I started to lose some inspiration from my subject, was not happy with the quality of my work and ask Sian for some feedback on my progress so that I could determine my way forwards. Sian questioned whether I had been thinking about the direction of my theme and suggested I review all my work and posts to look at my strengths, where my passions lie and enjoy those aspects of my results that have worked.
One comment that really made me think is my need to present solutions rather than treat the exercises as an investigative journey. Sian also used one or two quotes from my blog to help me decide on my future progress and I extended this by reviewing all my posts and picking out those aspects of my work that I have really enjoyed.
- looking through the broken shell
- rock pools with mini waves; looking through the layers
- reflective, translucent light, water reflecting the light
- waves, gradually fading
- overlapping translucent layers, producing different tones and new shapes within shapes
- sun-ray effect of folded dyed fabric; the effect where the resist has left interesting patterns and ghost-like effects of the object
- gradually faded blue pattern; transferred image fades the more times it is used.
I then thought about these words and how I would progress for about a week and rather than repeating the exercises, I decided to explore those themes I have enjoyed in my work in the next chapters of Design Process and Towards an Embroidered Item, adding addition exercises where needed.
I used some of my transfer dyed backgrounds for these exercises. In the first image I have used open buttonhole stitch on the left half , in various weights of threads, with varying distance between each stitch, overlapping rows and graduating the length of the stitch. On the right half I have put a base layer of machine stitch, alternative rows and overlaid with chain stitch, and a central area of couching.
#1.7.1
In the next sample I thought I would try using a dark background to see the effect on the colours of the threads. Stitches used include open buttonhole, cross, wheatear, basket filling, running, etc.
#1.7.2
My third sample includes three areas. The left third is circles of back stitch, with some filling in with shiny satin stitches and the circles linked by thin threads. The central section is straight stitches of various long lengths in various shades of blue, giving a wave effect. The right section has small frayed sections of dyed muslin overlaid with upright cross stitch in various weights of thread.
#1.7.3
My final stitch sample was an experiment with dyed tissue paper on clear cellophane with two weights of thread using running stitch. As I worked this sample the number of stitches had to be limited to stop the cellophane splitting.
#1.7.4
