An extract from Fiona Duthie (Canadian) re: an exhibit she has created 'Chromatic Navigation'. 

• Chromatic Navigation explores individuality and community and how we each can influence thinking, circumstances and events through small changes and interactions. This interactive work includes over 200 felt wall tiles, in a full spectrum of colour that sweeps across the gallery space.

The installation is based on the global temperature map on June 29, 2021, the date Canada surpassed all temperature records hitting 49.6 degrees Celsius, and the day before the town of Lytton, BC, where this temperature was recorded, burnt to the ground as a result of forest fire. The tiles are composed of firmly felted wool fibres, felted paper, and ceramics with details in charred wood and ink made from the forest fire burnt trees.

Viewers are encouraged to turn and switch the tiles with others in the installation to transform the overall pattern. The installation is constantly changing and experiential, deepening the viewers’ thinking on the theme. The viewers become the vehicle of change, altering the visual
pathways to set a different course of navigation.

Fiona Duthie Canadian Felt Artist

Sketchbook Musings

A few snippets from an on-line Sketchbook course I took with textile artist, Dionne Swift.
Really enjoyed the course and I ended up with lots of ideas for future projects. Good to do something creative in Lockdown.

Mark-making on Silk

Clear Gutta used to 'resist' water-based silk paints. 

Gutta applied with a plastic fork - a great way to re-use a plastic item!!!

Silk Screen Printing Revisited

It's been a good few years since I pulled a squeegee! However, soon got back into the swing of silk screen printing during a one day workshop facilitated by traditional printmaker Kevin Holdaway. Keeping my image very simple I produced a series of 3-colour prints on paper.

Kevin is a great instructor and I really enjoyed the day! Will definitely be making an effort to do some more printing.

Silk Gauze...pure indulgence

I've been painting some samples of silk gauze this week. Just used silk paints. Such a fine, delicate cloth to work with. I love the lustre when the sun shines on this fabric...pure indulgence.

 

Hoop Art Landscape

Experimenting with an applique image, inspired by a landscape photograph. To hoop or not to hoop, that it is the question!

Mark-Making and Stitch

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love to explore the relationship between mark-making and stitch. It has so many creative possibilities.

 

 

Melted Surfaces

Had fun painting, stitching and melting heat-sensitive materials.

I'm intrigued by the surfaces that can be obtained.

Aquinas Arts Exhibition 2017

 
Images of adult students' work at the Aquinas Adult Education College exhibition last night. Well done Diana for receiving the textiles prize, although as the Principal said, "You are all winners!"

 



Step up to the Metal!

Have been looking at ways to colour the surface of thin copper. For the smaller sample I used a naked flame and for the larger one, alcohol inks (used in a ventilated area!).
Looking forward to embossing and stitching the metal, too; with a view to incorporating it into a textile piece.

Workshop: Stitch on Dissolvable Stabiliser

Thanks to the Lorna Knight Sewing Academy in Staffordshire for inviting me to teach a great stitch workshop. Lovely group of talented, enthusiastic students!

Contemporary Student Textile Piece

One of my students has produced a contemporary piece of textile work. She was inspired by a series of photographs she took of fishing vessels. The photographs were cut into strips and woven together to produce an altered image. This second image was the basis for weaving painted fabric strips together to create a pleasing composition. To finish the work, the student added free-machine embroidery.

Textile students at Aquinas College Adult Education experimenting with Shibori Dyeing and Free-Machine Embroidery.

Marbling Madness!

My Aquinas College Adult Education students have been indulging in some marbling madness this week. Such a quick process with eye-catching results!

 

Silk Museum Macclesfield: Sat 11 Feb 2017 (10am -4pm)

Silk Museum Macclesfield: Sat 11 Feb 2017 (10am -4pm)

Fun & Experimentation with Free-Machine Embroidery - a workshop for all abilities!

 

Crazy Felt Birds!

Made these crazy felt birds on a multi-media workshop at the weekend, organised by the International Feltmakers' Assocation (Region 11). Really was a whole load of fun!!!!!!!

Rust Dyeing or Fish & Chips Crafting!

I went on a workshop recently...for rust dyeing on fabric. All you have to do is spray some fabric with a 50:50 mixture of distilled vinegar & water, place some steel wool or old, rusty metal (iron or steel) on the top and bind the fabric tightly with string or yarn. Place your bundle in a plastic bag and leave for a couple of days to 'rust'.

Unwrap, soak in a bucket of water/salt solution to fix the print and you're done. You can now use the rusty prints in your textile work!!!