Bridging Arts

Sunday 27 March 2011

Thoughts of pattern and embroidery in Essex

A trip to Waltham Abbey, Essex with my son. This is a long way from home for west Londoners! We are in Essex -  unusually  - and taken by surprise by the size and beauty of Waltham Abbey. Thought to be the burial place of King Harold, killed by the invading Normans at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
He'd just defeated the Vikings up north (no small achievement) and stopped here on the way down to Hastings to pray for victory. But - of course - things didn't go his way. A resounding defeat - recorded in embroidery in the Bayeux tapestry.













Whether this headstone dates from 1066 is doubtful.














But stones set in a herring-bone pattern in the Abbey wall apparently do. Back to patterns and place - the theme of this blog.

Friday 25 March 2011

A dispiriting shop window

Patterns and place. Usually I love Prada. (Funnily enough glimpses of  Prada window dressing in this - and the I PACKED THIS MYSELF blog - have been a bit of a theme.) But what a dispiriting sight today on New Bond Street. Hawaiian prints in muddy colours - the colours of the rain storm?! -  an over-sized shirt and a ra-ra skirt.

Thursday 24 March 2011

Reviewing the Harrow course... and work created

Katrina Williams and Katherine Eves are here today in Shepherds Bush. We're reviewing this spring's course in Harrow. It's gone well  - some really good work created. Fabulous colours.




Thursday 17 March 2011

Photos from the final embroidery session

Katherine's camera ran out of battery rather quickly! But she managed to capture a group picture at our last embroidery session in Harrow.  The weeks have flown by!
We've asked for people's exhibition pieces to be ready for pick up on 31st March.

Thursday 10 March 2011

International Women's Day

No class in Harrow today as it's International Women's Day. Everything resumes, as normal, next week for the final session...

Thursday 3 March 2011

Finishing up and starting exhibition pieces in Harrow

Photos from the latest class at Harrow.
Choosing materials for exhibition pieces
FInished Rose and Nightingale motif
Bina's completed work - finished beautifully with borders of her own design
Starting on exhibition pieces. Most people start with a pencil sketch on the calico to guide them.
Jacobean style patterns are proving popular
Bridging Arts' Katrina Williams with Lata