Patchwork and print

Alongside making in silver and copper, I always sew. These are some ongoing pieces I've been working on, exploring colour and pattern through dying, print and stitch.

In the back of my mind I'm always playing with ideas to combine metal and fabrics in wearable pieces. My plan is to launch a new collection at the British Craft Trade Fair in Harrogate in a few weeks. I will post pictures on here when my plan comes together!

These pieces are quite small, perhaps 12cm x 12cm. My dream is to go even smaller.

The print is done with hand-cut stencils, found objects as well as pattern cards from knitting machines which give perfect rows of teeny dots.

The fabrics are mainly natural, including linens, cotton, calico and muslin as they hold the colour well.

I wanted to see what happened on a larger scale, just for a change, so the long pieces below are around 80cm long, which for me is enormous! I am more used to working in millimetres when making jewellery, so the surface area in these would take me a lifetime to embellish. I see them all as ongoing projects and so will keep working into them whenever I can.

Little stitches

There are times of the year where teaching takes over making and there just aren't enough hours in the day. Time to actually sit at my work bench is limited so I find ways to make work that is more portable. These layered, hand-stitched pieces incorporate rust dying with iron wire and I love the process of repeating stitches on a tiny scale.

They explore colour and texture, my favourite ginger, rust and copper colours come through in my textiles as well as metal pieces. I'm always looking for ways to combine both.

They have trapped iron wire below the layers of rust-dyed fabrics to add structure and texture.

Lotus pod crochet

Circles again today. Inspired by a lotus pod, they incorporate crochet around tiny soldered copper circles.

They may join the wire grids I started the other day. 

Still just playing with ideas and really enjoying it! 

Copper experiments

So, as the school summer holidays have now officially started, my time is not my own, I have 2 full time 'helpers'. I'm only able to make for short bursts here and there, but hope to try keep up with my 'making for fun' project. I keep reminding myself of the wise words from the lady who inspired me to do this. She told me to make space and time in every day to focus on being creative and push beyond my comfort zone. 

So, today I made this. 

Each circle had to be drilled then pierced out using a very fine saw blade, before being filed and sanded until it was smooth. The top picture is a tiny 5 year old hand, so the scale is misleading.

It's a ring that was inspired by the bracelet I made the other day, both have been floating around in my head for ages.

 

The process of making these by hand is so time consuming it feels indulgent, but it made me happy to spend time giving solid form to an idea I usually wouldnt have time to pursue.

Silver pods

Pods. Although not quite finished, I've made these hollow pods today. The 3d one is the biggest fully rounded one I've made, I usually only make them for teeny earrings. I'm liking the idea of making them in a few different sizes.

 

When finished they will become pendants and brooches.

Creative friends

Slight change in focus today for my happy thing, because I'm not focusing on my own work, but that of an inspirational friend, Liz Cooksey. 

We have worked together for over 10 years, and she dazzles me regularly with samples, techniques and ideas that we bring to our teaching.

Our work overlaps in many ways, sometimes through our use of materials and techniques, more commonly our shared sources of inspiration. 

But the thing that I love most about her work is the craftsmanship. The scale and attention to detail in her pieces is incredible, and I wanted to share this as my happy thing today.

We are hoping one day to collaborate and make some pieces together, until then, I will enjoy gazing upon her beautiful work with awe.

Macro textures

On my workbench today...... I had fun experimenting with my new macro lens attachment for my phone, taking photos of the inspirational objects I have on my workbench.

Can you tell what they all are?