Saturday 30 March 2013

ICHF Event’s Sewing for Pleasure / Embroidery, Fashion & Stitch / Hobbycraft 24/03/2013

Visiting exhibitions really motivates me. Whilst wandering around, I often feel the urge to rush back home and get crafty - they give me my fix, not to mention loads of ideas! I particularly enjoy a craft show, where it’s not only an exhibition, but also an opportunity to meet the artists, stock up on supplies and to spend a day (or two) among like-minded people. ICHF Event’s Sewing for Pleasure/Embroidery, Fashion & Stitch/Hobbycraft shows (3 shows in 1) at Birmingham’s NEC were no exception.

I didn’t buy a lot… I’ve bought so much in previous years, which I’m yet to do anything with, that I’m more restrained nowadays. I was on the look out for upholstery/interior fabrics for my bags, but in the end all I bought was a lamp and a rather brilliant greeting card by artist Michala Gyetvai, whose work absolutely blew me away…

Michala Gyetvai – A Winter’s Walk (Painting)
Photograph originally uploaded by Abby Swanwick







Michala’s work always starts as a sketch, in media such as oil pastel on coloured paper. She then develops this into a painting, a textile piece or in the case of the artworks above and below, both. 

Michala Gyetvai – Snow on snow 
Photograph originally uploaded by Abby Swanwick

The way she manipulates fibres and stitch to emulate the marks she makes on the page, leave me in absolute awe – both flow alike.
 
Michala Gyetvai – Rhapsody of Colour
Photograph originally uploaded by Abby Swanwick

I like the way Michala displays her work, mounted onto a canvas, which helps the piece to keep it’s undulating shape. Her use of colour is incredible, incorporating so many more shades than I would see in a scene like this, but so true. 

MichalaGyetvai – Rhapsody of Colour (details)
Photograph originally uploaded by Abby Swanwick

She embellishes either old blankets or her own handmade felt, before adding stitch by both hand and machine.  

MichalaGyetvai - A story within my stitches
Photograph originally uploaded by Abby Swanwick
  
To be quite honest, I struggled to tear myself away from Michala and her exhibition – as she too is so approachable. I’d love to have a go at working with felt, fibres and stitch the way she does, but I’ll never be able to create works as awesome as these!

Another artist whose work I stumbled across, and whom is one of my personal favourites, was Susan Chapman. Susan is always a joy to talk to, so free in her experimentation and forthcoming with her knowledge – I’m guaranteed to feel inspired following a visit to her exhibition/demonstration space.

SusanChapman’s exhibition/demonstration space
Photograph originally uploaded by Abby Swanwick

 
Susan Chapman
Photograph originally uploaded by Abby Swanwick


I’m drawn to works that incorporate people, whether that be drawn, painted, stitched or appliquéd etc, and it’s for this reason I was drawn to Susan’s work in the first place.

Susan Chapman
Photograph originally uploaded by Abby Swanwick

That was before she incorporated another love of mine... handwriting!

Susan Chapman
Photograph originally uploaded by Abby Swanwick
I’ll freely admit… I’m afraid of using colour within my work and although Susan isn’t, I really like that these artworks are simply black and white!
 
Susan Chapman
Photograph originally uploaded by Abby Swanwick
In addition to the work on display, Susan encouraged passers-by to sign their name on to pieces of plain white cotton for use in a piece of collaborative work… I couldn’t let this opportunity go by, (bottom right) not when I was signing the same piece of fabric as Ineke Berlyn and Edwina MacKinnon (whose work I also admire/adore).

The work of many other artists caught my eye, however, I can’t possibly mention them all, else we’d both be here forever… so for my final offering, I give you textile group, Studio 21

Studio 21 - Chinese Whispers
Photograph originally uploaded by Abby Swanwick
I was drawn in by these pieces, created in response to sound. You can tell can’t you?! I like the simplicity in the raw edges, the straight lines and the minimal use of colour. 
Studio 21 - Chinese Whispers
Photograph originally uploaded by Abby Swanwick
I appreciate the three-dimensional quality to this work. Again you can see the subtle influence of sound, in both the mark making and the form. 

Studio 21 - Chinese Whispers
Photograph originally uploaded by Abby Swanwick

These pieces remind me of samplers (they may well be samplers). They’re a great idea to trial a stitch or an idea on a small scale.

It’s fair to say that if I could only afford to visit one show next year, then ICHFEvent’s Sewing for Pleasure/Fashion, Embroidery and Stitch/Hobbycraft at Birmingham’s NEC would be it. It caters for all crafters and is much more manageable in size… definitely quality over quantity!

Now all I need is find some time to have a play…

Thanks for dropping by :-)

Abby 

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