Pink seems a perfect colour to spark the senses into creativity, Christian Dior called it 'The colour of happiness', and Elsa Schiaparelli called her famous shocking pink, 'a colour of China and Peru,.......bright, impossible, impudent ...' So, goodbye to grey, cool, February skies; a fabulous bunch of pink tulips will stir me into action, a wave of 'Tulipomania' is inspiring my new paintings and embroideries.

The allure of the tulip has entranced the eyes of artists and embroiderers for centuries; the tulip's dramatic pedigree is rooted in the Ottoman Empire. In the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, is a brilliant collection of Dutch 17thc flower paintings, featuring all the exotic specimens that enticed the Dutch merchants into a frenzy of 'Tulipomania' (1634-7). I have embroidered a tulip only once: a painted, quilted cushion, with petal flaps layered over embroidered stamens, inspired by seeing those paintings in 1976. In October 2014, an Ashmolean gallery was the setting of my 'Pop up Studio' (see Reportage).

Thinking pink might catch the imagination of students who come to the 'Free Spirit Flora' day school in August (see Textiles Class in the Cotswolds). Or take a peek at Stitch Stories with its colourful floral lace of coral pink, sugar pink mixed with lime greens and lemon. I am looking forward to Part 11 of 'Free Spirit' Masterclass with the class of 2014 returning to Farncombe; maybe Schiaparelli's hot pink might influence a stitching sensation!

A retro theme is in the air for Vintage Favourites, magazines and books to inspire instead of vintage embroidery this time. Still in a nostalgic mood, I discuss the early years of my textile career (first studio 1975!) in a forthcoming interview for www.TextileArtist.org.

The 'Open Studio Exhibition' starts in two months, read more about it below. I hope my Dutch tulips will be flashing their petals to welcome visitors into the garden studio by then. But right now, I am ready with brush and water colour paper, to capture this bunch of tulip beauties in all their glorious shades of pink!

'Free Spirit Flora' - Embroidered lace sample & sketch 2013

I am frequently asked: "Where do you get your ideas from?", or "How do you select embroidery techniques to translate your designs?" Unravelling the creative journey of the 'Free Spirit Flora' (see photo of samples & sketch) reflects the intricacy and artistry of creating these embroidered flowers; it begins with a potpourri of ideas on paper, before a needle is even threaded.

In the photograph, carefree embroidered floral motifs float over a sketch of swirling flower heads and scribbled fringes of leafy tendrils, all splashed with pinks, acid greens, yellows. Design research entered the era of hippie chic, and looked to the fashions of the Woodstock Music festival of 1969 to inspire a different direction for an embroidered accessory: a decorative choker.

The floral doodles in the sketch are reinvented as machine embroidered flower heads with stitched textures of radiating fringes, or trailing stems and leaves. The technique uses water-soluble films, or water-soluble voiles*, to support the free machine stitchery, which is washed away to leave lace textures, or feathery tendrils and carefree cords. This sample uses metallic threads and rayon threads; hand-stitched Miyuki seed beads and Swarovski crystals add a final sparkle.

This floral lace sample inspired the 'Summer of Love' choker, exhibited at 'Fashioned with Stitch' (Macclesfield Silk Museum, 2013).

See image of choker on Home Page of www.suerangeley.co.uk.

'Free Spirit Flora' is once again on my work table, now enhanced with an embroidered fancy fringe, ready to be framed and appear in the May exhibition.

*Water-soluble lace techniques are described in the Studio Techniques chapter of my book 'Embroidered Originals'.

'Free Spirit Flora' Saturday August 1st 2015
Farncombe Estate, Broadway, Worcestershire WR12 7LJ

I am pleased to offer a one day class on my special machine-embroidery techniques: using applique sheers, water-soluble lace to create lace flora and foliage. Following the popularity of last year's Masterclass at Farncombe, this workshop continues the 'Free Spirit' theme, with the accent on creating flamboyant, embroidered flora.

Class fee: £87. (Includes 3 course lunch, all refreshments; some class materials; tuition; technical assistant Pam Obertelli, to advise on your sewing-machine). Class times: 9.30am - 5pm (Lunch break: 12.30-1.30) 10 -12 places.

Overnight accommodation is available at Farncombe Estate: 01386 854168.

For class details & booking form, please email: sue.rangeley@btinternet.com.

Photo: Michael Wicks.

Collecting vintage Vogues is a passion of mine. Browsing through the 1940s issues always catches my breath, seeing illustrations by Eric, Bouche, Descombes; photos by Cecil Beaton, Norman Parkinson. The decades of this iconic magazine have always inspired my design research.

With the retro spirit influencing my embroideries (see Free Spirit Flora), I could not resist two covers from a later era, a1970s set, bought recently. Appropriate too, as these magical Vogue covers are full of the joys of spring: Jean Shrimpton in a fanciful outfit by Pablo & Delia: painted leather tunic, choker and a gauzy petal hat, April 1970; on the March 1972 cover, the model wears a paper taffeta dress with a headband of roses, again by Pablo & Delia.

Photographs by Barry Lategan. 1970s chokers sparked the initial ideas for the 'Summer of Love' embroidery.

'Fancy Dress Described' by Ardern Holt, publ.1887 by Debenham & Freebody

Looking at the 70s Vogue covers, my mind slips into fancy dress mode! This original illustrated edition is an A - Z of fancy dress costumes, which could be ordered and made to measure, by Debenham & Freebody, London. A fascinating book for its inventive ideas with fabrics and embellishment, all described in detail, some are illustrated (see: 'Rose Garden' & 'Bunch of Sweet Peas'). As 1887 was Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, I can imagine Fancy Dress Balls were all the rage. Perhaps Pablo & Delia used this book to inspire their 70s fashion fantasies.

Example: "Wood Nymph. Green tulle gown, trimmed with leaves, wild flowers, blackberries, hips, acorns, forming a fringe..... birds nestling here and there......."!

(Google this book to see more, it is worth it!)

Just as the Newsletter began with a splash of pink, I will conclude with one too! This time it is Elsa Schiaparelli's famous "shocking pink", the pink of the Incas that became her trademark.

I draw attention to Schiaparelli for a couple of reasons: 1) The amazing, artistic fashion embroidery she lavished on her couture clothes, executed by Lesage in the 1930s, always an inspiration 2) Her "shocking pink" seems a perfect colour to say goodbye to winter, and welcome in springtime stitching!

Photo: A box of Schiaparelli stockings in the signature "shocking pink", with lace pochette containing the pink tissue wrapped stockings.1960s.
(Purchased recently at a Vintage Fashion sale)

© 2015 Sue Rangeley. All Rights Reserved.
If you wish to unsubscribe from this newsletter, please click here.