More current work

I'm busy working on a collected cloth made up of individual Nuno felt samples, which is growing rather more slowly than my blue one.This is white and cream but the chair I draped it on is black, hence it isn't as pure white in this picture.I am going to print on some areas ,but it has been so cold and wet today, I haven't even been inclined to walk down the garden to my studio.I really need to be able to look at it unexpectedly, to decide what happens next.It's nice to make something which grows almost without me thinking-sort of like a meditation, but there finally comes a time when thought has to come into it!

This shows some of my altered board books and a graphic French book, which literally took over and told the story by itself-very spooky! Also among the images is a book I collected whilst on a residency in Finlane this year, which was part of the Book Crossing scheme.Couldn't read it because it was Finnish, so I laterd it instead.The book crossing ID number is 582-7089830, just in case the owner sees this post. 

Inspired by Suffolk-continued

Finally had some time to work on the collage,using images taken when I was in Suffolk.It's been a difficult one-normally, things just go together somehow, but the format of this one has been different.I generally work on canvas stretchers or paper, but this one was a long thin wooden table top.Going into the studio after a day away from it, I realised that it was a better shape for me if I had a wide piece, rather then a tall thin one and then ,things began to gell.

I'm also working on a felt cloth, which is made from woad dyed wool and silk scarves on the surface,and that is going on in the evenings, because I'm hand stitching in front of the TV.It's growing slowly and will soon have reached the stage where I have to think of the fine details,so no TV accompaniment for that!

HERE IT IS.

Inspiration from Suffok

Just back from 3 days in Suffolk,where we used to live when we were first married,belatedly celebrating our 4oth wedding anniversary.It's amazing what a change of scene can do for your creativity, because I have already been in the studio and started a collage, using the images I took with the trusty digital.I have an old table top which came from the shed of a neighbour who died recently.It's very tatty and weathered ,which is just what I needed.I've applied layers of re-cycled Morrisons supermarket napkins and some whitish emulsion, ready to begin the real work.Heaven knows what comes next-that's the joy of it all.Maybe pictures of the progress later??

More from Farncombe

Another lovely book, this time 'Wind in the Willows' Full use was made of the lake at Farncombe  for collections of reeds etc, and a bark spine for the book.

          This was one of my favourite pages,maybe because I love neutral colours and it feels calm-much needed at present!

My next Altered book course will be in France in 2010,from 7-11 June.This will be a 5 day lass which will give lots of opportunity for experimenting, visiting places of interest, and hopefully,sunbathing in the grounds of my studio.

Altered books weekend

Altered books bonanza-look everyone, it's your work!!

The images above show a glorious book, all creams and white, which is very personal and family related, so names are being mentioned, but you know who you are!

Much work and thought went into this, and once again,it is joy to see how lovely white and cream can be, and how texture alone makes for a good page.When colour is eliminated, it also helps many people create very special work.Colour does give a problem for many students.

The two pictures below show more pages, one with a pop-up in the centre.It is amazing that so much was achieved over a weekend, even though there is more to do on this book.Our greatest difficulty was drying the pages, as it was very humid in the classroom, and we were using wallpaper paste to bond the layers.

This is what happens when students are hooked on the process!Just returned from a busy and happy residential weekend at Farncombe Estate with a lovely group of people.The work they did exceeded all my expectations.I always feel that with such a group, I learn new things too, which is why I never want to give up teaching totally.More pictures now.

Picture above shows Lyn's gorgeous book made for her grandaughter-all white and very beautiful.The extended 'skirt' will be used to wrap the book as a gift.

This shows the technique invented by Helen-weaving photographs with coloured paper.The end result is still recognizable to those who know, but changed enough to be secret.Lovely for an altered page.

There will be more pictures posted later, when I have time-haven't even unpacked yet.

In my other studio!

Something very strange is happening to my picture uploading skills today, but I have run out of patience so I'm leaving them as they are anyway.As you can see, there is a lot going on in my studio at present and as it is smaller than the French one, it does look even busier.Below right is a close up of an altered book I'm preparing for the weekend course at Farncombe,using a children's board book and the theme of trees.I'm using some of my not so successful prints on the pages.Plenty of those!

Above is a studio over view,showing the felt pieces I'm working on, some for a Climate Change exhibition(hoping they will be accepted!) and some are throws I'm assembling from my naturally dyed and stitched pieces-a slow process.

This corner has all my thermofax screens and some inspirational pictures, along with a few samples I made for the Climate change pieces.

Finally,more felt waiting to be finished.Lots of work to do and the weather is getting a bit cool, so I need my Ugg boots, bought by my daughter in Oz.It's a bit like an expedition, going down the garden to work, but still a lovely space.