Distant Stitch Summer School 2014

This year Rosemary Campbell tutored us in mixed media. It was great fun and full of really exciting and useful techniques.

We looked at ways of building layers of texture and colour, starting with a base layer of white emulsion, followed by oil bars and turps [which spread the oil bars into a wash] and then acrylic paint applied with a roller. We started with a point of reference in mind which we then put away working then with colour, tone and space.

This was my first piece taken from a photo of my Dad’s rusty old tools. We worked on ‘shirt card’ and I started with the initial layers as above adding the line of the tools using painted masking tape for the  handles. Rose suggested I define the spades and fork with white emulsion before adding black acrylic with an outline of charcoal pencil to define edges. I added some highlights of metallic rub on colour for a metal effect. The stitching added more tone, Rose suggested couching using dark shades of brown and blue. This gave an effect of reversed applique and was very effective in highlighting the tools. Very pleased with this.

Rose also taught us how to design with line:

We took 5 lines [see below] and then used a viewfinder to isolate a pleasing pattern

I started these at Summer School using the basic layering technique  and use of line as before and then adding strips of magazine cuttings and photos of flowers. I finished them at home and have added those later in this post. Rose suggested that the pink floral design could become a quilt.

Rose went on to show us how we could put the linear designs to practical use to design a cushion or piece of clothing:

Rose’s recap notes [she has consented to me sharing this] I found it very helpful

When I got home I made some samples of my own, first fun with paper:

Landscape collage. Basic background layers as before with strips of photograph and strips of background with scratching into the photo and ink added. Finished with hand and free machine embroidery

Summer School momento with basic background layers as before with strips of photo and pressed flowers plus scratching away in places:

Then I had a go with fabric:

Really pleased with these:

I went swimming in the sea on a blustery day recently, this has a background as before on cartridge paper with centre piece worked on painted calico with added beach huts from newspaper photo and text. finished with free machine embroidery. Really pleased with this!

Finished flower pieces:

Blue floral piece, I added chiffon flowers and hand stitching.

I used Photoshop to repeat the pattern:

Pink floral:

I added silk flowers applied with Bondaweb and free machine embroidery.

Photoshop to repeat pattern

Serendipity at it’s best.

Very pleased with these.

Chapter 9. A resolved sample–so far–work in progress

For this chapter I have to demonstrate how some of the techniques I’ve learnt in previous chapters of this module can be brought together in an experimental way. I need to focus on two or more of those techniques. The idea is to have fun trying these out and to be inventive

It helped me to make up a composite sheet of the elements which have inspired me:

I made a series of window shapes and laid them over some of my design samples [refer back to text on first page].

Here are a selection:

Using coloured papers I looked at some simple design elements including shape, tonal value, and contrasts. All of these involve the principles of the Fibonnacci Sequence:

Having looked at these elements I am ready to start on my Resolved Sample on a chosen design based on movement.

This is to be interpreted by building up layers and considering design elements. Sian’s guidelines in the module are for our guidance only and we’re encouraged to be inventive with our own ideas

Layer one – dyed coloured fabrics  

Layer two – Bonded shapes, fabric segments,    trapped threads onto coloured fabrics

Layer three – Stitchery by machine or hand

Layer four – Added relief shapes, cords, toggles, button shapes, and beads                                             

*Please note that from here on I’ve added a photograph from my computer to accompany images on the scanned pages of my sketchbook as my printed images have been disappointing on this occasion                                                                               

Research into fish shapes:

I played around with ideas for fish in ripple pattern and decided upon my own fish shape:

Fish and Fibonnacci, I wanted to see if my fish could be presented according to the Fibonnacci Golden Section:

At this point I attended the Distant Stitch Summer School and presented my ideas as they were at this stage to Sian in a much valued tutorial. the pages from my sketch book give details of the work which has followed:

The photos above are pale because I’d overlaid some clear plastic which has affected the quality.

At this stage in the process I faced a quandary and felt concerned that although I loved the design elements I’d created I wondered if they worked together.  I e-mailed Sian for her advice [see below]. Should I consider splitting the images into the big fish with spiral petals background or the smaller fish over the monoprinted spirals – both images above.

Sian replied requesting that I update my blog to assist her review of my work. This has been a great help as I’ve been able to clarify my thoughts as I blogged.

I also spoke to my husband who gave his honest critique! I met with  friends in my stitching group which gave me a chance to step away for a while! Their comments were also helpful and we discussed ways of making links between the two sides of the work.

I therefore came to some conclusions and await Sian’s review which I’ve noted below

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Unfinished but with some spiral clips added for the effect to demonstrate their effect. The large fish haven’t yet been stitched in place whilst I consider options.