"I had a dream"

I actually woke up feeling awake the other morning, and it was due to a dream. (and the fact that I had an early night and the kids slept all night...) The resounding voice in my head posed this question to me..."What are you, the dash or the space?" Initially I thought Wha'? but then I was blown away by it. In a dashed line there are two marks, a visible mark and the invisible one... the space in between.

I leave you with this to ponder too... Are you the dash or the space?

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TOO MUCH!

Arrghhhh.... I have too many things I want to do!

I have just purchased a 16 shaft loom, which I have fondly named Lucy Loom, and have great intentions for.... but currently don't quite have the space to set her up. She is currently sitting in two parts, one in my room, and the other in my 90cm X 2.5m light-well which doubles as my studio space/storage space... but there MUST be a way!

I have also just made a tiny bear (which my husband says looks more like a frog) by weaving using my pin-board, some pins, and wool, and backing it with my 'tractors' fabric. The concept is there but the end result needs a little more refining...

I have also brought a potholder loom, upon which I have made about 9 potholders so far.... mastering the hounds tooth pattern and plain weave... now to take the potholders to a new dimension! Where? Well to places potholders have rarely been I hope... I was actually thinking of sewing them together and make some funky stuff out of them.

BUT it is not merely looms looming on my horizon! My grandmothers knitting machine is going to come out of the cupboard!

My passing thought... Lucy Loom is going to kick butt!

Graphica

It feels great to have been involved in such an inspiring exhibition. Now for the next thing! Yes, I have things stewing away in my head... and it is almost time to begin the next project. Something to do with a children's story, illustration, fabric and exhibiting...

Bubble, bubble....

...But in the mean time, here are some more portraits.

City Kaleidoscope

The next stage was purely digital.

I photographed the image, with the help of my 4yo daughter who held the torch for my 'atmospheric lighting', then manipulated the image into a repeat design. My initial efforts were just too... uuugggh... but I eventually came up with this image which I like...

When I received my sample swatch from Spoonflower I was disappointed. It was way too dark and the repeat was too large. I lightened it and made it smaller, and then sent away for it... so I truly hope it looks as great as I imagine it to... there was not enough time to send for another swatch... The design principles and elements I focused on included, texture, variation, line, colour, harmony, shape, and size. My goal was to create a soft and textured geometric design. On screen I feel I have achieved this, but the proof is yet to come...

The gap between virtual and real still exists.... so "Mind the Gap"

Geometrica

What have I been up to? Well a new year brings with it completion... closure... I have finished my entry for the Geometica exhibition and am now simply waiting in apprehension for the final fabric print from Spoonflower.

The process has been interesting. I began with a photo taken from Edinburgh gardens in North Fitzroy, looking at the wonderful Melbourne city-scape. Here is my photograph... I love the shadows of the trees on the oval.

I then drew some of the lovely shapes from this image onto graph paper and created a geometric pattern to knit from. I scrummaged through my ol' bag of wool to find some colours that represented the image, and started knitting.

It was important for me to try to use materials I had on hand... to try and create something interesting out of scaps and left-overs. I uses some left-over MDF board for the base and back, and some foam board for the 3D forms of the buildings. Fortunately my brother is metal worker, and he had some scrap metal which he created the box out of. (Thanks Keith) The shine just finishes it off perfectly for me! I love the reflection of the knitted city-scape inside the box, and although I haven't yet removed the protective plastic from the outside, the high shine it will have is reflective of the glass and metalic shine of the city. Hopefully reflecting the printed fabric and the movement of people when it is in position.

Tractors

I have an image for you!

Here is the Tractors print I painted up in gouache for a 'Spoonflower' competition about Tractors!

There are many different ways to manage life's ups and downs...

Graphica

I have just uploaded my design for the 'Graphica' fashion and Textiles exhibition onto 'Spoonflower' and sent away for a test swatch... pretty exciting! I have fully loved the process of creating this design, which turned out different to what I expected, but I like it. Only one more aspect of my entry to be finalised, and that is the final printed fabric banner, and putting the diorama and the fabric together...

Be open to change!