Rachel Howard

Sadly I couldn't get to this lecture as my stitching out took longer than planned. 

I had seen her Moving House Casket at Platt Hall (below), 

her images of everyday life remind me of Louise Gardiner's humorous drawings. 

Louise Gardiner Shop Till You Drop

Samples for Final Collection

 The circle samples have worked well, 

the flowers still need changes to the colour palette and thread combinations.

What's next?

Now I am reading my own work more easily and can identify myself as a fabric maker it's time to focus on what makes successful composition, pattern and colour palettes. I have found the multi head technically challenging but I want to continue experimenting 

with it so I'm applying to do the Textiles MA.

Global Threads

 Although Anne Wilson's piece is full of colour I thought the black lines between them interrupted the flow. I preferred the white on white tones and beautiful layering of the cotton wedding dress.

Portfolio Mounting Work - Nigel Hurlstone

Practical advice about weight and colour of paper mounts and image positioning.

London Fabrics and Karen Nichol Exhibition

I went to London to buy fabrics, I don't want to do any more dyeing 

as the outcomes are too unpredictable and I'd rather spend my time stitching. 

The added benefit of the trip was seeing Karen Nichol's work. I like the way she integrates 3D heads on some of her 2D animals as well as their beautifully drawn faces with the irish machine, on bodies collaged together from a wide range of found textiles. 

The rough finish to parts of the work also encourage me to be more experimental 

and to move away from stifling ideas of perfection.

Little Dear

Threadbare

Blossom

Christopher Kane

Portfolio Gallery/ Commission / Design - Fiona Curran

Useful advice about websites that promote contemporary artists 

but not so relevant for me as a fabric designer.