Interior Landscapes with Sarah Burgess

I spent a lovely two day with a small group and Sarah Burgess at Art Van Go recently. We got to see some of Sarah's beautiful work and because the group was small lots of one-to-one help and advice. Sarah demonstrated several techniques, including mono printing on papers and fabrics, and then how to compose sample pieces by tearing and adding inserts. I love mono printing and so thourghly enjoyed myself.

As always with printing you can produce a huge array of papers. I had several holidays to family in Menorca in mind as my 'landscape', and in particular the rocky coastlines and caves.

 

The next two pieces I had a specific place in mind with caves and fabulous views. I inserted fabrics and collaged some of my papers. I need to add some stitch and do a little more work on these. I'd like to work something similar to these on a larger scale.

 

I played about with some long strips of creased and folded printed cotton organdie, which I stitched onto when I got home, and also experimented with collaging some of my papers and adding stitch to paper.

 

I stitched my papers straight onto khadi paper and used a large needle on my machine.

 

 

There was an added bonus that there was an exhibition of Maggie Grey's work, which is fabulous and really told her journey through stitch. I am so glad I went to this workshop, lots of inspiration and encouragement from Sarah, and I am pleased with my samples. A nice welcome from Viv at Art Van Go of course!

M3 Chapter 10 - Design An Accessory

For this chapter I initially thought I would like to design and up-cycle either an umbrella or a pair of shoes. Although I like umbrellas I do love shoes so it seemed to be the best way forward for me. I haven't actually counted the shoes, sandals and boots that I personally own but it is a lot!

I found a pair I bought very cheaply and very quickly for a holiday, I've never liked them and only wore them a few times so they are ripe for up-cycling.

 

Obviously there are a pair and the intention is they will match. The wedge heel is a rope/hemp type material and can be pulled off or covered.

 

The inner sole should pull off fairly easily along with the straps and toe covering.

 

 

 

Firstly I looked through pictures I had of spirals and drew some small sketches to stimulate some ideas and I looked for 'spiral' shoes on the internet. I thought about how I could add 3D sections in different ways to the shoes, and also how the 2D parts of the shoe could be designed, for example; the inner sole.

 

I put everything together on some working sheets to refer to. I might find if something does not quite work the way I plan I will need to come back to my original thoughts.

 

I liked the idea of adding spiral tendrils and leaves and these were my first thoughts for design. I decided a spiral flower could work with this. I decided to build up the 'back heel' section of the shoe and to design a peep toe. The heel could be painted or covered with fabric.

 

I then had a look at my 'top 3' shoes I own and thought about why I like them. Mainly I love the way they are co-ordinated, the inner and outer sole, the added charms and bling. So bearing this in mind I looked at how I could add bundles of cords and 'piles of spirals' or snails shells. I have particularly liked making cords with wire cores in this module and mainly because they are so nice to bend and mould. Also with cords its nice to add beads to them for another dimension.

I lastly looked at an astrological star spiral which is not one I have looked at previously in the module. I liked the flow of this spiral when I sketched it out, it had a feel of a Catherine wheel firework. This fired my imagination to make some spiral stars. I think they could be made from covered wires attached under a covered button and maybe something feathery. I could add beads to the ends of the main wires in each spiral, this would mean the wire would need to be thick enough to hold the weight of a bead. For the wedge heel I will add cords. Looking at the drawn design the plain colours need to be added to as they look at bit flat. 



 I looked at some coloured fabric from my stash but I have decided to dye some more.

 

 

Finally I ripped the shoes apart to start to get an idea of the actual construction I can use. Surprisingly for cheap shoes I had a bit of a job but eventually I was left with a wedge heel.

 

I decided I might be able to use the toe part as a pattern and roughly drew a peep toe line.

 

This is what I am left with. I have decided to leave the heel as it is because it has a good surface to attach cords to - I tested with a curved needle. Thinking about the construction, Pelmet Vilene for stiffness and support could work with some padding, and possibly use a fabric such as heavy calico. I have some silk noil that I would like to use if possible. Embroidered surfaces will need support, and I need to take into consideration adding an ankle strap if necessary and how to cover any edges.

I found these on the internet, very appropriate but maybe a bit beyond me, and also probably not very comfortable!

 

M3 Chapter 9 - A Resolved Sample

When I started to think about my resolved sample I decided I wanted to do something a bit more delicate than I usually do and something rectangular rather than square.

  

I began by looking at some of my source images and drawings etc. with a 'window'.

 

 

 

 

 

I had lots of options to choose from but decided on the last one (above) to develop further. I enjoyed cutting and rotating to produce further designs from Module 1 and decided on this route. I used the cropped image to redraw and form a design, using coloured papers.

 

 

I then cut the design vertically into three strips and turned them, which gave me a new take on a 'Hunderwasser' spiral.

 



 



I then looked at how I could turn my design into a stitched resolved sample.

I looked previous modules and samples. I wanted to try to get good tone and a feeling of movement, alongside a lighter, more delicate feel.

 



I had to concentrate on not using every technique I have ever learnt! and concentrate on what would suit the resolved sample and what I wanted to achieve. I tried to think of the design in layers and concentrated on the base layer first.

 

I made some samples of different techniques that I thought I might use:

 

 

 

I liked the fabrics made with soluble film and made a second sample, also thinking about cords and beads for further layers.

 



 

Having decided on this for my first layer I snipped pieces of coloured habotai silk, scrim and chiffon.

 

 

I made a 'sandwich' of aquabond, snipped fabrics and dissolvable film. The aquabond worked very well and I did not need to pin too much.



 

I free machine stitched the layers together using variegated thread. I stitched in spiral shapes and added more stitching than in my samples, which made the fabric a little heavier, but I was concerned that it would fall apart!

 

I then moved onto making my second layer. I wanted to keep the edges irregular so I decided to draw a rough outline from my design to get a placement guides for the snippets. I did not have anymore aquabond so I used solufleece. Unfortunately I had probably worked back to front, as this piece was more delicate and it would have been easier to use aquabond; the solufleece would be better for more random work. However with lots of pinning and patience I completed the second layer ready to applique into place.

 

 

I then used hand stitch to applique, using straight stitches and a variety of threads. I had added some metallic thread to the first layer and on reflection I could have added more. I then added some small glass rocaille beads and stitched cords.

 





 



I was fairly pleased with the results so far but felt the sample need more movement and looked a little flat. So in the final layer I played around with some cords and wrapped buttons I had made in previous chapters, and then I added some more rocaille, seed and bicone beads, and added made myself to the ends of the cords.



 



 

The top plaited cord was easily twisted into a spiral shape and added texture, and the 'ends' were ideal for adding beads. The twisted 3D cord worked well as the cord had a wire core. This gave some depth and I added some beads for more interest.

 

 The wrapped buttons added another dimension and different points of interest.

Overall I am pleased with my resolved sample. I felt I achieved a 'lighter' piece of work and it has balance and proportion with different points of interest. I still feel I struggle with tone and I seem to manage to tone everything together so the work becomes flat. I liked the contrasting colours but maybe could have added another to improve; some of the buttons and beads have a dark antique gold tone which I could have enhanced more. Also, I think I could have achieved more movement, maybe a larger spiral shape radiating outwards. I particularly enjoyed working with the soluble film and will experiment further with this.