Paper Lamination Workshop

 I've just spent four brilliant days on a Paper Lamination Workshop run by Sarah Welsby, at the newly re-furbished, Potters Barn at Bovey, home of Committed to Cloth. It will definitely remain in my mind as four of the most enjoyable days I've spent in a long time, and is to be thoroughly recommended.

The process consists of using papers, preferably laser prints/photocopies of your own photographs, or newsprint. These are arranged under polyester or silk voiles, and then a matt medium acrylic is screen printed over the top, which is dried, and then heat set before being soaked in cold water for five minutes. This allows the paper that has not been treated with the medium to be removed, and you can see from the photo above, a piece of treated voile hanging to dry. After this, the piece can be layered, or not, depending on what end result is desired. The layering can use small pieces of fabric, or just one large single piece, and wadding and backing can also be added, ready for stitch.

The bird images on the left, and the longer striped piece are two polyester voiles that I made during the workshop, and I have plans on how to take them forward. I also laminated two images taken from a photograph that I took of some pebbles and seaweed. I played around with them on photoshop, and then laminated them onto some calico. The results are in black and white, and the hand of the calico gives a stiffer, less floaty result. However, I am looking forward to experimenting with paint and stitch on this piece.

Finally, I did manage to complete a piece of work, and this is the result. I'm very pleased with what I achieved in the four days, and am really looking forward to further experiments with this fascinating technique.

Sampling an idea.

This started out as a sample to try and decide what to do with some fabric I have dyed and dischared, (apart from the black ovals). I still have the majority of it left, but having made this piece, I'm not sure I want to repeat myself. This has turned out to be a bit more substantial than I intended, although it isn't quite finished as yet. I may do some more quilting on the background, and I still haven't decided how to finish off the edges yet. It reminds me of an African design, and also a bit zebra-ish!!

Journal quilt for May 2011

The last of my aboriginal art inspired Journal quilts. I used a cotton and silk mixed fabric that I had previously mono printed. Different areas were then painted in a variety of coloured silk paints, and then embellished with white acrylic painted dots. The blue butterfly has been appliqued onto the background, with further appliqued decoration, free motion machine stitching and more white acrylic paint. I have really enjoyed this technique, and am planning something similar, but on a larger scale. These four JQ's all measure 10"x10". Now I have to start planning my next four for June, July, August and September, and they all have to contain some text. Mmmmmm, I have an idea already, and my last post may be a clue to what that is going to be!

Time to experiment

The first time I experimented with the paper lamination technique, was on the Wet n wild workshop run by Committed to Cloth. Well, it's one of those techniques which I have really taken to and enjoyed, and have attempted to play around with at home on a couple of occasions. I've written about it on a previous post. I'm enjoying some extra time at home, because the schools are now closed for the Easter break, so a good opportunity to experiment even more! With this piece, I decided to use the 'paper' side instead of the polyester sheer side. I decided that I wanted to doodle on the rough papery surface with a fine permanent black liner. I love pattern, and decided to let my imagination loose with some ancient Greek decoration. I sketched these across the surface, and then added some of my own doodles, before cutting back in a few areas to expose the colours of the backing fabric. Lots of quilting in some copper thread to outline some of these shapes came next, and then I also appliqued some old pieces of lace, and interesting fabric scraps to add more texture and patterning. I like the way that some of the newspaper text is still visible, albeit backs to front!! I have really enjoyed making this piece, and would be interested to hear any thoughts you may have about it. 

Magnolia blossoms, cats and Magpies!




Two Cats

 


Two for Joy

 

Magnolia in blossom are one of my favourite trees in spring. I photographed this one today in a local park. It has been wonderfully warm, hot even over the last week or so, and everything is bursting with fresh spring green growth. I just hope that we don't suffer any night time frosts to spoil it all!

These two pieces were commissioned by a friend, they are both paper laminated, appliqued and heavily free motion machine stitched with some hand stitching on 'Two for Joy'.

                               

April Journal Quilt

Inspired by aboriginal art. I had a piece of mono printed cotton/silk mix fabric, so I decided to over paint it in sections with silk paint. I added the black and white dots with acrylic paint, and then appliqued the black egg shapes on top. I decorated these with free motion and machine embroidered stitching in white thread, and also added some more white acrylic painted dots. At least these Easter eggs are calorie free!!


For some reason that I don't understand, a large gap has appeared between this post and my previous post. If you want to view my previous posts, please just scroll down the page a bit, and it will appear!! Thanks. ;0)

Taking a line for a walk.

I have been thinking about a couple of projects that I want to be involved in. I started by looking through some of my older sketchbooks, and came across a page with the above ink line drawing. I don't remember why I did it in the first place, but on studying it again, it reminded me of hair. I started to play around with the shapes, and my following doodles show how I have developed this idea, finishing with a piece of work that used free motion machine stitching .This is really just a first trial for an idea that I hope to develop further.

  

 

This is the second piece of work that I am developing  for a different project. SPIDERS!!! I can't as yet reveal any details, but if my idea works out I will eventually be able to show the finished piece. I stitched these by my favoured free motion machine stitching technique, using an embroidery hoop, white cotton fabric, and black thread. I think they look almost real!!!!!!

Blustery March Winds. JQ for March

This is my JQ for March, again inspired by aboriginal art. I used silk paint on white cotton for the sky, hand dyed fabric for the sun, distressed lutradur for the clouds, free machine stitching, hand stitch and acrylic paint.

Fun in black and white!

After the recent, very successful KAIROS exhibition at The Corner Gallery, Carshalton Beeches, I decided to slow down for a bit, and have some fun! I'm not too good at repeating myself, and love to play around and experiment with new ideas and techniques.

Paper Lamination is a technique that I have touched on, so decided to have another go, but on a smaller scale.

The three pieces here are quite small, but I wanted to see if the idea I had in mind would work. I used torn up news print, just in black and white, no colour and appliqued black and white fabric, (apart from the pale blue vases) and paper onto the laminated newsprint. I stitched them in place, and these are the results. The third piece down I have made into a birthday card for a friend, and the other two examples have been stuck down onto a small canvas. I quite like the efffect of the black and white, so may well think about producing a larger one.

Wall Hanging, and my first 2011 Journal Quilt!

This is the Wall Hanging that I have made for my little grandson in New Zealand. I decided on this space age theme, because hopefully, one day, it really will be possible  for him to fly to the UK in a super fast jet, or rocket  plane to visit his nanny and grandad.....(If we are still around by then ofcourse!) It should be winging its way to him right now, so I hope it arrives all in one piece!

This year, my 2011 Journal quilts are going to be inspired by Tribal Art. The size is to be 10"x10", and there are also three more criteria. The first four are to contain a circle, and the second and third  four some text, and a button/s, but at the moment I can't remember in what order! (must check). Above is my first for this year, and is called 'snowdrop'. I hand printed the dots with acrylic paint, so plenty of circles, albeit small ones!! I also appliqued the snowdrops, and free machined the background patches, and flowers themselves.

Contemporary Quilt, suitcase collection. Childhood memories.

Contemporary Quilt set a new 'suitcase collection' quilt challenge for 2011. The title, Childhood Memories , was to be A3 size, and interpreted in any way the maker felt appropriate. This collection of quilts, just under fifty in all, is now complete, and ready to be sent to any group in the country for perusal by it's members.

I have so many childhood memories, and couldn't really decide on which one to interpret into a quilt, so in the end, I decided to build up 15 little areas on the A3 background, each representing a year of my life from birth to age fifteen. I have a mild form of synesthesia, and certain letters, names and numbers relate to colours in my mind. I decided that this could be a starting point, and have used colours relating to memories for each year. I also learned to stitch at a very early age, my mother was always either at her sewing machine or hand sewing, so I have plenty of memories in this area. This was why I decided to hand stitch most of the quilt. It is a very personal piece, and although I realise that it may not mean much to whoever sees it, I still hope that the overall image will be a pleasing one to any observer. I have also included a close-up photo of one of the sections.  

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KAIROS preview at the Corner Gallery.

 Our KAIROS http://www.kairos-artists.com/ preview evening went very well, and we made a few sales straight away! There are now two weeks left for folks to call in and view the work, and to hopefully buy a beautiful piece of art. Don't forget the sea themed wall hanging that is also being raffled in aid of the SmileTrain charity. Tickets £1 each, or six for a fiver!!

These lovely hand painted ceramic plates on the left were made by Lucy Dean. Unfortunately the lighting was subdued, and I don't think I had my camera on the correct setting, but they were painted in black, white and turquoise. This photo does not do them justice.

 Next, are these wonderfully abstract pieces by Jodi Jones. Again, the colours have not been reproduced correctly, but Jodi uses lots of fabulous neutrals, some deep, and others lighter in tone, and sometimes rings of brass or other metal are embedded into her work.

Karen Moser also works with ceramics, and she

often uses objects from our modern technological age to produce pieces that resemble fossils of the future.They are distressed and blackened, but have a wonderful quality about them which is irresistable.

Again I have to apologise for the poor photographic

quality.

 On this wall, Angela Curror's work is on the top half, plus the three small square ones on the bottom right, and Jackie Harford's is below. Angela makes textile work, as well as manipulated photography, printing and book binding. Angela has most recently been inspired by the theme of 'the sea', and has produced some stunning textiles that reflect this. Jackie also works in photography, often manipulated with some wonderful results, and has also produced some pieces where she has combined photography, paper and stitch to make fabulous collages.

 I have already featured most of my work in a previous blog post, but here is a photo to show  how it is displayed in the exhibition.

Finally, but by no means least, is the food that we all made and brought along to be enjoyed by the evenings visitors! YUM!!

KAIROS exhibition

KAIROS is a small group of women artists that I belong to, and we are having an exhibition of our work at The Corner Gallery, Carshalton Beeches, starting on Wednesday 19th January. Apart from the art work that we are exhibiting, and hopefully selling, we are raffling the sea themed wall hanging you see here on the left. It is being raffled in aid of The Smile Train charity. Six of us have made a panel each, and one of us has in fact made two, giving seven in all. It has been put together to make a panel 50"x10", and looks fabulous. You can contact the gallery for tickets or more information.

Below is a selection of the work that I will be putting into the exhibition, but there will also  be ceramics, oil paintings, acrylics, photography and some installation work by the othe KAIROS members. More information on this exhibition can be found on the gallery website above.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, and looking forward to more experiments in 2011!




Finished piece!

 
Over the last quarter of 2010, I did a bit more experimentation, triggered mainly by the 'Wet n Wild' workshops with C2C. Some pieces have turned out

stage 3

more successfully than others, and this one here, is one that I consider fits that description. I have included some photos of the process, it started out as my first attempt at paper lamination, which I cut in half, and mounted one piece on black fabric, and the other on white. These were then joined together, stitched, painted with acrylic paint, and stitched even more. The results are above, and I've decided to call it 'City Reflections'.
Hopefully, more experiments in 2011, so here's wishing you all a very happy and creative New Year.

stage 2





Stage one







Flying in the fullness of the moon

This piece started out as a simple mono-print from the top left section of the paper lamination post, 'Taking BIG risks' on 16th October. Once dry, I fixed the fabric (a silk and cotton mix) into a large round embroidery hoop and painted the surface with an olive green silk paint. The result over the turquoise acrylic fabric paint gave a fabulous golden colour, with the painted areas looking almost like old gold. When I removed it from the hoop, I decided to paint all around the circular shape with a blue/turquoise silk paint, and then immediately decided that I'd created an image of a full moon.

Although I really liked the results, I knew that something else was needed to finish the piece. I thought about moths, I really love the patterns on their wings, and they are attracted, apparently to the moon! I tried out some moth silhouettes, but somehow they didn't seem right. I often find that ideas will come to me just as I'm about to drift off to sleep, and on this occasion, that is exactly what happened! Geese.....I would place geese flying in front of the moon. Straight black tends to deaden, so after a bit of experimentation, I bonded some fine black lutradur onto a black, infused with gold fabric to cut the 'geese in flight' shapes from. I am really pleased with the results, and am now considering further 'geese in flight' textile pieces.