embrilting, in progress, Residency 2016

hexing

Posted on August 8, 2016August 8, 2016 by arlee

I’d planned on using these in a more ambitious project, but now they will be on the face piece–and i need a name for her soon!

Since the hexagon shape often appears in my work on the background as part of the “embrilting”, it’s a natural progression to add them in a more dimensional form. I like these shapes as they evoke honeycombs, cells, natural forms. These will all be puffed up and added along the bottom corners in various configurations, “dripping” off. And i think the Caron Wildflowers “Ash” (#218) is my new favourite colourway, sliding from fog and snow and back again, especially on this “filler” fabric i designed during residency.

I hadn’t realized/remembered the face fabric being so gold, so will have to work out a proper integration of the very white hexes!

I might have to build the canvas stretchers as well, as i don’t think i have any pre-mades this size.

There are now only 20 days until the deadline!

Contextural Fibre Arts Co-operative, in progress, Residency 2016, Rust

finding the meaning in no meaning

Posted on August 5, 2016August 5, 2016 by arlee

I should keep my big mouth shut. Realistically, there is not enough time for me to create an entirely new piece for an exhibit that starts in 23 days, at least not with what i want to do to it….. Plans are wonderful, necessary to keep going and growing, but i don’t need to make myself any crazier than i already am, and decidedly do not need to frustrate my need to make with rushing and forcefulness. On that note too, what the hell is “concept” but construct?

So back to maybe not square one, but square 37? 🙂

Some of the ideas i had for the piece mentioned in the last post are valid for this, so i picked it up again last night, whacked a few more stitchings in, and can see where it’s going now.

Still means a lot of work has to be done, but just keep going. I created the faces during residency for a reason. Read any trope or import into that.

Residency 2016

day 11, all done!

Posted on June 30, 2016June 30, 2016 by arlee

Glad i crammed in those last 3 hours yesterday!

My back and neck are killing me from leanhanging over tables and deep sinks, mopping up the mess, and wringing out rags, but it was worth it 🙂

Residency 2016

res day 10, coming to the end

Posted on June 30, 2016June 30, 2016 by arlee

This piece below is actually one of the dropsheets–though it’s plastic, i may just have to stitch it with those lovely strata markings!

A small line dance this time, some subtle, some strong, another “filler” piece, a nice deposit to the library though 🙂

I made the decision yesterday to do ONE more batch–it will be small as well, but i figured i best cram in as much as i could. I pick them up this afternoon, and then i am done for this year. (But with plans for a backyard expedition as well!) And then time to make decisions about stitching, and what goes to the shop.

Residency 2016

a moan’s as good as a sigh

Posted on June 28, 2016June 28, 2016 by arlee

Oh DEAR GAWDZ

I’m in LOVE, love LOVE

LOVE

Above, abstracts.

Above, deliberately made as “fillers” ie they will be cut up strictly for patterning in pieces.

Hexes:

PURE joy, a fiery moon and unbelievable arches:

Big plans for the two winged figures, each will be treated differently:

Another wonderful Line Dance this summer:

Dry now, they will be “cured” for at least a week, probably two–or until i get to use them 🙂

Residency 2016, Samara

res day 9, deep enough

Posted on June 28, 2016July 12, 2021 by arlee

Day 9 (yesterday), today and tomorrow are the last days i am able to work in the studios at ACAD, so i figured i best get big, and buckle down. (And though i will miss her, Anne who was using the other “half” of the big tables, will be gone home, which means i get ALL of the space in the wet studio.) Since part of the work i do here is for future use in my own studio, i tried to think ahead with what i’d like to do.

I had planned on spending a major part of the day there, with a decent lunch and lots of juice to fuel me, something to work on while waiting, but ran out of room! I completely covered the area i had plastic for, and had to call it quits after 3 and a half hours, dang it! The results are worth it, but i sure wish i’d had more room! Next time i do this (2018, as it seems to be every two years???), i plan on taking more plastic and using the floor as well.

EDIT: July 12/21—-since she has featured in several years of what-ifs and some work, the above piece is the base for “Samara“.

I haven’t photographed most yet, and these above are also still in their wet stage, so another round of Mr DeMilles will happen once they are dry. (Some will end up in the shop, but most are for me, whether as “whole cloth”, or to cut up, for future work–which starts this week!)

I went as deep as i could again today, and tomorrow, my last day, will be rushed with only a few hours too as the afternoon is Day Job time. Everything has to come home on Friday, so the desk in home studio can be used by someone else. (The “official” last day of a one month residency would be Sunday the 3rd, but i just can’t get there on the weekend, with it being a Holiday weekend–YEAH CANADA DAY—-and household duties to attend to. Reality is so rudely intrusive 🙂 , as are the weeds in the garden i have to pay attention to in the next few days.

Can’t wait to get stitching on some of these!!!!!!!!!!!!

Contextural Fibre Arts Co-operative, embrilting, Residency 2016

res day 8, abort

Posted on June 22, 2016June 22, 2016 by arlee

24 hour tummy bug yesterday, damn it, so no time at ACAD. This week sucked for getting in there, but at least on Monday i was able to find some more cotton. I’m going to have to do a LOT of work next week in the last few days i can get in!!!!!!!!!! I think the next time i do a residency, i will go for the three months! While some of the work i do is for the shop, i also try to have enough of a “stockpile” for my own work–and i’m not getting much of either done…….

I made the best of it however, and not only got a start on the first face, but managed to make 2 dozen sachets for the bread and butter sales. Boring but necessary 🙂 At least it smelled good while i was working!

I’m now “seeing” this face “dense” with asemics. Need to switch to a finer thread for the effect though, as both i used were so similar (swirls along the side of the face as well) that there is no visual difference. I’d use a silk, but the sheen makes it more obvious too.

I love how the eye turned out, but doing the other so it “matches” scares me! It can’t be “identical” as light and shadow is different for each side of the face, but i hope the skew isn’t too skewy! The original work from 2007 that inspired this was all in colour, but her eyes were black/blank areas, so i’m winging this aspect. I also need to think how i’m going to add more dimension to the flower area on the left side of her face: it seems a shame to cover that with something, but it may have to happen.

a collusion of ideas, Jam Day, Residency 2016

res day 7, at home

Posted on June 21, 2016June 21, 2016 by arlee

Somehow i ran out of cotton last week, and have to replenish the stock! In the meantime, i thought i’d play at home Monday, and see what i could do with one of the faces from the first week, kind of a ResJam day 🙂 (Those of you who followed the first albedo blog will know that a Jam Day is a time to just futz around and make messes, colour and joy, refuting the White Queen’s “Jam yesterday, jam tomorrow, but never jam today” statement!)

Choosing threads this way sparks the design too. Not all will be used, and i never decide on which stitch where until i load a needle. A mix of weights and twists, the proper colours and stitch types will fall into play as they will themselves to. I do know already that my original intent to recreate the face as a Dreamscope interpretation will fall by the wayside, as the piece tells its story the way it wants to. Dreamscope is fabulous for spurring ideas, and i have no doubt i could “copy” those results, but for now, this one at least will be its own master.

Based on this one below, from an original piece done in 2007, the first face above will be quite different.

I’m mulling over ideas for adding additional colour to the background of the next one to be “inspired” by the above Dreamscope manipulation. I realized i don’t want an exact interpretation into thread and cloth, but it certainly stirs the imagination!

Ecoprints and Natural Dyes, Indigo Dreams, Residency 2016

day 6, and inspiration from the past

Posted on June 15, 2016June 15, 2016 by arlee

I’m not getting miles of yardage done this year, but i’m quite happy with the results.

Indigo, of course. Only one clamp resist effort, as my overheated body could manage only that at the end of my day there yesterday………..And not clamped tight enough obviously, but WTH, i’ll add something else to it.

Quite frankly, i’ve grown bored of ecoprinting BUT, FB pulled a reminder up in my feed yesterday, and seeing this again, it does inspire. A detail from “padded Cell: Boro’d Time” (2011), it is quite lovely.

And i just happen to have been given a pile of peony leaves the boss saved for me at the fffFlower Mines.

(I’m also quite jealous of some of the results by others :), but haven’t had the wherewithal yet to try the addition of natural dyes during the process. Maybe i’ll have a self-directed workshop sometime this summer with that technique. I did last week buy a metal colander for use in steaming, so best use it to justify spending the coin!)

Day 7 of the residency won’t be until Monday. The Day Job looms for the next three days, today included, and we have plans to escape to the mountains on the weekend for “de-compression” time. Maybe i can collect some interesting leaves 🙂

Indigo Dreams, Residency 2016

res day five and yes, we have indigo a going

Posted on June 14, 2016June 14, 2016 by arlee

There *was* a flower on top, so i figured there must still be some life in the vat. Trotted some of my chemicals to the school this morning and voila.

I’ve done some “solids”, and have some resisted ones waiting also. Now i need to revive the one in my own basement Dyeing Dungeon!

Yesterday was quite productive, but again i am finding myself pooping out after 3 or 4 hours due to the heat. My attention span, stamina and temper suffer past that time period when i’m over heated.

Don’t forget to check out my shop too, for periodic offerings for *you* to stitch on!

My space in the “home studio”:

And the big blue moon just visible on my desk there, is done! Just have to stretch it on the canvas and hands dusted. Time to do something else/new.