The Glass Journey

Blue Mountain

Kirsteen Alsop's based this work on recurring dreams, which interested me as an expression of the unseen realm. The contrast between the smooth sides and the internal textures in the Blue Mountain pieces express well the drama of dreams inside a sleeping body, the blues are also stunning.

 Her working drawings and mind maps gave an overview of her plans and progression and 

I noticed some lovely Japanese papers from Special Collections that had inspired her.

I came back to the studio and started mind mapping my own work:

• Things I like - constructed fabrics, layers, lace, shimmer & sparkle, experimentation, folds.
• Processes I like - fabric manipulation, multi head, cornely, faggoting.
• Linen - qualities, purposes, types, symbolism
• Contexts of interest - Issey Miyake, Rachel Gornall.
• Where am I headed? - garments / textiles that release blessing, beautiful textiles

Linen Pockets

Met with Mark Beecroft and feel clearer about my direction. 

• make pockets 
• use my flax designs using the multi head and lazer cutter. 
• 'pocket' has many definitions including hidden and concealed, which fits with the idea of the unseen realm being revealed.

Fashioning Technology by Syuzi Pakhchyan is described as a DIY intro to smart crafting...."your wire cutters will become just as important as your thread snippers as you shift your vintage sewing machine to make room for a new soldering station!"

http://www.fashioningtech.com/

Finding a Starting Point

Possible themes from the Bible for illustrating something of the unseen realm of God in my work are:

• the 4 faces of God - lion ox, eagle and man 
• living water
• seed cycle 
• garments of praise, righteousness etc

Drawing at Manchester Museum