Winter on the Bog Road

This is the first in the series I am working on that has a focus on the four seasons. The technique is colourwash as initiated by Deirdre Amsden. For the quilting I plan to use a series of winter trees.

I spent some time today developing colour samples for my bullrushes theme. This photo shows a series of 10cm square prints on composted cotton using water based inks. I started with black and mixed various shades of brown. Earlier today I thought I had settled on one of the reddish browns from the centre of the sample but now indecision has crept in and it will take a few more samples to know for sure which colour to use.

What's this?

Here's an interesting photo. It's my bundle of cotton, full of veg, fruit, herbs and spices, ready for composting. I'll post another photo of it in a few weeks when it's done and ready to print onto for the skirt of my dress.

rough sketch

This is a rough sketch for the dress idea. I haven't put much detail onto the sketch because I don't want to give too much away at this stage! I'm also posting a page from my sketch book which shows the initial idea for the block print for the skirt of the dress.

ideas for 2010 exhibition

After some months of procrastination and tossing ideas around I am reaching some conclusions about my work for 2010. I am reversing my original idea of taking a garment, deconstructing it and making a textile piece out of it and am now planning to make a garment out of some silk that was lining my edwardian wardrobe. This project will take me back to my roots in clothing design and construction, at the same time making use of this beautiful, aged and worn fabric. I haven't made a piece of wearable art for some time so this is stirring my creativity. I'll include some printing too, thereby bringing together all my current themes into one project. More soon...

Jan Update

I'm continuing to work on hexagons with hand work for all the hexagons at this point creating sets of 4 and trying them in different positions on black background. As of today they are on the design wall in slanting rows but I am going to try different combinations and possibly using black space between one or all of them. I am also continuing on with the old quilt that I am taking apart and putting back together in a more stable manner. I've actually taken the blocks apart and am taking 14 with me on holiday and will see how many I get done. I've decided to use a calico surround for the blocks to set them off more and am still looking for pictures from family members of outfits that were made out of the fabric back in the 60's and 70's.

Jenni update

Just a quick update to let you know what ive been working on. I have been home from Glasgow this week and getting perspex squares cut for building block and the tile cloth pieces I want to do for the exhibition.

I have included a sketch of the cloth piece with the idea that it could be hung, wall based/floor based or draped over plinths to take their shape and become quite sculptural.

I have been thinking through and planning a few other pieces as well as the presentation of my work is relative to how I am exploring this theme of Deconstruct/Reconstruct. I am also thinking of making a few jewellery pieces for the exhibition also with the idea of gradually filling up the perspex tiles with my textile pieces.

How is everyone else getting on with their ideas? It would be great to get a little note from everyone in a post!