City and Guilds Module 2

On Monday evening I submitted my portfolio for my second module.

This time I investigate shape and worked within the theme of Industrial.

At first I was bit daunted by the prospect of the theme. Industrial conjures images of grey, black, lifeless structures... a bit daunting for a person so obsessed with colour!

I started to think of all the places nearby I could visit that would fit the theme and the railway museum in Swindon sprung to mind. STEAM is a wonderful collection engines and information about the Great Western Railway works that once stood on the site. I had a discovered a place that fitted the theme but was full of colour - yay!

After a morning drawing engines. the Caerphilly Castle in particular, I knew I would be fine!

Here are some of the results of 9 weeks of work:

Primary Source Drawing

Primary Source Drawing

This front wheel of the train became to the focus of my design developments. It amazes me that it is relatively small but worked so hard!

Developing design ideas

Working with hand stitching to create the the idea of turning motion.

I became intrigued by the turning motion of the wheel and the pattern the centre detail of the wheel makes. It's like watching a hub cap turning when you are driving! So I wandered off into an investigation of mark making with swirls.....

More design developments!

One of my favourite pieces in the design development!

Cable Stitch

I am learning to just then the colours I use come to me as a comfortable feeling. In this design  development it was blues, purples and greys. Out came the dyes and these gorgeous purples were created!

Couching Stitch

I also have to produce larger resolved pieces that use different materials:

The wheel centre with writing.

The final resolved piece that became my experimental piece.

During each module you pull together 5 samples of the embroidery stitches being taught during that module and then a larger experimental piece. For this I wanted to depict the things the Caerphilly Castle would have carried on it's 1 million mile journey in service.

Experimental piece.

It was an interesting journey investigating different recycled materials, painting embroidery canvas with dyes and dyeing other elements of the piece. Using Feather stitch to sew the coins in place was a fun experience!

What do you think?

It such a fun journey to be on, but as a person with a mathematical mind I do find it hard to not have a definite answer! It is now time to wait for an answer from my tutor as to whether the process and final design are good enough!

Inspiration

Usually on a Sunday I highlight some of the lovely new fabrics that are around at the moment that I love. It is a fun post to put together, but it also helps my students who I see during the week - I am spreading my fabric addiction throughout Gloucestershire!

I am planning on getting back to the posts, but this today I wanted to share some of the amazing textiles artists that I have discovered on my City and Guild Journey.

The first is Anne Honeyman.

Anne's work is simply stunning! She uses soluble fabric to create amazing structures with that are delicate, yet complicated. I have played around with soluble fabric and it is great fun. I am full of admiration of Anne and her ability to create stunning textiles with it.

The second artist is Alison Holt.

Alison is an amazing artist who creates pieces that look like photos. You could almost reach out and touch the crashing waves above! Her ability to create perspective and texture with thread is stunning. She is teaching in Gloucester in October and yes I have booked onto the 3 day course!

I hope you enjoy exploring their work as much as I have done.

They are so inspiring!

Trying some Little Stitches

I have never really tried embroidery, I have done bits and bobs when teaching children to sew, but I haven't actually had a go at a pattern.

When I saw Aneela Hoeys new book Little Stitches a few months ago I thought it would make a wonderful present from Santa - he is a very generous man you know!

The cover is gorgeous and the ideas and patterns are well laid out and oh so pretty!

Luckily because I had asked Santa for the book I knew I would need a couple of hoops and fabric is never a problem in my house I was able to have a go at on of the designs on Christmas Day whilst the boys played - bonus of no family nearby is ability to spend Christmas Day doing nothing!

I made the gorgeous girl in on the rain, with her umbrella, but I changed the colour of the jumper and skirt to match my room:

I really enjoyed sitting and stitching. It is so much more sociable than using a sewing machine, so I was able to stitch and chat to the boys at the same time - I find I can get away with a lot more crafting if I juggle those two skills!

I then made the panel into a cushion for my room using Aneela's fabric range for Moda, Sew Stitchy, a bundle of which arrived last Saturday!

I backed it with some Olive Green from my Kona solids stash and it now sits on my bed in pride of place!

The boys have now put in requests for blue versions for their room!

I can see a a few more of these patterns being made up in the very near future!

PS You can order Aneela's book from a fabulous local Indie bookshops like The Yellow Lighted Bookshop. I always buy my books from them!