Spiral Spores

Dyed Buckram with cad embroidery to give a raised texture look , then over printed. At first I didn’t like the initial samples and felt it was too crowded. Once I had cut the design down to create light shades I thought it presented better. However, I should have printed first, then embroider as it was very difficult to print perfectly on the fabric once the tight threads of the CAD create tension on the fabricinspiration and sampling with dyed buckram , screen printed and CAD embroidery

Radial Fungi

 

Using clear PVC and black thread only I created a design with three different sections. Using the radial stitch as used before adding blanket stitch on the edges of the design. To create a shadow to the shapes. Moved it to photo shop and created a piece to have a screen make up with. Made two one is the perfect design created in CAD, one is the stitched design made by the CAD, which has threads and knots and other natural elements to it.

I haven’t done this as a repeat and I want it as a placement piece.

The design achieved good screens to enable me to repeat several different ideas on different fabrics and medias.

On reflection, the most interesting part is the fact the design looks stitched from a distance for me this is important as it’s a digital design.

Using buckram as its stiff coating means I can manipulated into different shapes. However, it does prove a long time to dye due to the contents of its coating. The screens printed very well with metallic paint and binder plus an added puff binder to give a raised effect. Over lapping the design in different metallic colours worked well, you are clearly able to see the fine lines of the design and the blanket-stitched edge. Creating a unique shade design has been more difficult. After much mocking, up with paper settled on a wire installation so I could twist and bend the design as fungi bends and hangs off trees and stumps.

To continue to create texture I will CAD embroider the design first then add a second colour with print

Vibrant Poison

Using the CAD embroidery machine as a drawing media I scanned in a fungi design and started to re draw it as a pure stitch design. Adding areas which could take small amounts of complex fill stitch. Lengthening the shortening the stitches to give a vibrant and interesting piece learning on my previous errors. This time I kept it completely PVC and hand stitched lose pieces beforehand.

The needles did break and the machine had quite a few manual stops, it took twice as long as I had allowed. Need to consider reducing the size and complex stitching program as it can create holes if it goes over areas twice.

The colours worked well and I think the piece is successfully interesting, once the light is added it gives new life to the piece. I will dye and measure a long piece of media to be able to make into a lampshade as it requires over half a metre piece of media.  I plan to move the hoop along the way through stopping the stitching to create a larger design next to each other.

On reflection, this piece took too long to create with all the different stages, I will consider a much simpler design in which I can keep the stitch element in but recreate on a screen for a mass market

Abstract Koi

Continuing to learn the tools of the CAD embroiderer and its limitations. I attempted to add small pieces of PVC I had dyed onto backing fabric with stitch on the top. To see if the PVC would not be chewed up.

It worked exceptional well and the coloured PVC areas I preferred to the whole piece. On reflection, it’s the backing fabric I don’t like, I would like to see clear though the stitching as the back is sometimes just as exciting as the front. The colours worked well and by opening the blanket stitch to triple its length and giving the design of the” fishes” a spine worked well, I will continue to sample this stitch again. The tension needs adjusting when multiple layers are put through the embroiderer to stop the fabric gathering up tight cause ugly spaces. The dual overlapping radial stitch was defiantly worth the time spent on creating overlays. I think it has successfully created a “water feel” but the whole piece feels clumsy and unbalanced, awkward as oppose to abstract piece which I was going for. The design would work better as a printed design to show the textures.

 

Recycled Goldfish

Texture without stitch –Recycled goldfish

To create tactile and texture piece that look appealing with no stitch I found a challenge. Lampshades need to be exact with no flaws and the light highlights every single stitch. After spending many hours re drawing a design on the generations CAD computer package I wanted to find a new way to use the media I had created.

Dyeing over a metre of PVC was a challenge measuring the correct dye bath for it, while still trying to have tonal areas for interest. Once the PVC is ready it’s still very hot and it sticks to itself so keeping it flat is a must while drying with a hairdryer otherwise water spots make the piece become cloudy and dull. The opposite of what I want to achieve for a lighting piece.

This chevron piece I will cut into carefully to create lampshades that will bounce the light of all angles while also creating fascinating shadows on the wall.

Texture without stitch

PVC sampling

Sampling –Dying PVC

Testing brought mixed results and I decided that shibori the plastic could give a mottle look which would also bring more light and dark areas through a lighting shade.

I also tried pleating and bending the plastic to create interesting shapes the light would bounce off creating appealing shadows.

I used a hairdryer to be able to manipulate the PVC into a shape as is becomes very pliable for a few seconds afterwards, then adding it to the hot dye mix immediately while still warm. This gave interesting results depending on the thickness and quality of the PVC. Once rise out you need to hair dryer the media dry otherwise waters marks appear giving a dull tone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bali Vegetation

Living interiors

My new interior will be exploring “bringing the outside in”

Many newly built builds are having sky lights for natural light and beautiful folding patio doors to bring the garden into our lives. Florida rooms and conservatoires allow us to view the ever changing outside from our cozy rooms indoors. The green and coloured vegetation bringing peace calm into our lives.

Due to the English climate, dull and rainy, some of the population suffer with Seasonal Affective Disorder. Beautiful lighting will be key into bringing English people through the long winter months.

I’ve photographed an array of exotic growing vegetation within the UK and Bali over the summer.  I plan to bring vibrant colours and designs into the home, shades that will cast shadows against the walls and ceilings. Creating visual pleasing and vibrant lighting even when the lamp is not switch on.