Dissolving ideas ! ...

On Amazon the other week I came across the above book "Stitch & Structure" by Jean Draper & for some reason had to buy it (as you do!!!). It's been a brilliant read & provided lots of inspirational ideas especially to do with dissolvable fabrics & the variety around today. I think I shall have to get hold of some now as I think it will answer some of my creative problems I'm experiencing re the 'cell' & other projects.

I'm still stitching with metallic threads on 'Black Cell' in the studio but much of my time recently has been spent dressmaking for customers as well as some alterations for 'Prom dresses'.

Sorry Black Cell !!! work must come first!

Self portrait 2 - next development ...

Following the computer designs from earlier (& inspired by subsequent stitching), here's the next colourful computer-generated "self-portrait". Although graphically representational, it is appearing (in my mind's eye) in a stitching format. So where to go next?

Mosaic or artwork?

For some reason I'm drawn back to an earlier sketch of several years ago - why at this moment in time? Thoughts of crazy/random patchwork - mosaics - Gaudi are beginning to filter into my thoughts (the sketch above to represent this) & not for the first time! Over recent months, this seem to be a repeating progression of creative thoughts & ideas that need to be addressed. So, glancing back over my 'creative route' to date, many interesting images are almost 'mosaic-like' in their appearance & have this almost as a common theme (perhaps because I have many interests myself & tend to work in a rather mosaicked manner).

Anyway, looking at the definition of the word, there appears to be links to my projects:

1. a picture or pattern produced by arranging together small pieces of stone, tile, glass, etc
2. an individual (especially an animal) composed of cells of two genetically different types
3. a virus disease that results in leaf variegation in tobacco, maize, sugar cane, and other plant

At this stage further 'sketches' need to be completed (I may start this via some computer designs - see my sketch book).

UPDATE: 10 March ... have now created some fabric samples & sketches continuing this on, click UPDATE to see them

Fabric mosaic samples

Scraps stitched in various colours

Above is a sample of machine embroidery - initial techniques/ideas originating from a reversible patchwork waistcoat I'm working on. I think somehow they are going to be ideal for Project:Mosiac - however early days yet!! Pix below show the previous stages (if you're interested in finding out more about their stitching, visit my Machine Embroidery blog where there's more detail):

Scraps pinned into position

Held down with machine embroidery

Fabric Mosaics ...

Whilst currently working on a patchwork waistcoat, my thoughts led back to some of the images from Project Mosaic. Possibly because of the colours I'm using or maybe some initial thoughts regarding machine embroidery that I hope to be using for the waistcoat.

Shapes ...

Here's some more photos - I love the patterns & intrigued by the mosaic-style shapes shown:

Spider web

Wasp's nest pockets

Wasp's nest

Dragonfly wing

Dragonfly wings

Anemones, balls & bats ... !

On Monday 18 July, I wrote on the topic of Flowers. Well finally I got my shot of them - here they are:

Anemones

As you can see from the shot above - the buds are perfect miniature balls. Just great when you're young to hit with a bat & send over the garden fences!!

Floral mosaics ...

Computer image from last week

Continuing my patterns exercise during the afternoon, I played around with the above image & came up with these:

Repeating patterns as ideas for Mosaic inserts / tiles

Repeating patterns as ideas for Rugs

Interesting segments ...

I've also found some earlier notes I've used for students in the past:

Select 2 photos, or magazine cuttings etc (eg. Flowers & leaves) choosing at least 3 predominant colours -

1. in same proportions OR
2. in unsimilar proprtions

Weave, fold or overlay strips of these paper images to produce an A4 sheet of interesting segments

Here's my version using the 2 Sunflower photos (shown in Project Mosaic) as a start. Photos have been cut into strips & woven together):

After 2 computerised effects. this is the result:

A lovely set of colours - now needing another touch !

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Ideas ...

Many of my 'projects' often start as a 3D image (in my head) or follow on from some sort of 3D-visual. A good example of this is Project Mosaic - starting out as a result of this photo:

Sad Sunflower

It was taken a few years ago when out for the day on a photo-gathering trip - something I've done periodically over the years. Usually picking a specific theme for the trip (in this case vegetation) - giant sunflowers were seen growing on an allotment somewhere. This particular one looked very 'unhappy' with its head hung down & canes nearby, so I took this shot. Put into my collection as reference, when I came across it last week, it reminded me of the sunflower I made as a teenager. One of my many projects from an early age, it stood in the corner of my bedroom for many years ... appx. 6 foot tall, in crepe paper with a broom handle stem.

Last year, towards the end of the summer, I bought some cut flowers ... a bunch of 4 smaller sunflowers that I could photograph to add to my previous large one. This time they would have their petals showing! Here they are:

Happy Sunflower

Now, having the 2 sets of photos together (and somewhere in my tunnels of imagination), it has triggered off thoughts of colourful patchwork (crazy?) using or adapting pieces of embroidery in my collection. In my minds eye, I can now see a hazy mosaic starting to come together. At this stage I don't know what ... this usually happens a bit later.

Anyway, this is where I'm hoping the blog can help - I should be able to track my thoughts a bit easier!

Project Mosaic ...

Following on from the flower pix, ideas are starting to emerge on another project MOSAIC. Don't know in what form this will take but likely to be some sort of fabric-style patchwork (or similar) & may feature some recycled/old embroidery pieces. On the other hand, it may be some sort of 3D object that is covered in a form of decoupage.

Sunflowers ...

Some other Sunflower pix I've come across (with enhancement below) are now beginning to start off the next project ...

Flower design & colours ...

Here's my flower pix - from left to right: sunflower, sweet peas, cornflower

Sun Flower - Sweet Pea - Cornflower

Now for some simple computer enhancements:

 

Best of this initial bunch !