minty knitting

Got some knitting yarn recently from John Lewis... don't know what to do with it though.

haberdashery

Last Sunday I treated myself to some ribbons from Beyond Fabrics. I wanted to start looking into Nordic textiles and some of the patterns on these ribbons were quite folksy, punchy colours too.

I really enjoy Lina Peterson's jewellery which draws inspiration from the reverse side of embroidery. It's got me into looking at the more abstract reverses on knitted and machined textiles.

Here's some details from a wonderfully kitsch place mat.

Searching

This morning I was talking to one of my best friends about moving out to the sticks for a while, because I'm such a cardigan when it comes to the fast paced fun loving lifestyle a typical 23 yr old is supposed to pine for. I think I would miss the pace of London though, we're blessed with such variety here, culturally and in terms of green spaces. But, it could be fun though...
Reading through Zoe Murphy's blog I found Nick Hand (a Bristolian graphic designer & photographer) and his SlowCoast project, touring with his bike along the UK coastline, meeting artisans and makers along the way.
Check it out some of the conversations he has collected www.slowcost.co.uk/soundslides

No. 67 Columbia Road

Whilst pigeon stepping through Columbia Road Sunday flower market last weekend (obviously not the only Londoner taken back by the bazaar sunny spell we had), I spotted a gorgeous fabric shop and haberdashery - Beyond Fabrics - which sells retro inspired printed fabrics (sourced from around the world) some amazing braided ribbons, amongst other pretty knickknacks.

I want..

March/April 2012 Embroidery Magazine

Luminous threads and mark making

There is something that excites me about fluorescent colours, none more so when its an accent in something fragile like textiles, as oppose to the luminous nature of a retro plastic visor or this new trend for eye popping neon satchels. Which, don't get me wrong now I L.O.V.E!

When it comes to 2D work, I prefer restraint in the use colour. Take Claire Heathcote's large scale embroidered portraits. Worked by hand with a combination of applique, screen printing and machine embroidery technics, alongside a selective colour palette, Heatcote's use of pattern and dynamic composition culminate in a bold, confident style. The stylised details of the sitters' clothing and hair is something I'm specifically drawn to. As individual components they can be seen as quite abstract, but viewed as a whole, the texture gives depth and a tactile quality, which provides something more tangible for the viewer to relate to.

Hannah, 2005-06, hand stitched and machine embroidered, applqiue and screen print (130 x 110 cm)

'I think it has a calm, thoughtful quality with a feeling that my subjects are caught mid-motion and I think the use of thread tends to lend the work this transitory effect that perhaps a line drawing or painting might not possess to the same extent.'

Portrait of the Artist by Sue Pricahrd - Embroidery May/June 2007 (pg. 23)

David, 2005, hand stitched on felt (90 x 76 cm)

I find the contrast between blocks of colour, repeatative kinetic pattern and bare fabric so satisfying.

Another contemporary practitioner whose work shows great exploration whilst staying true to their own visual discernment is that of Helen Carnac a maker, curator and academic who works in metal, with a preoccupation for pattern, and mark making, together with process lead experimentation.


Carnac has a strong appreciation for material qualities, this is clear by her working process. Carnac also draws influence from her imediate urban and natural environment.

Some of my favourite pieces show thread being Incorporated into enameled metal together with these examples of her paper Marquette's with stitched details, and cut outs.

Cluster 3 brooch

Trade Secrets Episode 2: Helen Carnac on approaches to practice from Artquest London on Vimeo.

colour, colour, make and do

Met my mum after work today at our local John Lewis' haberdashery department - treated myself to a selection of kitsch and colourful wool, and got a belated Christmas present from my mother in the way of the Cath Kidston Stitch! book... I'm gonna have me some fun making some of these gems! Can't wait.
After my mum had seen how we'd dress the bed back in the children's section in our store, she vowed to have the fushia pink childs chanderleir to go with her fantasy bedroom, edecked with Pip bedding and accessories. One day mum... one day.