SO UNPRODUCTIVE

I just thought you might like to see how much (or how little) of my artwork I completed today:
I added a 'G' to the piece I started last lesson and sewed this much:
Not very impressive really! I have come across some fab artists though for my next project- Sarah Morpeth (who I really want to use as a contextual link), Ran Hwang (look at all the buttons) and Hollie Caley. They're all fab but I only need to choose two- though I could use all three hmmmm......

DEVELOPMENT PIECES

I finally remember to photograph the one's that are flying at college! They are hanging off the bottom of an umbrella at the moment, but the final pieces will eventually hang from the ceiling on clear thread (I'm using black at the moment). Here are some pictures of the finished pieces in action- they look so much better than when I just propped them up on my desk to photograph.
Some of my other pieces sat on the window ledge at college:

EXAM PROJECT

I know that on my last post I mentioned that we had only just started our final response's, but Lindsay (art teacher) is wanting us to look to the future and our art exam- specifically what theme we want to focus on. I was considering doing The Secret Garden (you may have noticed that since September I have become rather fond of taking inspiration from literature) and looking at first Claire Cole and then Su Blackwell as contextual links. Does anyone else have any ideas? I was also toying with the idea of fairies, I fancy something girly and magical. The wizard of oz? Red riding hood? What do you think would be a 'magical' topic to consider?

FINAL RESPONSE- MORE HOOPS!!

Just a quick post today (but with lots of pictures), we have started working on our 15 hour final pieces for this project (a practice for the exam time). I am creating a series of 8 or 9 hoops with the poem 'The Gift of the Seagull' flowing through them. This, scarily, is about 3 hours worth already and I don't seem to have made huge amounts of progress. Still, better than nothing! I will keep you updated as to how I get on over the next few weeks. Development pieces are finally finished and photo's of the finished hoops will be popping up soon! Enjoy! Any thoughts and comments are welcome.

Front:
Back:

RENNIE MACKINTOSH INSPIRED JEWELLERY

I am very excited and happy that my Rennie Mackintosh inspired earrings have just arrived from Ortak. I love his work, especially the tearoom chairs- they are amazing (saw a few chairs and other pieces of his in the Kelvingrove in Glasgow last year)! Earlier this year we visited Hill House (near-ish Glasgow) that he designed. Here are some pictures I took, but I was only allowed to photograph the outside, (which is fair enough, I don't want my flash photography ruining this lovely home) unfortunately it was a bit grey, but never mind! The inside is amazing and if you are in the area it is definitely worth a visit. Everything is beautifully designed and yet sooo practical. I wanted to move in! For example the children's rooms are at one end of the corridor, but the doors are positioned so that the children can look down the landing and see their parents room (well, I thought that was sensible). All of the cupboards have little glass squares in them and are in a dark wood (mahogany I think but don't quote me on that) but are really large and spacious. Same with the wardrobes in the master bedroom- everything looks beautiful but is practical!
Anyway, I spotted these lovely earrings on Ortak (a fab Scottish company) and splashed out on them with a little of my Christmas money. Again, a simple design but very pretty. I'm not sure as to whether or not Mackintosh would approve, but I think he would be happy that people were involving his designs in their everyday lives! After all, he wasn't really celebrated when he as alive (as least not really in England)- maybe we should try making up for it now!

SEWING INTO THE HOOPS

Still unfinished development pieces (though they will be finished by tomorrow when we start our timed final piece), I've started sewing the quotes into the pieces, I think it looks better than printing the text. I just thought the pieces needed a little extra sparkle and I was looking my room hopelessly (as you do) for inspiration and saw mt Joanna Teague cushion and I though aha- I know what these pieces need- a little more stitch!

Hoop 1:
Hoop 2:
Hoop 3:

MORE EMBROIDERY HOOPS

Finally finished one of the hoops I have been working on over Christmas, more layers of tracing paper were needed. I am currently working on a series of three development pieces (we start our exam next week) so just working out a few kinks and ideas. I want to look at acetone printing onto laminating pouches again, as well as sewing into the tracing paper. Plenty to keep me busy though! I have found the perfect poem to run throughout the series for my final piece:

Gift Of The Seagull

by Munda

A lonely seagull flies the winds
Majestic... soaring...gliding wings
A single screech sounds from the sky
Come fly with me... come here and fly

My spirit floats to be a part
I feel the beating of its heart
My soul, one with this bird of sea
Now knows the meaning to fly free

I feel the winds caress my soul
And soar the streams without a goal
My being trembles of delight
A treasure I received tonight

The seagull's flight of soaring high
The gift of what it means to fly

Front of hoop 1:
Back:
Front of hoop 2 (in progress):

Hoop 3 is at college, so no image unfortunately!

I think it's a beautiful poem and I think it will be far more moving and inspirational when combined with my imagery and hanging above peoples heads, suspended in the air. I have also just finished my art essay (2999/3000 words) focusing on my two (of many) artists, Debbie Smyth and Jim Dine, so please comment or email me, I am also on facebook, is anyone would like a readie! Enjoy!

SCARY CUSHION

First post of the new year!! Enjoy!

Finally finished my rather creepy and disturbing skull cushion- i rather like it although i think a slightly different subject matter would endear it more as a 'cushion'. I do like the rather grungy edge to it and (as you will note on a previous post, Embroidery Hoops Wed 8th Dec) it was the spring-board for the idea of using embroidery hoops (circles are always symbolic). The quote, if you can read it, is from Webster's The Duchess of Malfi: 'the robin redbreast and the nightingale never live long in cages' (one of my favourite quotes from the Duchess before she dies). The cushion now sits on my bookshelf next to my lovely Joanna Teague Mr Darcy cushion, I am becoming rather a fan of using literature quotes in art. Out of their context they can be so effective and moving when combined with the right imagery. Perhaps I should have used Hamlet's 'To be or not to be' inside the skull. Anyway, all opinions are welcome, I know it isn't to everyone's taste, but for my final piece and (more) development work I am moving back towards the silhouette of a bird in the sky and the concept of loneliness rather than death. Happy New Year- who knows what this year will bring!

BOXING DAY

It was still frozzy cold when we went out for our Boxing day wander but it's all melted now- that silly rain! Claire is sporting on of her Christmas presents, a fab knitted owl hat. I have a pair of donkey mittens in a similar style, but of course they were on to take the photos. Hope everyone has had a fab Christmas and enjoyed the weather- we have! If you can see, in the photos of the River Wyre it's actually frozen over! There's a tidal flow in this river yet it still frozen over, it's that cold. There were little icebergs and we were debating making a mini titanic to photograph on the river, but the warm weather has beaten me to it! Next year I will be far faster! Enjoy the holidays, not long now until 2011 (which I find terrifying, as I finish my A Levels and go to uni in 2011- SCARY).

LAST MINUTE CHRISTMAS GIFTS

Just a few quick broaches as little stocking fillers for my family- they're really quick to make and look fab! Thank you to Leah for telling me how! Just cut out a circle of fabric and loosely thread around the edge, then pull it together into a rosette. Enjoy making and a Happy Christmas!

SPECIAL CHRISTMAS CARD

Christmas Card for Dan's mum and her fiance, his image (I'm not that good at photography) and my artwork around it. I haven't made many cards like this, not since September really, there haven't been many birthdays! I love sewing into things and collaging- it's fun! If you would like a personalized card, please feel free to email me and inquire! Happy Christmas!

THE END OF THE SHOP

After a busy few days we are no longer in the college shop in Poulton. It went really well- handed out lots of cards and made a little bit of money before Christmas! I sold some prints of my more recent work- let me know if you would like one and some handmade Christmas Cards. All good! Above are the development pieces that I hung above the stand- it worked really well, they kept blowing in the wind, even if it was a pretty cold breeze! Thank you to everyone who came in to see me (I was there Wed, Fri, Sat and Mon, Claire filled in for me on Thurs as I was at college all day) and said hello, your support if much appreciated!

Me with my stand:
Altered stand for Saturday:

AFRICAN FRACTALS- RON EGLASH

I have just finished reading African Fractals: Modern Computing and Indiginous Design (a nice light read) by Ron Eglash- I thought it was interesteing, certainly the first few chapters on the appearance of fractals within African Architecture and I would recommend reading the first three chapters or so, but after that it seems to get a bit harder. If you like maths, or have a good unferstanding of higher level maths, then youi won't have a problem, however I dropped maths after AS Level and I was having issues. I loved looking at the structure of villages and how some of them spiralled into fractals. But I have to admit I skipped to the conclusion! A interesting book, worth borrowing from a local library and having a flick through. Next on my reading list it Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe, a classic Gothic novel (next year in Eng Lit is Gothic- can't wait!).