Textile Postcard Project Week #57

October 28th -November 3rd 2018

Hand dyed cotton forms the backing to this postcard

Detailed view of symbols

This week  I have used a snippet from a small quilt called 'Ancient Art' which was made as part of the Tripartite Exhibition by the Zig Zag artists. 
It is not appropriate to imitate the ancient art of this country. Many such art works are hidden away on rocky surfaces of Inland Australia. Most rock galleries clearly show the symbolism that has been used for generations of Australian Aborigines. The drawings are sacred to these early people.
The first challenge when making the quilt was to find a commercial cotton fabric which appeared as a 'rock' surface. The spiral symbol has been used within many cultures since the beginning of time, so I used these spirals cut from another cotton commercial fabric. They give an impression of rock art.

'Ancient Art' Spiral symbols that blend into the rock surface

Textile Postcard Project Week #56

October 21st -27th 2018

Week #56 --whole postcard

Desert Dynamics quilt 'Dynamics M'

I made this small quilt in 2008. It was part of a series called 'Desert Dynamics'. The postcard this week is a small section of the whole. The inspiration was taken from the beautiful flowers of the deserts of Western Australia. I used cotton fabric which I had dyed with Procian dyes. The variety of colour was most applicable to a desert scene. A variety of threads were sewn by machine and by hand. The background fabric is cotton appropriately dyed a desert/ sand colour.

Close up view of French Knots and Fly Stitch

Textile Postcard Project Week # 55

October 14th - 20th 2018

Stitching denoted the irregular shapes of the fields.

This piece of work was taken from a small quilt which I was totally dissatisfied with. However it is quite attractive as a postcard. 
The inspiration came from an area of farmlands that we visited in China.

Whole quilt 'Ken Kou Farmlands

 The patterns of the land and agriculture were amazing. The quilt was stamped and heavily stitched and finished with a bound edging.

Textile Postcard Project Week #54

October 7th -13th 2018

Burnished strips

Another postcard with examples of the possibilities for the use of strips of a variety of fabrics, layered and stitched over each other then burnished with Treasure Gold  This is a non- tarnishing gilt or wax, that gives a soft sheen to the item. It is fun to use and very effective.

Close up view of stitching and use of Treasure Gold

Textile Postcard Project Week #53

September 30th 2018

This is the first week of the second year of this project. Hopefully I will be able to complete the year. There are certainly enough scraps of stitching and 'arty stuff' in my studio.
Wish me Luck!!

First week of the second year!

This piece of work has been made from torn
 strips of cotton fabric, stitched and layered 
on each other. Finally I have burnished them with a wax similar to Treasure Pewter or Treasure Gold. Both products give an  attractive lustre to the finished piece.
The background piece is Eco dyed cotton fabric.

Reverse of postcard Week # 53