Friday 26 June 2020

Evaluation. Costings and timings. Health and safety. Storage.


DISTANT STITCH
Embroidery certificate Module six

Evaluation of wall hanging

The completion of the embroidered assessment piece for module six is based on the topic of Creative Conservation.


How do you feel about the resulting completion?
My original idea had been to create a piece of work which captured the power and majesty of the wind farm off the Sussex coast. These harness the power of the wind to produce a green, renewable energy source thus reducing emissions of green house gases which contribute to global warming.

I am delighted with the finished piece and feel that it has captured my love of the sea and wind as well as my concerns for global warming. I am satisfied that the simple shapes I used to represent the sea and the blades of the wind turbines in my original design have translated well into my embroidered wall hanging
I feel that the overall design captures the flow and rhythm required in the brief. I’m particularly pleased not only with the main body of stitching and it’s suggestion of the directional flow of water influenced by the tides and movement of air but also the contrasting and raised effect of the manipulated and embroidered fabrics which depict the rising, falling and rippling of the water’s surface.
The stitching also depicts effectively the patterning of the water’s surface whilst suggesting volume and depth.

These not only have a visual impact but also encapsulate the verbal prompts and verses I used during my research for the project namely ‘I am the wind that breathes on the sea, I am the wave, the wave on the ocean’ and ‘The answer my friend is blowing in the wind’.

I like the simplicity of the steely turbine blade surfaces against the textures of the watery surfaces and the way the blades appear to slice through the waves / air which in turn apparently produce bubbles which led me to think of them as gills breathing life into the sea and sky.

I am pleased with the spherical shape in the centre which represents our beautiful planet ‘hanging in the balance’, I like the simplicity of the reverse corded piping used here in contrast to the watery surfaces. The bamboo silk used took up the colours of the cold water dyes beautifully and gave an ethereal feel to the concept of planet Earth benefiting from the use of green energy sources.
Conversely the half spheres appear less refined due to the use of cotton organdie which gave a rougher finish perhaps suggesting a less stable Earth state or work in progress.
I particularly love viewing the wall hanging from the side where the raised elements and the textural stitching is in evidence.

I love the combination of the blue, turquoise and paler blue colours worked to make the most of a whipped stitch and the wonderful textural effects achieved.
To serve as a complimentary colour I added a variegated yellow ochre / orange thread to work the bubbles which picked up on the yellow / orange areas of random dyeing in the spherical shapes to good effect. These added vibrancy and energy.



Is it fit for purpose?
I feel the completed works well as a wall hanging and clearly symbolises the concept behind my original idea.

If you were to make it again what changes would you make to the way you designed and made it?
I would perhaps have preferred a space dyed background incorporating a subtle use of all colours within the body of work.
It would be interesting to try and make the hanging with freely suspended elements which would move with the movement of air thus adding to the rhythm and creating shadows in the spaces behind it.


Timings
Date research and design started 4.11.2019 Date completed 3.1.2020 [total no hours = 10]
Date converting into embroidery and making wall hanging started 18.01.2020
Date completed 26.06.2020 [total no hours =110]


Costings
A3 wirebound sketchbook £4
Tissue paper £1.50
Ink cartridges £5
Acrylic paints £2.50
Photocopies £1.60
PVA glue £1
Cold water dyes x4 £15.96
Oil paint sticks £1
Iron on vilene 1m £6
Decovil heavy £6.25
Wool felt £6.20
Lining fabric £5
Chinese silk 1m £10
Nylon chiffon scarves £5
Bamboo silk 0.5m £8.23
Water soluble fabric 3m £13.35
Threads variegated cotton 300m x2 £7
Rayon threads £13.50
Metallic machine thread £0.50
Stranded metallic thread £2.00
Stranded cotton £2
TOTAL 118.09


STORAGE OF WORK, MATERIALS, TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT
Design work in progress
Sketchbook kept up to date with designs inserted, secured flat on page and protected from direct sunlight and away from dust, spillages
Work actually in progress stored flat on work desk also protected from the above
Papers for design work stored flat and in order for use, away from direct sunlight
Tubes of acrylic paints stored upright with lids tightly secured in cool conditions.

PVA glue stored upright with lid securely fastened to prevent drying out or blockage of nozzle.
Embroidery work in progress
Kept accessible for continuous work on work desk and away from usual hazards

Cold water dye solutions stored away from direct sunlight in jars with lids securely fastened. Fixative [soda crystals] also stored in fastened containers ready to add to dyes as needed and then used within 24 hours.

Fabrics folded and kept with others intended for use in embroidery
Dry dyed fabrics away from sun. Store flat or rolled in colour or fibre order. Acid free tissue paper for storage

Threads store alongside fabrics in appropriate colour range and type order including metallics.
When dyed dry away from sun, untangled and in colour and/or type order

Beads and shells dyed and dried away from direct sunlight
Sewing machine Kept upright on desk in area designated for sewing for convenient use and to prevent having to lift heavy object unnecessarily. Ensure easy access to plug socket.
Keep at normal room temp and humidity.

Other electrical equipment namely an electric iron. Ensure safe storage in dry place with flex neatly wound. Protect iron surface with baking parchment when working fusible web and iron -on vilene. I like to keep an old iron for this purpose.

Completed embroidery wrapped in acid free tissue paper. 2D pieces wrapped separately in acid free tissue paper. When travelling work rolled in acid free tissue paper and bubble wrap, 2D pieces wrapped separately in acid free tissue paper.

HEALTH AND SAFETY RULES
Electrical appliances
Keep a sewing machine upright on a stable surface with flexes kept safely away from feet to prevent tripping, with use of an extension lead as necessary. Keep plugs away from wet surfaces.
Use an electric iron on a stable surface. Store in a secure place with flex wound safely when cooled

Sharp objects
Be aware of keeping fingers away from sewing machine needle during free machine embroidery, use embroidery foot whenever possible.
Use scissors / craft knife carefully to avoid injury to fingers. Store in secure place.
Store pin and needles in allocated containers which can be stored safely

Inhalation of powdered dyes and paints
Be wary of fly away powders and use away from wind or draughts

Naked flames / candles to melt or dissolve fabrics, be aware of type of fabric and how it may react to heat. Work in a well ventilated room to prevent inhalation of fumes. Work on a non flammable surface so that flammable fabrics can be put down quickly and keep a damp cloth at close hand to douse any flames. Handle fabrics during this process with tweezers not fingers.
Care of back, neck and shoulders whilst sitting at sewing machine, have machine at appropriate height to promote correct alignment of back and shoulders. Take regular breaks and stretch / move to relieve muscle tension.




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