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Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Cord Making Project


In between projects I was clearing up the studio when I saw how big my collection of 2nd hand machine thread had grown.
I decided to make a few cords with it, before moving on to my next project.
I started by sorting the big bag full into 24 hue groups.

I collected up the ends of 20 to 30 spools....

...and put the containers of colour grouped spools on the floor under my machine.

I passed the bundle of threads through the machine to be secured with a wide, open zig zag....
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Friday, December 20, 2013

Cardboard Weaving & Embellishment Workshop, Nanaimo


In conjunction with Vancouver Island SDA's exhibition, Current Threads 2014, in the Nanaimo Art Gallery, Margie Preninger will be running a fibre based, 2-day workshop.

'The workshop will be a hands-on approach to exploring colour, texture, and symbolism.'

'The simple weaving will produce a seamless vessel, which can become a purse or decorative item.
A focus will be on connecting to the heart, and exploring your relationship with the creative process'.

Margie has a BSC from the Fashion Institute of Technology New York so her class will be in good hands.
Tuesdays, January 21 & 28th, 6:30 - 9:30 pm, 2014
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Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Synesthesia Series


Synesthesia #1 Yellow


Synesthesia #24  Golden Yellow


Synesthesia #23 Orange-yellow

These are the 3 works I am entering into Vancouver Island Surface Design Association's next exhibition, in the Nanaimo Art Gallery, January 2014.
 It is a juried show so my work may not get in.

Here is the series so far - 7 of 24 completed.
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Monday, December 16, 2013

Synesthesia, #23 Orange-yellow


For the #23 Orange-yellow square I settled on a ground of layered sheers....

...then decided on the value range and intensity level of the threads.

Then wound the thick threads in the bobbin and cabled stitched them on the ground from the back.
My new Bernina has a very large bobbin that holds lots of thick thread making cable stitch such a pleasure to do.
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Saturday, December 14, 2013

Synesthesia #24 - Golden Yellow


Continuing the Synesthesia series.
Collecting up #24 Golden Yellow fabrics and sorting by value.

...and threads. An opportunity to use some of my many gold threads.

But sparkly wasn't right for how I feel about this colour.
So my collection of sparkly gold threads will have to wait their time for another idea.
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Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Saint Anne's Pilgrims


Saint Anne is the oldest pilgrimage site in North America.

It all started when a builder working on the site found he didn't need his cane any more.
It was a miracle.

Since then many have travelled to Saint Anne praying for another miracle.

W alking aids strapped to the entrance pillars are evidence many more miracles have happened in Saint Anne.
 
 

'Testimony to pilgrim prayer and the healing powers associated with Saint-Anne-de-Beaupre.'
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Thursday, December 5, 2013

Basilique Saint-Anne-de-Beaupre, Quebec


During Articulation's study week in Quebec we visited many churches but this was my favourite.
The Christian religion and the Bible are not big on acknowledging our natural environment.
Saint Anne's is different.

The ceilings are covered in mosaics with small ecological motifs.

I added more 'Tree Of Life' motifs to my collection.

Unlike most Christian churches, females feature prominently.
 A ceiling mosaic: working in the fields during the day, sitting by the fire at night.
There are lots of images of women with birds and flowers.

Dancing with abandon - on a church floor!

The zodiac!
The triangle in the 2D repeating pattern is an ancient female symbol.

A very beautiful, subtle decoration is carved into the ends of the wooden pews.
There is that triangle again, 

Every pew has a different animal or bird and a flower in a triangle.

There must have been several hundred of them.
'Saint Anne's is the oldest pilgrimage site in North America, beginning in 1658 as a shrine to the patron saint of Quebec.'
After several fires the present building was started in 1923.
If you click on the blue name of this post you will see a short video of the interior. Thanks Orangethingy for sharing.
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Monday, December 2, 2013

Art in Quebec City


Jean Paul Lemieux, Sketch for "The Ursulines"1951
This work caught my eye because we had spent a morning doing research in the Ursuline Museum.
Evidently the artist spent about 2 years working on this idea for a painting.

It's final form was a big change in style from his earlier works.
He entered it in the 1951 Quebec Art Competition and won 1st prize. It was bought by the art organisation.
In 2011 they also bought the sketch and were able to put the 2 together.
"Finally united, the two pieces provide access to Lemieux's thought processes at a turning point in his career".

We saw a retrospective of Leopold L. Foulem's work, mainly ceramics.
This teapot was my favourite.

Vanessa Yanow, 'Collaborer avec son histoire - Incarnation I', 2008.



It looks as though Vanessa used vintage iron-on transfers to place the motifs on the cloth imitating the embroidered table cloth but here the motifs are not placed in the conventional locations. She then embroidered the motifs in the traditional way using silk thread.
Glass embellishments were added.


The centre of the cushion is a mound of clear glass balls...

...filled with samples of the embroidery thread and transfer patterns used, feathers and pieces of transfer printed cloth.
This cushion was included in a very interesting exhibition of many different works made of glass.
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Thursday, November 28, 2013

Quebec City - Door Study


Before I arrived in Quebec City I had thought I might do a door study.

And work with the symbolism and conceptual meanings associated with them.

Quebec City's doors are a tourist attraction.

I took the photographs but the ideas didn't flow. So no door study.
After 10 study sessions with Articulation and lots of preparation before each trip, I am still surprised by what catches my attention and the work that results. Each time it has never been what I initially thought I would focus on.
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