Pulling it Together

Had an inspirational day at the Journey workshop this week. Janet helped us think about how to use our samples as a route to a finished piece. She gently encouraged me not to get too attached to what I have done so far, but to incorporate the techniques from the pieces I like into a new design.

Due to Janet's vast store of ideas, I've changed direction slightly and have now got 2 paths to follow: a sort of family-story-cloth starting with some gifted linen...

...which will be gradually added to over time.

I've made a start by dipping it in coffee and sewing an archway...

...and may put this in the middle

 - stitched by my daughter -

cut out but kept ragged edged.

The second idea stays with the 'Garden of Forking Paths' but involves making a series of holey stacking bowls or vessels that can be turned and swapped around. So the challenge now is to make something that has a drapey feel while being stiff enough to hold its shape...

Garden Structure

Weaving with silk on the bias proved a lot less stable than the previous cloth. I decided to machine it all together to stop it falling apart, and found that this gave it structural strength, holding its shape when rolled.

The first cloth is fairly robust, with only hand-tacked stitches in one direction, so doesn't roll so much as fold at the strips.

And here they are side by side. I like the neatness of the one on the right. I find the splitting off of the stripes on the left-hand cloth slightly disconcerting, while being pleased at the sense of shifting ground this creates. I'm still thinking about how to embellish them...

Together, these will form the first lined bag-within-a-bag. For the second one I am going to use linen (much more friendly to work with), and some kind of piecing method.

Human Markings

I like the idea of multiple realities, of being able to communicate across time and between parallel space-times. I’ve been wondering how I might be able to express this idea with textiles. I’m wondering how layering different textiles would work on developing this theme. Would I use see-through material with similar but different embroidery worked on them, so that you could just see through to worlds beyond? Or would the layers be solid and only visible by lifting up a ‘portal’ through to the adjoining world? Would there be clues between layers, a trope repeated as a guide through the universe?

I am currently taking part in Janet Clare's workshop where we were encouraged to put a mood board together. Mine, above, draws inspiration from Gizella K Warburton, Nigel Peake's 'Maps' book, Judy Buxton, Kurt Schwitters , Paul Feiler and John Piper.

I will be experimenting with multiple realities and textiles over the next few months. You are welcome to join me.