"I begin with an idea ... and then it becomes something else"
~ Picasso

Saturday 20 February 2010

Pebbles in mixed media textile art

I'd like to share with you a textile project I did with a pebble theme. So, I hope you like pebbles as much as I do






















I produced an "altered" sketchboook, four design boards and a finished piece of artwork so there's quite a bit to show you. Some of the techniques may be of interest to you in your projects






















Pebbles hold a special place in my heart and are a recurring theme in my work (along with many other themes, of course!)

I love everything about pebbles ... where they come from, history of rock patterns and formations, their shapes, colours, textures and patterns. I most particularly like the pebbles that I find on the beach at Godrevy in Cornwall, the slate blue/grey ones with white silver quartz crystals running in lines through them. I find handling pebbles very soothing and I decorate my home with them. I love to see columns and lines of pebbles artfully arranged






















So, I'm starting by showing my "altered" sketchbook. I used a vintage book called "Pebbles as a hobby" as my sketchbook as it had interesting text and pictures of rocks and pebbles

The first thing I did was make a cover for the book from silver grey dupion silk decorated with columns of pebbles on the front and back

On the front, I added a column of pebbles which I painted on to silk. I used a clear gutta outline for the pebble shapes, then coloured in using silk paints and fine table salt. When dry, I cut round the shapes and using silver metallic thread machine stitched the pebbles to the silver grey silk background






















On the back there is another column of pebbles made from distressed chiffon fabric in dark grey
















I distressed the chiffon by carefully heating it until it distorted and burnt a little around the edges and made a few holes. Where the chiffon distorts it alters the composition of the fabric and makes rough, darker edges which I like. I made a few "pebbles" in this way, arranged them in a column and then machine stitched them to the back of the silk book cover















To draw attention to the holes, I either machine stitched around them or added a few beads and french knots in silver thread




















This last picture of the silk cover is distressed chiffon, machine stitched over printed text and highlighted with silver acrylic paint

I hope my pebbles spark an idea or two for your own projects. There is more to come

Carolyn ♥

24 comments:

Gez Butterworth said...

WoW! Carolyn your pebbles are super. Great inspiration. Love your bookcover Have a lovely weekend. Hugs, Gez.xx

Annie said...

I too love pebbles and usually have at least one little one in my purse :-)
A x

WolleNaturFarben said...

i like your pebbles project, me too i like pebbles and i have a lot of them.In my work i also use pebbles, its a creative material... great inspiration for textile working also, thank you, for your Pictures.
anna

Chris Gray said...

What lovely work!.....and I'm glad I'm not the only one pinching pebbles from Cornish beaches ;-)

Obviously you came back from your holiday wearing skates.... you've been so busy...

(will e-mail early in the week)

x Chris

Deborah said...

Fabulous! I like pebbles, too, and I still collect them.

Ruth said...

Wonderful study in pebbles. Great work.

Deborah Younglao, Silk Painter said...

I love the distressed ones! I collect pebbles too, I love turning them over and over in my hand, savoring their texture.

maria said...

Thanks for showing your techniques. I've just started experimenting with textile art using machine embroidery, distressing etc. and find your work inspiring. I've just completed a machine embroidered piece with pebbles as a theme for a group project. The next piece we are doing uses water as a theme and we have to use sheers and metalics.
My son loves pebbles and he usually comes home with a few in his pocket when we visit our local Suffolk beaches.

jeanne hewell-chambers said...

now this is fun and informative. (found you via RT from @desertsnail).

Monica said...

Love love love this post! Thank you!
Monicaxo.

Carlynne Hershberger, CPSA said...

Love this! I've been doing paintings based on rocks and pebbles for as long as I can remember. I especially love the way you did the columns of pebbles.

Char said...

Your work is stunning!! and irresistibly inspiring!! While I don't intend to reproduce your unique expression, you've opened doors in my own imagination... Thank you for sharing about your techniques. Thank you from my heart of hearts.

Corinna Nitschmann said...

Your way interpreting pebbles is fantastic! I love them very much.

Fluffy regards
Corinna

Ester Kiely said...

I love this! I've worked on the theme of stone-walls a lot and love the way the stones all fit together without mortar. Your pebbles remind me a little of them and I love how you developed your theme.

Pom Pom said...

I have a jar of rocks from my favorite island beach hanging right beside our bed. I also have a little pot of rocks from the same location, but I forget where I put those! I like them, too! Your blog is looking so lovely.

Anonymous said...

Oh Carolyn, I love everything about this post! Especially the book cover which is just stunning. I share your love of pebbles and nearly always have one in my jacket pocket which I like to fiddle with. Also have little piles of them dotted round the house and garden. Your post is inspiring and has put me in the mood for a beachcombing trip.

Aileen Clarke Crafts said...

These are wonderful Carolyn. I love all the colours and textures. So much depth. I like to collect interesting pebbles too. They are so pleasing to the eye and to the touch. It amazes me how many colours can be found in a seemingly grey area of stoney beach!
Love the new look to your blog too, especially your side areas : )

Anonymous said...

hi Carolyn
Love the colours in your pebbles and the techniques in silk painting........must have a go at one day. x

Dee / Cloth Company said...

thanks for sharing the methodology and of course, the lovely images...

i'll never forget the look a pair of movers gave my husband and me with one move when we pointed to all the rocks that were to be packed up and shipped!

Emma said...

My home & studio are also filled with pebbles & rocks & when more come in, others go into the garden. Love the peeling paint, too! Thanks for sharing.

~ Phyllis ~ said...

Hi Carolyn,
I too love pebbles. I have them several in my "Wool Room" and other places in the house.
I love your fabric pebbles. They look just like real pebbles.

Julie said...

I have pebbles everywhere at home too and I always collect the when I am beachcombing (naughty I know , but I don't take too many). Back in 2004 I won a painting competition for a watercolour of pebbles. You are making me want to paint them again.

Anneli/Bockfilz said...

This is really exciting and wonderful, Carolyn! Thank you so much for sharing and inspiring!

Grangry said...

Thank you Carolyn, it is always so fascinating to get a look at another's design process. I have to admit, I love pebbles too. I have some beautifully marked ones that I picked up on the beach at Budleigh Salterton 10 years ago, and some perfectly round speckled ones picked up in Eastbourne. They are in a glass vase with limpet shells.