..and a bit more...

Here's the next bit done...

...the printed panel...





...and the Henna Goddess....now stitched.




I'm now not sure that I want that bit of blue in there.

I think I'd prefer something..........else....

...continuing...

...with the Narrow Cloth...

Print blocks have been done for use on these long, narrow pieces..

..I've used a design based on a Berber face tattoo to go above the "wedding blanker" section...







The next section has been painted and is ready for stitching...



...a little "Henna Goddess"...

..a needle in the "Narrow Cloth"....

At last I've had a bit of time to put a needle into the "Narrow Cloth"...

I'm trying to use appropriate patterning with this one...

...Feija designs found on old henna textles.

This particular one was found on a "Wedding Blanket" from Afouzar-Iligh. It dates to about 1952.



This is the pattern done in running stitch onto dyed fabric...




If you look carefully at the close-up, you'll see the little bleached-out lines in-between the stitches.

I used an "Aqua" pen to draw the lines for stitching, but it wasn't just the blue ink that washed out with water....the colour in the fabric went too!

I don't mind though...in fact I quite like the result.

I also thought I'd like some specifically dyed silks to work with these henna-inspired textile pieces....

....so, out came the dye pot, and here they are.....



And now...as it's nice enough to be outside...

...I'm going to make some print blocks to use too....

..and it ended at "Wonderwool Wales"...

...my week that is!

I don't seem to have had much time to stitch since the last posting...

...what with getting to grips with a new music composition program ....

...in order to produce a piece ready for choir on Tuesday...

..that DID actually get done (YEY!)

Then, packing loads of boxes and bags to take to Stretton Sugwas for a workshop on Thursday..

...and dashing back to Merthyr to reherse with the WNO the same evening....

...then dashing over to Ebbw Vale to catch up on stock at Replay before it closes it's scrap department next week....

(got some lovely bits of cotton and silk fabrics -again!)

and then up to Builth Wells for "Wonderwool Wales" yesterday....

...where, of course, I just couldn't resist some of the gorgeous goodies on sale!


Some beautiful dyed Teeswater locks...



A small Thai embroidered bag...



Some Miao embroidery...with the tiniest cross-stitching I've ever seen!




Indigo shibori fabrics...



Wooden print bocks...



..and a Khazak pendant with Lapis Lazuli inserts.




I'm feeling absolutely done-in....

...but delightfully happy! :-)))))

..beginning a "Narrow Cloth"...

Postie has delivered some delightful packages in recent times...

....gifts from lovely Bloggers....


The first to arrive was sent by Jude Hill at Spirit Cloth..

and contained these beautiful pieces of cloth...





...and some tasselled edges and threads too...



The second arrival was from Jackie at Stitchworks...

..who sent some gorgeous printed fabrics and a delightful little book covered in hand printed paper...



A BIG THANKS to both ladies!! :-)

All the fabric pieces seem to have been just made for the Moroccan theme I'm working on at the minute...

...and I've decided to use some of them to make a "Narrow Cloth".



I've pinned out the pieces onto a backing of turban cotton, and put one layer of cotton voile in between...

...don't want it to be too stiff...

Probably some of the strips will have painting, drawing, and printing on.....

...as well as stitch....



I'll let it become what it wants to.............

..bugged......but busy!

It seems like ages since I posted here...

...and the time in between hasn't been very pleasant.

Both of us "lost" the school holiday period....

..and didn't get down to Cornwall as had been planned.

Luckily my Father-in-law is doing OK at the minute, so it didn't matter too much that our visit had to be postponed until a bit later in the year.

Neverthelss.....

...I haven't been idle during my bug-enforced imprisonment!

Some of the 70 brooch bases that were done have been finished....

...some blues...some reddy-browns....some greens....and one purple.









I've also managed to prepare 20 background panels for a workshop next week!

The only thing that's really fallen behind is my sketchbook work ...

..and Moroccan stitching...

....but I'm now ready, fit and able to continue with that theme....

..which is good...

...because I've been lucky enough to receive some delightful pieces of cloth to use.....

...more next time. :-)

.....down with a bug!.....

....kindly donated by Hubby......

...who was given the delightful creaure by someone in school!.....


He's been coughing all over the place for almost a fortnight now.....

...and as I developed an abcess.....

....that was followed by an extraction on Thursday.....

...I was just BOUND to pick up SOMETHING on top wasn't I!!!!!


Still managing to get a few bits and bobs done though.....

..these couple of sketchbooks for example.






I've also done bases for 70 new "Tribal" brooches.....

.....just so I have some hand-stitching to keep me occupied...


Feeling yucky.....

...but hoping the rest of you are having a good weekend :-\