New Project

The reliquaries are calling to me, so I've decided to make a new one and document the process.  The inspiration for these came from . the book, "Beginners Guide to Embroidered Boxes" by Janet Edmonds.  This book was almost an epiphany for me, and I am so appreciative of her sharing her tried and true techniques for producing these little beauties.   I very much respect her creativity, and have tried to make a point of drafting my own patterns and designs, rather than copying any of her creative ideas, even while adopting many of the techniques described in the book.

A couple of years ago I was able to purchase some yardage of Duppioni silk, with the intent of turning it into reliquaries.  From the three pieces, I chose the one that would lend itself to embellishment based on a rich gold colour.  Then I drafted a pattern.  Based on the pattern size, I prepared the basic quilted fabric.  this is a top layer of the silk, an layer of heavy interfacing, and a layer of felt.  I quilt every half inch in one direction, and then every half inch at a 45 degree angle.  Most of this stitching is hidden under the embellishment, and won't show on the finished piece, but I still chose a coordinating thread--Superior Fantastico, colour # 5001.

 Then the pattern is laid out and cut.

This leaves me with a lot of machine quilted fabric, that I hate to just throw out.  One of my favourite creative exercises is figuring out how to use these remnents.  I'll think of something.

Two days of hard work

Sorry but I don't have pictures.  I've spent the last couple of days working on some of those UFO's I spoke of. Periodically, maybe once a year, I set aside most of a day to do very abstract mono-printing.  I use fabric about the size of a fat quarter metre  (--20" by 22")  I don't pretend to be making fine art.  Just put the paint on glass or gel in a colour way pleasing to me, and take a print, often followed by a ghost print. I can usually produce between 20 and 30 of these  in an afternoon. (The rest of the day is spent getting ready and then cleaning up.) Some of these end up as embroidered and beaded, framed pieces--or at least, mounted and matted for sale.  But those that don't get used in a constructive way, are often machine quilted, and turned into small zippered purses.  This gives me a chance to practice different quilting patterns and designs, and experiment with different colour ways. Well, I now have five more of them--quilted, sewn together and ready for hand finishing--which I can do while watching tv.

Rough start

Getting back in the swing of things has been rough.  The last while has been spent reviewing and revising my Machine quilting class for early April.  A few days ago, I decided that enough was enough, and put it all away until a couple of weeks before the class.  Instead, I felt the need to do something just because I wanted to, not because I felt I should be doing it--not a chore.

Tuesday of this week I was speaking with a couple of friends about an upcoming show.  I wasn't intending to enter, but they convinced me that the item I had was quite fine.  So I plopped my money down and am now committed. One of these friends is in charge of a second show later this spring, and I offered an older piece, but one that has not been shown.  It was a soft sculpture reliquary, one I spent a great deal of time on. 

It was accepted and my mind turned to reliquaries.  They are my secret pleasure.  Something I love doing, even if each one can take two to three months of hard, fussy, detailed hand  work.

These thoughts lead to an unfinished one that has been around for almost two years.  ( Thinking of the Celtic Cross discussed in a previous post probably started this train of thought)  This poor thing has encountered just about every disaster I can think of.  The pattern ( my own drawing) proved inaccurate in a strategic area, I lost the fabric I was working with, and couldn't replace it.  Then I tucked it away in hopes of finding more fabric, and forgot where I put it!  I found it a couple of months ago, quite by accident.  I decided to finish it as best I could.

The fabric on the very bottom is not shot silk, but the colour is right and who's going to see it anyway.  I altered the doorway at the back of it, so it would fit better, and added a firm insert ( foam core) to the base for extra support.  The actual construction is not my best work, but I'm very pleased with the embellishment.

I have also pulled a few UFO's out of storage to work on over the next couple of weeks.  I sometimes forget that creativity has to be fed, or it shrivels up and dies.  I need to make things just for myself once in awhile.

A glimmer of an idea

The last week was spent in Cuba.  This is the fourth time I've been, and I've produced a memory piece after every visit, sometimes struggling to develop a concept.  This time the idea came fairly early in the trip.  The resort we stayed in had decorative images everywhere.  We had the opportunity to visit a couple of other resorts and found similar motifs in those, as well.  I recognized the image as a pre-Christian Celtic Cross, rotated 45 degrees. ( A couple of years ago I used a medieval Celtic Cross in a piece, with some success).  This raised the question of it's symbolism in Spanish or Cuban culture, and a potential focus for the piece I want to develop, based on this visit.

I inquired at our resort, and was referred to our tour company representative.  Unfortunately she had no idea, and thought it was pure decoration.  However, she did ask further, and her source said exactly the same thing, but suggested that maybe the various resorts had the same architect.

Very disappointed, I gave it a little more thought, and remembered that many religious symbols had been banned in socialist countries.  So, I've decided to carry on.  The Celtic Cross has meaning for me, but maybe doesn't need to be the focal point of the design I'm working on.  At this point I'm thinking of using soy wax batik for the background, and maybe using the image as part of that. A more contemporary focal point or image just might result in a better design.

Surprise in the mail today

The book I had ordered from England arrived--Karen McTavish's "Mastering the Art of McTavishing"  2nd edition.  I had seen so very many variations of the technique  that I wanted to get the info "straight from the horse's mouth", so to speak.  I had been told that the book was out of print, but both the first and 2nd edition are available on Amazon--both new and used. ( The used for up to $600.00, but the new for about $35.00Cdn) 

I can understand the many variations, out there, as she actively encourages readers to work with the technique and make it their own.  A refreshing attitude.  The book included two dvd's, the one that accompanied the first edition and a re-done one for the 2nd edition.  There was an obvious difference in production quality, but more interesting, obvious growth and change in her methods over the years, ( to say nothing about her changing hairstyles and body art).  I have seen several of her U-Tube videos, and have been distressed by the poor production quality, but the dvd's I received today were great.

Of course, I had to sit down and try it.  I first saw the technique done during Leah Day's first FMQ'g workshop on Craftsy, but having now seen the real thing, in several versions, I'm finding it much more appealing and plan to use it,--once I develop the necessary skill in producing it in several different scaled sizes.

the next generation

Today my grand daughter came over.  She is quite enjoying her art classes at school, and had received a couple of gift certificates for art supplies for Christmas.  But she had been told to see if there were any of my supplies that she could use, before going shopping, so she could maybe make what money she had go further.

She went home with water colour paints, acrylic paints, paper, stretched canvases, and collage materials.  Her father was joking, and said that she might have to spend her money on an organizing system, for all of the stuff she had.

I had explained to her that the supplies were a gift, and gifts should never come with strings attached.  The supplies were hers to do with as she pleased.  (I would still be interested in what she might produce.)

social groups

Last evening was a meeting of a small local fibre art group I belong to.  We have a few business items--nothing earth shattering, and then an interactive "show'n'tell", (although most of us hate the term.) The interaction is lively and the comments honest.  It's this honesty that most of us crave, and need.

I also have a friend, an art photographer, with whom I often share a coffee and conversation at the local donut shop.  ( Doesn't Tim Horton's love it when we come in toting a large box of photos to discuss!  LOL)  But we trust each other to give an honest critique.  It's helpful that we both have the experience and trust to critique in a helpful way.  Our last conversation ( earlier this week) lead to the discussion of a potential collaboration, and we've actually picked one of her photos that may result in this.  I'm looking at the photo as an inspiration for the piece I need for an upcoming show--about a year away.

The group I met with last night is sponsoring the show, and I now have permission to use this collaborative process for my show entry. The concept, although a sort of esoteric abstract on my part, has been approved as being in line with the show theme.

It is amazing how this sort of honest conversation, and associated approval, has invigorated my creativity.  However fleeting they may prove to be, it has given me a sense of direction, and a focus for my time management.  This proves, to me, at least, how valuable this sort of group can be.  In my case, I believe, it is an essential part of the process.