A Place Within the Mystery
I start each piece by making rough sketches to ‘capture’ a moment, sense or feeling. I journal extensively to gain a further sense and knowledge of the animals and plants that I am representing in stitch. The main body of each piece is constructed from carefully chosen pre-loved textiles, which I colour using both procion and natural dyes. These are then hand printed and/or painted and pieced together using a variety of hand stitches.
Fyxen
Fyxen -Vixen in old English
Having watched a fox trot nonchalantly into our garden to retrieve its stash of bantams, I felt compelled to study this
russet carnivore.
The background is made by layering hand-dyed, printed old sheeting with layers of net and silk, embroidered together using a variety of hand-dyed and commercial threads. I have incorporated leaves gathered from Kingsbridge, Devon into the landscape. I collaged fabrics, over-laying with wool and silk stitches, drawing on photographs and my memory of foxes to create this cheeky chappie.
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Lammas
Lammas- Late Summer Hare
I wanted to capture the heat and stillness of late summer; that time when Nature is holding her breath, waiting for the arrival of Autumn.
The landscape was constructed by layering hand-dyed and printed scrap fabrics incorporating commercial material with silks and net, which were then hand-stitched together using hand-dyed and commercial threads.
I collaged fabrics, adding layers of stitches in wools and silks to depict the Hare whilst using Broiderie Perse applique for the poppies to honour the original embroiderer.
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The Hidden
The Hidden- Hare and Fox
This late Spring textile was my first landscape, although the Hare had travelled with me for a number of years before breaking free.
I have learned so much about how to dye and make marks on fabric using recycled materials where possible. I enjoy the process of collaging and have discovered that I prefer the art of slow hand-stitching.
I enjoy creating a story depicting my local landscape often incorporating natural finds for example leaves while celebrating the work of other embroiderers by using
Broiderie Perse applique.
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Titmice
Titmice- Long-Tailed Tits
The inspiration for Titmice came one winter's night when I saw a group oflong-tailed Tits huddled together trying to keep warm on the bare branches of a tree, like
Christmas baubles.
I used an old quilted cushion cover for the background, painting it to suggest a landscape. Each titmouse has been created by hand-stitching using embroidery silks into collaged scrap fabrics. I have then cut away both stitches and fabric to imitate the fluffed-up plumage.
Buy Titmice the original artwork.