Posted on 50 Comments

change of heart…

I’ve been taking part in another collaborative project with 10 fellow members of a Facebook textile art group, and it  finished today.
Back in October I made an A4 sized piece of fabric and marked 11 heart shapes on it.

In a previous project we  made round brooches that you can see here
For the hearts we reversed the order they were sent in, so the person who contributed 1st to the round brooches was last to contribute to the hearts.

First up was Jenny Green

 

Then they went to Jane Lock

 

Next up was Michelle Cullen
after that was Helen Miles
onwards to Gemma Bee

henceforth to Janette Smith
they then wended their way to Anne Marie Bates
onwards to Judith Clarke
next up was Sara Harris
penultimately they went to Deborah Collum

They then came back to me and I cut them out

I added some stitching and beads, and then finished off the edges with machine and handstitching.

A brooch was allocated to each participant randomly.

And the backs…

This has been a really enjoyable project, I get a thrill of anticipation every time I get a notification that someone has posted new photos of their contributions.
It’s really interesting to see them develop and I think the end results are fantastic.
A group shot before they head off to their new homes…

We have already started another project, this time adding to some pebble shaped felted pieces. I shall share them with you when they are completed.

Viva la Collaboration 🙂

 

EDITED TO ADD : you can see more of my collaborative projects here..
https://www.mcanaraks.com/category/projects/completed-collaborations/

50 thoughts on “change of heart…

  1. Brilliant project to be a part of! The finished brooches look fabulous. So different too. Have been wearing my circular brooch and it gets lots of attention! Thanks for having me join in.

    1. How can I do this with the group?

      1. Hi Kathleen, I’m sorry I’m not running any collaboration projects at present.
        I might do it again sometime in the future, but within the UK, due to postage costs. Are you in the UK?

      2. Hi Kathleen! I’m Carol and I live in the US. I’d be open to doing this collaborative with you and others that are interested. If you live in the states, please reply back and hopefully it will work out. Thanks!

        1. Hi Carol this project looked like a blast. I’m in the middle of. FB called 100 days of Meditative Stitching. I would love to continue my stitches with something wearable like this I could gather other stitchers I believe

        2. Are you putting together a group for collaboration? I would love to be involved in a project similar to this.

          1. I am submitting a grant proposal this Fall, I will keep you posted or you can email me lgugli.leslie@gmail.com to get info regarding when and where the classes will be held. Thanks

          2. HI. I have just submitted my Grant to our local Cultural Council. I will hear back before the end of the year. I will be in touch. I’m in Seekonk MA. The in person workshops will be held at our library with homework assigned throughout the summer. If you are local please join us.

      3. This has me super excited, I’m thinking I will apply for another Culture Council Art Grant to host a group at our library. The hearts are fabulous . I will definitely be in touch with you via your blog.

  2. Fascinating to see how different the hearts have turned out compared to the circles from last time,, loving all the strong deep colours,, great fun and a privilege to be part of 🙂 thanks Fran for organising these collaborations x

  3. I love them all, they are so beautiful!

  4. They look fabulous Fran. What an exciting project!

  5. They all look fabulous – fun trying to pick out the little bits that I added – looking forward to seeing which one arrives here for me………
    Missed joining in on the pebbles this time – count me in if you do another one Fran. Thanks for organising it ❤️

  6. I absolutely love them. What a fabulous idea.

  7. Love this idea Have just found you via Facebook
    Love these ,do you mark in a. permanent way first and if so what with. Are they passed around still as an A4 piece?
    Thank you.

    1. Thanks Sheila, I drew 11 heart shapes on the A4 piece in pen, it’s the first photo in the blog.
      The A4 piece remains intact until everyone had contributed to it, then it comes back to me and I cut the hearts out, and turn them into brooches. Hope that explains it?

      1. Love these! Beautiful
        Can you explain how the back and the pin are attached?
        Thank you

        1. Thank you Lurana 🙂 If you read the comments above this I explain how the back and the pin are attached 🙂

      2. I love these so much and would be very interested in joining in a similar group. I live in the UK

  8. Que c est beau bravos
    que j’aimerai vous rejoindre dans votre ouvrage
    Tres heureuse de voir vos ouvrages terminer
    Merci du partage

  9. Ahhhh Fran, these are just GORGEOUS !!!!!
    (though I don’t understand the backing of the sturdy gray something ….)

    1. Great, aren’t they! The backing is made from faux leather / vinyl

  10. Love this idea of working together on projects and the way the end product turns out! How are the backing pieces attached? And is the pin finding stitched to the back of the work before the backing is added?

    1. The backing piece is attached with zigzag stitch on my sewing machine, and a few bits of handstitching (that’s the less tidy bits).
      The pin finding is inserted through the holes in the backing piece before it is stitched to the front.

      1. So the pin hardware is not anchored to the work at all? Just slid into the backing piece? I am working on some embroidered pins and am unsure how to best connect the parts. Thanks!

        1. It is anchored by being pushed through the 2 holes in the back piece, and it is then sealed between the front and back.

  11. Are there rules for each participant on what to do when it is their turn? Example : only add stitching or add beads? I would love to do this with a group here in Canada.

    1. Participants can use any kind of textile art, machine or hand stitching, beading, needle felting, applique – or any other form of textile art they choose. Depending on the project there might be a width restriction so it fits in a certain size of packaging (to keep postage costs down). Participants have to respect the work that has already been done, they can add to it, but not cover it up.

      1. Thank you Fran!

  12. It’s all so wonderful . . . the collaboration, the fun, the finished artwork brooches! I heart hearts and they all are beautious! ***smiles***

  13. Love these, so beautiful and different!!

    1. Thank you Nancy, it was a fun project!

  14. What a fabulous idea with fantastic results. Would love to join the group. 🌸🌸🌸

    1. Thank you, it was a fun project. The group isn’t active at present, I’m afraid.

  15. WOW!! What BEAUTIFUL Works of HeART.💜

    1. Thank you for reading about them 🙂

  16. They are lovely. How did you finish off the edges? Did you use variegated cottons? Machined first and then hand stitched. Would love to do similar with my ladies group!

    1. Thank you, the edges are finished off using variegated thread and the zigzag stitch on my sewing machine.

  17. OMG these are wonderful!! Thanks for sharing. I do “something” having to do with ❤️s all the time. This is great food for thought & inspiration.

    1. Thank you, I’m so glad you enjoyed them 🙂

  18. This is a fabulous idea! I want to try this with the few friends l have that stitch and sew!

  19. I just found your lovely heart pins. They are all works of ~Art~ love each & everyone.

    1. Thank you Sandra, I’m glad you liked them. Can I ask how you come across this blogpost? It’s has been read more than any of my others by a large margin, I wonder where people continue to find it?

      1. Found it via Pinterest

        1. Thank you for letting me know.

  20. Love this idea. Will try and do something similar with my Group. I found this blog on Pinterest. Thank you for sharing.

    1. It was a fun project, thank you for letting me know. I hope you and your group enjoy it.

  21. This has me super excited, I’m thinking I will apply for another Culture Council Art Grant to host a group at our library. The hearts are fabulous . I will definitely be in touch with you via your blog.

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