Down Experiment Lane.

I am still on the road of experimentation. I am gathering bits and pieces together, recycling pieces of work and fabric as well as my much loved felt.
I liked the piece below so much that I have replaced it as my header on the blog; as you can see the close ups are quite rich, as usual just click on them for a large view.

I do think it came as a discovery of the stitch doodles and I am not sure where it will lead me. I see them as freehand samplers. The original ATC sized stitch doodles I have sewn together as book for my use as a reminder of what is possible so it's actually a stitch book; perhaps I will show
this next time. It is working very well for me.

I am enjoying the freedom that it is allowing me. The idea though is to use the work as a reference in my future work; Perhaps allowing me some ideas when I work upon less abstract piece in the future. I am searching for a language in stitch colour and fabric; a language of my own I hope.
Obviously, to use this language in the future will also take much exploration but I feel sure that it is a path I should be following.

More Brooches

Here are some more of the brooches I am making for my friend, these will be for the lady's day that they are holding in March so I just finished them in time. I hope that they like them.

Some are similar but they differ either in colour or design so everyone is infact unique. Just how I like it; I hate to repeat exactly what I do, I believe that is what machines are for, no I like to make every thing I do slightly different. Even when I make a series it should show variations.

These below are slightly closer photos of the ones above; they are not copies.

As always click on the pictures if you would like to look closer although sometimes the images are not as clear, my hand is not so steady these days. Never mind my sewing hand is. If you do drop by do leave a comment. Thanks to you who do. Tricia x

Back to doing some Brooches, a favour for my Northern friend.

Ok these are the first of 30 that I am making for a dear friend who I met when I lived up North, I have already shown her these and she approves so I am continuing to make some more, the shapes are very simple but with lots of embroidery. I must have them done before the end of the month so I better get my skates on! Also below a couple of other things I made as presents recently:

About a year or so ago I made my Grand daughter a bracelet and she was mortified when she lost it, I told her not to worry and I have made her another. Silk embroidered onto industrial felt fixed with velcro. She likes it that's all that matters.

The next was a present for a very dear friend who took me out to lunch last year. She likes these colours, you can't see much of the felt I got a bit carried away with needle weaving. I just love threads; as you can see. It was based loosely on a picture of some art deco jewelry. I think Mary liked it. I love making presents for people. It's my favourite way of showing that I care about someone.

AS ALWAYS CLICK ON THE PICTURES FOR A CLOSE UP.
Well I had better get on, be back soon Love Tricia x

A reminder of a little stillness on a stormy night.

Taken just a few days ago around about 6am dawn over Kent, UK



I love the star in these pictures sitting right on top of the new
crescent moon. A quiet interlude to remember on such a stormy
night

Ken Robinson says schools kill creativity | Video on TED.com

Ken Robinson says schools kill creativity Video on TED.com

My Stitch Doodles

I have been continuing the theme that I began earlier and here are the results: I say results but this in a sense does not in any way indicate these are finished pieces of work. This is experimental work, like a sampler that is in miniature with no structure to get in the way of discovery. It is not about what these have become but what I have learned from making them. I hope you will enjoy looking at these as much as I have enjoyed making them. They are all ATC size.

RECYCLE RECYCLE RECYCLE!!!

I am a reader of the Natural dyes website, the newsletters get delivered straight to my inbox. I don't always find anything of interest but today I was shocked by what I read, I tried to add a link but you have to be subscribed before you can access it - it is a Yahoo site if any of you are interested.

Anyway, I felt compelled to at least add the information below which tells of the devastating distruction to the environment to grow cotton. I certainly never realised this. I always thought of cotton being such a healthy fabric.

I only have one thing to say here: good for all of you who recycle this precious but very poor environmental product. Keep it up and spread the word. I will certainly think twice before any cotton in my house goes to waste in the future. I am so glad that I am primarily a felt maker.

For further reading:
http://www.icac.org/seep/documents/reports/2010_interpretative_summary.pdf

http://www.organiccotton.org/oc/Cotton-general/Impact-of-cotton/Risk-of-cotton-farming.php

http://www.ota.com/organic/environment/cotton_environment.html

http://www.sustainablecampus.cornell.edu/getinvolved/Docs/Environmental_Impact_of_a_Cotton_T-shirt.pdfmpus.cornell.edu/getinvolved/Docs/Environmental_Impact_of_a_Cotton_T-shirt.pdf

http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/footprint/agriculture/cotton/

http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.115-a449