterly sinister about the cheerful tone...

Teapot Quilters today, my own little group, and I shall have to watch them eat cake...

2007-04-19T07:00:00.000Z

Meanwhile, here's one I made earlier.

Tree of Pieces in multiple cream fabrics, with overlaid 3D leaves, each of which has a name (at the top) or a place quilted into the surface.
The detail shows the quilting and some of the leaves. Total size is 150 by 120 cm, 60 by 48 inches. This is a commission, and the customer was very pleased with it. It was a real pain to get it flat...The two black leaves commemorate soldiers who fell in the First World War...