More monoprint magic

 

The 'Magic Monoprint' workshop at the Cosy Cabin on 21st June 2025 yielded some great results.

Using gathered foliage to print onto cotton organdie and build up layers of transparent colour with acrylic paints and inks

These lovely pieces were printed by Jane using a variety of different leaves

Bridget worked colourways of blue, green and dark red

Sarah had some metallic acrylic paint which gave a slightly different effect

All of these will be made up into semi-transparent hangings using the machine pojagi piecing method

There is another 'Monoprint Magic' workshop running at The Cosy Cabin, Risby Barns, Bury St Edmunds IP286QU on Sat 19th July 2025. 

Call 01284 811222 to book

Proud mentor moment

 

I offer a mentoring service to textile artists.

Sometimes this follows on from completing the Advanced Stitched Textiles course when students wish to have some continued guidance to establish their textile art practice.

We have an initial 2 hour session to establish what is required and to set some short term, medium term and long term goals. 

This is followed up by as many sessions are required to check progress, amend goals, and offer constructive feedback on work in progress. 

Sometimes only one session is needed. 

Meetings can be face-to-face or via zoom. 

I mentored Nicola Whayman in 2024. 

One of her goals were to change her practice to work only with sustainable materials. 

Nicola now uses natural dyeing to create all the fabrics she uses in her work.

In addition she uses gathered natural materials to weave, make cordage, and print. 

The result is a wonderfully muted and soft colour palette which reflects the natural world but full of texture and depth. 

One of the other goals we agreed upon was to create a series of work for exhibition.

With the power of a deadline in mind I proposed that Nicola book a venue! She chose The CraftHouse in Woodbridge for June 2025.

Eighteen months later the exhibition is here and looking brilliant.

Nicola has worked incredibly hard and has produced several series of work including her reflective 'Stitch Journals' and the 'Calm' work.

I am incredibly proud of what she has acheived. Nicola has now 'found her thing' and is making work with meaning and emotion which connects with the viewer.

The exhibition runs until Tuesday 24th June 2025 at The Craft House, The Thoroughfare, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 1AA

You can also see her work as part of the exhibiting group Out of the Fold in Bury St Edmunds in September 2025

Nicola is on instagram as @quiltingthreads and can be contacted by email on quiltingthreads@outlook.com

If you feel that may benefit from a mentoring session - maybe you just need some new impetus or a change of direction - then please contact me on maryelmcintosh@gmail.co. Cost is £75 for a two session. 

Group mentoring is also available. 

 

Reflections - work in progress

For the Out of the Fold 'Reflections' exhibition planned for September 2025 all twelve members are making a small 10 inch piece of work which we plan to display together at the exhibition but also make up the images into a calendar.

My chosen inspiration for 'Reflections' is the Tennyson poem "The Lady of Shalott" and it's most famous line "The mirror crack'd from side to side"

The phrase was used by Agatha Christie for one of her crime novels and in the name of background research I have been reading it for further inspiration. Published in 1962 (before I was born) it has had many editions and different covers fro which I can also take inspiration. Just have to be really careful with copyright!

We have aken on the ambitious challenge to make a large piece each measuring 16" x 60" on the theme of 'Relections' 

Watch this space to see how this progresses.......

 

 

Monoprint Magic result

 

Gwen Cogman attended the Monoprint Magic workshop held at Mellymade Designs studio and used a variety of grasses, ferns and leaves to monorprint her fabric before joining them using the machine Pojagi piecing method. 

Gwen sent me these images of her completed piece. Lovely colours and with the light shining through really shows of the plant shapes.

Handing in the doorway at The Cosy Cabin in Risby Barns. The seams become an impotant design feature of this Pojagi technique with colour mixing where the seams join.

The choice of hanging location can really change the look of the hanging.

The same work hanging against a white wall is much more subtle.

Well done Gwen, a lovely example of the Monoprint Magic technique.

If you would like to book this workshop for your group please email: maryelmcintosh@gmail.com

White cotton organdie for monoprinting, and coloured organdie for piecing can be supplied for £15

New website for Out of the Fold

 

Out of the Fold has a brand new website outofthefold.com/designed by member Jenny Lam and a fresh new logo designed by Penny Evans

Every member has a profile page and you can find mine herehttps://outofthefold.com/

All twelve members have a profile page

Plus information about our forthcoming exhibitions and a news section which will replace our old blog

Out of the Fold are working on a new series of work' Reflections' which will be exhibited at The Guildhall in Bury St Edmunds in September 2025

Out of the Fold will b taking our 'Reflections' to the ArtConTex event in Colchester in October 2025

Out of the blue - there came blue

 

When teaching the 'Life's a bleach!' workshop and using black cotton fabric I have come to expect the cloth to discharge to a lovely range of grey and copper colours. 

HOWEVER. Not all black fabrics are the same, even if purchased from the same retailer who has used the same supplier. 

Teaching this technique to a lovely group in Lincolnshire recently we did not get copper, we got.........

Blue! 

Happily it was quite a nice steely blue and combines well with silver and grey. 

I will progress this piece into work for exhibition

Jane Starling, one of the students on the day, has used her practice piece to make up into lovely container

Thanks for sending the photos Jane. Cannot wait to see what you do with your large piece of discharged fabric. 

If you would like to book the 'Life's a bleach!' one or two day workshop for your group then please email maryelmcintosh@gmail.com

£225 per day for groups up to a maximum of 12

I just can't confirm what colours may emerge

Zoom workshop for Scottish Contemporary

Members of the Scottish Contemporary group live all over Scotland, from the Highlands and Islands to the Borders, and meet mostly on zoom for talks and workshops.

They kindly invited me to teach a zoom workshop on the Putting on the Glitz technique and it worked very well.

For zoom workshops I send out packs, by post, in advance with a choice of different colourways. The packs include all the fabric, foils, bonded sheers, and glitter film needed for the workshop. The pack also has instructions.

The zoom session is a combination of a powerpoint showing the detail of each technique and live demonstration. The powerpoint is made available to all participants after the workshop too.

Getting the pace right on zoom can be tricky as people work at different speeds. So I make my own demonstration piece alongside the students whilst keeping the zoom link open at all times to be able to offer advice.

This is my blue shards piece from the Scottish Contemporary workshop which I will progress to show at exhibition

If you would like to book a zoom workshop* please email maryelmcintosh@gmail.com

£195 for the day. No mileage!  10am - 4pm or evening sessions available on request

*Layered Landscapes, Thread bowls, Playing with Pojagi, Precious Pojagi and Texture Adventures workshops also available on zoom
 

ArtConTex event in Colchester

 

I will be exhibiting work as part of the 'E.A.S.T. @ 30' exhibition which will be unveilved at the ArtConTex event to be held at The Minories in Colchester CO1 1UE this October

The gallery on the first floor will incude work by members of the group, past and present, from all 30 years from 1995 until 2025.

As a new member my work has not yet been made! But it will be work from my current research and explorations from my little clogs

Out of the Fold will also be exhibiting at the ArtConTex event in the ballroom at The Minories.

We will show the 'Reflections' series being made now for the exhibition at The Guildhall, Bury St Edmunds in September.

My work for this exhibition also has not been made! But it will be inspired by mirrors.

 

Precious Pojagi results

 

Thank you to Belinda Perkins who sent me an image of her 'Precious Pojagi' piece created on a wokshop with Cambridge Quilters.

The delicate lace collar and whitework embroidery is shown off to great effect hanging in the window.

Thank you also to Julie Welch who completed her 'Precious Pojagi' after a workshop with Lincolnshire Textiles

If you would like to try the 'Precious Pojagi' technique there are some workshops coming up to book.

Wed 28th May 2025 at Sew and So's in Bungay

sewsos.co.uk/workshops 

You can book through the website or telephone 01986 896147

Wed 30th July 2025 at Festival of Quilts, NEC, Birmingham

https://www.thefestivalofquilts.co.uk/

You can book through the website

Or why not book me for your textile group? £225 per day. Maximum of 12. maryelmcintosh@gmail.com

Burn your bra! in Lincolnshire

 

It gives me a real thrill when I receive images of pieces started on a workshop with me and then completed afterwards.

Recently I taught the 'Burn Your Bra!' technique to a lovely group in Louth, Lincolnshire. We used nasty old net curtains, nylon lace, and even bits of old underwear to stitch, burn, and colour.

This is the end result by Helen Dickinson who made her piece up into a textured vessel

Helen has added a button/ribbon closing which really enhances the end result. Great colour, texture and form

If you would like to have a go at this fun technique please contact me by email maryelmcintosh@gmail.com to book for your group

Workshop cost for 2025  £225 per day. Maximum of 12.

Workshop cost for 2026 onwards £240 per day

Filling the Gap for Bridging the Gap

 

I was not expecting to exhibit with E.A.S.T. as part of their 'Bridging the Gap' exhibition as the work was already completed when I joined the group in 2024.

'Bridging the Gap' was shown at the Grundisburgh Gallery in April 2024 and at the Babylon Gallery in the autumn of 2024.

However when E.A.S.T. member Kay Mullenger moved away and left the group that created a 'gap' for the third planned exhibition at The Minories in Colchester.

I am delighted to have been able to fill the gap with my "A coat for Elizabeth" inspired by early women herbalists and in particular Elizabeth Blackwell.

The ballroom at The Minories www.theminories.org

is a fantastic space, full of light with high ceilings. 

'Bridging the Gap' looks great in this space.

I would lilke to thank Libby Smith for proposing the use of leaves collected from the Minories garden to add the the display.  It really does suggest an early women herbalist striding through the woods in search of healing herbs and plants.

The placement next to Susan Canfield's fantastic collection of work - inspired by women authors and her use of the oak leaf motif - flows so well. 

In fact there is a nature theme running throughout the show.

I am proud to be part of E.A.S.T. and to see my work shown along with this group of talented artists.

'Bridging the Gap' continues until 4th May (closed Mon and Tues)

10am - 4pm each day

First floor ballroom

Free entry

You can read all about the inspiration and research carried out by each member of E.A.S.T. for the exhibition here easttextile.co.uk/bridging-the-gap/

India Holiday - a change of plan

 

Aahilya Holidays have asked me to lead a different trip to India. 

'A Craft and Cultural Journey of the Golden Triangle' from 30th November until 10th December 2025

Delhi - Agra - Jaipur

Cost* is £2390 when sharing a twin room or £3090 for a single room. 

For more information and to book please look at the Aahilya website www.aahilyaholidays.com/tour/fd0f/a-craft-&-cultural-journey-of-the-golden-triangle-with-mary-mcintosh

*cost excludes flights but these will be arranged by Aahilya

Itinerary:

Day 1. Fly to Delhi. Stay at the Park Inn by Radisson in a deluxe room.

Day 2. Visit to the Craft Museum in Delhi

Day 3. Tour of Old Delhi including the Jama Masjid mosque, the Chandi Chowk market and the Red Fort. 

Day 4. Drive to Agra and visit Agra Fort. Stay at the Radisson Inn.

Day 5. Sunrise tour of the Taj Mahal. Drive to Jaipur via Abhaneri stepwells. Say at the Megh Niwas hotel.

Day 6. Visit Amber Fort and Anokhi Museum. See Hawa Mahal and visit local bazaar.

Day 7. Trip to Sanganer and wood bock carving. Block printing workshop. Paper making. Biria Temple.

Day 8. Trip to Bagru for Dabu block printing workshop. Indigo dyeing. Indian dinner

Day 9. Aari-Tari workshop in Jaipur. Puppet making workshop. 

Day 10. Miniature painting workshop in Jaipur. 

Day 11. Drive to Delhi. Stay at the Rhythm hotel.

Day 12. Flight home to UK

Juxtaposition

 

I am delighted that Heather Evans and Penny Evans will be joining me to exhibit at Snape Maltings this autumn.

The Quay Gallery is a great place to exhibit and as a previous exhibitor I get first refusal on the same week in October each year. 

I had to wait five years to obtain a slot at this popular venue and I plan my year so as to make sure I keep this week free to exhibit.

23rd - 29th October 2025 coincides with the half term school holiday so we can expect lots of visitors

In 2022 I held my first solo show with the 'Wool - Cotton - Silk' exhibition

This included the 'To have and to hold' series using dress pattern tissue

In 2023 my second solo show was 'Playing with Pojagi' with a whole series of work using the contemporary version of a traitional Korean piecing technique

Both solo shows were a success and taught me a lot. They were however very hard work to do alone with all the planning, marketing, hanging and stewarding. Not to mention the making!

Sharing the space, the costs, and the work three ways will be great. The space is perfect for three artists. 

Last year in 2024 my textile group Out of the Fold needed an exhibition venue so all twelve artists exhibited with a lovely exhibition 'A Splash of Colour' 

Heather and Penny are both former students who completed the Advanced Stitched Textiles course in 2022 and joined Out of the Fold in 2023. Both have developed their own styles, quite different from mine, and are creating original and innovative new work.

As our styles are all very different we have chosen the title 'Juxta position' 

Juxta position is defined as "placing two or more things side by side to compare and contrast with an interesting effect"

(Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

You can find out more about Penny on her website pennyevansfibreart.co.uk/ and on instagram @pennye.fibreart

Heather shows her work on instagram @heatherevanstextileart

A coat for Elizabeth

 

The brief for 'Bridging the Gap' exhibition with E.A.S.T. was to explore women who despite their gender and circumstances made an impact in their own time and whose influence can still be felt today.

I chose as my subject Early Women Herbalists.

For centuries people have gathered plants to use to treat medical consitions. Many of these were women who carried th nurturing role for their families and communities. Most early women herbalists are almost entirely unknown. In fact they kept their work secret for fear of being accused of withcraft.

The Witchcraft Act of 1563 criminalized witchcraft leding to the persecution of herbalists, healers and midwives.

Women were not allowed to study medicine until 1874.

My research did find some named women herbalists who kept written records and whose work was recognised.

The best known is Elizabeth Blackwell 1707 - 1758 who wrote the bestselling book "A Curious Herbal" in 1737.

The book contains 500 botanical drawings along with a description of 'the practise of Physick'

The skills required by the herbalists are considerable. Each plant needs to be recognised and then prepared in the correct way. Roots, leaves and flowers all used in different ways. Incorrect use could be harmful, even fatal.

The common names for plants often give a clue. Plants with 'witch' or 'devil' in their names are likely to be poisonous.

'A Coat for Elizabeth' is in recogntion of Elizabeth Blackwell and her book which contributed to the development of medicine.

I have imagined the wearer foraging for medicinal plants in the forest. The useful plants hidden in nature, discovered by the herbalist, who hides her knowledge in turn.

I have used several techniques to build up the surface design on the black fabric. Discharging and bleaching, markal oil sticks, applique with sheers, metallic silk, paper lame and paper lamination. 

This is the first coat I have made so my dressmaking skills were challenged! But I am pleased with the result. It does fit me, I could wear it.

'A Coat for Elizabeth' will be exhibited as part of the EAST exhibition 'Bridging the Gap' at The Minories Gallery in Colchester from 24th April until 4th May 2025. Thursday to Sunday 10am - 4pm.

I will be stewarding the exhibition on Sat 26th and Sun 27th April

Casting a shoe

 

The phrase 'to cast a shoe' is more commonly used by horseriders and farriers but mine has quite a different meaning.

Reading about shoe superstitions I discovered  the practice of 'casting a shoe' as a sign of good luck - throwing a shoe after married couples, or those embarking on a journey.

The original saboteurs - those wooden shoe wearers in France who threw them into machinery as an industrial labour protest - also were casting their shoes.

But my casting is none of those......

I wanted to see if I could produce a plaster cast of one of my clogs. Lots of research needed.

But before committing these precious objects to the process I tested out the method using a contemporary size 5 childrens shoe - Clarks of course!  

This belonged to my grandson Rory and the other one had disappeared - perhaps someone will find it in a future century?

Using an alginate moulding liquid first to make a rubbery mould. Allowing this to dry fully. Then mixing plaster of paris to make the cast.

It worked pretty well on Rory's shoe giving good detail of the fabric and even the Clarks branding

However, the larger leather clog was more of a challenge. I needed something to prevent the alginate liquid going inside the shoe - the first thing tried was some playdough (thanks again to Rory)

The mould support needed to be large enough to hold the shoe, watertight so the alginate liquid cannot escape, and something which can be removed. Duplo provided the perfect tool for the job

I removed the laces and gave the shoe a rub of vaseline so it would release from the mould

The alginate comes as a powder which is mixed with water to form a liquid. You only have 4 minutes to pour your mould before it sets

I was worried about the bubbles

Left to set overnight

When set I removed the duplo and cut the mould into two parts

Then mixed up the plaster of paris and poured into into the mould - disaster! The liquid plaster ran out of the cut in the mould, all over my kitchen, and all over me. 

So next time I taped the mould cut seam and rebuilt the duplo mould support around to catch any runaway plaster. 

I cannot recommend duplo enough - what a brand - it worked a treat

This time the paster cast was a success. I love that it picked up the stitching and the lace eyelets.

On the next cast I made a stupid mistake and put the rubber mould together heel to toe (not toe to toe) so had to use a hacksaw and cut through the plaster cast.

Polyfiller used to put back together again. But as the concealed shoes found in buidings were usually in very worn condition with evidence of repair I think this can add to my story.

So far I have made two moulds and three casts.

Not too bad for a first effort, never having tried anything like this before.

So what do I do with them now?

Enjoying this process of exploration for work to be exhibited with EAST in 2026