Experimental weaving - a string page

One of the experiments I did recently was weaving with plain string.  I made a page for a book by using some old wire as an outline approx A4 size; then I did irregular weaving with string, making sure not to have a neat grid.  I left all the tied off ends loose.  Then I melted some encaustic wax paints, and brushed them over the weaving.  You can see it is sitting on foil I recycled from microwaving potatoes, this foil just becomes discoloured but is usually quite clean and peels off from the wax easily.  Once the wax was dry I sewed on some bread tag beads.

Woven string page, painted with encaustic, bread tag beads - irregular weaving

Now, I have spent ages searching for a link to extend this post for you, trying to find some experimental weaving or weaving with string that wasn't regular and wasn't on a loom.  Spirit Cloth has some very interesting weaving posts, this is one of them.  Apart from Spirit Cloth and Windthread , who also have fascinating philosophical slants to their artwork, I can't find blogs or websites with what I'm interested in which is something different, not weaving on a loom, not nice neat stuff.

Experimental art as a way of life

Having realised that Connotations is not just about a Recycle Cloth but is about experimenting too, I've started some fabric manipulation on it, and then adding beading to that, to nestle in the folds of the gathers.  The lilac strip I stitched along the length but going from one side to the other, that made it twist naturally.  Then the green organza square, I stitched a rough circle, pulled it up and attached with a few stitches, then sewed the beads in to the folds.  I also keep trying different embroidery stitches but keep coming back to the running stitch - it seems to give my wanted effect better. I'm also leaving all the loose ends on top which gives it a very relaxed look.  I stitch in a naive style (varying the length of the stitches) because it sits with my style of frayed edges and roughly cut and torn shapes.  Yes there is a circle there but it was a leftover from a workshop and needed recycling.  Now that I have started to use Connotations as a piece of experimental art, I don't have to think about a use for it.

Connotations - experimental art with recycling

Changing interests

I have just updated my website to better reflect my current interests.  I have deleted all the pattern pages because I have no interest in them anymore; I just work on my own work and look at others work, and leave patterns to those who do want them.  I am now using it to show my work, but still unsure about whether to put PayPal on or not, because I'm not comfortable with the idea of being responsible for other people's money online.  Makes it hard to sell anything though!

Inspiration from nature

Looking at textiles and papers depicting nature.  I found some stunning work on Inga Hunter's website showing work in textiles, hand-made paper and mixed media.  The link here showing this page is evocative of exactly what she aimed for, the accumulation in gutters and hollows of leaves, twigs and debris; it is from her Blue Mountain landscapes.  

My own Australian landscape comes from a mixed media panel I made in which I used applique to make a rainforest background.  Using ribbons in greens and purples, I then crisscrossed them with uneven strips of various scrap fabrics to disguise any straight edges, cut out palm trees from a printed fabric, covered it in tulle to add a hazy effect, used a brown textured fabric in the foreground for a tree trunk, some green fibre stuff for a climber, free-machined in shades of greens ..... had great fun making it, and have always been pleased with the result.

Australian rainforest - applique

Relaxing over the break

One of the things I do when relaxing is to blog-surf.  Looking at my all-time stats for this blog, I found that my thread-painted cat had been posted on http://dmc-threads.com/hot-summer-cool-cats/ with 2 links to my blog - and it has resulted in lots of people linking through to see how I stitched it.  It's great to know people are sharing my blog around.  I found that the dmc website has an extensive stitch guide with clear diagrams and written instructions - very useful.

Here is one of my chookys relaxing.

Synchronicity

Just when I decided to look up Elaine Lipson after reading an article by her about Jude Hill, I went to her blog and found she had posted an entry in September this year after a gap of nine months, and it contained a PDF of her talk on Slow Cloth, which I had been revisiting only yesterday in my Inspiration Folder - how's that for sychronicity?  The link is to Red Thread Studio.

Had a lovely family get-together yesterday, as my children have several families to visit on Xmas day so we have ours the weekend before or after.  Yes it's only water in the glass!  Temp was 34 celsuis, Sunday was 39 celsius so we moved it from Sunday to Saturday.  Phew!  Ok its hot but better than snow for me.

spring water on a hot day

Experimental weaving

I intend to do a lot more experimental art this coming year.  One of the things I have tried out is weaving - I've always thought it was not for me, too regular, but of course that was before I saw pieces such as this one from grace Forrest  and heini karariina too.  I had lots of strips of leftover fabric from dyeing pieces for a college project, which often come in useful for tying labels to things, but I thought I would try weaving them.  Some are different widths or irregular widths which was what I wanted.  It is just an experiment, which I spoiled eventually because I experimented further with it and painted encaustic wax on it - I hated the result, it spoiled the simplicity, and I threw it out.  Sometimes experiments don't give you what you expected but of course from that we learn what we like and don't like.

Experimental weaving piece 1 - I like the trailing ends

Online finances

(Looking for something different, I found these miniature prints by Dianne Longley, the Australian print artist.  I've always been fascinated with miniature anything - my dolls house is an ongoing project - and these appealed to me because of the fine detail.)

I looked at this page because I wondered how other artists deal with finances online.  I'm a bit wary about internet banking for my personal accounts - and this has led to a conundrum with my website.  I would like to give people the opportunity to buy but, especially outside Australia, it's a challenge because Aussie banks don't accept cheques from overseas unless they are bank cheques, and then there's a charge; and so many people like to pay directly online nowadays anyway. Cheques aren't so popular now also.   I notice that Dianne gives her bank BSB and account number for direct payments - I thought I would look into that with my bank.  PayPal is popular but I'm not sure - what do other people do to sell online?  Please comment here - I don't want the expense of setting up a merchant account and shopping cart - do other artists find selling using PayPal is good?

I've added two pages to my blog.

New plans

As the new year looms, I'm planning ahead, and thinking of revamping my website, because I'm really not happy with it any more.  I started it when I was producing textile patterns, and now I don't do that any more but have left the patterns on there because my body of work is still small, which I share on the two non-pattern pages, Book Arts and Textile Art.  I don't know whether to:

• take the patterns off altogether
• leave them but take them off the Home Page, and have a link to them somewhere else

Do any of my readers have any feedback for me?    I'd love some comments from you here on the blog.  To look at the website yourself and decide, this is my website link http://www.christinelinton.com.au/, or go to the feathers at the top of the blog,

 After reading this great book"I'd rather be in the studio" I want to make my website more current but feel a little unsure of the best way to go.   I have made the Home Page more current with recent work.

Also I don't know whether to:

• change the layout altogether, losing the Green Information Boxes on various pages and concentrating on the art work itself only
• or leave the Green Boxes but update them more often
• and is the green background good?

Back to the art.  Here is a brooch I made ......

Glitterfly - made from sequinned glitter fabric (inside out), beads, wire, free-machining on vilene

Xmas chooks

Skeleton Leaves

Skeleton leaves are fascinating but I very rarely find them.  They are also delicate and crumble.  I was so pleased with my latest encaustic experiment because it looks just like a skeleton leaf.  I was rubbing the wax block onto the raised backs of leaves and "ironing" them onto previously waxed paper - in this case, I had found that glossy photo paper works nearly as well as encaustic shiny paper, and I have several free packs of the glossy photo paper from computer ink pack purchases, so I don't have to buy new supplies again.

This leaf had been preserved in glycerine - see this link for information on how to do this; it remains supple and can be reused

This oak leaf was dried and crumbled as I used it

I have continued to look for hand stitching on encaustic, and finally found Sue Tyldesley, on her website - I particularly liked "Connected Flowers", on the right of the first line of photos.  You might like to see her hand stitching on encaustic at this link.

Making books - different approaches

Yesterday I went to the State Library in Adelaide to view the catalogue of an exhibition by local book artist Diane Longley.  Unfortunately I couldn't see the actual books but the catalogue was quite descriptive and although my own work tends to the raggy edge look, I did admire the skill she showed, and the write-ups inspired me to think about my own approach to making books.  My approach is experimental - having arrived at book making later in life, every book is a new experience.  In my approach, I try to incorporate what Keith Smith calls “the whole-book experience”, giving content and form equally serious consideration.  So I might interpret the same concept with different formats until I find the one best suited.

I don’t start a book until I have an overall concept.  I don’t like making a book that doesn’t have a purpose behind it, a starting point.  Often I symbolise the concept rather than realistically represent it, for example, using gentle colours and soft shapes o show peacefulness rather than draw or stitch a sleeping cat.  Such as this:  (scroll down to the second book shown on my web page).

My meditation book - dyed papers, stitching

Inspiration – it always comes back to Nature.  Nature fulfils me, satisfies my soul.

Skies - just love them.

Had lots of fun on the weekend, trying out my new encaustic set.  Bought the lot, after a demo and short practice at college.  Made myself work through my book to learn the techniques first, so after a few landscapes as in the book, I launched into my "own thing" :

Moody - with silver

Luscious - with gold and silver

Translucent - sunrise

When I do skies - which I love doing in any media - I tend to think of red/purple skies as sunrise rather than sunset.  I don't know if this is because I am more of a morning person or if it is because I am a glass-half-full person.

You can see another of my skies in this post - link below:
http://craftconversations.blogspot.com.au/2009/12/machine-quilting-with-thread-waste.html

I was blog-surfing for more textile art skies and found this one which is different but I rather like:
http://fiberfly.blogspot.com.au/2012/10/sea-and-sky.html

..... and blog-surfing for encaustic skies, I found this one which is also rather lovely, with lots of skies:
http://kathleenhooks.netfirms.com/encaustic_paintings/

I am captivated by skies, I've even got my husband taking photos of them, though the photo never quite captures the moment ..........

More on Connotations

Worked on my 3rd piece for "Connotations".    This one I stitched a lot more, mainly running but a bit of chain stitch; also used dyed string couched on top.  This is strong I used when pole-wrapping shibori last year, which of course retained the dyes used so I couldn't chuck it.  So pleased to find a use for it.

I'm wondering if this piece has too little contrast - any ideas?

This is a detail - I actually like it better close up than from a distance, I just don't think it grabs any attention because the tonal values are all the same except for the string.  What can I do?

Textiles or paper?

We all need to spend time without conscious thoughts and labels circulating in our heads, to allow creativity to spring up.  We can think too much.

My whole life I have been a textile fan.  Recently I've discovered how wonderful paper is to work with too.  But I've been trying too hard to combine textiles with paper.  Just because I have a weakness for both (or is it a strength for both?) it's ok to use them separately.  I kept thinking (thinking!) that I had to use everything I like at once.  Too much thinking, not enough being.  Losing creativity.

Paper is wonderful in codex form, and folded books.  Textiles are great in scrolls because of their properties - they still lie flat after being rolled up for ages, unlike paper (except soft paper napkins).  Other types of paper hold the rolled-up effect depending on the thickness and stiffness of the paper.  Paint adds to the stiffness even if diluted, while dyes don't.  So I prefer textiles and papers to have the vehicle to show their own special qualities.  They can be combined, but don't have to be to still be a mixed-media artist.

I made a scroll from wet felting which unrolled beautifully every time.  The cover for this scroll I made from a silk scarf that I bought plain, then dyed with silk dyes, then patched with torn, dyed silk organza pieces.  It is luscious.  I love it.  And being silk it unrolls flat.

Dyed silk scarf with patches of organza, used as a Scroll Cover

To help you let thoughts go, and let creativity surface, please look at this beautiful photo on Sweetpeapath blog - what peace it brings to a mind.  Master the art of doing nothing, to quote someone but I don't know who - does anyone else know where this comes from?

http://sweetpeapath.blogspot.com.au/2012/11/texture-tuesday-dream.html

Connotations

I can’t bring myself to buy any more new fabrics while I have so much already.  My intention is to use up all my stash (4 big drawers full) and now I have a channel for it.

I have been fascinated with Jude Hill and Spirit Cloth lately; her blog has fired my imagination to start my recycle cloth.  My underlying concept is that every piece of cloth I use has a value to me – the significance of its background – why I bought it, the purpose, was it for experimental, for college, for a quilt  – where did I buy it  - charity shop, big fabric store on a day out  – did someone give it to me – is it a recycled piece from family – do I like it, what are my feelings surrounding it and its previous use – affection for it, association with circumstances.

All this leads to the name I have for it “Connotations”, the definition of this word is a meaning in addition to the primary meaning – in other words, for example, my daughter’s old blouse is highly textured fabric that delights me, and that also reminds me of her.

I have thrown out so many scraps of fabric over the years, and in a way this is reclaiming that waste – not literally but symbolically.  Here are photo details of the first two pieces:

Detail of Piece 1, in which I layered my only sheer with text, over the other layers - not really enough stitching on it.

As you see I am using layers of scraps from dye projects in any lightweight fabric, bits of sheers, bits of silk -  I was going to call it Layers of Meaning.  Every piece reminds me of that part of my life, which overlays another part of life ...

In this detail of Piece 2 you can see I have more stitching - and there is a piece of dyed silk with my name on from a college project.

I am finding this stitching is bringing me peaceful feelings that put troubling considerations into perspective.  Is this why so many work with hand-stitching?

I wonder how big is the recycling fabric movement?  Can’t just be me and a few others that I know ...

Nature Day

When I logged on this morning, I was planning on posting a photo of my Recycle Cloth, which I started after being inspired by Jude Hill, grace Forrest and others.  First I enjoyed my usual browsing of blogs, and then I found one new to me, Sweetpea Path (link http://sweetpeapath.blogspot.com.au/).   Sweetpea Path has such fond emotions showing in these photos.
       I felt so close to the emotion Christi was expressing I wanted to share a photo of my beloved cat Tibs - which one?  Finally decided on this, because she is so appealing curled up on the chair in my sewing room on a day when it was too hot to be outside.

Then I had to post this beautiful hollyhock growing in a garden nearby, which I passed on my morning walk. It is a deep reddish purple, stunning.  

Deepest purple hollyhocks in a nearby garden

When you are feeling strong emotions about something, nature has a way of calming - shows me the way.   Sometimes you have to go with the flow and change your plans because it feels right - agreed?

Making Changes

This week has been about making changes in the way I look at things.  I started off by understanding vaguely that I was in overdrive on the artwork front, feeling scattered because I was trying to work on too many projects at once.  I re-read an article on Change from ArtBizBlog which I now can't find online but luckily printed off.  Then when I was in Adelaide and stopped for my cappuccino time, I took out my journal and started writing how I was feeling.  As I wrote, I got into the scattered feeling and started to write about my priorities, realising I was not working on those things as much as on unimportant things.  Once I had journalled about it I could change what I was doing.  I looked at Jude Hill's blog Spirit Cloth and grace Forest's blog windthread and found the change I was looking for, that is,  I became conscious that much as I now love and enjoy working with books and papers, I don't want to let go of working with textiles - so I am bringing textiles back into my personal creativity which I will share with you later.  On windthread I found a post that changed my whole concept of weaving.  I always thought of weaving as humdrum, flat, and uninspiring.  This post shows such a different perception that I am utterly inspired by it and want to incorporate it into my new piece - no I'm not scattering, this is the personal piece that I won't be using in a book form.

One way in which I thought I could change would be to try out the Picasa photo program that is on my computer.  I took an old photo, of a silk embroidery from a couple of years ago, and in Picasa changed it to Neon.

Silk embroidered Gouldian Finches and Ulysses Butterfly

 Cool!  How different is that?