Ehrman Jubilee Tapestry Kit & Embroidery Kits

I was looking around for a good Jubilee kit for one of our blog readers and thought Ehrman's in London were certain to have something special. And I was right. Candace Bahouth, one of my favourite designers, has created this celebration cushion.

But how can I ever stop looking at beautiful items... it is so irrestible to go turning the pages for more and I was glad to see more of Candace's designs, this time based upon paintings by Gustav Klimt. And they are on special offer at the moment! Which is all really fabulous since another special birthday gift is a few days in Vienna to see the Klimt exhibition there. I shall be wrapping up well, since I am travelling in November!

And not only that, I saw that Ehrman's were also selling embroidery kits for a set of beautiful cushions - the stitches used on the one above are simply are satin and some chain stitch - but how sumptious it looks.

These two designs based upon Baltimore Quilt designs are by Kaffe Fassett - the one above is called Baltimore Urn and the one below is Baltimore Bowl - really striking and fresh.

Then I came across this wonderful interview with Kaffe Fassett at the Ehrman Studios and I just had to share. Kaffe is not only one of the most brilliant textile designers of our generation, he is witty and charming and sheer inspiration to listen to. To open up the portal to all these fabulous delights and more, just click here.

Sashiko With Janice Gunner At West Dean

I adore Sashiko - the Japanese hand-quilting technique that traditionally applies white stitching on indigo and shall be spending more of my time now trying this out. If you are a beginner and just curious, you might like to know that Janice Gunner will be holding a weekend class at West Dean from 11 April 2013 - 14 April 2013. The course cost is £286 and the goal is to make a panel for a bag, a cushion or a table centre. Click here to book as these courses fill up very quickly.

Janice has been teaching patchwork and quilting for 20 years, turning freelance as a Textile artist in 1999 which allowed her the opportunity to indulge in her passion to make quilted textile art and to teach both nationally and internationally. Her qualifications include the Diploma in Stitched Textiles (Windsor) and City & Guilds Patchwork & Quilting Parts 1 & 2 (Hitchin). Janice was the first person to be awarded a C&G medal for excellence in Patchwork & Quilting for Part 1. She is a qualified teacher and formerly was also President of The Quilters’ Guild of the British Isles 2005 – 2008 having been a member of the Guild since 1982. Here you can see just a few samples of Janice's work. To see more click here.

The Stirling Tapestries

It was my delight, while at West Dean, to be given a guided tour of the tapestry studio there, where replica tapestries are being made for Stirling Castle in Scotland. A total of seven hand-made tapestries were commissioned in 2001. Four of them now hang in the Queen’s Inner Hall; the remaining three will be completed and hung by 2013. The designs are closely based on a set of Renaissance tapestries held at the Cloisters Museum in New York. These were woven in the Low Countries around 1500 and tell the story of a unicorn hunted and killed by a group of huntsmen and dogs. This can be read as both as an allegory of love, and as a Christian parable. While tapestries are being woven at West dean, another team is also busy at their loom where they are making a tapestry in full view of the general public, demonstrating how tapestry is made. Each tapestry in the set involved three weavers at a time with weavers coming from the USA, Sweden, Australia, Japan, Scotland, Isle of Man and England.It is hoped the tapestries will be ready by 2013. When I asked how much a weaver wove a day, Rudi - one of the team (2nd from right above) - made a shape touching index finger to index finger and thumb to thumb to create a shape that could not have been more than 4 inches by 3 inches and told me this was the amount they had to work each day. Now look how great these pieces are and marvel!

Interesting Needlework Histories at the Novium, Chichester

Last week we went to take a look at Chichester's new museum - The Novium. Built over Roman Baths and with an emphasis on early artefacts found there, there are two galleries of themed local history to enjoy and I spotted a couple of interesting needlework exhibits which are worth a look. The first is a little book samplers made by small children from the local workhouse - the pages were opened at tiny knitted socks and I am at present investigating what there is on the other pages, if all the samplers are knitted and socks - or if there are other examples of work. The second collection of items was a 19th century layette chest full of all the necessary linens for a new born. This was a chest put together by a charitable family and it loaned to poor families at the birth of a new child. The museum is not free entry - and if you live nearby, it is worthwhile investigating the annual pass. I am oftened saddened to see that museum shops are not offering for sale items related to their collections but a general sort of slush seen in tourists shops everywhere.....