A stitched piece

A stitched piece that was also included in the exhibition, that was initially a part of my level two machine stitch class.  For that class, we had to make a book of several pieces of our work.  The book was stitched together as well, and I used painted timtex to create it, although this piece is surrounded by black felt because I couldn't get a dark enough black using the dye-na-flow colours.  BUT I see that my camera is doing it's picture-splitting thing again....well, it's in the process that delivers the pictures from my camera card to the computer....I don't know quite why it's doing that and  I'll have to ask my hi-tech sons what's going on.  In the meantime, I created this piece by first stamping with thickened dye onto cotton, then placing synthetic organza on top and stitching on that, with the addition of some hand-made cords.  The final step, always a heart stopper, was to take a heat gun and burn away some of the organza. It is a fun process, and the heart stopping part aside, it's very exciting to see how it will finally end up.  Living on the wild side....oh dear, what does that say about my life when burning away organza is a highlight!!! 

Home again, home again......

Gosh, what a week!  After two years of classes I felt the same way I felt at the end of the school year....totally exhausted and yet, somehow, quite satisfied.  It has taken me a few days just to get myself back on track again but I still feel as if I need a (-nother) nap! 
But the week was great.  We spent 4 days getting ready for the exhibition, choosing backgrounds for our pieces, deciding which piece to place next to which and where to finally to hang it.  In addition to our show, Gail also prepared a sort of retrospective of works done by students and graduates of her other programmes....but first the space for that had to be prepared and there were many people working on that side of the building finishing the construction of the rooms and finally hanging that second show.  Finally, there were nearly 400 people that came through the building on the Saturday and Sunday of the exhibition itself.  It really is a lovely venue in a beautiful setting....I hope it will be a great success.  For more pictures of the event on Gail's website, check out the wordpress at   http://www.gailcreativestudies.com/ 
I have tentatively signed up for the Level Three Stitch starting next August.  It's such a wonderful way to learn.  And a sort of  mini-holiday!  Such fun. 

off to the exhibition

One of the last ones for the exhibition.  Canvas, stitched on to and then painted; stamping with various mediums, more paint, stitching on soluble fabric.  And the ever-present carpet!

Close-ups of the stitching on the trellis piece.  It is an experimental piece and I'd do it differently next time, but it was fun laying it out and getting this far.  As for the exhibition, there is no longer time to work on this one.  So I guess that means it's done.  It's funny, the line between done and not-done.  I suppose it's always somewhat unclear.  Maybe it comes with experience but in the meantime I feel as if I'm always bumping up against the line and not sure which side of it I'm on. 

One last one for the show, inspired by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, with my own bits thrown in.  We were to choose an artist and prepare something based on their work.  Frankly, I love Mackintosh's botanical watercolours but this one appealed to me as well.  I've created my own grid, cut out the circles, reversed the black and white colouring, raised  them up and painted them with gloss medium.

So that's it for the show.  I'm catching an early ferry monday morning and heading off for La Conner.  It'll be a fun week albeit exhausting.  The exhibition is the weekend of the 17th and 18th.  I'll post some pictures when I get back.  I would imagine there will be pictures on Gail's site as well, which you may want to check out.  That's it and thanks for reading!!!  Back soon.   http://www.gailcreativestudies.com/  

to frame or not to frame

I'm thinking I might frame this one.  It's too late for the exhibition at this point but perhaps when I get back.  It's had many applications of work done to it:  monoprinting, stamping with a hand-made stamp (like a styrofoam tray) using printer's inks and screen-printing inks and then stencilled onto with shiva oil sticks.  Then some work with pens and coloured pencils. Just a lot of fun really.  With the ever-present carpet in the background!!! how lovely!  Yes, a frame would make it look better, no doubt about it!

another take

So here is the second possible background up for consideration for the exhibition (omigosh, in less than two weeks).  It is actually a somewhat deeper yellow in 'real' life.  I rather think I favour this version.  But I'm still not totally sure.  I'll ponder a bit and then decide.  Life is a series of choices, is it not?
I've signed up for Jane Davies' course next month using text in collage.  Should be good.  Check out her site.  janedaviesstudios.com