More student work at SHP

I showed a lion's head made by Sarah Ellinor yesterday. Today I will start with a bear's head.

I also mentioned I was going to show you some gargoyle like figures. Well, on a little ramble round the neighbourhood today, I saw a few gargoyles over the door of someone's house.

Very fun!

And then here are the figures I saw at South Hill Park by Nathan Partridge.

A few angles for you to appreciate.

I think I would be tempted to do ceramics if I could do fantasy creatures!

Student work at SHP

When I was at South Hill Park to see the Magna Carta Quilts, there was also a display of work from students who take courses at the arts centre.
I took some photos of a few that caught my eye.

This harp was amazing in itself before the stained glass butterflies were added. But they do seem to work. I took the photo before I began seeing the rest of the quilts and then the student work, so I didn't think to take a photo of the label to see whose work it was.

These two quilts were done by my friend Mavis, who does the most exquisite hand work! Not only the embroidery, but also the quilting is all by hand.

There were a selection of other ceramics made to look like small gargoyle type creatures. I will show the photos of those tomorrow.

Magna Carta Legacy quilts

As I said yesterday, accompanying the quilts with the story of King John and the Magna Carta, were quilts depicting people through the years who were leading figures in the field of human rights. These are called the Legacy Quilts.
You can read more about the quilts and the making of them at the Magna Carta Quilt website.

Again I apologise for the photo quality because of the very bright lighting coming from the window. Better photos can be seen at the above link.

The quilts are currently on display at the IQA show in Houston.

Magna Carta Quilts

Several weeks ago I had the privilege to see the Magna Carta Quilts made to commemorate 800 years since the signing of the Magna Carta.
I knew one of my friends had worked on some of the quilts, but when I was at the Lace Day, I discovered that a lady I knew from an internet group some time ago, had been part of the main making up.

So, when I learned they were to be at South Hill Park, which is very near me, I decided I must go see them.

I was particularly impressed with the way they were able to tell the story via panels like a graphic novel or a comic, yet keep a serious about them. And though it is quite obvious that they chose inspiration from the Bayeux tapestry, it is not the same at all. Very well done.

Here are some photos.
The room was strongly lit from large windows, so it was not easy to get good photos without standing at awkward angles and getting reflections from the Perspex covers on the narrative signage. You should be able to click on the photos to see the images a little larger.

detail

detail

Accompanying the quilts with the story of King John and the Magna Carta, were quilts depicting people through the years who were leading figures in the field of human rights. These are called the Legacy Quilts. I will show them tomorrow.

Making progress

Photos of some of the events so far on the piece about refugees.

Looking at the 2 sides of the fabric to be used with rust dyed fabric.

I wish I could get a photo of what this fabric actually looks like. It is only in the photos that you can see the farm scene. The rest of the time it just looks very abstract!


Pinning to death

I opted to just have the viscose fabric and the rust dyed muslin fabric. However, both have a lot of give in them. So, I tried pinning to death.
Only that didn't keep it firm, just meant my hands were being poked to death!

So, I have tried several options and finally came up with a solution which means I am actually done with the bit above the fence. I got out a large embroidery hoop I had wrapped with seam tape. It wasn't as hard to get it under the foot as I thought, and is keeping things in place.
However, since I am going by the scene on the fabric (using the back of the fabric) it is Very Hard to see the stitching on the black! So, at present I have an angle poise lamp at the back and a little portable LED somewhat pose-able lamp blue tacked to the front. It is hanging down from the top pointing in at the sewing area!

And the texture on the back.

So, the rust fabric is sometimes causing tension issues. and with the fact that I cannot always tell where I am going...
Well, I am calling the result on the back 'texture'. I have chosen to embrace it. I wanted this to be double sided. So, when I get to the point where the stitching is done, I will work the back with some large black embroidery stitches! Like large x marks where I sewed too long in one place, and so on. I am going to use the opportunity to continue to tell the story on the back as well.

Or so that is the plan at the moment!