Module 6 Chapter 8

Creating surfaces for stitch with plastic carrier bags. I used a mixture of heavyweight bags and the very thin, scrunchy sort and joined them by ironing between sheets of baking paper.

Photo 8.1

I scrumpled up two bags and cut strips, letting them fall randomly on the background.  The thin pink bag gave the most interesting results as the layers show through.

Photo 8.2

Shavings of wax crayons were melted in a clear bag which was cut up as before and ironed onto a background.  I added a layer of pink on top for more colour.  I like the way the hot wax has made the plastic melt and distorted the text, and also made holes in the background.

Photo 8.3

Strips of lime green and light blue ironed onto dark blue and then cut up and applied to another background.

Photo 8.4

More of these strips applied to a striped bag (this over heated and distorted rather a lot) and a couple of experiments with folding and ironing the striped bag. (At this point I feel I should be awarding points to anyone who identifies all these well known shops!)

Photo 8.5

Three samples adding colour with thread ends.  On the left, threads ironed between layers of clingfilm then ironed onto the back of the handle from the lime green bag.  As this is another thin bag, the threads show through as a texture.  I cut circles from the remaining ‘fabric’ and ironed one onto another piece of the clear bag.

Photo 8.6 and 8.7 (detail)

Incorporating stitch onto resolved samples.  I noticed that the well worn bag handles are the same ovoid shape as appears in formline art so I made a sample inspired by that style.  To represent the grid structure I created a patched background by ironing and emphasised the lines with machining, letting the colours spill over.  I ironed the handles on top and machined around the outlines.

Photo 8.8 and 8.9 (detail)

This sample was made with some tiny bits of bags (left over from a previous project) applied to a supermarket bag.  I made a patchwork again and machine stitched around some of the shapes.  These bags were all very thin so some of the writing comes through from the back and the layers give additional colours.  I changed to a thicker top thread and added some of the key shapes used in earlier chapters, taken from a Mexican bag.

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Module 6 Chapter 5 Design Revisited

Following Sian’s feedback, I have made more (lots!) slightly larger octahedra using several multiples of each photograph.  This time, I have sorted them by colour and joined with a stiffer wire that can support their weight so they can be raised up.   Some have been wrapped all round while others sit loosely in a ring.  I have been having a deal of trouble taking photos as the light is poor but using a flash or spotlights is causing reflections on the glossy paper, and changing the colours, but here is a selection in a variety of poses.  Each octohedron is about 5cm tall, a few of the original ones are smaller and I have left some of the thinner copper wire in place.  I think there about 40 altogether.

5.17

5.18

5.19

5.20

 

5.21

 

5.22

 

Exhibitions in February

Two exhibitions I am involved with coming very soon.

First is the Bristol branch of the Embroiderers' Guild which is from Friday 15th Feb to Sunday 17th Feb at the Stoke Lodge Centre, Shirehampton Road, Bristol, BS9 1BN.  Open 10-5 Fri and Sat, 10-4 Sunday. Light refreshments will be available (homemade cakes - mmmm), admission £3.

Immediately followed by Gordano Textile Artists at Nature in Art, Twigworth near Gloucester. Definitely one for a day out as this a lovely venue and I can recommend the wildlife photography exhibition as well.  Details on the poster below, there is a charge of £5.25 for entry to the museum.

You might also be interested in looking at the Gordano Textile Artists blog.