Small Book of Trials

I have begun to fill a small book A6 size with small samples of anything I try.  I do put some in my A4 sketchbook but can feel overwhelmed by my sketchbook so I like the fact that this book is small and the tiny pieces I put in it don't look too isolated.  It is filling up quite quickly and I love the way it is beginning to look really full and bursting with the small samples.  It is very tactile and I think just asks to be opened and flicked through.  It satisfies my need to be organised and to have a record of what I have tried whilst I feel looking interesting.  I put a bit of everything in the book but examples are painted tyvek that has been heated and then sewn into, work on watersoluble fabric and examples of the different widths of machine stitches to stitch down cord.

Filling this small book has made me think my theme book should be not be too large so that I don't feel overwhelmed at first.  Obviously I will have to work in a size that can accommodate any magazine articles, photos etc. I could work in an A6 alongside a larger book.  Something to think about.  I need a theme first!

Part 3 - Project 6 Stage 3 Applied Fabric Techniques

I decided to practice machine applique by laying down various pieces of silk fabric onto a vilene background.  I then edged the pieces with satin stitch to hold them down.  To add some texture and interest I machined some of the pieces with basic stitch patterns that are on my sewing machine.  

The sample above is snippets of fabrics and threads scattered onto a cotton fabric.  Bonding powder was then sprinkled over this and a piece of metallic organza was placed over before being free machined on.  Before I free machined over the sample I thought it was rather dull.  However, after machining I like the way I have picked out the fabric pieces and that the thread snippets when sewn around have given a raised quilted effect.  This made me realise that by doing a little more work on a piece can give it a whole different look and it can be taken forward giving more ideas.

Work with drawings to produce a Sample

I found it difficult to choose a drawing to work with for this sample but eventually chose one that I had done on drawings from Ballet Russe costumes.  I used part of the drawing an enlarged it when working on the fabric.  I coloured the background fabric, a piece of calico, with Brusho then applied dyed felt by using cutback applique.  I sewed the circles on by appliqueing first circles of organza using a zig zag stitch around the edge.  I then applied felt circles on top of the organza circles using a straight stitch.  The bars on the righthand side are metallic organza pieces appliqued onto a metallic organza strip.  The applied pieces are stitched down using a zig zag stitch along each edge.  

Looking at the sample now I like the appliqued metallic organza and the felt and organza circles.  I feel that the felt bars are too heavy.  I don't think this has anything to do with the size of them I think that it is my choice of fabric.  Colour wise I feel it is right but I think I could have used a lighter fabric and it would have balanced the piece out more.  However, I am very pleased with the colours and the fact I was able to take my inspiration to a drawing  and then through to a fabric sample.  The photograph does not do the colours justice.  They are actually a lot richer and deeper looking.

Part 3 - Project 6 Stage 2 Developing Ideas

At first I found it difficult to  choose drawings in order to develop fabric collages from.  I therefore started by working with the fabrics.  I cut and tore fabrics that had different weights, were plain or patterned and different colours.  I used bondaweb to apply them to the background fabric and then machine stitched over them to intigrate them.

The sample below has a woven background that I applied several chiffon pieces to.   I then used a pyrograph tool to burn patterns into the chiffon.  I handstitched on top of this to give more texture.

I think the two top samples do not relate to any of my drawings and have developed from using the fabrics and taking into account the different weights and feel.  After making these two samples the sample above was easier to do as I looked at my drawings again and in particular at drawings of tree bark I had done.

Part 3 - Project 6 Stage 1 Preparation Fabrics

Fabrics

I cut pieces from a variety of my fabrics and put them into colour groups. Sorting through my fabric collection made me realise where I needed to add to it.  I have collected a lot of neutral fabrics.  This is because I like to colour them myself so that I can try to  get the specific colour I would like.  Also  seem t be attracted to warm colours.  I feel I must push myself to work with other colour schemes.

I also have quite a lot of chiffon and organza pieces.  I think this is because I like the textured edges I can get by layering and fraying.  In addition I have felt in a variety of colours.  I do like felt - obviously it doesn't fray when working with it and this is useful when using it to applique.  However when I applique I really like raw edges and tend to use fabrics that I can fray.

Sketchbook

I think my sketchbook work is changing.  It has taken a while but I am beginning to feel more free about adding items that interest me such as magazine articles and not just using the bk for drawing.  I am experimenting more. Am working on different papers then adding to sketchbook rather than drawing straight into the book.  When working in my sketchbook I prefer to colour pages either using inks or tea bags or actually anything to hand.  If I am doing a detailed drawing I have found I like to use a pen or an 8B sketching pencil.  I am not sure why but I just feel comfortable using them and have noticed that I am beginning to have my favourite art materials.  I particularly like using koh-i-noor dyes, Sennelier oil pastels (especially the metallic ones), watersoluble crayons and Brusho.  I make up small jars of the Brusho colours and then mix them as I am working with them.  I like to mix colours to try to get the one I particularly want and think that as I am doing this more I am getting my 'eye' in.  

Some pages from my sketchbook below.  Although I find many things that inspire me I do find it quite difficult to know what to draw.  I think a lot of this is because I am a very organised person an have to put everything in categories.  I am finding that I am flitting a lot from one subject to another at the moment and not following anything in particular through.  This is having an effect on my choosing a theme for my theme book which I am going to have to do very soon.  Am hoping that this will come with experience and practice and that I will draw more when out and about.  I am getting more comfortable drawing in museums and when out so I feel that's a step in the right direction.