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

Tuesday 14 March 2017

end of winter textiles and paintings

this week began with some most welcome sunshine
a few hours in the garden weeding and pruning the hydrangeas
and picking spring flowers for pressing


I love moments amongst the flowers in my garden
the fresh air, sea breeze and time to really think
valuable time to reflect on important matters and regain perspective

last year I started keeping a flower diary
a note of what was newly flowering or coming to it's end of life
and "what to do" in  my  garden throughout the year


I enjoy plants that naturally find their way to my little plot
a happy mix of wild and cultivated

I'm quite happy when a profusion of forget me nots, wild garlic and hyacinths
sit happily next to the bulbs and shrubs I have purposely planted

the delicate purple and yellow crocuses are finished now
they have a short but valuable life span
(I must make a note to press a few next year)


when I got down one of my heavy books from the shelf to press this year's flowers
I found this pressed cornflower from last year
faded ... but still holding it's blue in a subtle, beautiful way

***

I finished spring cleaning my studio
 (after recent building work caused dust to settle on everything despite using dust sheets)
I went at it thoroughly including going through boxes of artwork from college
and, finally, cutting up design boards and work that will now go in sketchbooks

I feel so much better for having a clean, tidy studio and space to work again
with areas where I can leave paintings to dry
and stitched work in progress ...
on Monday Jo came over to me for, what we call, a "crow day" 
we like to get together for sewing and professional development
work on new projects, techniques or try out new materials

Jo wanted to have a go at one of the techniques from Mandy Pattullo's book
so we chose to work on a small stitched collage

this is my calico base with selected fabrics placed on the top and pinned down

inspired by my view and recent weather I chose to use pale neutral tones
that remind me of Cornish winter skies, sea, mist and rain with a hint of pale blue

at this stage my sample looks a little like a mood board


I used a variety of soft linens, wools and some previously worked textile pieces
melted textiles that I hand painted and stitched with silver thread
and sand coloured frayed silk


melted textiles


the pieces are only pinned at present, but I have begun to stitch them down
and consider where to place found objects and embellishments


I will continue on with the stitched collage as the week progresses


also on my work top this week ...
the crackle paste samples and some small paintings









these are inspired by end of winter landscapes and seascapes
recent misty weather in Mousehole and breezy St. Ives


thank you for visiting and have a lovely day x

6 comments:

chrissie said...

Such a beautiful posts full of nature's wonders and your creativity

Love Chrissie xx

martha brown said...

I am SO looking forward to seeing the little flowers again. Today it is -17c and snowy. Sigh.....

Lynn said...

Your sister sent me - what a beautiful post. I love the flowers, so sweetly arranged, and the varied textiles.

K J D said...

Such happy making loveliness :)

I do love to think of you pottering in your garden.... it reminds me of when I first started reading your blog :) another garden;)

Thank you for visiting :)

Karen xxx

Magpie's Mumblings said...

Flowers are still a long way off here but at least today it was above zero and the sun did try to shine. There's hope I think. Enjoyed seeing the crackle paste samples (still haven't located mine so I think it must have met some sort of demise along the way).

Indianna said...

Beautiful ... Spring is on the way. I love the embossed effect on the flowers x