Reclaimed Textiles - paper, print and free machine embroidery. West Dean College 17 - 20 July

Who'd have thought - from a pile of paper and painted Bondaweb . . . .

I have just got home from three days at West Dean College a fabulous place to teach and a wonderful place to be a student. The grounds and gardens are stunning, the house is beautiful and the workshops are purpose built, great for accommodating any kind of workshop.
The workshop was Reclaimed Textiles -paper, print and free machine embroidery.

The workshops are very spacious.

A stack of painted and colourwashed papers.

We started by colour washing all kinds of papers - newspapers, old books, atlases . . .  and painting up Bondaweb. The group then launched into my 'prettys and backgrounds' technique where the papers are torn and layered several times with the painted Bondaweb. The use of sparkle was optional for a change.

 
 Lots of luscious layers.

The torn layered backgrounds were then used as background for print and stitch.
Just some of Sian's huge collection of work.
Becky created various fabulous samples, here are her two vessels. 
Just gorgeous.

Becky also created this wall from her layered paper samples and used Decovil 1 interfacing to support it.

As it was a newspaper based course the group also have a play with newspaper faux chenille.

 
Newspaper layered with polyester organza.
 
Faux chenille made with several layers of polyester organza.


Layers of polyester organza make a very soft and beautiful faux chenille.

Four of the group made book covers by decorating Decovil 1 or Decovil 1 light. The papers are ironed directly onto the colour washed Decovil. The layers can then be decorated with print and/or stitch.
 
Sian's book cover.
 
Mary even printed a pencil to match the book cover.
 
Chrissy is a great fan of the band Fairport Convention.

The group also covered and decorated canvases . .



 

 



 Jackie produced several very lovely canvases.

 

 Didn't they do well?

 *
I am filming another video with Jamie of Colouricious tomorrow and then on Wednesday I will be dashing up to Redditch to teach Experimental Textiles at The Old Needle Works. It will be good to see both groups again and I am looking forward to seeing what they have done for homework.

So a busy week ahead - lots of orders to get posted too . . . . . 

Have a great week.

x x x

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