Not what you normally see while having breakfast

I was eating my breakfast this morning when I spotted what I thought was a cow walking on the railway line close by our home. I was delighted to see this beautiful beast toddling along and more than willing to pose for photos for me.

So, after being very excited with the lovely image I had a go at drawing him, I have been trying to draw for some time now and its not a strong point but Im getting there slowly.

The Sketchbook Project

Well, I signed up for this last month as I felt I needed to 'do something creative'. Who knows where or how I can create the time to get this complete but its worth a shot. I have made a good start at it but at the moment it just doesn't seem to have much direction and I think I may have run out of steam on it. however, I will perservere with it and hopefully compelte it on time to be included in the tour. I might even make an excuse to get to London to view it :0)

My theme is 'Nothing New' as it suits me and all things old, decaying, rusty and wrinkly etc....
Here are some of the pages ; ok, just one page as the others are appearing sideways - will upload more soon :

Silk Screen on Bark Fabric

This is a lovely piece of bark fabric which I bought recently at the NEC. It has a beautiful texture to it and even some stitch holding the fabric together. I have silk screened on this and added some stitch. As yet, its unfinished but I am working on it :0)

Inspiration photos taken on holiday this year

Hi folks - summer is now over and normal routine is back with a bang (and woolly socks judging by today's temperature) I have been out the past few weeks on holiday but thought I would share a piccie or two that caught my attention - none of the usual holiday pics but some colours and textures that I loved.

this virginia creeper on the walls of Adare Manor was so rich looking against the grey walled background.

Second is an image of a washed up boat which was one of many being exhibited in Palma at present by artist Fabrizio Plessi and supported by Louis Vuitton - I was never more delighted to see so much peeling paint :0)

Supporting Work

I should probably have posted some pictures from my notebook prior to posting the last 2 images of work from my Printed Textiles course. Here are just a few images from my notebook that inspired the designs for these works.

Rejected

How do you feel when you get a rejection? Me? I had a giggle, well, its probably a lot easier if you dont have expectations for certain situations. This piece along with another was sent back from the Embroiderer's Guild as not suitable for their 'Off the Wall Exhibition' (note the lack of much stitching!).

This started out as white cotton poplin fabric which was then 'rust dyed'. It then went through a series of screen prints, lito coal was added, plaster emulsion, painted bondaweb and finally a little stitching.

On a better note, I had an acceptance from a local gallery to submit work for their forthcoming exhibition so it's not all bad news. More on this to follow soon (i promise)

NCAD CEAD Exhibition - update

well, here I am having a giggle at the opening of the exhibition last night - some lovely work on display and a great evening to catch up with the students.

And then these little wild kitties cuddling and hungry were around this morning to greet me - they are looking like they could be adopted more each day if I can train my dogs not to want them for supper :0)

More Fabric Transfer Painting and Screen Prints

These were some samples I had made during my course. I havn't yet decided what to do with them but I like them both. They both started off being white satin which was then transfer painted, screen printed and some foiling on one.

NCAD CEAD Exhibition

This is one of the wall hangings which will be exhibited at the end of year show at the end of the month. Again, this is Fabric Transfer Paints on white satin, screen print/thermofax prints and dyed silk chiffon which is stitched. It is lined with silk habatoi and is around 2 metres long.

Cork Textiles Network Postcard Donation

oh yes, I am still alive and kicking. Ive been trying to decide whethere to delete this blog or start using it again. I think I will try to start maintaining it. I've been busy studying at NCAD in Dublin and working away at home completing many textile works, I hope to start posting piccies of them very soon. :0)

This is an 8x8 frame which is a donation to the Cork Textiles Network. It is satin which has been painted with fabric transfer paints, screen printed, foiled and stitched.


Thanks for dropping by and keeping an interest here.

Printing Workshop

Hi folks

I've been to another printing workshop last weekend and again it was great - this is my second time attending with the same tutor and it was worth it. I have posted some drypoint prints and collographs. TFL.

Below is the drypoint plate (which was edited after the above prints) which is perspex that was scratched/drawn into and above some of the prints.


Below is the collograph plate and the print underneath.

iphone piccie

I have been wishing for an iphone for a long time just because of its convenience when out walking and having the camera/ipod and phone all in one. Had some fun taking photos this weekend and this is just one of them.

Passage 2

This is another piece of copper work similar to the previous piece on Passage only i have patinated this a lot differently - I love how the colours worked out on this one - I also have a few more holes in this one.

Toxic

Another textile piece complete :)

one for sorrow

Inspired by the many magpies that hop around my garden I made this piece - it will probably be stretched over some plywood eventually. Lots of texture on the main circle which will probably never be seen - even managed a few french knots !! I havn't measured it yet but its over a metre wide to give you an idea of the size of it.

All of My Heart

Been working on this little piece with some left over copper 'scraps' - its around 4 inches tall and wide and it has been drilled, textured and stitched - I quite like it now. It can be worn as a piece of jewellery although it is quite large.

Did I Tell You.........

For a long time I had wanted to make a book around this poem for my daughter, and as its coming up to her birthday I thought it would be perfect timing, the book however just didn't come along how I had planned it, too many techniques, ideas, colours and none of them really flowing. In the end, it turned out to be more of a booklet. Covers are painted cotton duck with stitched detail and embellishments, swan feathers and a brass etching, the insides are a painted photo of a robbin and a canvas painted with acrylic paints, image transfer and some oil sticks. Fingers crossed she will like it :0))))

A Finished Project

How many projects have you ever started, never finished and filed under bin, bag, box or shed??? I have far to many, but, I have decided to start getting some work together. Here's one I made earlier and finished off last night. :0)

nesting.................

I came across this lovely swan nesting yesterday evening and couldn't resist stopping the car to take her piccie - doesn't she look very content?

My Final Assessment Piece - Passage

Hi folks, I think I can now function in real life again, I feel as though this piece of work has taken up the last few months entirely and life zoomed by. I have attached a photo of the fabric piece on its own as a fabric wall hanging, this is made from discharged satin and chiffon and has who knows how many of those wonderful little french knots on it along with free machine quilting and some embellishments. The piece is then complete with a hanging of copper which I have patinated, stitched lots of knots on also and cut to shape. on their side, they are both the shape of shipwrecks but i prefer them the way I have shown you. I am now very glad to be finished this work and to hand it in for evalution tomorrow - woohoo - will be back soon with some work from my notebooks which built up to this piece. :0)))