Monday 31 August 2009

Bird, Acorns, Bee & Flower Sketch


Another one from a sketch book [no4 page 20]. I like to put numbers on the pages so that I can find the sketch again if I need to. I quite often use the sketches in my drawing books to put in my creations.

Sunday 30 August 2009

HAND EMBROIDERED FISH



Top picture - hand embroidered fish with threads, ribbon, sequin and bead. The picture below shows the fish on a transfer print [hand painted paper transferred to fabric with iron]

Friday 28 August 2009

Handmade Rolling Stamps


I have an article in the new issue [sep/oct 09] of Cloth, Paper, Scissors about handmade rolling stamps [some use recycled objects] and here are two examples of background papers created using some of the stamps.




Thursday 27 August 2009

Baltic Flour Mills - Altered Book Page


The walls are normally plain, but I thought it would be interesting to add sculpture, art and signs from the area seeing that the baltic is now an art gallery. In the background is the millenium bridge and the sage [newcastle/gateshead].

Wednesday 26 August 2009

Round Box with water slip decals

This was a recycled turkish delight box and my very first try with water slip decals.
[If you've not used them before - they are inkjet papers that you use to print on & then spray with acylic varnish 3 times. It's then put in water so that the backing can be peeled off to apply to your surface, when dry, varnish again to seal.]
My example didn't work perfectly as you can see as I didn't have varnish - I used inkjet spray - having said that it doesn't look to bad at the top so maybe it was my spraying method. But warts and all, I do still quite like the finished not too perfect look of it.

Tuesday 25 August 2009

Sunday 23 August 2009

Saturday 22 August 2009

Harry Hotspur

A page from my North East sketch book. The horse is a statue at Alnwick Castle, Northumberland with Sir Henry Percy [born 1364] or Harry Hotspur as he is known riding. Alnwick Castle is also famous for another Harry - some of the Harry Potter films were shot there.

Friday 21 August 2009

Thursday 20 August 2009

Wednesday 19 August 2009

Nine Houses

Mixed media. Part of the 'reworked, recycled, revealed' collection. The idea was to use recycled till receipts, magazines etc, but as I thought these would fade too quickly I scanned them into the computer & printed them. I cut shapes from these sheets, collaged and then appliqued with free hand machine stitching. The exhibition at Barnard Castle ended today, so I won't be showing any more pictures from the two collections for a while. [they can be seen on my web site]

Tuesday 18 August 2009

News-Castle

Mixed media - paint, pens, pastel [part of the 'Illusions of the North East' collection]

Monday 17 August 2009

Herrington Park


Mixed Media - background is painted, the images are parts of photographs printed on fabric, appliqued to the background, with additional freehand machine stitching.
The creatures were sculpted in large rocks, the girl and umbrella were part of seats, the bull rushes were near the lake - all things found in Herrington Park withPenshaw Monument in the background, which can be seen from the park too. {part of the 'Illusions of the North East' collection}

Sunday 16 August 2009

Palm Tree Avenue

Mixed Media - the houses are collaged and made from recycled art work [paper], the trees are painted recycled papers/art work. They have been stitched to a fabric background mainly with a sewing machine, but after that broke they were hand stitched. The lines on the fabric is machine stitching. The fabric has been wrapped around a canvas frame. [sold but was part of the 'Reworked, Recycled, Revealed' collection.

Friday 14 August 2009

Newcastle/Gateshead on the Rocks

Another one from the 'Illusions of the North East' set. This one is fabric, digitally printed with a picture made up of photographs from around the area, and then heavily hand stitched, mainly french knots to enhance the moss on the rocks.

Thursday 13 August 2009

Queen of the North

Mixed Media. Layers - photographs of the North East printed on sheer fabrics and layered. The queen is the angel of the north with a new head. Machine embroidered and beaded and then applied to a white painted canvas.
One from the 'Illusions of the North East' project with Vervey - EXHIBITION now at WITHAM HALL GALLERY Horsemarket, Barnard Castle, DL12 8LY Thurs 13th — Wed 19th August 2009 10.30 am — 4pm


Wednesday 12 August 2009

Streets Above


Streets Above - recycled fabrics, hand painting, applique, machine embroidery
I'm a member of Vervey [a textile & mixed media group] and tomorrow is the start of our exhibition at Witham Hall Gallery, Barnard Castle, County Durham [13th - 19th August 10.30am - 4pm]. We have some of the work from our two exhibtions - Reworked, Recycled, Revealed & Illusions of the North East and as we all have very different styles it makes an interesting exhibition. Everyone welcome.

Saturday 8 August 2009

Cups & Cake


I bought a new sketching pen the other day but it wasn't till the next day when I was eating my breakfast that I realised I had not seen it since I got home. I searched my re-usable bags - not there. I remembered it was in a plastic bag, one which I had used to put some food in the freezer, and it was there, in the bag, in the freezer. I let it thaw out, and yes it does still work!

Wednesday 5 August 2009

Three Rabbits

Screen printed background - paper. Rabbits are various patterned fabrics appliqued to background.

Saturday 1 August 2009

Gold - Fish


Fish - stitched/layered organza fabric and stitched onto background of painted paper.