Developing the design

I really like this jug shape - having a lot of fun trying out different approaches - decided to cut two templates of different sizes of the same jug so I could try out a range of ideas. I scaled up the design then cut out with some template plastic.

Inktense pencils and sticks seem to be best way to try out my designs; a range of colours that could blend into the background fanbric. I tried first an actual sized piece of the final art cloth  on paper, to see how realistic the sizes of the designs would be on the larger scale. I washed in with a large brush the inktense pencils. I am reasonably happy with the scale of the shapes but realise I need to consider how to use the designs as I do not want whole jug shapes but suggestions of the shapes part line and forms.

Next, I want to try out the inktense sticks and pencils on fabric to see how they could blend in on fabric so a few little tries both on white and coloured backgrounds.

It does look as if the technique might work - but do I background dye before I add the design or after..... Need to think about that over the week end!

New week - new project

 Wet and windy outside - time to get on with a new piece. I have a lovely glass jug - not very big but I have always liked the line and shape of the design - so this is a starting point for a new piece. I took a number of different shots to capture the reflections from different light sources.

  

I then started playing around with sketches and watercolour backgrounds  to see how I could use the line and shape in different ways.

My vision was to use part outlines of the image, repeating itself over a background,  so I continued to play for a few hours. I still have a long way to go before I can feel confident I have a viable design - but content to mull over progress so far and work on this further later this week.

I think I prefer the effect of using the linse of the jug almost as a mask against a coloured background rather than using the line itself - but further work needed!

Busy week

Well it has been a very busy week - had three pieces in an embroidery exhibition in Oakham in Rutland so went off to view the exhibition. As ever with exhibitions I marvel at the inventiveness of others in their creative pieces. I forgot to photograph my pieces before I submitted them- so will post the photo's after the exhibition has finished.

Just been working a stitched and felted piece which I am doing as a commission - felting is not a regular pursuit I have to say, but occasionally I like to play if the medium suit the subject as it did in this case. I recently finished a series based on the Peak District moors reflecting the colours of the moors, the heather, broom and bracken. ( We camped up there in September and took tons of photos which I used as a source.) I was asked to do an additional small piece hence this piece below.



The piece was based on some open weave linen which I started layering with strips of dyed silk, silk organza and silk wools. I felted the base pieces down and added more strips then introduced the yellow and gold for the broom.

There were quite a lot of layers in the end as I could not initially get the impression of swathes of broom amongst the heather - so much so that the linen backing started to disintegrate - you can get carried away with the embellisher!  I ended up completing the felting with an additional piece of navy cotton to hold the piece together! I think I have done enough embellishing /felting for a while...............

Used my usual technique with a frame to decide which part of the felting would work for the final  piece; all I have to do now is get on with the stitching - some hand and some machine I think.  Watch this space!

Quick piece for a suitcase

Just posted off a small 10" X 7" piece for the SAQA suitcase collection, I enjoyed working small scale on this piece having done a number of much larger pieces in the same series. As usual the base was dyed and discharged cotton with painted fusible web and dyed  silk organza pieces before machine stitching and adding flecks of gold leaf.  

Fragments

"An abstract expression of the creative journey taken by the artist, discarding the fragments of previous ideas and designs as they search for   inspiration for the next piece of work."

The detailed photo below shows more of the layers and gold leaf.