Back in the studio...

Dipper
Machine embroidery and fabric paint on cotton. 2018

Over the past couple of weeks I've been able to get back into my studio a bit more and it feels really good to be working there again. We've had quite a stressful few months for various reasons and I haven't had much time to focus on my own practice. I had a look back through my book of knowledge (the notebook that contains all my thoughts, to-do lists, projects, ideas and so on) and I kept seeing 'need more time for my work' so I'm really pleased to finally be able to spend a bit of time on my own practice.

Dipper (detail)
Machine embroidery and fabric paint on cotton. 2018

Dipper (detail)
Machine embroidery and fabric paint on cotton. 2018

Mr. Stitches and I try and go for a walk every day as it has so many benefits for both mental and physical well-being and on one of our evening walks last week we saw three dippers together. I often see them along the river but usually only one at a time. I'd been thinking for a while about doing a dipper portrait and seeing them on our walk prompted me to actually get on and do it. I decided it would be a good project to get myself back into working in my studio.

Design drawing

I began by drawing out my dipper, I only make portraits of birds I've seen because it's important to me to observe and then capture a bit of their character rather than just what they look like. I love the way the dipper moves and the way it suddenly disappears underwater, it always seems as if it's been swept away but then it pops up again, fine and unharmed. To create my drawings I do use photographs and reference books as well as any quick sketches I've made whilst watching the bird to supplement my memory of the bird.

Work in progress

Work in progress

I then used my sewing machine to 'draw' my dipper onto fabric. I started with a black outline and then added some hints of other colours. I didn't want to put a background in, as I very rarely do, but I did want my dipper to have something to perch on so I added a rock and some swirling water so it wasn't floating in space. At this point I hadn't decided whether or not I was going to add any applique or paint; I was keen to experiment a bit with paint and in the end this is what I decided to do.

Rook
Machine embroidery and fabric paint on linen. 2016

Often when I use fabric paint I use the paint first and add the embroidery over the top but for this piece I wanted to do the reverse. I made a portrait of a rook a couple of years ago using this technique and I've been thinking about experimenting more with it recently. I wanted the result to be quite watery and for the colours to bleed out into each other and the background. I wanted to do it this way partly to evoke the watery world of the dipper but also to suggest the fragility of the bird and it's environment; our wildlife and environment are under so much pressure and I wanted to comment on this.

Sketches, books and work in progress

From sketch to drawing to finished piece

I really enjoyed making this piece, although at several points I considered abandoning it as it wasn't going quite as I envisaged. I'm pleased with the way the fabric paint has worked and I think this might be an interesting idea to explore further in other pieces. As an added bonus I received a message asking if the piece was for sale after I posted a picture on Facebook. It's always a nice confidence boost when someone wants your work on their wall and I'm delighted that the dipper will be going to a home where it will be appreciated!

Creative Beginings

The Dark and the Light, 2018

As in previous years (see here and here) I decided to start the year creatively by making a postcard for Surface Gallery's annual International Postcard Show.  I really like this project at the start of the year as it's small and achievable so I can begin the year with that cathartic sense of having finished something!

The Dark and the Light, 2018
Detail

Last years postcard ended being a bit of a turning point for me, it gave me the confidence to pursue a way of making I'd been dabbling with and have ended up developing a lot over the last year. It's also one of the first pieces I felt confident enough to write about more openly in terms of meaning rather than just techniques.

Feather, 2018

This years postcards continue my feather drawing explorations and use of collage. I've been doing a lot of drawing on tracing paper as I like to exploit the transparent qualities and both postcards feature feathers drawn on tracing paper, one of which I've used 'wrong' side up. For the collage I've used some of my handmade paper as well as bits of gold paper and my handmade silk paper.

Feather, 2018
Detail

The first postcard is called 'The Dark and the Light' and reflects my interest in contrasts and dichotomies. There are two sides to every story so they say and it's good to know both sides before making any judgements or decisions. The second postcard is simply titled 'Feather' and features a single feather embellished with hand embroidery. I'm a bit sad we've left 2017 and moved into 2018 because the number 7 is a heck of a lot easier to stitch than an eight. And on that philosophical bombshell I shall leave you, until next time...

Stitched signature

More Sketchbook Making shenanigans...

Stacked Folded Sketchbooks

Earlier in the year I had a lovely evening running my 'Embellishing Printed Fabric' workshop for Brampton Arts and Crafts Club. It was such a relaxed and pleasant evening with a really lovely group of people. They obviously enjoyed it too as they invited me back so in September I ran my 'Simple Sketchbooks' workshop for the group.

Folding, cutting and sticking

Folding, cutting and sticking

Folding, cutting and sticking

I had a bigger group to work with this time as none of the gentlemen of the group came to the previous workshops but they clearly felt happier with sketchbooks rather than stitch so had come along this time. Once again it was a lovely evening, very relaxed and lots of chatting! I demonstrated my techniques for making envelope sketchbooks and my favourite folded sketchbooks. I then let the group loose on my stash of papers. One of my favourite parts of this workshop is choosing the papers and I love seeing people having a good ratch through and selecting the bits they want to use.

Folding, cutting and sticking

Folding, cutting and sticking

Folding, cutting and sticking

It was really interesting seeing how differently people approached the workshop and the amazing range of sketchbooks created, each a reflection of the individual. I'm always intrigued by how even in a large group and working with the same materials everyone will produce something different. I'm sometimes asked why I'm so willing to share my techniques and 'secrets' and this is why; no one will do it quite how I do as each person has their own unique quirks and characteristics and this will come through in any creative work.

Folding, cutting and sticking

Folding, cutting and sticking

Playing with folding sketchbooks

In a similar vein I don't worry about sharing my techniques and tips as I believe that to create 'good' art you need to believe in what you're doing, it has to be authentic. The word authentic is bandied around a lot at the moment but I really believe that a piece of work that is truly authentic has a bit of the makers head, heart and hand in it and will always stand out over a copy or something. One of my tutors once asked me "if you don't believe in your work how can you expect other people to?" This really struck a chord with me and since then I've tried to always make work I believe in, that I am proud to claim as my own. So, the moral of this post is go and be creative and do it your own way proudly!

Finished sketchbooks

Finished sketchbooks

Finished sketchbooks

Finished sketchbooks

Finished sketchbooks

Finished sketchbooks

Reflections, Resolutions and Revolutions

Winter blossom in my garden

I started this blog as a way to record all the different projects and things I'm involved in and all the different things I make and do. Over time it has changed and developed, as I have, and has been used for different purposes. Purposes such as recording, documenting, sharing and venting. I've hardly blogged at all over the last few months, not so much because I've been too busy (I'm always busy!) but because I'd lost sight a little of the point of this blog. Whilst sharing is one of it's purposes it's not the main reason I keep it going, it's main point is to give me a place to write openly about my work and therefore myself.

Spinning: I've now been spinning just over a year

Spinning

Hand spun

I've worked on some challenging projects this year and there are a lot of projects I haven't written up for various reasons, including that some of them have been very difficult and I've struggled to take the positives from them. This has led to me having a backlog of draft posts and the feeling that I shouldn't write anything new until I'd written up the older stuff. However, as it's the time of year for reassessment and new beginnings I took some time to think about my blog. Why did I need to write up those projects? What would happen if I did? What would happen if I didn't? Of course the answer is that my blog posts are only really important to me, it's great if other people read them and take something from them but ultimately the contents of this blog are mine and so it's up to me to decide what I want to put out there. Posting or not posting about a project or piece of work does not make it any more or less valid or important.

Walking and collecting natural materials has been a key inspiration this year

Wintry Gelt Woods

There's always green somewhere

This train of thought led to me deciding to delete all my draft posts, write this post and start afresh. If anyone is interested; almost all my projects are documented in visual form over on my Flickr account so you could head over there if you really want to know what I've been up to!

Knitting my hand spun yarn

2016 has been a tumultuous year in many ways for many people, I think we've all been forced to sit up and take note and maybe reassess some quite important beliefs. On a personal and professional level I've had a good year and I've learnt a lot. I've had some great opportunities this year and I feel that I've really taken a step forward.

I'm lucky to live in such a beautiful place

One of my biggest highlights is having my exhibition at RSPB Geltsdale, this has been so positive for me on many levels and I'm hoping to build on this in the coming year. It's given me an opportunity to focus on my personal practice and build a body of work and seeing it all up and on display has been a huge confidence boost. I've also received some really lovely feedback which has helped inspire me to push forward.

Exhibition Poster

I have two main aims for 2017, they are sort of resolutions but more a shift in thinking and acting. Firstly I aim to prioritise creativity; it is, I believe, an essential thing for all of us to express our creativity but too often it gets put to the bottom of the to do list. My whole life is built around my creativity yet still I get sucked into bad habits and neglect to make time to experiment and explore.

Jay, 2016

Secondly I am aiming to live a more 'local' life and be a positive part of my community. Political events this year have led to me wanting to withdraw and back away and I have lost a lot of what faith I did have in 'the system.' My answer is to do what I can in my life; I can't change the world on my own and I'm not big enough or brave enough to tackle the system but what I can do is be kind, considerate and careful of the people and the environment I live in.

Thank you for reading and I wish you all a very happy and peaceful New Year!

Bits and Pieces

In Circles, 2015. Currently on show at Upfront

We have made it through the first month of the year! Wind, snow and gale force winds have made it an interesting start but each day takes us closer to spring. I've had a good start to the new year with several new projects starting off, a piece of my work on show in the Upfront Gallery Open exhibition and a large textile piece finished. I've also been to two workshops and have been busy making, drawing and creating. I thought I'd do a little round up of some of the bits and pieces I've been up to...

My new spinning wheel!

Spinning (with helper)

Getting used to a different system

Having developed a new interest/obsession over the Christmas holidays I have spent the past few weeks trawling the interweb and ebay for a second hand spinning wheel. Having been outbid on several wheels I did eventually get one and it arrived this week. It's quite different to the wheel I learnt on as it is a double drive but I'm having fun figuring out how it all works. The spinning wheel was made by Haldane (who now make staircases, apparently) and is a lovely dark wood. I'm trying hard to get all my prep and planning work done quickly so I can get back to spinning!

My hand-spun, hand knitted cushion (front)

My hand-spun, hand knitted cushion (back)

My hand-spun, hand knitted cushion (detail)

I have also knitted up my first lot of hand-spun yarn. I've made a big cushion cover using plain old stocking stitch to show off the character of the yarn. I used all six skeins that I'd spun and it was interesting as I knitted them in order so that I could see the progression of my spinning. The first skein was very irregular with lots of odd lumps and bumps but by the time I reached the last skein it was much more even. It's lovely and squishy and it is very satisfying knowing that it's something I've not only knitted but have created the yarn for.

Daily Drawing

Daily Drawing

Daily Drawing

Most years one of my resolutions is to draw more and to keep up my daily drawing practice. I'm feeling quite pleased that, so far, I have actually managed to do that this year. I've been trying to spend a little bit of time in the studio each day. Even if it is only five or ten minutes I feel like it's a good habit to get into. I've also managed to finish a big textile piece that I'd been ignoring for some time, I'm now quite pleased with it and it's good to have it off my 'I really should work on that' list.

Circle scarf

Circle Scarf

Another of my resolutions is to use up some of my fabric stash before buying more. I'm doing less well with this as I went to a local fabric shop and ended up buying more fabric because they had such lovely prints. On the plus side I did then use this fabric plus some from my stash to make a couple of big circle scarves. They're made from fat quarters and are a nice way of mixing and matching prints. Plus, you can never have too many scarves...

Silk Painting

Silk Painting

Silk Painting

I've also had a go at weaving a hare from willow and silk painting (not at the same time.) But, I think that's enough for one post so I'm off to play with my spinning wheel...