Design wall monday - summer projects

The last 6 months have been rather crazy with school (yes I decided to take another course at Algoma), National engineering week, our guild Quilt show, exams, easter,  a funeral and a graduation.
So to relax I thought I would get involved in a Knit-a-long(KAL) at our local wool shop.  It is a lace shawl and it is quite a challenge. It has been ripped out a couple of times and then I changed yarns - this was supposed to be relaxing!!!!!!  And then in my ultimate wisdom decided to knit a lace tank at the same time.
I must be crazy!!!
The lace shawl is coming along quite nicely now that I have got into the rythum of the lace pattern.  It is knit from the centre and is circular.  I am a bit farther along than this photo and onto round needles so it kind of looks like a hat right now.  The bottom photo is the tank.  I decided to knit it in the round so there would be no side seams.  I had a little trouble with the pattern but I am on track with this one as well. 
Oh well it keeps me off the streets!

have a nice day

elaine

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Monday Madness!!

This little beading project a custom beaded applique for a Christmas stocking that I have on my Etsy site.
Hopefully it will be done today along with all the other things that need to be done.
The weather has been bad for a couple of days and  today it is windy and snowing so it is a good day to stay in and get some sewing done!!

Have a great day!!

Dear Jane update!

I have managed to get some of the Dear Jane blocks done this week.

 Week 19

Week 20

Happy Quilting :)

Design Wall Tuesday!!

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving weekend!!

It has been a while but I am finally getting organized.
This is the project that I currently have on my design wall.  It is a new pattern that I am working on and it should be ready to put in my etsy shop soon. 

 

I have also started working on my Dear Jane blocks again.  I will be posting some photographs this week.

Happy Tuesday!!!

Fashion and Textiles at the V & A

The fashion gallery is probably the most popular gallery at the V&A.  It has a collection of clothing from the last 300 years from famous designers and not so famous ones also.  Some of the clothing is made from fabulous hand embroidered fabrics and some are quilted and "sculptured" pieces.  This time they also have a gallery of costumes from plays in the city.

So lets get started:

   

This piece is a quilted outfit that was worn under the suites of armour.  We thought upcycling was new - these outfits were made from old quilted bedcovers.  The quilting is quite intricate and it was all done by hand.

There are many embroidered textiles in the collection some are sashes worn by knights and some are hand embroidered yardage made into clothing.

   

The ladies jacket is hand embroidered with a silver thread couched in a meandering pattern on the surface of the fabric it also has silver spangles (17th century version of a sequin) stitched on it.

 

This is a man's waist coat.  Even men got there clothing hand embroidered.

 

 

 

This gown is called the Origami gown.  It was designed in 2009 by the Korean designer Lie Sang-Bong and is a reinterpretation of a traditional Korean wrapping cloth.  It is made of organza and we counted 17 layers of fabric.  It is stunning!! Sorry about the photo's it was in a glass case and the reflection caused some problems with the photos. 

The new gallery with the costumes was fun.  It had an interactive area where kids and adults could dress up in costumes take photos - there were a few families enjoying getting dressed while we were there.  For me the intricate costumes were the most interesting part.  Unfortunately I forgot to get down what plays these costumes were from but I am sure you will like seeing them anyway.

 

Designed by Bruno Sandini in 1977 - "fairy queen" from the opera Oilanthe.

 

This is a rhino costume it has two people in it with bicycle chains to make the tail and the head move - up close it has the texture and colour of a real rhino (not that I have been that close to a real rhino lately).

This one was called "full" English breakfast.  I don't know what show it was from but it was worn by Dame Edna and it is hilarious.
Time for bed - I will post some more tomorrow. 

 



Victoria and Albert Museum

Today we visited the V & A museum of art and design.  It is the second time I have been there but I still haven't seen everything.  The museum is in an incredible building with some beautiful mosaic floors

   and painted ceilings.  All of these are great inspiration for quilt patterns.

 

To me the building is as impressive as what is housed in it.  In the main entrance is an amazing glass chandelier that could be called an art installation as well. It looks a little like medusa!!

 

The V & A has always been known for its collections of textiles, tapestries and fashion but it also has an art and design reference library, an glass and architecture gallery, sculpture, photography, medieval, Asian, Ecclesiatical art, costume and  jewelry galleries as well a a beautiful courtyard with paddling pool for the kids and a place to have lunch.

 

Tomorrow I will post some photos from the fashion and textile galleries.