Two of Elizabeth's dainty Japanese stab stitch books
Just finished a weekend course at Hot Bed Press, sewing book after book after book - glorious! The ever-lovely Elizabeth Willow was the tutor who led us with dancing hands through two days of learning long stitch, japanese stab stitches, coptic stitch, palm leaf books and more - and every new technique resulted in another gorgeous book for us to add to our growing collections. Not to mention that she provided us each with a box to keep everything in! And Elizabeth surrounded us with little things of incidental beauty, from a collection of summery floral china saucers (for the one session of gluing) to a needle case made from frayed velvet, so that the whole experience was a pleasure in every way. Really, what better way to spend time?
For now, what I really need to do is go practise all the various stitching methods, slowly and often until they're really bedded in. And I need to do it as soon as possible, before forgetting starts to set in. Then I need to use those by-then-well-honed techniques to make lots of exciting new books - the ideas are queuing up already.
For now, what I really need to do is go practise all the various stitching methods, slowly and often until they're really bedded in. And I need to do it as soon as possible, before forgetting starts to set in. Then I need to use those by-then-well-honed techniques to make lots of exciting new books - the ideas are queuing up already.
Saucers and glue brushes drying on the windowsill.
Elizabeth had a display of her books on a side table - one particular book caught my eye and mind, called What is to be done? and full of her signature sideways take on the world. It was (inevitably) delightful, eccentric, unbelievably feel-good, with unforgettable phrases as 'grow monstrous marrows and cress on cotton wool'; 'hips and haws and dubious mushrooms'; 'drink fire and woodsmoke from a bottle'. Loved it.
What we turned up with, and...
...what we left with. See that little heap, middle bottom, with a needle and thread on top? That was a parting present for each of us from Elizabeth, so that we could go away and try out more Japanese stab stitch patterns. Attention to every detail or what?
Continuing the bookish theme, I have recently been reminded that I need to make 100 bookmarks by June - something that, because I signed up for it well over a year ago (possibly two?), I had more or less completely forgotten. Oh well, I've still got time.
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