Mixed Media and Stitch

Because I love experimenting – "what would happen if?" and learning new techniques, this gives me a wide base of methods to draw on. I do not always stick to my original plan for the execution of a design. Much work could thus come under the heading of Mixed Media. Is a quilt the only work that consists of three stitched layers?

Dreamtime – Bridging the Gap – Taking Root in Hyde Hall – Taking Root in France

Dreamtime: I loved making this piece. I began by printing onto a firm base, then I built up layers of shapes and overlaid with sheers. When working on this I rolled it up and travelled with it to Melbourne to add my hand stitch.

Bridging the Gap:This was created for a TAGS exhibition of that name. I used the embellisher with sheers and silk strands to build up textured backgrounds, and then used dense hand stitch to bring it all together.

Taking Root in Hyde Hall: This was created for a TAGS exhibition of that name. I used the embellisher with sheers and silk strands to build up textured backgrounds, and then used dense hand stitch to bring it all together.Taking Root was another TAGS title. The background embellished with first wools, then fabrics and finally stitched. Again this piece was rolled up and then stitched in Australia. It was based on a sketch painting that I did of a banana tree in Hyde Hall.

Taking Root in France: I made the background felt, using wet felting, in the garden of our French house, one bitterly cold Easter. Later it was embellished and hand stitched.

Icelandic Bowl – Study of a Boy – Summer Garden

Icellandic Bowl: I was thrilled at being able to make the glass Icelandic bowl. I decided to recreate it in machine stitch, using water soluble fabric and snippets of fabric. Getting it 3D was a challenge.

Study of a Boy: This is one of a series of five works all based on sketches of my son revising. I recreated the sketches with free machine work and coloured the cloth.

Summer Garden: I sewed a piece of hand knitting to a cottons base and then embellished with sheers. I decided to cut it into blocks and then hand embroidered with loose flowers and grasses.