I made Mrs Lily as a direct result of my second tutorial with Louise Richardson. I have had some of my drawings printed on the sublimation printer and wanted to pad them and bring them 'to life' with embellishments, hand and machine embroidery. I bought a variety of needles for my Janome Harmony 2041 including thin needles for polyesters and synthetics (sublimation materials), quilting needles and metallic thread embroidery needles.
To create Mrs Lily I used polyester sourced from an old shirt in a charity shop and backed it onto a piece of cotton found fabric. I love the idea of utilising unwanted materials. I then highlighted my drawing with a straight black stitch. I did struggle to actually quilt the bird because I need to reach a compromise between using freehand and a structured stitch with a normal foot/ quilting foot.
I left loose threads on my embellishments because of the trend research on WGSN 'Archaic Threads'. I think it added charm to Mrs Lily. I also experimented with embroidery silks (2 strand and 4 strand) to create varying sizes of French knotting building up textures in different colours. This creates a more textured base to then embellish, representing a hint of the animals genuine appearance (wings). My sequins are sourced from www.josyrose.com because the sequins seem so much stronger and symmetrical than others I have used. I would like to try and source some sort of vintage beading to use in partnership with the sequins in the future.
I love that drawing onto a magazine page means that there is this little face peeking through although I would have to be careful with doing this with illustrations because obviously that little face is someone else's work.
I still really want to take this peeping idea forwards using vintage imagery from photographs I sourced over the summer.
Context
I'm finding myself getting really excited about the work I am producing. I can imagine this bird a bit flatter as part of a collar as a shoulder on a dress. Swans on the side of shoes, embroidered animals wrapped round necks and lamps and cushions ahhhhhhhh the possibilities of accessories!!! I also think my drawings have the potential to be developed into transfers for ceramics, simple wallpaper repeats and quirky giftwear/ stationary/ fine art dolls and childrenswear. Why pen myself in to fashion or interiors or art when I can and want to do all three?
Found my tutorial with Louise Richardson really helpful today. She pointed out that my drawings tend to be one offs and to roll with this creating detailed drawings. Do what I enjoy. Don't get het up on context, keep it in mind but don't let these thoughts take over.
She said that my drawings look like they need to be quilted which I felt would be a good way of bringing the 3D element my work is calling out for.
I took the advice away and whilst I was waiting for my drawings to be digitally printed in order to quilt, I experimented with painting fabric with ink and then bleach and padding and embellishing this.
The result is this little bird. I am pleased with it for a first attempt but I need to buy some quilting needles for the sewing machine in order for the stitching to stay neat. I don't like the button for an eye either. I feel that the eye would look better as a curved straight stitch.
I also like the faded pastel colours that have been given an antique feel, using pastel colours and bleach to ring out the colour.
