These two pieces, inspired by a workshop led by Nerissa Cargill Thompson, depict ocean life (my abstract imaginary take on it) and there's lot of texture in them.
I used paint to make marks on the base fabric, and a lot of recycled fabrics as appliqué and Suffolk puffs, as well as some old lace, ironed plastic netting, couched wool thread, some beads and a fair amount of stitching.
Both pieces will be mounted onto 1 canvas, next to one another. Perhaps part of a future exhibition?
This abstract piece is inspired by a picture of a common blue butterfly on a daisy, hence the name. I chose the materials and colours to match, giving it a cheerful, uplifting energy.
Working from photographs, a technique gleaned from a workshop by Hannah Lamb, is very freeing, pushing me to venture beyond the colours I habitually go for. more of this on the way, no doubt!
The poem “Being but Men” by Dylan Thomas is a real favourite of mine. It describes the magic of childhood and how we lose a lot of that growing up.
This piece is a personal visual interpretation of that poem using textiles, which took me a considerable time to complete. I used a lot of stitches, beads, small pieces of fabric, all kinds of odds and ends. Some of those have real meaning, like a button of an old family sofa, for instance, or the clapper of a small ceramic bell that broke.
For now, this is my favourite piece. I loved every hour I worked on it, creating a world of abstract but tangible magic. Making something like this is like meditation more than anything.
These bowls and sculptures are made from scrap thread and tiny fabric snippets, all waste material from previous projects. It's a technique I learned from a workshop led by Meredith Woolnough, which basically comes down to using water-soluble fabric and a lot of machine and/or hand stitching.
I love this way of using every last scrap of material as in the Japanese concept of mottainai : a caring culture in which you try to use something for its entire effective life.
I love the ampersand symbol. This one is made from scrap fabric, mostly from old clothes. The technique of fabric manipulation I learned from Jenny McIlhatton through her workshop via textilartist.org.
You can create so many textures and layers with this technique, I will definitely use this in future work!
For my second workshop with Anne Kelly (information on the first one you can find here ) I made these two collages. I used a calender with images of Claude Monet paintings, scraps of cotton fabric, silk fabric, ribbon and different kinds of paper (pages from an old book, illustrations, a paper napkin). I added some drawing, some painting, a bit of ink printing and a few embellishments. The pieces are then completely machine stitched.
This one is about my love for walking and the natural world:
I made some small wall hangings, using plastic lids I covered with fabric. I then sewed trapunto pieces on them, adding beads, buttons, little roses and lace.
I find this an original way to try out new things.
This is a collage of textiles, paper, pebbles, shells and lots of thread. I used acrylic paint, wax crayons, sharpie, pencil and ink.
it's a sea-themed piece and I loved making it. The different layers of paint have given it extra texture which I find fitting here.
This project was part of the speedcrafting sessions with Helen Robertson from Shetland. I joined these crafting sessions during the pandemic and they were an amazing way to tackle feeling empty and isolated.
The patchwork clock is made from an old vinyl record, covered with fabric patches.
It’s all retro vibes here!
These charms are my contribution to the TextileArtist.org workshop hosted by Jodi Colella. They are made from scraps of lace, lots of beads, lots of thread, pieces of old clothes, wool and wire.
They have a really nice feel to them. Perhaps I created some nice Christmas decorations here, or brooches? Although they don't have a funcion (yet) I like them and one day, I'm sure, they will come in very handy!
I used the best part of a skein of soft and fluffy organic yarn (Pure,100 % wool, Creative Collection by Veritas - 50g/100m) to make this pompom snowman. I gave him a sweet colourful nightcap and his nose is made from a tiny scrap of fabric. Who doesn't love a cute snowman?
This collage piece is a stitched story about the kitchen in my childhood home. It took rather longer to plan than usual, because I first made a mind map to set free my thoughts and associations.
The technique of mind mapping is something I learned from Ali Ferguson. I found it to be very useful and insightful.
Starting from this mind map, I selected meaningful materials, words and motifs.
For the materials, I chose a piece of an actual cushion cover from that time, some jeans fabric (we wore jeans all the time back then), fabric scraps from a pair of slippers I had, some pieces of kitchen textiles and random fabrics that remind me of the atmosphere of this eighties kitchen.
As the motif I picked a whisk, which my mum often used, among many other things for making mayonnaise. This was a job that required a lot of attention and we often chatted as I watched her.
By stitching together the words and this image I’ve tried to capture a cherished memory of peaceful, secure and happy times.
Like many other people, we used the lockdown period to clean out our attic. I came across this doll that a dear, old relative gave to me as a present in the seventies. I was a little girl back than and not very fond of the doll, but I’ve held on to it because of the person who gave it to me. I still think it is rather ugly and even a bit scary... But I’m also still not able to get rid of her, so I decided to give her a make-over, using fabric scraps from old clothes and a beaded necklace. Now she looks nice and happy and keeps me company in my workspace.
Projects like this I find the nicest and most rewarding. You get to be creative, look for creative solutions, use your stash to make something you are attached to beautiful again.
(And I hate throwing stuff in the bin 😊)
In a second online workshop led by Mandy Patullo I made this robin. It is a textile collage with scraps of fabric and stitching onto a background of printed fabric. I used a twig from our garden to make it a bit more playful. It has something of a Christmassy feel to it, but not too much, so it doesn’t clash at any other time.
A mountain landscape in winter. I used mostly recycled fabrics, such as a worn handkerchief, worn kitchen textiles, pieces of clothing and old sheets, but also some sheer fabric and a few quilt fabric scraps. I added paper, stitched onto the fabric piece : a small picture of some logs, cut from a magazine and a piece of food packaging material. And of course lots and lots of stitching!
An icy cold winter, with a hint of light in the sky.
This textured vessel wrap is my response to a workshop by Emily Notman.
I used textile strips and stitching, adding texture with textile scraps and thread.
I loved adding vibrant colours with ecoline paint.
The sun is created with a silk yarn, and the whole piece is enforced with backing fabric and iron-on adhesive.
It has turned out a happy sunny piece!
This piece came about through a workshop led by Stewart Kelly.
First I made a still life drawing. Then I used a view finder to look for two interesting parts I could use. It was like looking at the still life from different perspectives!
These two views I tried to capture in textile, for one of them using only embroidery and for the other adding appliqué as well.
They look quite interesting together, so I sewed them onto one background.
I very much enjoyed the thinking and exploring that came with this work!
I love Sabine Kaner's work and was delighted to hear she was hosting a workshop on TextileArtist.org.
She designed this great and simple technique to create an abstract composition, using a crumpled piece of paper. You base your design on the lines that arise on the paper and transfer this onto fabric. With appliqué and emroidery you can then create a unique composition.
This is what I made of it, not a totally abstract piece, since I never quite can suppress my love for a narrative of some kind. My abstract became a mountain scenery. I chose muted colours, with one lively exception, a green segment on the bottom.
The piece is framed with a loosely cut piece of corduroy from an old shirt.
We often visit Cambridge in the UK because our son lives there. It is such a friendly and beautiful city! We love to picnic and one of our favourite spots is Jesus Green.
This folded book depicts a memory of one of these precious moments where everything felt wonderful and everyone and everything seemed to be smiling.
It is a fabric and paper collaged piece, with hand stitching and embellishment. I also used some watercolour paint.
The technique used here, I learned from the textile artist Anne Kelly. A PVA glue solution gets used to attach paper onto fabric. At first I was a bit hesitant about it, but I found myself loving it: the technique makes a "fabric" that is really great to stitch through! And I get to use some of my lovely paper pieces I have been collecting for years!
The cover of the book is a piece of a kitchen towel and it has a button and beaded cord to close it.
I hope to have the time and energy to make many more of these memory-books!
I made a little video where you can see me opening the book, which you can watch it if you click here.
