initial fabric manipulation samples.

here are a few of the samples i've been making this week. mostly small in scale and focusing on folds, layers, stitch, texture, pleats, knots and cut outs.

working with old photographs and collage.

here a few pictures of my sketchbook, experimenting with old family photography and collage. 

  layering up different papers to see what effects i can create.

making yarn wrappings by selecting the colour and arranging the yarns proportionally.

 i carried on the lines found in the photographs to create stripes and checks.

i really enjoy working with photographs. old and new. but there's something about old photos that make me excited. maybe it's the stories associated with them that i will never know, but will just have to guess in my head. i don't know where the place is in the picture, nor the people in them. i just know they're my family.

hand weaving.

i much prefer hand weaving. i don't think i'll ever touch a loom again.

making associations with objects and samples.

a quick hand weave made on my desk. so quick and so effective.

fabric manipulation.

fabric manipulation with second hand fabric;

 i have collaged pieces togetger with stitch, applique, wadding and fringing:

 

 

hand stitch manipulation; experimenting with layers, pleats, colour gradients and changes in texture.

pleating, folding and smocking.

 this is my sample from the princess pleater. (a smocking and pleating machine)
way to take further - embroider and print onto pleated fabric.

 this was one of a few fabric manipulation samples from a few workshops. i thought about experimenting with pleating, but decided to stitch instead :)

this is a direct smocking samples of 'honeycomb' stitching. it adds texture and interest to any fabric.

potato stamping :)

it's amazing what you can achieve with a potato.