Phillipa Spiller

10th Dec '11 ~ Selvedge Christmas Fair

2012-01-14T11:09:00.000-08:00

As this was my first time attending any type of fair; it was a great experience and a wonderful success. I wanted to say thank-you to those that gave me their time to talk and whom admired my needlework. I will surely be doing another!

Selvedge Christmas Fair 2011

2011-11-19T05:52:00.000-08:00

I will be wonderfully joining Selvedge this year in their Christmas Fair. It will be held at St. Augustine's Church Hall, which is next to the Selvedge shop in Highgate, London N6. The fair is on Saturday 10th December and is open 10am-5pm.

All work including my hand embroideries and cushions will be for sale. Which would fit nicely in any home or as a special gift for any occasion.

For more information on exhibitors and how to get there, please visit http://selvedge.org/pages/fair.aspx

2011-11-19T05:29:00.000-08:00

Cushions

2011-11-18T08:32:00.000-08:00

Pin Cushions

A selection of handmade pin cushions using old crochet and found materials.

nostalgicpieces exhibition 30.7.11- 1.8.11

2011-08-07T10:10:00.000-07:00

Just a few images of my recent exhibition..

nostalgicpieces

2011-06-26T12:20:00.001-07:00

On the 30th of July to 1st August 2011, I will be sharing my hand embroidery collections in an exhibition. This is being held at Acquire Arts Gallery, 155 Battersea Park Road London SW8 4BU.* You will be able to find this and myself on these days between 10.30-5pm.

Three collections are focused; 'grt. nanna's sewing tin', florals and samplers.

I'm also rather excited about creating my own cushion covers. Based on the inspiration of my embroideries and materials used in them.

Also, pincushions..

My work will be available to purchase, as well as commissions.

I would love to hear any comments and if you have any questions please email me at phillipa.spiller@hotmail.com

I'm looking forward to meeting you all.

*The closest tube station to the gallery is either Battersea Park road or Queenstown Road.

Grt. Nanna's Sewing Tin

2011-03-05T12:49:00.000-08:00

My interests and past work have led me to want to explore into my Grt. Nanna's sewing tin, which was given to me when she passed. The tin was just an old 'Roses' tin but it meant more to me when I looked upon its insides.

I found a large amount of buttons which the majority had loose thread attached to them, remnants of elastic and fabric and loose pins and needles that have been collected throughout her life. The most special object to me was her scissors.

These objects have become inspirational and memorable. Resulting in turning them into an embroidered illustration, if you like.

These images are just a selection of what my collection contains. I am currently working on the production of goods that will be sold on my new 'Folksy' page.

http://www.folksy.com/shops/nostalgicpieces

2010-08-23T12:24:00.000-07:00

'Curiosities'

-"a rare or unusual thing, eagerness to know.."

The following pieces are inspired by the rare craftsman-ship of knot work.

Originally I was looking at shoulder cords on 18th and 19th Century naval uniforms; which have a great resemblance to the craft of knots. So I began to create my own basic knots, concentrating on how the rope has formed; the twisted fibres that have been structured in a certain way, thus creating a decorative pattern.

Taken through to hand embroidery there is still a strong feeling of structure but also movement.

Each piece has been hand embroidered with a variety of silk and stitched with different techniques.

I found that the most common stitch, being satin worked incredibly well to create the feeling of movement and structure; with the decision to place the thread in a certain direction or place.

I wanted more than the structure of the pattern; I wanted to try and create a slight structure in the fabric. So I came across 'Plisse Pleats', and its following directions,

'... narrow pleats set by gathering fabric with stitches, wetting the fabric, and "setting" the pleats by allowing the wet fabric to dry under weight or tension.'

The Knitting and Stitching Show '09

2009-11-28T10:55:00.000-08:00

During my time at London and Harrogate, I couldn't have enjoyed it more! I just wanted to mention all of the people that came up to me and my stand, to say thank-you.

I appreciated all your nostalgic stories and hopefully one day it will inspire me further.

I produced two new pieces for Harrogate, which became an added bonus within my collection. I had purchased two samplers with the name of 'Margaret Reynolds'... wonderful! With my own design work, I bought that and the original stitch beautifully together.

The stitches used in this picture are long and short stitch, satin stitch, shaded satin stitch and french knot.

The stitches used are french knot and twisted chain stitch.

I had some fantastic news this month when I recieved the Nov/Dec '09 issue of Embroidery in the post. The '2009 Graduate line-up' contained myself and an image of my work.

Beginning to collect together my embroideries

2009-10-12T11:35:00.000-07:00

The concept of using vintage linen, handkercheifs and doilies as a base for my own embroidery has become a delight to work with. Incorporating my own embroidery designs with them has bought out nostalgic feelings in me.

I feel as though these home-made materials should be appreciated more... please don't chuck them out! If you think about the time, enjoyment and the effort that has been put into making them; you wouldn't want your own treasures to be lost forever.

By using these previous domesticated textiles I am appreciating them more by embroidering.

I will be continuing with updating future imagery of up-and-coming work and would love to hear comments from you. If you have any questions or queries please do contact me at phillipa.spiller@hotmail.com

2009-10-06T12:33:00.000-07:00

Hello Knitting and Stitching Show...

As the title suggests, I've become a lucky lady with being chosen to be part of the Graduate Showcase at the Knitting and Stitching Show 2009.

My work takes inspiration from historical embroideries where the common use of floral imagery was a decoration to many items. This involves the designing process of creating my own embroideries for a fashion context. Each design has been hand embroidered onto cut out garment pieces of vintage embroidered linen.

As well as indicating where my embroidery designs could be on a garment. The association of building my own embroidery on already hand embroidered linen aesthetically builds nostalgia and memories that has been sewn into it.

I will continue with posting my imagery and hopefully you will come to love my stitch as much as I do making it.

I will be at The Knitting and Stitching Show, Alexandra Palce, London from the 8th-11th October.

Looking forward to seeing you there

Phillipa