Friday 28 February 2014

Another collage or two

A little late for Valentine's but here's my effort. I went walking looking for red which I didn't expect to find in such quantity, well it;s more of a rusty blood red, bits of seaweed & stones with a contrasting blue 'heart' in the middle. Took a quick pic & stopped to chat to a neighbor & with my back turned for a minute, Tam, having spat out the stones, chewed up the lot!




Carrying on in the series I started, using up some of the piles of papers I've printed I've made some  collages using the oak leaves. Not very topical I know but they are papers from the end of last year. (the direct prints in the sketchbook pages did well as 'alternative' nature's Christmas cards - I like a bit of nature, me)


ready to stitch, these are all 12x12cm


This will need some lightening up, a technique using a white correcting pen seen on Design Matters TV might suit - I got a 3m subscription for Christmas. Lots of inspiring tips there which I thought would remind me of things already learned & give me some new ideas. I intend to make a school of DMTV sketchbook......


 The 'abstract' one - I didn't have enough material for a bigger collage, so I'll have to do more printing if my gelatine plate hasn''t got lost too deep in the freezer!


Above are some purses made in a morning workshop I was asked to give primarily for 2 girls, aged 7 & 4 neither of whom spoke English, a challenge on both counts! The mother of the girls & my friend who they were visiting joined in (kids on the left, big girls on the right) & all had a good time. I could foresee all the sewing being done by adults so decided we would first make a sketch on paper of a shape, found by thinking of  a design, or looking around the room for inspiration. Then we would look at the design & draw onto bondaweb backed calico cotton. The big girls added some stitching to the motifs guided by the girls & while the construction was going on they continued to draw more of  their own designs. Give a child a sharpie pen & they're away! Very pleased with my students. ;)


Always finding inspiration wherever I look (the DH thinks I'm barmy, I'm sure) I couldn't resist these fragments of grilled cheese fallen off a piece of cheese on toast - imagine, a bit of raw umber, tyvek & a heat gun & you'd be laughing! Tasty, too ;)


13 comments:

ju-north said...

Still doing great work I see! You could always varnish the cheese and see if it keeps! Hope you saw the northern lights

mano said...

ha ha, the cheese...!
I love your collages and I'm happy to be here again. I lost your blog for some month...

Living to work - working to live said...

Yes - did you see the lights?? And I love the previous comment about the cheese!!

jackie said...

I hope you are fully recovered soon,sounds like quite a shock. Frustrating too when you are so busy finding inspiration everywhere - did they give you the stone!
I had fun on the course,good to try something quite different.

Maggi said...

Glad that you managed to get a photo before Tam decided that art is edible. That blood red is gorgeous.

Love what you are doing with the papers and your young students did so well.

Heloise said...

I like your heart shaped nature table. The collages are really lovely warm colours.

ArtPropelled said...

Lol .... I have a picture in my mind of Tam hoovering your Valentine arrangement into his mouth.

Anonymous said...

I think your tyvek isea is great for burnt cheese....then stitched onto something. Marvelous reds in your seaweeds. xox

Suztats said...

I always find the most interesting things coming to your blog! Such a shame all those reds were gobbled. Grilled cheese tyvek......hmmmmmm... :-)

Robin Mac said...

So glad you are better again. Love all the collages and your students did some great work. Cheers

Linda’s Textiles said...

Glad you're back from your kidney stone - nasty!
Love your collages & valentine arrangement & laughed at the cheese.

Jan said...

Love your wild heart display. Possibly it is more memorable for having been destroyed by Tam?
Your prints are good and surely will inspire you to continue with them, turning them into your wonderful art.

Linda Vincent said...

Hi Emma....hope you're feeling ok now.
I really like your collages...the oak leaf is such a lovely shape, isn't it?
Natural collections are very precious ...remind me of working in school and having a nature table :-)
xx