fiber experiments

 

crochet

couching and applique 

embroidery 

wool drawing 

personal project

 

Paisley, FL

fabric, relief printing ink, embroidery thread, black tea

33" x 29"

detail

detail 

fabric dyed with black tea

stitching details

printing the tail

My work entitled Paisley, FL is a constructed fictional artifact from a real place that has been special to my family for generations. I wanted to make something that would look right at home in the run-down 1970s fishing cabin on the lake where my family goes fishing. The cabin is practically abandoned but still full of vintage furniture and a hand pump sink. It has turquoise floor-to-ceiling paint coated in years of grime. The kitchen counter is covered in fish hooks and lures. My focus for Paisley, FL was to replicate the contrast of lovely and grimy that makes the cabin so charming. To achieve this, I used the tail of a largemouth bass to make the dark inky imprints on delicate curtain fragments. I attached them onto tea-dyed cotton that I embroidered with an intuitive pattern of flowers and abstract stitching. Dying the fabric aged the new material to something archaic. Through Paisley, FL, I explore the relationship between lasting beauty and inevitable decay. 

surface pattern design

 

little fish, little pools

Cotton fabric, felt, earthenware, wire, watercolor

32" x 21"

detail

Porcelain fish plate

https://www.ebay.com/itm/314405808038

Sixteen Whitebait, Diana Tonison

https://dianatonnison.co.uk/gallery/42186/451047/sixteen-whitebait

Stitching a sail

https://www.pbo.co.uk/expert-advice/diy-sail-repairs-how-to-do-a-get-you-home-repair-23349

sketch # 1

sketch # 2

mold of the original fish

The textile wall hanging entitled little fish, little pools was inspired by fish. I was also inspired by natural, neutral colors interacting with the color blue. My intent was to visually communicate a pattern with mixed media components and an interaction between 2d and 3d elements. I wanted to focus on the glaze work of the fish because I love the illusion it creates of scales. I decided to include watercolor detail because I felt the work was lacking contrast with only the fish on the surface of the material. Adding the watercolor was daunting because my original plan didn't look how I wanted, but the bleeding effect of the final design brought it all together. I want to continue exploring mixed media work, especially with textiles and ceramics. The making of this work exposed me to new ideas such as watercolor on fabric, which is something I hadn't experimented with very much before.  

diversity banners

 

Dance Team Banner

40" x 30"

Grrr

fabric, ink, seed beads, embroidery thread

40" x 30"

Dance Team banner sketch # 1

Dance Team banner sketch # 2

In-process

In-process

Personal Banner research # 1

Izumi Benitani

https://threadfashionandcostume.blogspot.com/2022/06/izumi-benitani.html

Personal Banner research # 2

Alexandra Drenth

https://artyembroidery.com/alexandra-drenth-yourneys-without-sense-of-time/

Personal Banner research # 3

Kiki Smith, Kourai, 2005

https://staging.walkerart.org/magazine/kiki-smith-by-frank-gaard-walker-non-employee/

Personal Banner sketch # 1

Personal Banner sketch # 2

In-process:

My personal banner entitled Grrr was inspired by Kiki Smith's work as well as my own portfolio work, Wolf Girl. My intent was to visually communicate frustration and embrace ferocity. I wanted to focus on expressing a feeling through the symbol of a wolf. I knew that I wanted to use a neutral base and washes of ink on cotton fabric. Ink bleeding and raw edges were fundamental aspects of the piece to embody a sense of untamed existence. I initially wanted to fully bead the wolf's eye in this piece, but I ended up pivoting to a little bit less detail. This piece allowed me to really explore the potential of working with textiles. I want to keep exploring the interaction between textiles and ink drawing. I want to learn more about embroidery techniques to do more complex details in the future. The making of this work exposed me to new ideas such as practical sewing skills like attaching fringe and layering materials. 

personal banner ideas

 Design 1

 Design 2

Inspiration:

Izumi Benitani

https://threadfashionandcostume.blogspot.com/2022/06/izumi-benitani.html

Alexandra Drenth

https://artyembroidery.com/alexandra-drenth-yourneys-without-sense-of-time/

Vintage church banners

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/2-vintage-church-banners-eucharist-sacrament-mass

"The song, “When Peace Like A River,” was written by Horatio A. Spafford after he and his wife lost their four daughters at sea during a boat collision and then sinking. Years later, Spafford and his wife traveled back out to sea and he’s said to have written this song as they were passing over the approximate area where his girls had died."

https://inallthings.org/peace-like-a-river/

surface pattern design ideas

This pattern is inspired by the flora and fauna of Florida. Lilypad blossoms and bass fish make up the design, which references blue and white porcelain china in shape and color. The design will be hand-carved into a block and printed onto the fabric. 

Visual inspiration:

https://www.gardenia.net/guide/recommended-aquatic-plants-for-central-florida

https://www.floridatoday.com/story/sports/outdoors/2015/12/26/preserving-bass-complicated-endeavor/77706982/

https://www.replacements.com/china-blue-danube-japan-blue-danube/c/44711

https://www.ebay.com/itm/314405808038

https://shangrila-antique.com/product/16c-jiajing-wanli-ming-antique-chinese-porcelain-dish-fish-and-crab-design-marked/

Additional inspiration:

"In the 14th century, motifs had Islamic influences, as wares were often shipped to Muslim traders in Southwest-Asian markets.

Many pieces contain motifs and decorations that offer wishes to the recipient, as porcelain was often given as a gift. Common wishes and example motifs included:

· Longevity: Pine trees, peaches and cranes

· Prosperity:: Fish

· Honor:: Deer

· Happy marriage:: Mandarin ducks" symbolism inspiration in the design 
Additional research:

Method and inspiration

visual inspiration for block printing on textiles