Patchwork / Mesh sample with added lace ...

I'm trialling some MESH samples for use in my on-going projects (more samples are here: http://stitcherydoodaasamples.blogspot.co.uk).

Some small off-cuts from the earlier patchwork waistcoat have been cut into strips & 'woven' together to create a 'mesh' like fabric. Stitched using a variety of utility stitches & using several different colour threads, some short left-over lengths of old lace have also been included. When completed, a 'free machine embroidered' edge was stitched around the edges for later working.

woven strips of cotton fabric

section of 'mesh' being worked

final strips of lace with cream stitching

completed (so far) with outer free machine edge

Resembling a virus !

I've been concentrating on a possible computer virus over the past few days & the above 'paper collage' from the 'cell project' seems appropriate to be added here! I spent all morning running the virus checker & fortunately found nothing.

Honesty image comes alive! ...

This morning I'm looking through some previously 'unused experiments' & found these at left - so saves me having to repeat the processes!



They capture exactly what I'm trying to acheive & by using along with yesterday's sample, have created the one below:

Immediately I finished it, it seemed perfect as a solution for the starting point for an image/design (Honesty) begun a few years ago:

2 experiments that went well! ...

I've been experimenting with a heat gun as well as using unconventional "fabric" - here are the results of 2 exciting experiments.

The orange one (result of heat) will possibly be added to an earlier 'cell' (see "Project:Cell" when you've clicked here) & the blue one (painted) will be continued with further enhancement(s). In both samples, it's the textures I primarily like as they are achieving the result I'm after.

X-ray cells !! ...

I've begun my first experiments & sample techniques using 'transparency, illusion & movement (implied or otherwise)' as an initial 'topical' starting point. They were several areas I was interested in a few years ago but unfortunately got 'side-tracked' & was unable to continue with this line of thoughts. Now resurrecting it (especially as it's a suitable topic for my 'cells' project - click if you want to see more), I intend to continue from where I left off. I've quite a few new ideas to play with as well as some from those I left 'mid-stream'. Here's a few experimental 'quick' designs I'm playing with:

This one relates to 'illusion' & is the result of working on a 'plastic carrier bag'. I like the crazing & central imagery & is a very similar effect to the one titled 'An Alien? I made.

An initial section of the above has been 'computer enhanced' (right) & now appears to resemble an X-ray. I shall be working on this more at the weekend (hopefully if time permits) & possibly taking it further to another stage.

Although only an experiment, I am going to call it 'Fossil X-Ray' as that's exactly what it reminds me of ... but more on this later !!

The next series of 'experiments' will involve 'transparency & movement'. Here a fabric swatch from 'yesterday practical work' (an off-cut coloured with water colour pencils) have been revolved through 360 degrees showing the effect of sunlight & shade on the colours & fabrics involved. Again, over the weekend, I'm hoping to work on this some more with other finishings.

Cells computer enhanced ...

After buying a few things!! from the Knitting & Stitching Show, I've worked up the earlier 'paper' sample & experimented with a few computer enhanced images (one above & others at right in the listings 'Thoughts' & 'Sketches') .... all along the lines of 'transparency'.

Cells: Structure experiments ...

One of my initial designs last week used coloured tissue paper glued onto black paper. After drying, it was enhanced with waxed crayons & ink.









Apart from 'transparency', I'm also experimenting with 'light & movement'.

With this in mind, I confirmed particular lighting conditions enhanced 'hidden' colours & movement displayed them (ie. appearing & disappearing).





I then wanted to 'extend' the design. First thoughts were to provide the appearance of 'looking into' the first design. I added strips of pre-printed paper above & below, then hand-made slightly textured paper (with inked edges) to the sides.









Next, to continue the extended cell structure, I added other paper 'panels' above & below the existing one:
At the top edge (in pink), handmade paper on cotton scrim - the fabric edges created 'banding'.
At the lower edge(for more banding) another of my paper & scrim off-cuts (visible to the left) & one of the previously made 'nucleus' shapes (in waxed crayon on paper).

Although 'in the hand', the sample looks a little clumsy, on screen it has achieved exactly what I'm trying to do 'in my head'.

Cell structure design experiments ...

Here's some more mixed paper ideas I've completed in between the other ones!

Ink on card whilst on frozen block (close-up section to the right)

Handmade paper dried on nylon mesh 

(close-up section to the right)

Above sheet with waxed flourescent crayon & black ink applied after (close-up section to the right)

Handmade paper with black ink layer, wax crayon then reapplied ink.

Cells: Step 1 (contd) - Using hand made paper ...

Here's a few other designs I'm working on - all with a 'cell-like structure' theme. (Incidentally, these are all elements of design & techniques that I have wanted to experiment with for some time & I'm using any opportunity to include them in my work.)

• Virus: I came across 2 inked paper samples - again in colours I thought appropriate for my corresponding cellular forms. One paper (below left), I inked over & then ripped (to show the paper's under structure with its white edge) into short lengths. These were then stuck in positions on the other piece & finally positioned on a handmade white thicker textured card (also can be seen here).

• Cell division: Another cellular form I wanted to experiment with is the one below left - dried glue on card which results in the cell-like structures appearing. After painting with ink, these are more visible & under certain lighting, show clearly (below right) in a different colour & somewhat reflective.

Cells: Step 1 - Using hand made paper ...

A great day in the studio yesterday has resulted in some wonderful designs for "Project:Cell" - an idea I have for a particular project (read more about this here) where I want to represent specific 'cells & their structures'. To do this I'm going to first work with a selection of paper & thought of initially looking in my existing 'store' to find if I already had something to use. (In the past, whenever I tried new techniques, I usually made extra or loads for later - then I've got it ready to hand!)

I soon came across  some handmade paper samples from a few years ago which at the time were unsuitable for something else. Looking at them now, I liked the way in which each piece (a total of 7, all in use below) had dried - its colouring, it texture & the resulting delicate & fragile nature of each piece. It symbolised the 'cells' I wanted to show & were ideally suited for "cell structure". After playing around with a few delicate 'bits' of this paper, here's the result:

Paper samples positioned on table

My working table is covered in white plastic & perfect as a 'plain canvas' to look at initial ideas. After placing them quickly down, their 'bitty' image was fitting together perfectly. I then thought about a background for them & rummaging in my paper's box, came across some woodchip wallpaper - also perfect for use as the 'hidden' wood chips were showing as 'cells' too. Using wallpaper paste, I glued them all in place (with a few minor changes) & as the paste is drying, I've noticed the paper is starting to crinkle & become more cell-like.

Same samples now on 'woodchip' paper

Watching the paper over the afternoon, I'm noticing the paper is becoming more 'cellular/knobbly' as the paste softens the paper - I'll have to wait until it's perfectly dry to see the final effect.

Close-up resembles 'cells'

For the rest of the afternoon, I've also worked on some other paper samples I found - these are also viewable at Project:Cell.