...merging....

Whilst tidying up in the studio, I came across another piece of "Soft and Red" prepared background. So....

...rather than making a complete change into new tribal-inspired work....

..I decided to let the two simply merge....

...to change slowly.....

...to evolve into their new selves.


Inspired by a gorgeous piece of stitchery, again from Afghanistan (supplied by Rayela),





...I used one of the chain-stitch bands on my own piece.





It feels "comfortable" in there....

...I'll go with it...

..and see where it leads.

...latest bit of red.....

...and likely to be the last of this kind for a while.




After my Moroccan adventure, I'm really eager to get back to my "Tribal" work.

Work like this.....



....and this.....

...and this.....

...and this....


....has inspired me immensely, and I'm now itching to get back into the "Tribal Groove"!

I've enjoyed the little escape into the "Soft and Red", and techniques employed there will now carry on into new work.

The dyepot has been out, and piles of coloured fabrics are on every horizontal surface in the studio...

Threads and beads are in baskets and pots everywhere....


..I REALLY need to go and tidy-up.....

Secret Sunday

I've just been told by Seth Apter that my "art secret" will be featured on his Secret Sunday post - this coming weekend, 7th Feb.

Pop around and have a look......

One World One Heart giveaway.....

Here we are again......and it doesn't seem five minutes since the event last year!

(Since passing the big 50 time seems to be moving a lot quicker than it used to :-(

Anyway......

....I've got 3 giveaways this year.....



Starry Sky Sketchbook


Spirit Brooch


Tribal Brooch


For a chance to win.....

..leave a comment....

(let me know which you'd like as your first, second and third choice)

....and then keep your fingers crossed!

Winners will be announced on 15th Feb..

Good Luck to everyone.

x Chris

Back home.....and completely wrecked......

...after a very hectic week in Morocco!

WOW! What an experience! A few of us decided we'd had quite enough of freezing cold temperatures, feet of snow that wouldn't shift, and grey skies...so we booked ourselves a trip to somewhere much warmer and very different - both culturally and architecturally.

We were based in Marrakech, but took some fairly long trips into the Atlas Mountains and also to the coastal town of Essaouira.

Of course, pour moi, the trip was always going to be "textile heaven"....and it didn't disappoint (you'll have to wait a bit longer for more on that ;-)

It was an amazing experience to see just how others live and work. However, the abject poverty of so many people there was quite distressing.....and I'll certainly NEVER complain about our local refuse-collection service ever again!

I was on a mission to acquire a certain type of flatweave; to find some dyes to use in my work; and to take as many photos as humanly possible.

All boxes ticked :-)))

Here are just some of the photos for now.....

(...I'll be working on a longer, more detailed post to appear after the one for the One World One Heart giveaway ...which should appear here on the weekend.)

...amazing stitching!.....

I've recently aquired a textile from Afghanistan...(from Rayela)

...an embroidered Pastun bodice (circa 1970s)....(the Pastun are the largest ethnic group in the country and who also make up a large proprtion of the population of northern Pakistan and Pakistani Kashmir)

I'm completely blown-away by the needlework that has gone into making this...

..just look at the stitching...(click for closer views)








The beige stitching was originally a bright jade green...still visible on the reverse of the piece that had been protected by a brown lining fabric.

The original background colour was a really bright pink - and the applied braids bright silver/gold.


Here's a photo of the complete piece..






I am in total admiration of the woman who made this!....a bodice for a small child...who probably felt like a princess when she put it on for the first time.

There are also traces of the skirt material....bright pink with gold lines in the weave.

The dress must have been stunning!

Yesterday evening, I had a go at one of the stitches used - open chain (or square chain)....on a piece of fine linen....

I'm not going to show the results!

I couldn't get the stitches close enough...even with a very fine needle....and I now have to admit that my eyesight isn't what it used to be! :-(




I did manage to finish another piece of my own work though...

...a sample for some workshops later in the year.








..intricate....


...but no-where near as delicate as the Afghan bodice.

...AND THE WINNER IS........

...........DIGITAL MISFIT...........



Congratulations Heidi....I've e-mailed for your address.....


A BIG "Thanks" to everyone who left comments..............

...maybe next time ;-)

x Chris