collography and stirch #2

Above is one of the collography prints on paper; in Textiles yesterday I used the sewing machine, and stitched into it. I used a 'foot' that creates loops of stitches. Gives a gorgeous textured surface to the paper!
Below is the plate I printed from; nylon rope pieces, and some lace/net.

'woolgathering'

Sections of fabric, hand sewn with 'sashiko' stitches; organzie, machine sewed, layered over it. 
Some of the fabric is hand-dyed; others are scraps from my textile 'grab-bag'. Pinned on the wall of my studio, trying to get enough light on it, to photograph.
I now have to put some small stitches in, to attach the organzie to the fabric behind. I'm hoping it will go into the 'woolgathering' exhibition I'm having with Jill Hallsall at Westgate Studios Project Space, in November, for the Wakefield Artwalk. 
You can see another photo of this piece at 'stitching & dye-ing'#2 dated 17/06/12.

Journey Through the Past; Core Sampler

So at last 'Journey Through the Past; Core Sampler' is finished. It's taken me a long,long time to complete it. The starting point for me, was visiting York Art Gallery, and seeing the exhibition there of Sashiko sewing. It inspired me to think about using fabric, sewing, stitching, and textiles as a medium for artwork. Initially it was the idea of creating 3 dimensional work using textiles and stitch; and I've not really followed up on that idea at all!
Instead I got started on this massive piece; it stands approximately 5 feet high, and approx 2.5 feet wide. And incorporates; hand stitching, transfers, hand painting, machine stitch, hand-dyed fabric, embroidery, silk-paper making. It's been a real 'Journey' for me. 

Journey Through The Past

This is a view of the exhibition showing the Southern wall of the Chantry Chapel, with a series of smaller drawings in black frames, and at the far left hand side of the photo is the textile piece, 'Journey Through The Past; A Core Sampler'.

This is a work in progress, still!

I started a creative textile course a few weeks ago, so am hoping to learn lots of new techniques that I can then use on this artwork. It can only help move it on along more quickly!

'JTTP' incorporates the Sashiko sewing I was inspired by at the York exhibition in December 2009. You can see close-up photographs of those sections, further back in my blog.

Sashiko Stitches

Here is the completed Sashiko stitched piece!

It is now sewn onto the larger piece of calico, which is the 'Journey Through The Past' Core Sampler.

I was told recently that this running stitch, which is known as 'Sashiko' in Japan, is also used in India.

In Bangladesh 'aunties' fold last season's saris and stitch through them to make blankets. In the East of India it is called KANATHA, and in the West GANDRI.

My friend Berenice gave me a leather glove, to cut out the fingers and use to protect my fingers with all this sewing I'm doing. It looked rather sinister sitting in my pigeon-hole at the studios, where she left it for me to collect; but then single black leather gloves can look quite sinister!

I've hand-painted the larger calico background fabric; which has changed the look of the work.

More sewing to do on it, but I hope to be able to use Irene's sewing machine (now mine!) to do this. It should help me to crack on with it a lot faster.

Sashiko stitches on hand painted calico

This is part of a textile project I'm working on at the moment. After visiting York Art Gallery last year, and seeing the Sashiko exhibition there, I was inspired to try my hand at this hand-sewn running stitich.

I have used calico as the fabric, and hand painted it with fabric paints. I then sewed the piece of painted fabric onto the larger piece of calico.

It has taken hours and hours of sewing! I used an embroidery hoop to help me sew, but I still had shredded fingers!

This piece is still on-going. There is sewing; knitted 'pelts'; hand-painting; and transfers included in this sampler.