Through Our Hands - update

Laura and I are busy giving the Through Our Hands website a little facelift. Now that we've been up and running for a while we are able to restyle the website to make an even better showcase for the quilts. It's going to take us a day or two to get everything looking shipshape so thank you for your patience in the meantime. We hope you'll enjoy browsing the new site very soon.

Underpainting the body on Life 8

I've decided to block in some colour on the body for this one before going further. It'll give me a better idea for background colours/focus.

I've been a bit distracted by the sunny weather and gardening. It's been so long since we've had sunshine in the UK, that you must forgive me for weakening!

It might not seem so, but I do try an alter the colouring of the flesh for each quilt.  For this one I've chosen prussian blue and raw umber. I'm undecided about the background for the map - could be parchment, or really pale blue.







In case you were wondering, and have noticed the paint spreading beyond the stitched lines, this is OK.  I don't like hard edges and this will help me to blend the background and the flesh together.

Time for play

I was reading on Laura's blog about the need to start something new now and then, and I really recognize the feeling!

I've been doing the Life Quilts now for 2 years (crikey) and apart from a short interlude making 3 pieces for the Orientation exhibitions with SixandFriends, I've been fairly single minded about them.

I have a total of 14 quilts planned and now have models I think for most of them.  I am looking for people with interesting feet and legs though for a piece called The Glass Ceiling- let me know if you have a male partner or friend brave enough to show this part of their body in a quilt!!

It'll take me a while to make all the series, but of course, my brain flits around with others ideas and plans too - it's so exciting to have ideas and be carried along with them into the making of new things.

Because the Life quilts will hang together at some point, (I hope!) I've been making them with that ultimate viewpoint, so, things like borders and painting style have been similar. I itch though to do quilts with drawing in them, or simpler more relaxed imagery.  I'm holding fast whilst I concentrate on my main aim, but might just have to work harder, and do some other stuff at the same time.

As you know, I always watch DMTV, and we've been taken through monoprinting and various techniques for the last couple of shows.  Such a pleasure to play with abandon at something unconnected to my job in hand.

As a result of this playing, I bought a gelli plate and have enjoyed using it.  I normally use a sheet of glass. The plate was expensive (about an A4 sized was £33 inc p&p) but worth it for the sheer fun I've had in the last couple of days. I haven't been able to sew as I overdid the gardening and my trowel hand was a bit swollen, so this has kept me amused and focused.

I've been able to draw too, and last night whilst something mindless was on the TV, I attempted the skull of Richard 111 - the one found recently under a car park in Leicester.

It's a fascinating story - they can tell so much from the bones. How he died, his wounds, his health etc. They found for example that Shakespeare was right after all, and he had a hunched back - his spine was quite twisted. 

More portraits

Do you remember Life 6 - Still Life (with an Orange) 

Well, that made me think of portraits and fruit juxtaposed, and led to a spot of silliness by DD.  Mind you, I think there's definitely something to be had in a series of silly portraits.

And just because she's gorgeous, here's an update on Evie :))  Over 6 months old - where did that time go?

Life 8 stitching

I suspect you may be getting a little bored with seeing images of stitching on bodies!  It's a time consuming thing putting them on so there's not much going on around here except that at the moment. 

The story is one of reflection, thinking about what might have been, but being happy anyway.

Once again, although my father did say these exact words to me, it is a work of fiction....I have never varnished my toe nails and am a dreadful cook.

The words are:

"When I was 10, I asked my father what subjects I should take at school and what I should be when I grew up.  He said it didn’t matter because I would be a wife and mother and my husband would look after me.  He said it was important for me to learn to cook and to look pretty.  My brothers were furious at my escape from supposed drudgery and toil.

So I made sure I fulfilled my parents expectations and married at 16 to the first man who’d have me. I made a really good sponge cake, and varnished my toe nails.

My brothers were stupid. What could be more demanding and time consuming than being a mother.  It’s the ultimate career and every other career exists to support it.  I did the work of 20 for free, and lived in heaven and hell at the same time.  I was racked with self-doubt, panic, insecurity, tiredness and indignity. I found strengths I didn’t know I had and suffered fears I didn’t know existed. I found that happiness is made up of tiny moments and wasn’t an ultimate destination.  I learned how unselfish I could be, and forged chains of flesh and blood.

I often used to wonder what would have happened if my father had expectations beyond a wife and mother for me, say, an astronaut.  Now I’m older, I wonder if he chose the hardest career of all."

Some playing

 

Just having fun in between other things such as painting garden features, and mopping bathroom floors.

Some of these were printing ink and some acrylic. 4 out of about, ooooooo, millions!

My little treasure. Why you should make a book for posterity - someone will love you for it.

I know I've said this before, but I like to work in sketchbooks and altered books when I'm not sewing or painting a large piece.  It gives me ideas and lets me store them for future use. It's also enormous fun!

The current one is all about time.

But now I've found another reason for doing one.

My mother gave me a small book recently that was my aunts. She'd inherited it from a family member that I know nothing about - not even when they lived, although I suspect from the costumes, early 1800's.

It's a tie with someone that transcends time and although I didn't know the person, I feel connected -well, just a little bit. They obviously got a lot of pleasure from recording what they saw and thought. Sadly it's hard to read the text, and it appears to be mostly religious extracts.

What a lovely idea it would be if we all made a small book to hand on - things that reflect our time and our feelings.  Someone you don't know, possibly way in the future, will thank you for it.

Anyway, I thought you might like to see some of the book, which sadly, is a bit battered.

Life 7 - On The Shelf ...Finished!

I shall probably fiddle a bit more but in essence Life 7 is now finished.

The wallpaper stripes say: 

Mood swings: chocolate, cats, wine, Black cohosh, divorce

Weight gain: diet, exercise, bigger clothes

Hot Flushes: fan, soya, exercise, light clothes, HRT, diet, evening primrose oil

Insomnia: Remove clocks, no caffeine

Depression: clonidine, gabapentin, toy boy, acupuncture, venlafaxine

Osteoporosis: tibelene, calcium, jumping 13 times a day

Low self-esteem: testosterone

Irritability: diet, cannabis, citalopram

Loss of libido: HRT, champagne, abstinence, testosterone

Tearfulness: friends, food, sleep

The words on the body are:

Keep young and beautiful

It’s your duty to be beautiful

Keep young and beautiful

If you want to be loved.

Ah sod off.  So what if I’m on the shelf, I’m very happy here. Last year the man I’d lived with for over 20 years told me he wanted a divorce because he didn’t love me any more. The truth was that he’d found someone younger to flatter his ego. He didn’t like the way I’d started to sag and pucker, and grow moles and hair . He said I was grey and miserable.   I was desperate and cried so hard but I couldn’t stop him. I was so lonely, dependent, insecure, ageing and invisible.

But slowly, slowly, I began to feel better. Each day I got stronger and realised that if you are unwanted, then you are also free.   I guess I took stock and evaluated my life. I was frightened at first to go out on my own and make friends. When I was younger I used to trade on my appearance and get attention because of the way I looked, but suddenly everyone just stopped looking.  A friend told me I needed a make over, with a new hair do, and visits to the gym, maybe get my nose straightened at last, but they were wrong.  Over 17 million cosmetic procedures were done in the world in 2011 but It’s silly to pretend that I can be young forever like those stupid celebrities.  17% of the UK population are women over the age of 50 but they seem faceless and  without a defined role. Why? Getting old is interesting. I think I care less about things than I used to but I have more power and serenity.   I may not be an attractive young woman any more, but I don’t need men to make me feel good about myself.  I’ve adjusted, and I think I’m ok.  Do you know, life is good and I like the shelf.

The Imagery

I'm basing the still life part on the old dutch paintings such as the Harmen Steenwyck's Still Life: An Allegory of the Vanities of Human Life.

Skulls are a universal symbol of death and this together with the tablets mark the length and passing of life.

The eggs, are a symbol of birth and fertility.

The books represent human knowledge. My sketchbook is there of course, as is a Germain Greer. The piece is about menopause so I felt "The Change" had earned a place!

The fabric is an expensive commercial piece. That and the teapot and cup and saucer represent life's luxuries and indulgences.

There is a trug with a rose. Pinky roses mean desire, passion, joy of life, youth, energy- which is perhaps why the bloom is fading and drooping slightly.  Burgundy roses mean unconscious beauty.
The pearls are for femininity. The tablets as well as indicating mortality, show a degree of control over life.

There's also an electric hand held fan.  I expect you can work out the symbolism of that one yourself!!

Festival of quilts - deadline for Fine Art Quilt Masters fast approaching

Had you thought of entering the Art Quilts section of Festival of Quilts this year? 

Go on, give it a go!!  Be brave - what's to lose?   I thought I'd remind you, just in case you're tempted to support this wonderful new innovation and idea, with a whopping prize of £5,000, the closing date for entries is MAY 3rd.

Here's the blurb from Twisted Thread....

"This category was introduced in response to substantial research which indicated the need to showcase the work of accomplished quilters and to celebrate excellence within patchwork and quilting.

Full details can be found on the attached PDF entry form and at our new website: www.thefestivalofquilts.co.uk . All shortlisted works will be displayed in a distinct gallery at The Festival. Our aim is to display a collection of quilts which transcend craft and demand equal billing with work shown in an art gallery.

To show the strength of our support for this new important category, Upper street Events have agreed to underwrite the prize fund for Fine Art Quilt Masters. A significant award to the winner of £5000.00. I would also like to stress that this is not a purchase prize however, we may want to tour shortlisted as well as the winning quilt to other exhibitions including The Knitting and Stitching Shows.

New altered book

I'm working on a new altered book about Time.  The idea came to me on the last visit to Snowshill Manor.

I've been doing a bit of sketching in amongst everything else, and a lot of gesso-ing and sticking too!!

Here's a quick effort to keep you amused.  Wings of time?  Times wing-ed chariot? Time flies? Lots of options.  It was taken from an advert I found whilst browsing the internet for something totally unrelated, so I wouldn't want to use it as is, but clocks with wings is an interesting idea.

A sneaky peak at the painting in progress

 Needless to say, I have to qualify this posting at the start by saying there's loads of work to do and the quilt is nowhere near finished yet.

I'm working on the still life element today.

Stage 1 - the photo. I worked out the pieces I wanted (they all mean something) and photographed them in situ.






Below: Stage 2. putting in the fabric applique shapes.

Stage 3: Stitching the shapes and adding details.

Right: Stage 4: adding the first coat paint to the stitched applique.

I love this sketchbook. It's a lovely soft leather and is being made to go alongside the award I got last year for gardening.

The EXTRA special thing that I love about this version is the pages.  A while back I asked Linda Kemshall to print some altered book pages for me for a piece that's coming along later in the Life Story series.  I was able to use some of the excess to make my sketchbook pages (you can just make out some of the printed words)  So I have my sketchbook pages, really making up my sketchbook pages. How cool is that?! 

And this is how far I've got today.

Ahem, I digress, sorry! For Catherine.

You should never ask a new Granny if she has any piccies Catherine, because you know what will happen don't you?

Words for Life 7 - On the Shelf

NB: This is a story, not autobiographical!

The wallpaper stripes say:

Mood swings: chocolate, cats, wine, Black cohosh, divorce

Weight gain: diet, exercise, bigger clothes

Hot Flushes: fan, soya, exercise, light clothes, HRT, diet, evening primrose oil

Insomnia: Remove clocks, no caffeine

Depression: clonidine, gabapentin, toy boy, acupuncture, venlafaxine

Low self-esteem: testosterone

Irritability: diet, cannabis, citalopram

Loss of libido: HRT, champagne, abstinence, testosterone

Tearfulness: friends, food, sleep

The words on the body are:

Keep young and beautiful

It’s your duty to be beautiful

Keep young and beautiful

If you want to be loved.

Ah sod off.  So what if I’m on the shelf, I’m very happy here. Last year the man I’d lived with for over 20 years told me he wanted a divorce because he didn’t love me any more. The truth was that he’d found someone younger to flatter his ego. He didn’t like the way I’d started to sag and pucker, and grow moles and hair . He said I was grey and miserable.   I was desperate and cried so hard but I couldn’t stop him. I was so lonely, dependent, insecure, ageing and invisible.

But slowly, slowly, I began to feel better. Each day I got stronger and realised that if you are unwanted, then you are also free.   I guess I took stock and evaluated my life. I was frightened at first to go out on my own and make friends. When I was younger I used to trade on my appearance and get attention because of the way I looked, but suddenly everyone just stopped looking.  A friend told me I needed a make over, with a new hair do, and visits to the gym, maybe get my nose straightened at last, but they were wrong.  Over 17 million cosmetic procedures were done in the world in 2011 but It’s silly to pretend that I can be young forever like those stupid celebrities.  17% of the UK population are women over the age of 50 but they seem faceless and  without a defined role. Why? Getting old is interesting. I think I care less about things than I used to but I have more power and serenity.   I may not be an attractive young woman any more, but I don’t need men to make me feel good about myself.  I’ve adjusted, and I think I’m ok.  Do you know, life is good and I like the shelf.