Within The Landscape

I'm proud to unveil my first finished sample for my "Within the Landscape" series.

The above is 3 layers of silk organza machine stitched together, at which point some of the layers are but back/ cut away before I embellished the piece with rayon thread and black beads. The white on white on the scanner bed makes the cut sections quite hard to see.

I'm not sure that this will become a finished piece, as the sample is taking on a floral appearance, which was not my original intention.

Altered Embroidery

I had the pleasure of a weekend workshop at Missenden Abbey with my friend Ann over the May Bank Holiday weekend. We haven't had the chance to do anything like this together for a while. Described as Creative Connections, the needs list was interesting to say the least... sticks, wire, staples and hole punches came before fabric and thread. Gwen Hedley, the tutor had some lovely samples laid out for handling and explained the idea.

We were join to join fabric and paper without creating appliqued bits and to build layered patches, the challenge was to use anything other than stitch to do this. Stitch was only to be an embellishment not a means of joining. Rather than try and create a big piece of work I decided to make lots of mixed media samples (in the end I created 15 in all) no larger than A4. I've become totally smitten by using staples to join and decorate my new found mixed media ideas, as well as the most beautiful new material... dried out used tea bags! I've posted pictures of some of my samples, of which at least two are in preparation for the creation of larger pieces.

The other exciting feature of the weekend was using a small A5 sketchbook to work in, incorporating my samples, notes and a few working sketches of possible ideas. This combined with my theme should give me food for thought and I hope plenty of new ideas for work.

Sample 1:

Sample 2: includes very fine bamboo from my garden

Sample 3: includes some very interesting thin slivers of wood from a scrap box from Maz

Samples 4 and 5: plans for larger pieces of work

Sample 6: new materials, dried out used tea bags

Sample 7: Within the Landscape, part of my new series

Extreme Journaling

Another new found art form! The above gem is part of a large postcard sized book created one Sunday a few weeks ago, following a method of working developed by Juliana Coles.

It's a very interesting way of working, the focus is on the process rather than the outcome created within strict time limits and using set media in a set order, the results are only obvious when you complete the booklet.

The materials are layered up, worked into over and over again until the card beneath is covered, then cut into pieces, joined into a book that is then used as the basis for postcard style journal entries. I'm not sure that the postcards will make it up here when done they're big on digging deep into the psyche.

Artist's Statement

I've found a new enthusiasm for creative work in general and more specifically for the more serious side of my creative soul. I was recently challenged at a workshop run by Gwen Hedley to think about what drew me to my subject matter. After thinking about this at length and making notes I came up with a list of ideas and reasons why I choose my subject matter and what I subsequently work on.

For some reason I felt compelled to write this in the form of an artist's statement, that I shared with four people I trust implicitly. My husband checked the spelling and grammar, made me question the meaning of what I'd written, two of my friends gave me huge encouragement and were delighted at the progress I'd made. Sadly the third friend made light of it and laughed at me, which has caused me to question my creativity and wonder if I really am qualified to call myself an artist. Over the last few years I haven't had very much confidence in the more serious side of my work, so this was a major set back, and a huge disappointment, as I feel badly let down.

For what is worth, with a bit of tuning and encouragement, thanks to Anita who rescued my shaken confidence, my statement says:

"I’m currently working on a textile series inspired by details that exist within the landscape.
My landscapes are tiny pieces, mostly only a few inches across with a focus on the minute details that I find within them.
I’m drawn to fragments and minutiae; to areas where apparently contrasting things meet, such as where sand, stone and earth meet water, or an old building stands next to a new one.
My landscapes can be both natural, or man made, and are found wherever I happen to be."

Spring Greens

I'm trying a new format for my journals- a simple old- fashioned exercise book. I've started and abandoned numerous journal over the last few years, usually because I've not liked what I've been creating, or because I haven't kept up regular entries. The ethos behind using a simple book is that it should be less intimidating and therefore easier to use and stick with.

I had a reservation or two, mostly about the media I could use, I thought the paper would be too flimsy to take paint, it seems I'm wrong! I've had to adjust from watercolour to acrylic, which won't be a problem, if I use white acrylic as an undercoat I may be able to use watercolour.

I've been fortunate enough to take a couple of days off around the weekend to get out and to visit a couple of my favourite gardens, Kew on Thursday and Cliveden yesterday. So here, warts and all, is my first journal entry.

Apart from the scan cutting off the words I think I can safely say I've made a start, admittedly it's not the most expansive entry, for now it'll do nicely. If later on down the line I want to work into it further or over it, I can.

My Newest Venture

I'm stepping out with a new blog in wordpress: The Painted Tree House.

I'm using the inspirational material I've found at the Soul Food Cafe for this new venture, I'm hoping the work that is posted to my new blog will be of a very different complexion to the art and ramblings I post here.

Do pay me a visit at my new abode and let me know what you think.

Luftmensch

Its been a while since I felt inspired to add anything here. The biggest hurdle to any creative activity is the house needs to be tidy all the time in case of potential viewings which are currently few and far between. The media has a lot to do with the quiet state of the housing market, still there's no rush, we can wait to start our project. I recently decided to stick my head back over the parapet and join in a few swaps again.

I've a fascination with Yiddish words for many many years, and learnt a very wonderful new one today: Luftmensch meaning an impractical contemplative person having no definite business or income. I used this as the basis for a piece of contemplative writing and in my contemplation realised that I spend hours engaged in the activity of being a luftmensch, and I wonder where my time goes. Ho hum, I think there's a lesson in this new word!

I've been busy artistically speaking working with the theme of "twists and tangles" that has been rattling in my head for a while. I really started delving into it in mid- February at Missenden Abbey with a series of drawings of ammonites and battered bed springs. Since when I've been stitching using different techniques a range of fabrics

I've re- discovered felt making with a bit of help from a Missenden friend Jan who has a studio shop about 10 minutes drive away from here.

And last but not least I'm working in a journal or two again. Jill (the Meandering Muse Link) mentioned a creativity portal to me at some stage last year Soul Food Cafe, I hadn't taken the time to explore this before today. Having a few free hours gave me the chance to delve about and discover some ideas for creatively as well as the new wonderful word: Luftmensch!