Mary Sleigh

July was a busy month with the summer school taking place during the last week with hot sunny weather at last – sometimes too hot!
There’s always an air of anticipation as everyone arrives and tutors set out their work rooms ready to go. There was a choice of three courses.

Magic in Making started from students’ own collections of items of no intrinsic value but treasured for all sorts of personal reasons.
Some quotations set us all thinking each day and we took inspiration from other artists, trying techniques and finding our own ways of working.

Ruth’s collection

Jan’s collection

Myra’s collection

Rosemary’s collection

The collections were all fascinating. Here are just some, brought by Ruth Collins, Rosemary McCarthy, Jan Dowson and  Myra Cheeseman.

We all worked hard over the four days and had a lot of laughs along the way. They were a very happy group and I loved working with them all.

Avis working

Chris working in the studio

I’ll be showing some of their work in the next blog.

The sun finally shone on Sunday 22nd July when the Bishop of Lincoln dedicated the new altar frontal at St Margaret’s Church, Laceby near Grimsby. It was the end of several months’ work designing and making an all seasons alter cloth, veil and burse. The church was filled with flowers for the occasion, also the patronal festival of the church, St Margaret of Antioch.
Here’s an image inside the church and the new altar cloth in place.

and one of the burse.

Lincolnshire has lots of beautiful churches and there are some gems all worth a visit. There’s always a warm welcome at St Margaret’s as I discovered when I worked with them on this commission.

Sheila enjoys using machine embroidery

Jean has been using leaves as a source and Judith loves vintage clothes.

Sue is working with feathers from her own collection.

Yesterday was my last day as Mentor for the ISE Group (Inspiration for Stitch and Expression). I have enjoyed getting to know the members and their work over the last three years. They are a small group of textile artists working in a variety of media and techniques and come from the East Midlands area.  It’s been a very rewarding time for me to see them all growing in confidence and finding their own ways of working. Endless discussion and cake was an added attraction!

Here are some images of their current work in progress.

Dora loves a story!

Mary records her holidays.Judy’s subtle colour combinations

 Wendy’s work is tonal at the moment.

One Detail of beaded jewellery made by Alison Taylor

One of my unexpected pleasures is meeting past students, especially when I hear about their latest project and best of all, that they are continuing to be creative. I bumped into Alison yesterday who showed me some beadwork jewellery. It’s just made out of samples as a way of getting back into making after a period of ill health. I love the colours and as she said it was very therapeutic to be involved again so making is good for you!

There seems to be something in the air at the moment as making and the maker are in the public eye at the moment. If you’d like a great day out with all the buzz of people making and creating then go to the Mini Maker Faire in Brighton in September. Here’s a link to their website http:// makerfairebrighton.com/about/ or if you are a maker yourself then contact them and here’s a link http://www.makerfairebrighton.com/call-to-makers-2012

Now that I have solved most of the problems  in the making of a large project I have time to think about other things and enjoy the actual making process. I realise how much I love being absorbed in the hands on activity, especially once the difficult hurdles are crossed.
I’m looking forward to tutoring at the Textile Study Group Summer School this July when making is the topic. My workshop is ‘Magic in Making’ when we shall concentrate on the joy of making based on personal collections.

Life has been so hectic recently with lots of teaching and stitching as well as all the excitement and joy of my daughter’s wedding, so no time to develop any ideas. I decided to book a day out at the Harley Gallery to work with Hilary Bower. I have worked there before but this time the group had the use of Louise Presley’s studio which was an inspiration in itself! I’m looking forward to seeing what Louise exhibits in the Festival of Quilts.

The day just gave me time to focus and mull over my own ideas, have the opportunity to have an individual discussion with Hilary as well as share ideas with the others in the group. Sometimes an enforced separation from all the buzz at home is just what I need and came home with a much clearer idea of my direction.

The Harley Gallery and studios are set in lovely peaceful countryside. There is usually an exhibition to enjoy as well as shopping opportunities! If you want to see what else Hilary is offering go to her website www.hilarybower.com

Here’s a view of the back of the stand at Harrogate. The Hausa robe created a lot of interest with those who love stitched surfaces as it is has areas of solid embroidery. The black and white Xhosa skirt was also a star attraction.

It was wonderful to show the beadwork vests and cascades as art pieces in their own right.

The K&S Shows took up most of the autumn 2011 so no surprise that last year passed so quickly. It was very exciting to be part of such a huge show and especially to meet so many enthusiastic people. I was very encouraged by all the positive comments about my stand and exhibition. It was a great opportunity to show some of my collection and show how it is a source of inspiration for students and has been a huge influence in my own work. Talking to so many people who share the same passion for textiles and developing ideas was an unexpected bonus. I also showed the piece of work below called Not wanted on Voyage with The Textile Study Group. It has started me on a new direction!