Sunday 18 January 2009

ATC swop, Autumn Angel

Last summer I read Susan Lenz' Cyber Fyber Exhibition blog and
decided it would be good to take part. Do read all about it, I'm not
even going to begin to try and tell you all about it, I couldn't begin to
do it justice.I received this ATC in returnfor one of my creations,
number 159 (scroll down to find it). Have a good look at the blog,
there's loads of great textile art to see.
A brilliant job. Well done, Susan.
I took an opportunity to take part in a 'Trees' challenge last year.
One of the rules was that the piece should mostly be hand
stitched, so mine was mainly done by machine.
This is the fabric, organza embellished with more organza
and wool tops then machine embroidered with appropriate
text.
It was going to be a fairy but I used the wrong wings!
The construction wasn't difficult, decisions just needed to
be made. Firstly, the face. It took me ages to find a stamp
that I could use again and again. A stamp was needed
as I can't draw people or any part of a person. I chose the
sleeping face, it seemed appropriate for autumn, things
going to sleep/hibernation for the winter. I also wanted to
keep it simple, no hair!
The wings are rather heavy looking but I wanted her to all be
made from the same fabric. I used butterfly style markings
on the angel wings.
The arms and legs are made from kiddies pipe cleaners.
They were thicker than normal pipe cleaners and are just
wrapped with various yarns to cover the white.
As I've already said I'm no good at bodies or their parts
so the hands and feet are represented by simple stylised
shapes.
I made a body shape to hold the body covering and to attach
the legs. I didn't take photos as it all evolved rather quickly
and the dog didn't get his afternoon walk, I got carried away.
The other decision to be made was how to pose her, I'd
not really thought about it. I chose to seat her with her knees
up and shutting her eyes having forty winks.
I'd got enough fabric left over to make a leaf. I wish I'd created
a larger piece of fabric. The back of the leave shouldn't be seen.
I did add wire so it didn't have to be completely flat.

I've actually done something new. It feels good. In fact, I've entered
'Autumn Angel' and 'Waiting for Lunch' in a local Open Art exhibition.
'Waiting for Lunch' is the fishy piece I did last year, thought it could do
with a final airing.
The colours in the photos have come out abit faded when I
posted them, sorry.

Bye....................