Our News
Lutradur & Zeelon Capes – ‘Cloaked in Darkness’ – by Ruth Lee
Ruth Lee (born Coventry, UK) is a textile artist, print-maker and visual story teller, currently living in Central Portugal, having relocated from Cumbria in April 2013. She made these dramatic cloaks for a recent exhibition entitled ‘Roses in January?’ after being inspired by The Legend of the Miracle of the Roses. The story goes that Rainha Santa Isabel left her castle deep in the winter to distribute bread, concealed in her cloak, to the poor. Challenged by the King (who did not approve of her charitable work), she declared she was carrying only roses. Suspicious, the King exclaimed “Roses? In […]
Snowman Family (in Evolon)
These little snowmen have been made from rectangular pieces of Evolon (20cms wide), which have been curled up into cylindrical shapes and stapled in position. They range in height from 6cms, 9cms to 12cms and are very quick and easy to make. Simply cut a small hole in the position of the nose (approximately 6mm in diameter) and, using a black biro, draw on some eyes and a friendly smile. Then colour a semicircle of Evolon (6cms in diameter) with acrylic paint, before rolling into a cone shape to form a carrot nose. Push the nose through the hole until it fits snugly and stays in place and then decorate your snowman to […]
Poppies by Vivienne Challans (using Zeelon)
Vivienne decided to make these beautiful poppies in support of Remembrance Day. She chose Zeelon (a lovely lightweight sheer fabric) for the petals, which she coloured using heat transfer dye. Zeelon gives exceptionally good results when coloured using this method, as can be seen by the rich vibrant red of the poppies.By holding the petals with a pair of silicone tongs, Vivienne then gently softened the edges using the heat from a candle (being careful to be in a well ventilated room).After putting a little fold in the petals and arranging them into a natural shape, she then completed […]
Lutradur ‘Poppy’ by Sandy Williams
We have just received this image of a piece of artwork created by student, Sandy Williams. Sandy used a soldering iron to cut out the shape from a piece of painted Lutradur. The cut out is a ‘negative’ and the piece was stitched on to denim.We felt it was appropriate to feature a poppy, as we are so close to Armistice Day and commemorating the end of the war.
Ghostly goings on (in Evolon)
A couple of years ago we made a mobile for Halloween and decorated it with six little Evolon ghosts (about 4 to 5 inches high). The crescent moon was also made from Evolon, but coloured using yellow transfer paint. Finally, to complete our night sky scene, we added a smattering of golden stars (made from transfer painted Lutradur). After making a cardboard template, we cut out two pieces of Evolon per ghost and machine stitched them together, leaving the bottom section open. A small amount of wadding was then placed inside to give each ghost a lovely padded three-dimensional […]
Lutradur Pumpkins for Halloween
To make each pumpkin we coloured a piece of Lutradur 70gms with orange transfer paint and then drew a circle using a compass. Keeping the compass at the same radius (and remembering our school geometry!) we positioned the point of the compass on the circumference and drew an arc; then repositioned the compass on the point where the arc met the edge of the circle to draw another arc and so on, until we had drawn several arcs and completed a ‘flower’ shape. After cutting out the shape, we machine stitched strips of Lutradur to the centre of each segment, to give […]
Halloween Bats made from Lutradur Black
We made our first batch of bats in 2015 and they have proved to be one of our most popular Halloween projects. Lutradur Black was the ideal choice of material, not just because it’s the right colour, but also because it’s semi-transparent and lightweight, just like a real bat! Best of all, Lutradur does not fray or tear making it incredibly easy to cut and sew. Each bat was made from two layers of Lutradur 70gsm Black, cut from a single A4 sheet, machine stitched along the top edge, with additional machine stitching to represent the bone structure of […]
‘Butterfly Effect’ by Merle Axelrad (incorporating Lutradur)
This large suspended sculpture of butterflies was commissioned by Los Angeles County for The Arcadia Mental Health Centre and installed in the main entrance lobby of the outpatients department in 2015. It measures 10 feet x 16 feet x 12.5 feet and depicts a cluster of approximately 10,000 Monarch butterflies made from hand-painted and silk-screened materials (including Lutradur), hanging from six aluminium eucalyptus branches, 23 feet above floor level. A symbol of transformation and new beginnings, the artist, Merle Axelrad states on her website that ‘The outpatient mental health clinic is all about change’ and ‘butterflies are the perfect […]
Lutradur ‘Net’ Curtains
In June, we published a couple of photographs sent into us by Elaine Griffiths, of curtain panels she’d made by printing a design on lengths of Lutradur 30gsm. At that time, the panels were still in her studio waiting to be hung, so we were absolutely delighted when Elaine sent us the following pictures, showing them now taking pride of place at her home in France! Unlike traditional net, the Lutradur stays flat, giving the appearance of a decorative screen rather than a curtain. We think the results are stunning and we know Elaine is very pleased with them […]
Scenes inspired by the Seashore (using Evolon) by – Alysn Midgelow-Marsden
Alysn is an accomplished freelance fine art textile artist, as well as a tutor and author. These beautiful pieces of work form part of her collection entitled ‘seam(i)stress’ and illustrate her love of the sea and shoreline around her home in New Zealand. Alysn has used a variety of spray paints (car, furniture and art sprays) to colour the Evolon (the fabric element or base cloth seen in these images). By using shells as resists, she has created the impression of multiple shells on the beach and in some cases the shells have been re-applied to the surface. In […]
Rennie Mackintosh Rose by Carolyn Sinclair
Carolyn Sinclair is a textile artist/designer and an expert in computer embroidery and software. She has contributed to our Blog on two previous occasions with ‘Seahorses’ and ‘Machine Cut Mat’ and as a recognised teacher of embroidery machines and embroidery software, is one of the experts who writes for the Bernina Blog. Carolyn tells us she created this piece using dedicated embroidery software, specifically designed for a two-day class she was teaching. Apart from being a beautiful example of several machine embroidery techniques, this panel also demonstrates the many benefits of using Lutradur as a base material. Carolyn says […]
Put the (Lutradur) Flags Out!
Bright, bold, breezy and colourful Lutradur bunting to help lift our spirits. Both of these lines of rainbow bunting were made from one A4 pack of White Lutradur 70gsm, containing 10 x A4 sheets. We began by cutting two triangular flags per sheet, which we then coloured using heat transfer paint. The flags were then evenly spaced and machine stitched in position, along two x 3 metre lengths of 20mm wide Grosgrain Ribbon. Here’s hoping everyone remembers to keep safe so we can all enjoy some extra freedom from 4th July . . . .
Face Mask for Fathers’ Day – in Evolon
After making a few masks out of Evolon (please see previous blog) we decided to celebrate Fathers’ Day by making a special mask for the Man of the House. We simply cut out the word DAD from some previously coloured Evolon and then added a few little kisses just to remind him how much he’s loved!
Facemasks in Evolon
We’ve been very busy making masks out of Evolon . . . Like so many people, we’ve been looking for ways to help during the lockdown. One very successful idea has been to make these masks, which have proved very popular with friends and family. If you are new to Evolon, there are several reasons why Evolon is perfect for this project – Very easy to cut and sewDoes not fray or need hemmingGentle to wear next to the skinLightweight fabricHolds its shapeWashes well (can be machine washed multiple times) Here’s how we made them . . . It’s […]
Lutradur ‘Net’ Curtains!
A few months ago, we were contacted by Elaine Griffiths who wanted to create ‘net’ curtains out of Lutradur. After sending her some samples of various weights, she decided to buy a few metres of Lutradur 30gsm, which she cleverly converted into beautiful printed panels. The photograph above shows one of the panels, displayed on her studio door. From this image, it’s easy to imagine how effective they will be when hung together against a window, or made into a screen. This is the first time we have featured curtaining made out of Lutradur, but we’re sure it won’t […]
‘Burlesque’ by Karen Lane
We’re delighted to present this latest piece of work sent into us by Karen Lane, a Feltmaker and Textile Artist, who has become a regular and valued contributor to our website. This piece measures 88cms x 48cms and includes various natural fibres, scrim, synthetic fabrics and silk, which have all been machine stitched on to a painted background of Lutradur 70gsm. Karen says the layout is totally random but that (as with any abstract work) we tend to see things that weren’t necessarily planned. In this case, once the red fabric had been applied, Karen saw a Burlesque style […]
Business as Usual!
We’re very pleased to confirm we can now ship all orders for Lutradur, Evolon and Zeelon as before. However, please allow extra time for deliveries as the courier services are very busy. We look forward to hearing from you!
Happy St George’s Day!
In recognition and gratitude to all our modern day heroes.
Coronavirus
Unfortunately, due to the current situation, we are unable to despatch rolls of material. However, we can still send out A4 packs via First Class post, and have the following options available – Lutradur 30gms Pack – 10 x A4 Sheets = £6.45Lutradur 70gms Pack – 10 x A4 Sheets = £7.25Lutradur 70gms Black Pack – 10 x A4 Sheets = £7.25Lutradur 100gms Pack – 10 x A4 Sheets = £8.65Lutradur 130gms Pack – 10 x A4 Sheets = £10.45Lutradur XL Pack – 5 x A4 Sheets = £10.60 Lutradur Sampler Pack – 5 x A4 Sheets = £7.95(1 […]
Flower themed cards by Vivienne Challans
To mark the arrival of Spring, we are delighted to showcase these beautiful floral cards sent into us by Vivienne Challans . . . After colouring some pieces of Lutradur and Evolon with transfer paint, Vivienne cut out a variety of flower shapes, petals, stems and leaves and then arranged them on a background of light weight Lutradur. She then machine stitched the flowers, leaves etc. into position, and created more detail with some additional free machine stitching. Finally, Vivienne selected a few small buttons to create the flower centres, which she attached by sewing them on by hand. […]
Handmade Zeelon Beads
This week (bearing in mind it’s Mother’s Day next Sunday) we’ve been making beads, by rolling up strips of transfer painted Zeelon Medium . . . We made a large selection of plain coloured straight beads (approximately 3cms wide), with a view to cutting them up into smaller beads to suit a particular design or colour way. To make bevelled beads, we cut 10 to 12 long thin triangles out of a sheet of A4 Zeelon Medium, which we had previously coloured using lemon and wine red transfer paint. We then applied some clear drying Tacky Glue all the way along the length and then, starting at […]
Mothers’ Day Cards
There’s still time to make a lovely personalised card for your wonderful Mum . . . Lutradur is ideal for card making as it can be painted, stitched, dyed and also printed. Our cards have been decorated with Lutradur 70 and 100. Pink acrylic paint was used to colour the Lutradur 70, while all the words and messages have been printed on Lutradur 100 (which is slightly thicker) using an ink jet printer. (For best results, remember to select the bold type setting).
Lutradur Lampshade by Sylvia Stead
The striking table lamp (pictured below), will soon be on display, alongside some of Sylvia’s other work featuring Lutradur, at an open exhibition – ‘Painting with Words’ which is on from 14th March to 2nd May 2020 at –Willow Gallery, 56 Willow Street, Oswestry SY11 1AD Tel: 01691 657575 Following the exhibition, on Saturday 30th May 2020, Sylvia is running aOne Day Workshop, creating Lutradur Tea-Light Holders (like the ones picture above) For more information or to book a place, please contact Willow Gallery on 01691 657575 Sylvia created this lovely lamp by covering a straight sided vase with […]
Valentines Day
Here are a selection of items we’ve made over the past few years to celebrate Valentines Day . . . and this year, being a Leap Year, tradition says that THE LADIES can pop THE question! If you would like further details on any of the projects featured below, please do not hesitate to contact us.
The Year of the Rat
This Saturday marks the start of the Chinese New Year, the Year of the Rat, and to celebrate the occasion we decided to make a few little rodents of our own! In Chinese culture, the Rat is the first of twelve mythical animals, which achieved its prime position by outwitting the rest of the animals. Seen as a sign of wealth and surplus, people born in this year are thought to be quick thinkers and possess characteristics such as creativity, intelligence, honesty, ambition and generosity. Recent years of the Rat are: 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020. To make […]
Karl Marius Sveen – Norwegian Designer/Artist
Karl Marius Sveen is an award winning Interior Architect and Furniture Designer, who studied at the National College of Art & Design in Bergen, Norway. He draws inspiration from the Scandinavian way of thinking and living, by creating products and furniture which are simple in design, yet also aesthetic and functional. Given his background, we were very excited when he ordered a roll of Evolon and were absolutely delighted when he sent us the following images of his work . . . Big, bold, bright and colourful – they are a vibrant and stunning collection. In Karl’s own words he explains his technique – […]
‘A Christmas Carol’ by Vivienne Challans
Vivienne was inspired to make this piece based on the last few words that Scrooge exclaims in Charles Dickens’ famous tale, A Christmas Carol. The Chairman of the Derbyshire Branch of the Embroiderers’ Guild issued the challenge ‘To use A Christmas Carol as a source of inspiration.’ – the results to be exhibited at the Derby Theatre over the festive period. In her own words, Vivienne says – “I created this piece using heat transferred dyed Lutradur 100gsm for the background. The words were also printed on heat transferred Lutradur using a printing set and Versacolour printing ink. The figures were based on sketches and formed using machine embroidery on […]
Machine cut mat by Carolyn Sinclair
Carolyn Sinclair is a textile artist/designer and an expert in computer embroidery and software. She recently sent us these photographs of an ingenius new development for embroidery machines with special needles, which can cut; thereby turning an embroidery machine into a creative cutting tool!Carolyn tells us Bernina (who were the first to introduce this technique), actually developed a tool called the ‘cutwork tool’ with 4 different positions which replaces the normal sewing needle. Bernina patented their invention, so other manufactures have produced 4 needles which do a similar job. In her own words, Carolyn describes the process – “I took a piece of Lutradur […]
‘Roots’ by Karen Lane
This beautiful piece of work by Karen Lane, seems to embody all the colours, textures and essence of autumn, so is very appropriate for this time of year. It is a great example of how Lutradur can be adapted to represent all the various textures from sturdy tree bark through to delicate leaves. Karen is a Feltmaker and Textile Artist and we are fortunate to have featured her work several times in the past. Each piece always meets with a great deal of appreciation for the life-like accuracy of her work and her attention to detail. In Karen’s own words she describes how it […]
Shadow Puppet Theatre for Halloween
We had a lot of fun putting this Halloween scene together and think it is possibly the first project where we have used all three of our materials, i.e. Lutradur, Evolon and Zeelon. Evolon provided the perfect screen, which we stapled as taut as possible to the sides of a large sturdy box. The clouds of cobwebs around the house and pumpkins were formed by teasing apart the fibres of some Zeelon Light. Everything else was made with Lutradur. Here’s a brief description of each item – Haunted House and Spooky Tree Both made from two layers of Lutradur XL (the […]
Dragonflies by Alison D’Oyley
We were delighted to receive these beautiful images of dragonflies, created by Alison D’Oyley, which are both silkscreen prints, but on different materials. ‘Dragonfly II’ is a silkscreen print on Lutradur with hand stitch, while ‘Dragonfly III’ is a silkscreen print with hand stitch on Zeelon. Lutradur has more ‘open’, random fibres, whereas the Zeelon has a much smoother, uniform appearance. We think its interesting to compare the two, but difficult to decide which we prefer! Artist: Alison D’Oyley holds the copyright for all of her designs.
Printed Images on Lutradur with Lace Overlay by Heather Tilley
These gorgeous pictures were created by Heather Tilley using sheets of lace sewn on to Lutradur and then passed through an ink jet printer. By covering the Lutradur with lace, the images appear ‘softened’ and where Heather has chosen lace containing a shiny thread, the pictures also have an iridescent quality. Heather says – “The images are from drawings and from photographs which I’ve photoshopped etc, and I’ve adjusted them mainly by using smaller sections of the originals.” “I start by cutting a piece of net/lace slightly larger than an A4 piece of Lutradur, to provide a 1cm overlap all the way round and then […]
How to colour Lutradur, Evolon (or Zeelon) using Transfer Paints
You can colour Lutradur, Evolon or Zeelon using transfer paints and a hot iron. Our short video demonstrates how easy it is to create vibrant colours. This method of painting is a great technique for transferring single colours, designs or images from paper on to any of our fabrics. Paint a piece of paper with transfer paint directly from the pot. (Use one colour per sheet, as colours can be blended at the ironing stage). Allow the paint to dry thoroughly and don’t worry if the paper curls, as it will unfurl when ironed. Place the paper, paint […]
‘Bloom’ by Alison D’Oyley
This lovely image of a flower (which looks just like the clematis that rambles over my neighbour’s fence) was sent into us by artist/printmaker Alison D’Oyley. It comprises of hand painted Lutradur, which Alison has stitched on to cotton, which she has also painted by hand. You can see more of Alison’s art by visiting her website www.alisondoyley.co.uk or, if you are in the Norfolk area, why not pop along to see her work at the Local Norfolk Craft Exhibition, Dragonfly Gallery, Watton, which is on until 3rd September 2019. (Please remember to check opening times beforehand). Artist: Alison D’Oyley holds the copyright for all of […]
Lutradur Wall Hanging by Heather Tilley
This is the latest piece of work sent into us by the artist Heather Tilley. We have featured Heather’s work on four previous occasions and each time we feel in awe of her talent! She says “I decided to make a wall-hanging and started thinking about the flowers growing near the wall in my garden. I began by looking for scraps of fabric, such as green cotton or polycotton material, but only found small pieces, so it turned into a patchwork which needed backing.” Heather stitched the component parts on to Lutradur 100 to provide a strong, stable background and used Lutradur 70 to […]
Seahorses by Carolyn Sinclair
We were blown away by these seahorses sent into us by Carolyn Sinclair. The colouring is so true to life! We first met Carolyn several years ago when attending an exhibition and she made an immediate impression. As a recognised teacher of embroidery machines and embroidery software, Carolyn is one of the experts who writes for the Bernina Blog and both Bernina and Janome UK lend her their machines and software. Carolyn has a very contemporary approach to her work and says she loves to push the boundaries and explore new materials. These seahorses were used to demonstrate and […]
Lavender Sachets
If you have any lavender in your garden and would like to retain its lovely summer fragrance, why not make these delightful lavender sachets? We made these little bags using Zeelon Light which, although very delicate in appearance, is really strong. We also liked the fact that Zeelon is semi-transparent, allowing the lavender inside to be seen (as shown on the photograph above). Zeelon is only available in white, yet colours beautifully with transfer paints, which we used to create the ‘dotty’ designs and vivid background colours of violet, scarlet, yellow and lime. Also, due to our simple design […]