and in the nest…

nest, nesting…

My cousin gave me this little bird’s nest before going travelling. It is one of my greatest treasures ….. I hold it so carefully

.. twigs, grasses, feathers, wool, moss, seed-heads, leaves – so light, so beautifully made and pressed into shape – enveloping, protecting, warm

A small drawing – made whilst only looking at the nest itself and deepening my observation and understanding of it – I mostly draw this way so as to be mindful of what I am experiencing or drawing not judging the drawing itself and so I look for longer though I often draw quite fast!

And then I decided to draw big – taping a sheet to the wall, moving with the drawing, watching the drawing emerge this time… thinking about nesting and what that means!

A little spring colour!

Sometimes I make…..

See my flickr photos by clicking on these in the side bar!

3 generations of hands

I like the way these are shadowy, layered, and how when Kay and I threw the piece gently onto a chair it took on it’s own shape and the images have turned and become something viewed differently than when it falls softly as a whole length….

the linking of hands

Today’s images are from a long, light, layered panel which was originally exhibited as part of the Brunel Broderers Exhibition Curious Drawers in 2010 as part of the festival events from Stroud International Textiles.

These for today are glimpses, facets – caught in the folds.The work is pieced with  drawings of ‘family hands’ from 3 generations, reaching out and interlinking – and some written phrases…

.. and a couple showing details of stitches that join, hold, connect

More to be revealed and unfolded…

Drawing, free machine, hand stitch on cotton organdie

Janet Haigh mentions this piece from a visit to the exhibition – have a lovely browse through Janet’s blog!

And – credits and heartfelt thanks to Kay Swancutt once more for the photos of my work

camera, stitch, action!

A follow on today in some ways – a flowing film… but a silent movie – no words needed… apart from the credits at the end!

Click on these in the gallery for viewing in close detail

Credits rolling to – my brother for the original photos which I altered, pieced, stitched – and to Kay Swancutt for these photos taken today for this blog – with my thanks to you both and to the wonderful stitcher as well!

Work shown in the Brunel Broderers exhibition Curious Drawers in Stroud 2010

an in-between time

March and half way through the first quilt making for a little project called ‘inching along’ – more when this is ready to share…

An in-between place and time, a ‘there and not there’ place and a need to capture ‘winter’ (the first theme) in ideas and samples with the days growing lighter, warmer – though this may still turn back, and the mists are beautiful…

Thoughts – warmth, layers, snow-covering, comforter quilts, texture and touch, changing light, calm shapes and colours, half hidden under covers

And then, a walk in the snow

Snow that changed and hid part of what was there, and then melted fast

I did some drawings

And now, the warmth of special bamboo wadding from Kay, some fine turban cotton the bright white of snow – white silk thread to catch, hold and texture, layers (always layers), and charcoal to bring through the hidden ground.. and some threads loose and waiting..

samples towards a finished piece

 

Family made

My mother’s hands – such a familiar gesture, outstretched with something to show and a story to share, unfolding…

Hands through time, across generations and spaces, passing on making,

stretching out to each other, connecting and holding..

Curious Drawers

First image – work in photography.

Second image – work in free-machine drawing, hand-stitch, drawing details in pen, worked on organdie fabric – 3 generations – hands of my mother’s, my own and my niece