I've had so little time recently to give to textiles and stitch. It's been a wonderful time but now I'm feeling impatient to get going with the many thoughts I've had in my mind amongst the all the fun.
The most persistent ones have been connected with the aspects of geometry and shape I was exploring, mostly in black and white, for much of last year. There are so many ways to go ...
For now though, I've recently spent what time I had playing with stitch to enhance and develop a small roughly 7 inch square piece of printed fabric sent by blogging friend Julie Booth via a giveaway. I've had it hanging around in the back of my mind since it arrived some time last year and it had suggested itself for use on a few occasions but in the end was never quite right. Just after Christmas, though, it seemed ripe for stitching when time wasn't available to develop my own design. Very many thanks, Julie.
The fabric was one of several pieces, all in black printed on cream and what intrigued me most about it was the fact that it was full of those slightly distorted rectangles and small blocks of colour. It seemed to suggest stone walls, a favourite theme of mine.
Because of the printing technique Julie used, there were also many near (but not quite) repeats of line which gave scope for thought. It was fascinating to consider how this image could be developed and exploited by stitch ... what to intensify and what to leave unstitched ... and I have even added some (very) small areas of colour.
I have yet to finish it completely. I think there will be a few more dollops of that red colour and some more blocks of solid white ... and I'm intrigued by what is happening on the reverse unprinted white cotton backing. The effect is very different and when it's finished, I may just post it.
I'm sure also that there will be much more like this and also printing, painting, playing with paper and ink and enhancing and developing photographs.
On the latter thought, I was given an Intuos graphic pad by my husband for Christmas ... more fun and games to be had ...!
The most persistent ones have been connected with the aspects of geometry and shape I was exploring, mostly in black and white, for much of last year. There are so many ways to go ...
For now though, I've recently spent what time I had playing with stitch to enhance and develop a small roughly 7 inch square piece of printed fabric sent by blogging friend Julie Booth via a giveaway. I've had it hanging around in the back of my mind since it arrived some time last year and it had suggested itself for use on a few occasions but in the end was never quite right. Just after Christmas, though, it seemed ripe for stitching when time wasn't available to develop my own design. Very many thanks, Julie.
The fabric was one of several pieces, all in black printed on cream and what intrigued me most about it was the fact that it was full of those slightly distorted rectangles and small blocks of colour. It seemed to suggest stone walls, a favourite theme of mine.
Because of the printing technique Julie used, there were also many near (but not quite) repeats of line which gave scope for thought. It was fascinating to consider how this image could be developed and exploited by stitch ... what to intensify and what to leave unstitched ... and I have even added some (very) small areas of colour.
I have yet to finish it completely. I think there will be a few more dollops of that red colour and some more blocks of solid white ... and I'm intrigued by what is happening on the reverse unprinted white cotton backing. The effect is very different and when it's finished, I may just post it.
I'm sure also that there will be much more like this and also printing, painting, playing with paper and ink and enhancing and developing photographs.
On the latter thought, I was given an Intuos graphic pad by my husband for Christmas ... more fun and games to be had ...!
What a lovely piece of fabric, love your embellishments
ReplyDeleteThank you very much, Debbie. There is more fabric with other printed designs ... more to explore!
DeleteThis piece looks contemporary, but also brings to mind antique textiles. Lovely.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Olga. I'm always intrigued by your comments on my work and by your take on things. The piece seem so contemporary and abstract to me as I stitched so I'd love to know what antique textiles you had in mind in your comment.
DeleteThis is beautiful. I love the splash of colour and the extra depth and dimension the stitching gives it. Makes it seem 3 dimensional.
ReplyDeleteThe quite coarsely woven fabric Julie chose to print upon gave the fabric a special feel, soft and comforting in the hand, and definitely enhanced the 3D effect, I think.
DeleteLove what you're doing with the fabric Margaret! Can't wait to see where it all leads. I'm honored to be part of a collaboration!-Julie
ReplyDeleteI too am honoured to be part of a collaboration - what fun it is! I'm so glad you like what is happening.
DeleteAs I said to you in my email, it could lead nowhere or somewhere quite else. So much of my work is intuitive and on generally planned so when I start out I can never be completely sure where I'll end up.
There's no piece in particular that was called to mind, Margaret. It's the faded look of the pattern, the coarse fabric looks like a backing for embroidery which has mostly worn away. Rather like the right hand piece in this pic of embroidery from the Cluny museum in Paris: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/9c/51/0a/9c510ad3efda9ace5ad47c4afd4b7d2d.jpg
ReplyDeleteand the pattern reminded me of Pre Columbian textiles.
Very many thanks, Olga. Your post has had me scurrying to google images of Pre Columbian textiles ... fascinating. I can see where your thoughts came from and I will now investigate further. I may even post something if the week doesn't run away from me as it's threatening to do!
DeleteOn the subject of South and Central American art (and civilisation), have you been watching the amazing series of programmes on BBC 4 recently? An amazing insight and some of those images will remain so long in the memory.
A lovely piece of fabric. Printed, you say?? And I love what you are bringing to it....the touch of red really pops, and the hand stitching makes it sing. A chorus of 'lovely's all around!!! What a fun way to get back in the groove.....
ReplyDeleteThanks you so much for your kind comments. The fabric is beautiful, isn't it? I think the texture as much as the obvious black and white attracted me.
DeleteI certainly understand how you've been inspired by this - I wonder if there's something in our minds that wants to resolve slightly wonky geometry and a bit like wanting to put the last note to a cadence in music. For me, it brought to mind the pictures geophysicists would show on Time Team - perhaps the remains of an elaborate Roman villa...
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for this comment. One of the fascinating things about posting these little abstract experiments is receiving comments which describe people's responses to them. Yours is brilliant - it had not occurred to me at all - but now you mention it I can see it absolutely!
ReplyDelete