Opened my workbook and flicking through the pages.
Trying to focus on the work I need to crack on with. Have extended the lines on this drawing. Just playing to get started again.
Added stitch to this page and am considering using this drawing as a backing to one of the shelves. Considering it, but not sure, it might work better printed onto fabric.
So on with Coastline project. Had a morning at the beach and came back with enough bits and bobs to start on the jars again.
Had an experience- walking along local beach, head down, looking for interesting pieces of seaweed, man waving a red flag at me. It was very windy and the waves were crashing so did not pick up what he was shouting. Looked around, not in any danger from the sea. Nothing on the beach that would cause me any harm. Held up hands and shrugged shoulders to indicate I did not understand. Next thing 4 solders came out of the dunes heading straight for me. Wow.
They looked in my bag. asked about the plastic bags filled with seaweed, shells and debris. Have you ever tried to explain to men in uniform, who are being really officious,that you are collecting to make a textile piece of work about the Coastline. I was escorted back along the beach and it was pointed out to me I had strayed into an area used by the army for training. A large red flag was flying up in the dunes but as I had walked along the shoreline I had not seen it. I pointed out if it was so dangerous they needed to fly a flag on the beach as well. They gave me a nice salute and watched me head back the way I had come.
Thank goodness they did not confiscate my seaweed.
Or my collection of polluting items.
Will certainly come onto the beach through the dunes next time, checking for a red flag.
Have started working on the 3rd book. Decided on Pollution.
Still lots more work to do but a start has been made and I am trying to focus.
Trying to find best way to interpret feathers. First stitching I have done for a while.
I think this shell would make a great cover for a book.
May focus on this next week.
Must show you this necklace my Granddaughter made for me. I think she has picked up on the Coastline theme.
The jars have sand and shells inside and I gather she had a lot of trouble getting the sea glass drilled.
I love it.
Look in next week to find out what is happening to the project. Will I do something with the shell? Will I have more beach escapades?
Bye Bye.
Bye Bye
No post last week due to family bereavement.
So still looking back over past work. The ability to lose myself in stitching has deserted me for the time being, as for trying to move" Coastlines" on, my head is full of mince. This is a saying used in this part of the world. Quite apt at the moment even though I am a vegetarian.
Looking back at workbooks and photos has been a good exercise.
Has my work changed. Yes
Has my way of working changed. No
Am I using a different colour palette Yes
Am I using different materials Yes
Has the subject matter changed Yes
I was pleased with past pieces but looking back I see lots of ways I could have extended or even excluded
to make them work better.
No mistakes or failures just each a piece in its own right, to learn something from, to take forward into new work, often being cut up and added to another piece of work.
Photos of work in progress for a piece called "Circles of my Mind" made a few years ago.
Quite appropriate as I worked this in sections when husband started treatment for mouth cancer and I spent a lot of time waiting in clinics.
I added each section onto a linen backing. This piece had lots of rusting and fabric buried in the earth.
Unfortunately it was a rush to get it into an exhibition on time and it sold before I got round to taking a photo of the finished piece. I make sure I photo everything now before it gets packed up for exhibitions.
The way I work.
I still do lots of research before I start new work and I fill workbooks with ideas, I like to be absorbed in my subject before I even think about fabrics etc.
My work has lots of layers and I found working in sections and then putting it all together works for me.
Do I need to change? Perhaps, but for the moment it works OK.
These smaller pieces were made continuing the circles theme, for another exhibition and I remembered to photograph them.
Hope to be stitching again soon but still lots to look back on.
Bye Bye
Have been unable to move "Coastlines" on this week so looking back over a workbook and the piece of work connected to it.
"Plouin."
This was inspired by a Scottish poem and was made for an EDGE exhibition.
My work at this time was all connected to my local landscape. The farming year and the history of the land. It is 84cm. + 44cm in size
The poem was printed onto fabric and torn into strips which formed the spaces between the drills.
It was fun to make. I printed,painted and dyed a variety of fabrics then tore them into strips. Lots of hand stitching added to the texture of the piece.
At this time I was adding little pockets of earth to my work.
In this piece they are under the brown, thick, lines.
My thinking was to include the essence of earth into my work. It was all part of the many layers of thinking and making in my work at this time.
I buried fabric in the local fields to have the fabric with a retained memory of earth and then used the fabric in my work. I thought it was important to use the earth as a component in my work.
It is not the best photo and does`nt show how richly textured this piece is.
This last photo is of fabric which has been buried in the earth for 3 weeks. Washed, dried and ironed. I love the marks the earth leaves.
The hardest part in the making of this work was the top edge. I wanted the top to represent the curved shape of the fields. The piece is backed onto thin plywood and turning the thick fabric neatly over this backing broke a few nails and made me doubt the wisdom of that idea
It has been interesting for me to revisit a piece of work but I hope I can return to new body of work "Coastlines" next week.
Bye Bye
2nd book finished.
Dyed the last of my narrow, white, silk ribbon to match book.
I need to source more. I do like this silk ribbon and it dyes well. I have used it many times to wrap books.
Problem is I bought it ages ago and cant remember where.
This book has been fun to make and I am pleased with the way the different papers have blended together.
Some of the finished pages.
The book feels good to hold. Just the right size to fit into ones palm.
I have a special place for book 3 ( " only 2 finished " ) reminder from fairy magic.
If you are following this blog- and if not- why not I ask, you will have read the post about my wooden structure arriving and it was the wrong size.
Here is the amended structure, only one, as I wished to make sure it was correct size this time.
At very early stages of construction. Has to be
painted- more jars filled - 3rd book finished - boxes covered - feathers stitched - drawings for back of shelves etc. etc. etc.
Making myself panic at thought of it all.
1st jar filled with sand , looks a bit like a jar of jam at the moment. Will wax the top. It is quite small 7cm.
Only 4 more to go.
I have in my head an idea from Victorian plant hunters, who brought back specimens in jars with waxed tops. My work does take me in some interesting directions. The never ending question- is this Art or Craft. Who cares? I just enjoy the whole process of making.
3rd book is a fabric one, painted with gesso and craft acrylic paints.
This will be the back of the book , with a Coastline drawn on. Plan to stitch in this one. Missing working with needle and threads.
Same format as other books.
This is the inside waiting for inspiration. That creative dust better come soon.
I cant seem to settle on one idea for this book. Some ideas are just too big for a little 7+11cm. book.
Climate change
Pollution
Erosion
Dunes
Man destroying the planet
Wildlife
Look in next week to find out which topic becomes the focus for book 3.
Plan for the week
1 Paint structure
2 Fill jars
3 Make a decision about topic.
4 Think about postcards ( havent mentioned them before)
Have been working in my workbook but will leave that for next week. Hope you will look in
Bye Bye
1st book finished, well almost. I am thinking I may acrylic wax the pages. polish them, then apply artist matt varnish.
My thinking is it will strengthen the pages as they are heavy weight cartridge paper.
I will mull over this.
Fairy magic thinks it is a good idea.
What do you think?
I have added some of my photos.
Made a pocket for back of the book, to hold feathers.
Still looking for another small feather.
Writing has been deliberately distressed. Fairy magic thought it was a good idea. It is the back of the book so thinking about all the bits and bobs (Flotsam) washed up on the beach, not pristine.
Dyed some silk ribbon to hold book closed.
Second book. Fences
Have pinned up to see overall look of the pages. I want them to flow into each other.
Still playing in my workbook.
Have decided to use hand writing on this book.
Not really a political rant ( see previous post) but thoughts on Borders, Boundaries, Refugees etc.
So it is in fact a subtle rant.
I like the direction this book is taking. Keeping it simple as I want the texture of the different papers and some writing to be the focus.
Plan for next week
1 Finish 2nd book
2 Gesso fabric to begin 3rd book ( right now not sure
what its focus will be. Hope creative dust lands on
me soon.)
3 Think about idea to wax pages.
4 Collect shelf. It has been cut to original size.
Look in next week to see developments
Bye Bye
