technical beauty

 

 
In my hubby's workspace I often get a glimpse of what ECUs, microchips and circuit boards look like. I'm not the least bit technically minded but I'm drawn to his things just because they look so interesting. This last object I spotted is made out of copper, and I just love the way the pattern repeats itself with slight irregularity...

nature weaving

Yesterday I returned to Fairfield house (where I did the India Flint workshop last year) to celebrate "Day Out of Time", a special day in the old Mayan calendar. I took my girls along. To my delight they found some fibre that had shed from the palm trees in front of the property. The pieces are like woven by Mother Nature, beautiful, so we collected quite a few. Now I want to find a way to use it, since there's no point collecting stuff just to have it sitting stashed up in some dark corner. Any ideas?

paisley twirl

I found these beautiful hand carved hardwood printing blocks in my local Trade Aid shop. The paisley pattern makes me always think about a colourful quilt blanket my grandma had on her bed. I remember lying on it completely lost in the paisley pattern. The old fashioned twirly wallpaper added to the experience... Eventually I added my own artistic touch to the wallpaper with some colourful crayons. I don't think it was very appreciated.

Perhaps I could create something more acceptable with these blocks. I've got some textile colours that have been sitting unused in my stash since my Stockholm days. Little signature prints on clothes? Arranged as bigger patterns on a t-shirt? Greeting cards, gift wrap? Dare I put any colour on these beautiful blocks at all!

The shop has actually quite a selection of patterns. Some of the bigger square blocks full of fine details were clearly familiar from Indian saris.

pompom beanie

A quick winter warmer for junior...

 

 

A snowy update 09.07.2010

We took a toboggan and other snow toys to Rainbow. My girls were spreading joy with their beanies on, judging by quite a few lovely comments.

Maya found this colourful yarn when we were at Spotlight and asked me to make her a "crazy hat". I had to bend my normal rule to only work on natural materials, but fun is good for the soul.

cozy

You should go and see the window of Page & Blackmore, our wonderful Nelson book store. This weekend they made a very colourful display of all the entries to their "Wild Tea Cosies" competition. You might recognise my entry under way in a previous post. I've been busy with anything geometric this year and so far pyramids have ruled the roost.

These Real Wild Cosies will be on display until the end of June.

 

11 June 2010

 My spiky cosy was selected as a runner-up in the contest. There were actually two winners and three runner-ups. It's been fun how many people have spotted my work in the window or read about it in the paper. A little bit of winter cheer.

 

 

Changing Threads

I was overjoyed to have two fibre art pieces accepted to the Changing Threads 2010 exhibition. One of them is a recent piece that features eco-dyeing on silk. It is a three dimensional sculpture suspended in space. I named it 

Incantations of Unity

My other featured piece was created three years ago, when I had just learned felting after my first girl was born. The name refers to one of my regular times of night to be up with Maya, contemplating my new life as a mum.

This entry was a runner up to the new entrant prize at the Creative Fibre National Exhibition 2007 and now got a special mention in the category "Excellence in contemporary interpretation of work featuring traditional techniques".

Wheeling 4am

This photo is from the exhibition.

The handmade felt is 98% Romney and 2% Corriedale, cut and folded to create a two sided effect.

The reverse.  

I am very proud to be included in this fine company. What a beautiful exhibition!