Textile Share

This space is devoted to all things Textile. I don’t knit or crochet, but I do like hand and machine embroidery, stumpwork, making dolls and other creatures, jewellery, and dressmaking. So I’ll include these other non-textile things here.

UPDATE – – –

NEW page added under Textile Share! Hello Knitters!

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UPDATE – – –

If you’d like to link back to your ‘craft’ post (the actual post, not the general blog), or if you’d like me to upload your craft photograph here to share with others, please feel free to do so. 🙂

To link your craft post, please add it in the comments section – and then link back to this page, Textile Share, (either in the body of your post, or in the comments section of it).

To share your craft photograph/s on this page, Textile Share, please email me the craft pictures, to the address below (embedded in the 2 Mushrooms Came Awalking picture) –

Thank you Suezette for the inspiration to share my various things! 🙂

Parrot fabric – I made a single hanging curtain from this bargain upholstery material that I won on ebay.

Fabric – curtains, cushions, blankets etc. – has enormous power to transform the look and indeed feel of a room.

Photograph of – The same parrot and tropical flower print as before.

Below is my history related to making things. If you want to skip this, you may want to scroll to see the photos, or click on the links at the bottom.

I grew up in a creative family. My dear Grandad was an oil artist, mural painter, window designer, designer (he once created a fairyland theme for the WaterWays along Great Yarmouth’s front), and signwriter (by hand in those days!). My Dad is still the most clever and interesting person I’ve ever met – though he called himself ‘stupid’. He was a designer and an entrepreneur although he hated the business part. He invented a screenprinting machine whose patent was stolen when unexpected visitors discovered it – they weren’t supposed to be there – and they made a lot of money out of this theft. My Mum loves knitting and making applique pictures that hang in the hall. She has a lot of art work from when she studied mixed media art at the local college. My older brother used to be able to build motorcycles from scratch without formal training, and engineer things from his own designs. And, my younger sister was far more academically inclined, and who had an eye for fashion. I hear that my nephew is following in Dad’s footsteps; he’s learning engineering.

After leaving the boyfriend I used to live with, in Germany, in 2004, I wanted to make things. Dealing with the emotional scars of this damaging relationship – I was numb, without emotion, except anger; anger was what helped me through; also severe anxiety and nightmares – I found simple cross-stitching / x-stitching theraputic. I wasn’t able then to be more ambitious, and I am still gaining confidence in my abilities today.

A couple of years later I had a short relationship with an older man who had been a sniper in the British army. He has PTSD. He is one of those men who is worried that others won’t see him as ‘manly’. For a while he told me about his father x-stitching because it was relaxing and helpful to his health; finally, he trusted me enough to ‘admit’ it was him.

Crafting: doing something with your hands can really help. Don’t underestimate it!

After I was injured and couldn’t understand the injury, and why I was having severe unrelentless pain and mobility problems – and later, after having my hips realigned, still having this pain and disability, crafting again saved my sanity. Looking back I notice my intense anger, confusion, fear and isolation.I began making simple wire and bead jewellery. I still make earrings and pendents today.

Photograph of – me in 2010, wearing a silver pendent I made with precious metal clay (pmc).

 

I then made three precious metal clay (pmc) pendents with silver and gemstones. I tried once to sell them but nobody wanted to buy them; I didn’t bother after that, although I have sold my less expensive costume jewellery before. The pendent I’m wearing is ‘Wrap’; the other ones are ‘Pisces‘, my birth sign, and ‘Sunflower‘ – please see photos below.

My Mum said she was also interested in a dressmaking course they were proposing at the college here; but after they contacted us to say only three people wanted to attend, they had to cancel it! That was 2006 when the sewing bug hadn’t taken off yet in the UK. It wouldn’t be until 2010 when the general public got passionate about sewing after seeing t.v. shows about dressmaking etc.

In the autumn of 2009 until May 2010 I learnt level one dressmaking, at an evening class in Norwich. Before the end of the course my Dad suddenly passed away and it was a really difficult time. I miss him every day.

 

I made a red/black tartan check with Scottie dogs! skirt. I have put too much weight on – because of the lack of mobility and an untreated thyroid condition – since, to wear it.

PUT PHOTO OF SCOTTIE DOG SKIRT BELOW.

I wanted to progress with the dressmaking but there weren’t any intermediate courses in my area. The only option was degree level fashion at the local college. I worked on a portfolio showing what I could do, with some trepidation went to the interview and managed to get on the course. But I had underestimated the severity of my pain. I couldn’t – and cannot – walk far, and although my kind Mum had bought me a mobility scooter, it was far too painful sitting for long periods of time. And I was exhausted. I learnt about ‘spoons’ at this time. The Spoon Theory.

So I gave up on formal learning.

At home I started creating my own x-stitch charts to share with others for free. The software for producing my charts was free because of the kindness of the creator (he made it for his wife), so I thought I’d share my designs for free!

Left: One of my X stitch charts. They are free to use for private use.

You can find more of my free craft projects on my http://www.StephanieFaith.net web site, *here*.

 

Above: Rachel Mermaid Kissing Seahorse x-stitch chart available, free.

Left: Daisy Elizabeth Smiling At Dandelions. Nothing new here, lol! My pet Hermann tortoise seems to span a lot of creative ideas in me. I think I drew this chart out by hand, so it’s not available on my web site.

 

Around this time I started making other things like coffee pot warmers and soft toys.

 

Right: One of my Coffee Pot Couture designs, Golden Tulips.

Below: Photographs of the pink dinosaur I designed and made for my Canadian niece who used to be dinosaur mad.

I designed and sewed lots of animals and a large embroidered doll (not a play thing).

I had inspiration from antique and vintage patterns found on the internet and in magazines and books of that era, which I bought off ebay and from local sales.

 

 

 

 

 

 

At home I progressed with my embroidery, picking up new stitches and techniques from my expanding library of books. My passion grew, but it was rather lonely doing it by myself. My Mum had given me one of Dad’s motorcycles – a late 1950s Sunbeam; which I sold for having money to study and buy materials. With my poor health there isn’t much chance of me riding a motorcycle again.

 

Left: My first attempt at stumpwork. The materials are felt with some beads and vintage lace. The two elephants are padded to make them stand out.

 

 

Between 2013-2014 I did another evening course at the local college, and gained a level 3 extinction in my textile work. I will be adding some photographs below, a little later!

You can see more of my college work *Here*

Then wishing to progress further with my hand embroidery, I enrolled on a distance school course. I am ashamed to say that with the attention directed towards another attempt at the degree in Fashion and Design (as in 2010), I haven’t yet begun the work. However, my place is still open!

……………….This page to be continued! Please come back soon……………….