Sewn Secrets

I've been working on some textile pieces. Im using the shapes of a few embroydery rings to give nice even shapes and sizes. I want them to appear quite traditional in this way - to look like the colour has faded from the thread. The fabric is quite a pink toned cream and the string is white so they are more different than the pictures show.

I'm using frames at the moment so they dont appear too scruffy but I might try putting poles in the top and bottom and hanging them like you would with a quilt.

As the title suggests they contain secrets with the letters sewn horizontally, vertically then upside down so they are completely unreadable. I'm thinking of picking a few of the words from the secrets as titles, so the one above would be called "The Only Thing" Which seems quite cryptic but I know exactly what the secret is about.

The thread is mortician sutre thread which I've been experimenting with staining with natural dyes like blackberries. And the canvas is from the protective bags woven coffins are stored in. It's quite nice fabric, very soft and it degrades as you sew it as it rips quite easily - which I like.

See more examples of my work on my facebook or my flickr account

I want a studio, not a garage.

My studio space - where I create/store work is my garage. I technically make all my work in the front room but I consider my garage to be my studio.

It's a mess at the moment - half finished projects and drying icing sculptures dotted about the place. It was also become a bit of a dumping ground for Christmas presents.

In the talk by the Visual Arts Trader man he made the point that this space is technically a permanent exhibition of my work and I should use it.

So I'm going to tidy it up, it really seems like a space I am not using at its full potential.

The occasions where people who like art - such as my fabulous grandmother Nanni Carole - pop over I want there to be a proper space for them to look around rather than a garage filled with some junk and a few art pieces in between.

The visual trader man also said they want to do an advertisement project where they give information on open studios - and I want to be ready for when this happens.

I think I'll make some racks to tidy up the clutter and maybe a few floor level drawer boxes. I'll post pictures up of the before and after and some tutorials of what studio furniture I make.

See examples of my work on my facebook or my flickr account