Stitch Club: Lyddon

Tuesday, October 13, 2020

As mentioned previously, TextileArtist.org recently created a Stitch Club and I jumped in as a Founding Member. The first challenge was hosted by Debbie Lyddon, who directed us to build three containers for objects that held a meaning to us.

She explains that objects (and our relationship to them) can tell a story. I loved the way she described the containers: “Containers are a bit like a book cover: they hold a story inside that’s ready to be discovered. And a hole in a container gives you a glimpse of the object inside, and it’s a bit like a book’s title that gives an indication to the delights within.”

I love my trees. I have many old oaks – burr, white, black, and red. I have a couple of old shagbark hickories and cottonwoods and a huge pine tree. Smaller are my crabapples, maples, and the “orphans” I’ve planted over the years when people give them to me for free for whatever reason (I have two small evergreens, a magnolia, and plenty of bushes). If a single big tree had to go, I’m moving – the thought of it curdles my stomach!

So, you see, it is very appropriate that I spent time outside looking for “objects” that represented them. Ironically, I’ve been on major yard cleanup on any day with good weather, so almost all traces are gone. But, luckily for me (ha!) because many trees are so old, any little storm that swings by (hello, spring!) means there is something on the ground to find, for sure. Thus, I found: a burr oak acorn (with double cap), an old hickory nut, and a gall apple on a white oak twig.

Part of the challenge was to also use watered-down acrylics to paint the fabric, which will give it a bit more structure. I chose a canvas, which was super bright sunny yellow, so I tamed it down with beige/pink paint.

I wasn’t sure how much thread would be needed for the eyelets, so I chose to use perle cotton, since I have those in big bulk (a ball). Unfortunately, most of mine is size 12 (seen in the red) which took way too flipping long. Once I changed to size 8, it was must more enjoyable – but my colors were even more limited.

I’ve never used wire in this way before, and I am so intrigued with possibilities! I wrote a list of ideas. Plus, I want to see what might happen if I leave one in my water softener salt tank for a bit, as many of Debbie’s are encrusted in salt. And what the other members have come up with? Oh my, the inspiration is abundant!

 

See more posts related to:

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Looking for more cases of the Crafties?
Stitch Club: Stone 3

Stitch Club: Stone 3

Sue Stone’s third workshop with TextileArtist.org’s Stitch Club prompted us to use text in our piece, so I recorded a trip to Shawnee National Forest.

read more
Stitch Club: Stone 2

Stitch Club: Stone 2

Sue Stone led a TextileArtist.org’s Stitch Club in her well-known portrait style, and I was inspired to capture a man in a hat in four variations.

read more
Hexie Dreams 19

Hexie Dreams 19

My hand sewn fussy-cut EPP Hexie Dreams quilt is all ready to go to my gramma for hand quilting. Check out a few of my embellished hexies, and come back in the future for the finished product!

read more
My Village Quilt

My Village Quilt

I present to you My Village Quilt, based on the Urban Village Green quilt: a four-year-long project that tipped the love-hate scale finally over to love.

read more
Hexie Dreams 18

Hexie Dreams 18

My fussy-cut EPP Hexie Dreams quilt is coming along. All the flowers were stitched into rows and the rows are being stitched together now for the final push. I also share some of my dear sewing supplies!

read more
Stitch Club: Maue

Stitch Club: Maue

TextileArtist.org’s Stitch Club with Joetta Maue prompted a stitched piece from a photograph and I’ve recreated an adored image of my late grandparents.

read more
Hexie Dreams 17

Hexie Dreams 17

A quick update on my fussy-cut EPP hexie dreams quilt. A whopping 131 flowers are now complete, yay!

read more
Stitch Club: Weighton 2.1

Stitch Club: Weighton 2.1

Haf Weighton lead another TextileArtist.org’s Stitch Club workshop on architectural layering, and I was inspired to render New Albany’s Culbertson Mansion based on a photograph by Daniel Andis.

read more
Stitch Club: Sproule

Stitch Club: Sproule

April Sproule led a TextileArtist.org’s Stitch Club using a spiral concept. I felt like this would be a nice project for a friend and asked her for a color palette, hence the unusual-for-me color theme.

read more
Felted Crimson Toadstool

Felted Crimson Toadstool

A long while ago I purchased the Crimson Toadstool needle felting kit from Benzie Designs and finally worked it up.

read more
Collaged Slow Stitch

Collaged Slow Stitch

I made a quirky and weird slow-stitched collage to try to push through a creative slump. It was much more about doing than the outcome.

read more
Stitch Camp 2023

Stitch Camp 2023

I stitched this mixed media piece following Gwen Hedley’s instruction through TextileArtist.org’s Stitch Camp.

read more
Tea Cup study

Tea Cup study

I was inspired to stitch up a stack of tea cups which lead to starting a second project that I’m still thinking about.

read more