Rust dyeing

Been a long time since I last posted and thought it about time, I shared what I've been doing- playing with rust/ tea dyed fabrics. 

This quilt was entered into the Fine art Masters competition at the Festival of Quilts and wasn't accepted, but instead is entered into the Art Quilt category, so I wait to see how it's recieved. Lots of different types of silk and fine cottons have been wrapped around rusty bit & pieces then soaked in tea. I never know what marks or colours will emerge.

Inspired by the ruins of the Cornish tin mining industry scattered throughout the cornish landscape, as the marks remind me of those I observe as I walk in those areas. 

Leaf blankets

I have been writing about how leaves falling to the ground in Autumn form a blanket over the earth protecting it from the cold to come in Winter for many years in my sketch/ work books, so thought it about time I made a collection of Eco leaf prints into a large quilt. It has resulted in 3 pieces. 

A collection of prints of cherry leaves that resulted in beautiful green prints with a couple of rose leaf prints to complete it with commercially  dyed green, to bring out the rich green of the leaves. This is layered with a bamboo wadding ready to quilt. Still working out the detail of the quilting pattern. It has resulted in a double bed sized piece.

A collection of prints made after a walk through the Silk Wood at Westonbirt, not quite so big but long enough to wrap myself in it, when I need comfort. Waiting to be quilted. 

I made this to use as a backing cloth for the green piece, using all the pieces I thought weren't a good enough print. I didn't really plan this, just grabbed pieces from the pile and joined them together, with very little conscious thought as how it would look overall. Unfortunately it doesn't show so well in this photo, but I'm really pleased with the piece. It has a lovely quality of mark all across it, that I can enhance with hand stitch, and additional coloured fabrics. It's become a piece in it's own right. 

I really enjoyed the piecing of it, as it reminded me of how I used to work, collecting together fabrics and then just beginning to work, with no end product in mind. It's such a lovely free way to work. 

Exploring Newark Park

Walking through the grounds of Newark Park, looking for inspiration with Louise Watson & Rosemary Cochrane. We are exhibiting  in 2018 in the gallery at Newark Park. 

The sun came out as we walked past this carpet of snowdrops , with a tree casting it's shadow. 

The tall trees with their intricate branch patterns, caught my eye. Think this will be the basis for a quilt. 

So much to inspire. Trees will be central to my pieces. I just love trees in winter, when you can see their branches and the patterns they create so clearly. 

Good news

Take a Leaf.... Currently on tour  in Made in Europe - SAQA's latest exhibition in the  U.S.A. 

AQS Quilt Week Daytona Beach, FL: March 1 – 4, 2017
AQS Quilt Week Lancaster, PA: March 29 – April 1, 2017
Paducah Art School Gallery, Paducah, KY April - May, 2017
AQS Quilt Week Grand Rapids, MI: August 16 – 19, 2017"
 

Rust dyeing

Been experimenting with using long strips of khadi paper and japanese papers with rusted washers, steel discs and tea. I left them for 3 days to cure. I've also got a delicious piece of Lawn that had sat on top of the paper to keep the moisture in. So have ended up with 2 lovely papers and a cloth. 

An old linen sheet, dyed with tea and a piece of rusted corrugated iron,a friend found buried in her allotment. The sheet is very thin in places and has beautiful darns which I hope to add it now or patch. Looking forward to stitching this soon. 

Isn't it a gorgeous piece of rust with two rods I found on St Ives beach. 

Honister Slate Mine

Spent an afternoon here at Honister Slate Mine, exploring the slate heaps and piles of rusty old equipment, while Dominic tackled the Via Ferrata Extreme. 

A beautiful twisted molten fire pit, surrounded by piles of rusty nails.

Interesting patterns found amongst the piles of rusty metal piled on top of each other. 

Top of a rusty table. 

Lots to inspire future pieces of cloth.

St Ives Beachcombing

Collection of Limpet shells from Beaches of St Ives.

Their mountain like form reminds me of the spoil heaps from the China pits of St Austell. 

 

More finds from the harbour beach, delicious pieces of blue and white China, polished glass pebbles and a small toy soldier,  all telling tales of past lives.