A group of internet artists from all over the place who have decided to give each other a challenge every few weeks, on a theme chosen by each in turn. We have different ideas and styles, but share a love of textiles, and want to have some fun.


Sunday 13 May 2012

my time piece

here is my piece for the latest international quilt challenge.
 i wanted to demonstrate a process rather than explore an idea or a feeling so it is about the effects of time and weathering cloth and stitch.
i machine stitched strips of vintage linen, silk and cotton; then hand stitched lines of running stitch in silk and cotton thread. there are also a few loose clusters of french knots as a vague reference to the pleiades - my favourite constellation.


 i then stitched a labyrinth of copper wire which i hoped would weather and verdigris and colour then colour but quite early in the weathering process it became clear that this wasn't going to happened so i intervened with a stout piece of rusty iron. once the piece was rinsed of potential nasties and left to dry in the sun for a day or two i outlined the rust marks with red thread and burnished the centre with some copper and pale gold paintstick.


this piece took much longer than i anticipated:  it needed much more macerating in the garden that i thought and we have had remarkably fine weather for most of the time it was out under the feijoa tree.... here it is before rinsing and gussying up....


4 comments:

Kathryn said...

Lovely piece- especially in the close-up view to really appreciate the detail. The different textures then become apparent. There is some verdigris green on a couple of fabrics - is that part of the dyeing?

Julie said...

You don't realise how much stitching there is in this until you enlarge the images. I think this piece demonstrates exactly how time does and doesn't pass. At a time when you wanted change to happen quickly it was happening remarkably slowly, a great metaphor for life.

Liz said...

Great way of approaching the Time theme, Felicity. And I love the textures and subtle colours you have achieved.

Kit Lang said...

Did I mention this is really beautiful? I thought I mentioned that this is really beautiful!

Gorgeous...