in a way the past year has passed quickly and between endless zoom work meetings I have managed to spend a lot of time in my studio which I always love. The other positive is that there are now some amazing live courses on zoom .I have just finished one taught by Patricia Belyea a Seattle based quilt artist who is inspired by yakuta fabric which she also imports. I took a course with her in Seattle but this time I could stay at home! thank you Patricia.
I am working on several new pieces -making small studies to help me focus –
Thinking of everyone who like me is in lockdown mode -but I am luckier than most as it means I can hide in my studio all day and create some new work. My most recent piece is Geisha in a Stone Garden- currently in Australia for an exhibition entitled Opposites Attract but I dont know when it will eventually open.I wanted to show the contrast between the gorgeous colours and curves of the geisha’s kimono and the raked stone grey Japanese gardens with their linear lines. I like the contrast between the smooth edge pieced quilted cotton and silk fabric (some hand dyed and screen printed by myself, some antique japanese kimono silk) in the kimono and the rough edge applique of the garden.
A wonderful week’s course with Patricia -I loved working with Okan Arts incredible yakuta cotton fabrics and hearing from Patricia about Japan. I also learnt some great techniques and enjoyed La Conner where the course was held.
La Conner Country Inn
Working hard but failing to keep my journal updated…we built a studio for me in Harris –
Harris view
A wonderful space in an inspiring place-over the next weeks I will post pictures of the work I have been making
OVER CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR I WAS GOING TO HAVE A CHANCE TO WORK ON MY NEW SERIES-ABSTRACTS REFLECTING JAPANESE TEMPLES. INEVITABLY A COMBINATION OF A SORE THROAT AND LOTS OF COOKING MEANT I GOT DISTRACTED….INTO TRYING OUT PRINTING LEAVES ON VARIOUS FABRICS I HAD DYED LAST MONTH. USING REAL LEAVES, STENCILS, SHAPES ETCHED INTO FOAM AND GELLI PLATES I MANAGED TO CREATE A PILE OF FABRIC FOR MY NEXT PROJECT ..AFTER THE CURRENT ONE!
printing fabric from nature
When I was in Harris earlier this year the weather kept me happily inside my studio watching it from the window while I worked. In between when searching for inspiration, I also tried out new recipes on my husband who is always appreciative- crab and asparagus clafoutis and Greek courgette slice were the winners.
IN PRINT- part of an exhibition at Redditch Textile Museum.I was inspired by the patterns
humans and animals leave on the landscape -which disappear as rain falls or grass covers them .
The snow showed the prints made by birds and sheep and also the tyre tracks and footprints humans leave on the landscape. I used these ideas for a piece which I entered into a contemporary quilt guild exhibition in February and was delighted when the piece was accepted.