Tissue Text

I've been up at the studio today, working on some experiments with tissue and text.
I've stuck some black perle cotton onto a piece of white tissue, forming words with the cotton.
It's very faffy; but the effect is of delicate and swirling lines.

I'll take some photos when I'm a little further along, to give an idea of what it all looks like.
I'm not sure whether to mount it up into a frame when it's completed or create a book from the tissue pieces.
My first idea was to make a book; but of course now it's taking form, I'm able to see how it might work mounted up.
Still undecided as yet.

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.

Parsnip Spiral

Here is a photo of the parsnip spiral taken in July 2010.

I fed the plants with nettles steeped in water, and gave them a good watering. Then thinned out the spiral.

We should have a good crop of parsnips for the winter.

Parsnips are best left in the ground until there's been a frost. This converts the starch to sugar, and makes them taste sweeter.

It's an act of trust in the future to grow plants; I'm interested in trying to grow food for the winter months, when vegetables are scarcer. Jon has planted lots of brussels sprouts.....so many indeed, that he's given lots of plants away to friends and family.

I'm looking forward to eating these winter crops for our xmas dinner!

Parsnip Spiral

This was the parsnip spiral that I sowed in April 2010.

The beginning of another 'land art' project, involving growing plants.

I sowed 2 spirals in Jon's allotment; this was one of them. I sowed the seeds, and they're growing nicely.

I've taken some photos of them greening up, and will add them later.

Jon's Assembly

Jon made this assemblage up of things he found in his garden!

Personal Artwork Workshop with Marion Michell and Carrie Scott-Huby

This is a photograph of one of Marion's 'Hairdresses', which were exhibited at The ArtHouse in July 2010.

They're croched out of artificial hair! Tiny little dresses, hanging on show, looking for all the world as though they've been made for fairies to weer.

Very evocative of fairytales.

Personal Artwork with Marion Michell and Carrie Scott-Huby

On Saturday I went to the Arthouse for a workshop with Marion Michell and Carrie Scott-Huby, called 'The Personal Artwork'.

Carrie had brought along some folded and sculpted brown paper 'Mantles', which caused me to think for a few moments.
I'd seen some photos of the Pace Egg plays at Hebden Bridge (?) and been really taken by the cloak/s made for one of the characters to wear. This was made out of strips of newspaper, and it occurred to me then that a coat like that would be fantastic......though I did wonder if it would be very heavy to actually wear!

I decided to use this workshop to make a mantle using strips of newspaper, and some coloured tissue strips mixed in. When I finished, it looked more like a neckpiece as worn by Egyptians, or South American Aztecs! Which also set a lot of thoughts running for me!

It was good to make a piece of work in one session/day, rather than spend days/weeks/months hard at work on a painting or knitting, which is my usual working practise.

There was some lovely objects made by everyone; I did take some photos, so when I get them onto the compooter, I'll try to get them uploaded.

I also took a couple of photos of Marion's croched work which is currently on show in the exhibition space at the Arthouse.
Don't be put off by that sentence. She is very inspired by fairy tales, and personal memories of childhood, and the work reflects these concerns.
She has croched a set of 'Hair Dresses'....say it quickly!....using hair extention pieces from a hair dressers in London. They look very strange, like doll's dresses, hung on the walls. And are very hairy...obviously.

Reminded me of the film 'The Company of Wolves', from the book by Angela Carter, where the very charming wolf says to Red Riding Hood, that 'Some wolves are hairy on the outside, and some are hairy on the inside'; i.e. their wolf-ishness is hidden from sight.