Ahhh!!! It's now April

Hi there
Since my last post, mid module tutorial too place, and I am really pleased that Isabella, one of the tutors agreed that the mesh I intended to use on the spiral, to secure some of the felting and silk papers, was a good solution.I really like the way the mesh can be moulded and manipulated to create interesting textures. I have to decide whether I cover the whole spiral with it, or decide to create areas where the mesh fades away and then re-appears. This is something that I can only decide once I start working on the completed spiral structure. I think it would be interesting to fray and mould the mesh within some areas and leave other sections with the mesh either not there, or in it's natural state.The spiral structure will be completed the first Tuesday that we return after the Easter College break, so I am really looking forward to getting on to the piece and continuing the hands-on designing.One of the main areas that I have to be aware of is to leave visually quiet areas on the structure. It would be too easy to overwork the piece. This is something I am aware of and that I intend to keep a check on. Due to connection and linkage with others, being one of the areas that I think humans require, I have been working on one or two experiments to portray this.

plastic former mould from previous blog- with silk paper process using merino wools place on top to dry

I decided that linkage and shelter would be good to keep investigating at the moment. It is a large part of my concept.This mould was perfect to link into the shelter supplied by trees. I am also looking at family trees, and connective cell formation with regards to the relationship section of Maslow's hierarchy of needs. It also made me think of the strength of a human beings spirit. I decided that metal rings and threads of some sort would perhaps work well with this and developed this experiment further. I wanted to put across the strength that can be found within the human being.

this is the above experiment developed, using galvanised garden rings and metallic threads were hand sew into this to create folds with underlying shelter.

 The moulded  gave a natural line to be followed when folding and stitching in the rings and threads. It helped to secure the organic feeling I was attempting to portray. I like the effect that the galvanised rings create and will use them within my final samples. It would also be possible to cover the rings with fibres, that would be one of my next developments.The circular shapes will work well with the spiral. But I can also create organic shapes of my own with fine wires. I liked the wire garden rings due to their ability to link in areas without being secured to the fibres, but secured to one another.

                                                                                             

my connection theme was developed further with this piece. It is wet felting. The left hand side is teased out after felting to give a rougher texture to the fibres. The right hand area is left as was after wet felting. I then crochet green craft wire, connected both samples to that and also include French knots hand done using metallic thread. The French knots give a permanence to the portraying of linkage.

Silk paper making process with silk tops, ribbon inclusion placed in spiral shape and fine wire
This picture isn't as good as I hoped it would be, oops, but it is showing the pasted fibres with fine wire connected on both sides to stiffen the structure of the sample. This would allow me to develop this process and form three dimensional structures using wire as the stabiliser. I like this. It shows vulnerability and strength all at the one time. The piece is very delicate, but also incorporates the feeling of strength through the use of wire, and the vulnerability due to the fine textures and light weight nature of the sample. I'm not sure whether the colour combination is correct for my pieces. The colour palette is an area which is still under investigation. and part of on-going research.

This started as a flat felted piece using merino wool. It was folder in a circular movement from the centre,to create a sheltering folded section . This was accentuated by stitching with wire and then inclusions of beads nestled within the fibres. I don't like the colour combination of this, but I do like message of shelter it portrays.

Other news
I have been working on the next essay hand-in for contextual. At this point I am pleased at the way that's going. Also getting on with the promotional materials . My website is almost complete and if needed we will have a meeting with Stephen over the Easter break. I am in continual contact with him regarding the website development. He's updating me through e-mail and text and sending a link for me to look at the website to date. It's exciting.
Busy, busy and need to go.
Cheers