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.