Trying to do more weaving

 I have started another small tapestry. It is based on the same design I used for my last one. But, as the design in not very detailed, it is evolving differently.

 I have used a yellow warp again, mainly because I bought rather a large lot of it. Therefore, the beginning colour is yellow. But I have moved into a different colour scheme, using blue and green (blue and yellow making green). 

It is a work in progress, using stuff I have. I have some silks that I have no memory of where or why I got them. I am trying to incorporate then into the piece. 

I also have some sock wool that is working for me. 

I have only done about a third of it so far but I have hopes of doing a bit more this week, life allowing. 

I may even end up doing a series of this design - it being so non-specific. I have recently done an online course by Donna Watson, through Fibre Arts Take Two and one of the things that I have taken from it is to try do do a series, after working out what inspires me. I think it is colour and texture. So far, there is not much texture in the piece but I will see what evolves.

It is rather freeing, not having an actual vision of what the piece will be, or of what I want to end up with. And there is no call for entry or theme that is driving me. Very different for my usual practice!

Developing an idea

 I'm still plugging away on the Cas Holmes course. We have been asked to come up with a design for a digital book displaying works by the participants. 

The brief is to come up with a design that is in the landscape orientation with the horizon line at the bottom third of the image. It is also supposed to be three times wider than it is high. This is way out of my usual design orientation. 

I took some photos at Warburton, when we were allowed to be there, and then drew a small image that was inspired by the photos. 

I then found some pieces of paper and fabric that I thought might suit the image. I ended up only using one piece of fabric that I tore into two pieces, another small piece of fabric and one piece of paper. And the marks on the fabrics were in the opposite direction from my initial idea. 

I haven't finished but it is in progress - which is very pleasing as I haven't used my sewing machine in about four weeks - partly due to it needing to be serviced and partly due to a lack of creative energy. So I am pleased that I got the machine out today and had a go. 

There is plenty more to do on it yet but it is on the go. 

Seeing another face

 I was browsing through my photos today, looking for some inspiration for the final piece for the Cas Holmes course I am doing. There is going to be an online book/exhibition of people's work. You don't have to participate but I would like to try. The format is landscape which I haven't been working on for most of the course. Hence the browsing photos to see some of the many photos I have taken over the last 8 weeks on my walks around the neighbourhood. 

I had made the photos large and was just using the arrow key to move along. I saw one I thought interesting and put it in the album for the course. Then I clicked to see more photos and this one then became small. That's when I saw the face!! 

I can't see it when the image is large, just when it is small. 

Staggering on

 Today's date is 11/10/21. Thank goodness I have these dates to inspire me to post. 

We are nearing the end of our lockdown - hopefully. The case numbers are still high but the number of double vaccinated people is rising. 

I feel as if I am in a queue to get tickets to the Grand Final. Willing to wait hours till the tickets go on sale, then, the closer you get to the gate, the more the queue pushes up closer and closer, all anxious to get there before tickets are sold out - or, for other games, before the game begins. 

Anyway ... I have been doing the Cas Holmes workshop through Fibre Arts Take Two. We had a live presentation yesterday to mark the end of the official times but the course is still accessible for years, so it doesn't all have to stop. 

My sewing machine in refusing to do free motion work at the moment. I have found a mechanic who is able to meet me and take the machine away (given the travel restrictions in place, that is very pleasing) but I have to wait till he comes into our area. Then another wait till it is ready again and he will be back in the area. So I will have to either do some hand sewing and/or making more fabrics and papers to use as backgrounds. All doable, once I get the energy up. 

Here is one piece that I am experimenting on. I had put it away after making it because I wasn't sure what else to do with it yet. 

Now I have done some hand stitching. I don't think I like it much but it did make me do something, so that is a plus. And I can always experiment a bit more on it. Or I could try another piece I have made to a similar stage. Or I could try making some more backgrounds. Lots of options!

Hmm - now that I can see them both, I think the leaves need to be darker. But I will let that idea lie in the back of my head and hope it doesn't get lost. And the lighting was different, that affects how it looks too. 

Trying to stay positive

 21/8/21 - makes me post. Something needs to motivate me. 

We are back in lockdown. I know that I am not that burdened by it, compared to many other people, but I still feel exhausted. 

To help me keep interested in things, I am doing a Cas Holmes online workshop, through Fibre Arts Take Two. I attended a workshop, in person, a few years ago and really enjoyed it. So I thought I would give this one a go. 

So far, we have focussed on drawing, not a favourite thing of mine. But I have made a little sketchbook, using papers I have left over from Tara Axford's online course that I did last year (also Fibre Arts Take Two). Cas suggested that we use a variety of sketchbooks, some commercially made, some made by us. 

I have made a simple one so far, just some used photocopy paper that I did some gelli plate printing on, folded in half and sewn into a little book. It is to be my daily drawing sketchbook, along with some of the others that I have purchased. 

As we are not supposed to venture far from home, I have decided to start with very local sights - from the front and back yard. 

The first emphasis is on doing a continuous line drawing, probably because we will eventually move onto using the sewing machine for the drawing and it has to be continuous line, unless you are willing to be very picky. 

Shadows that can be inspiration for drawing shapes. 

Tried a white pen, based on some cockatoo feathers I found last year. Will almost be time to get them again soon, when the babies start growing their adult feathers.

Used a pencil on the left, a black pen on the painted surface as it was relatively dark.

Line drawing using the blank side of the paper and another piece that has paint on it. The paint felt good with the pencil 

Random pieces of paper. 

Soft paper bought from the Papermakers of Victoria. A ready-made sketchbook.