New embroidery framed, better picture soon.

Getting bored of these simple block geometric patterns I've been stitching.  So in a bid to investigate some more decorative embroidery techniques, I reminded myself of Australian textile artist Sera Waters use of blackwork.

 

The Evil Banana 2008

Blockage 2008 

Naughty Neighbour 2008

So I had a look on the Royal School of Needlework's website for starter courses. 

Blackwork by Jessica Grimm

fluorescent thread... gonna start a new one soon with some choral and lavender blue threads I've purchased. whoop.

Sera Waters

Australian artist, teacher and writer Sera Waters draws inspiration from the uglier, shocking side of life. After her studies, she received a grant which enabled her to attend the Royal School of Needlework at Hampton Court Palace, where she furthered her embroidery skills. 

 

 Butchering : Meat Series 2009 

thread, felt, sequins, beads, cotton on linen (260 x 220 mm each)

 Much of her current work uses traditional embroidery techniques.  Black-work with its meticulous repetitive patterns gives light and shade to her chosen subject in the Butchering series. 

Just got me a signed copy of Tilleke Shwarz new book 'New Potatoes'. Inspiring.

On the Kent coast

This weekend I visited a few places along Kent's east coast, and came across a beautiful shop in Margate's Old Town called Blackbird, owned by textiles artist Maxine Sutton.

Margory 2008, Flower/back 2008, Cowtree/Tufty 2008 screen printed, embellished and embroidered tea-cosy

If you ever get a chance to visit go next door to The Greedy Cow deli, (which serves amazing homemade burgers), and like the Blackbird boutique it also celebrates the old and the new with it's eclectic interior and contemporary artists work on the walls.

I couldn't afford any of Maxine Sutton's framed pieces but was able to buy a screen printed cushion I'll take a snap of soon to share.

Sad Bird 2009, Hungry Bear (detail) 2009 screenprinted, needlepunched and emroidered textile

Riffling through Sutton's achieve images I am reminded of an old course mate at Brighton who's work is inspired by folk style imagery, and bold yet selective use of pattern. www.silviakceramics.co.uk

lost and found

Righty then, I've stuck with cacoon-ing those little mass produced objects we're ever loosing, and always taking for granted. The sort of things my mother would say disappeared to the Narnia style world of the "Woodnits and Didnits" at the back of the kitchen's odds 'n' sods draw. (The creatures there steal singular socks, paper clips, pennies, pin tacks and the like).

Going round corners is tricky.

Even harder on shofter objects.

Got a bit of hair court in one, which adds further connotations to the possible narrative behind each object, which brings me back to viewing Colombian artist Doris Salcedo's elongated table at Tate Modern a few years back, the colouring is similar to Salcedo's select palette, and fusion of materials/objects, often rendering them useless.

Next up coloured thread, on coloured/patterned fabric, and framing some samples.

cocoon - lost and found

This harks back to a project earlier this year, I think I'll carry on with.. cocooning everyday objects into the surface of the fabric, reminiscent of that feeling of thumbing a penny lost in the pocket lining of a coat.