Outer World Inspired
Six Dames
This work has been produced as a result of being a member of an Anglo-French group comprising 6 women. Every three months one member presents the inspiration and each member creates accordingly.
Series one
In the first series the inspiration was in the form of a photograph. Under the section Exhibitions of this website you will find the catalogue containing all the original photos and what each member created. Mine were as follows:
Beauty underfoot
Beauty underfoot reverse
22.5cm X 25cm
Cotton, mono printed and heavily stitched.
I focussed on the pattern on the floor tiles. On the reverse I wanted to reflect the six women and used concentric hexagons to create the backing.
NOMAD
21cm sphere
Cotton with a layer of open weave plastic for stability.
Created in the shape of a sphere it consists of letters forming the word nomad in eight languages. This work carries the notion of no fixed roots, a pillar at the centre of nomad living.
Circular wave
Circular wave 2
36cm Ø
Hand dyed cotton, cotton thread, wire.
It was the rainy day element of the photo that served as inspiration for me. As a child rainy days often brought extended family women together in a circle doing hand work.
Odd one out
58cm X 21cm
Cotton, silk, paint
The notion of standing in ones own difference motivated this piece.
Departure gate
27cm X 31cm
Quilted fabric, velvet, waxed tissue paper on a cotton backing.
We are always departing from one situation and entering another, often knowing what we are leaving behind but not quite knowing what we are entering.
Marilyn
28cm X 29cm
Silk, velvet, lace. pearls, beads, crystals and various cleaning cloths.
The inspirational photo triggered the combination of the glamorous and the domestic characteristics often expected from women. One side of the interlocking circle is made from materials associated with the glamour while the other is created from cleaning fabrics and images of domestic situations.
Series two
In this series each member suggested an artist as inspiration.
Manrique
30cm X 30cm
Cotton, linen, silk threads, hand stitched
Inspired by the colours of the Monumento al Campesino
Bonnard
21cm X 25cm
Cotton, gauze, embroidery threads, hand stitched.
Inspired by Red Carpet using stitching instead of paint
Nadir Afonso
50cm X 67cm X 12cm
Cotton, organza, acrylic paint, machine stitching, 5 3D shapes made using two fused layers of acrylic painted cotton organdie, hand stitched.
John Piper
43cm X 53 cm
Dyed hemp gauze, tulle, fusible bias binding and a magnetic frame. There is no stitching in this piece.
Appreciating stained glass I wanted to create a piece that was visible from both sides.
Michel Folon
40cm X 40 cm
Cotton fabric, Markal paints, beads, machine and hand stitching.
Frida Kahlo
42cm X 30cm
Commercial fabrics, cellulose paste, cotton threads, machine stitched
I wanted to capture Frida’s love of colour but also her torn and shredded life.
Others
Hidden Beauty (2011)
Size 49cm X 49cm
Hand dyed cotton, fabric paints, machine quilting
The directive was to create a piece inspired by the plant world. My work is an image of a highly magnified Xsection of a plant stem.
Travelight (2011)
32 gilet
Commercial cotton, fabric paints, zips, press studs, buttons, cord, cotton thread, machine quilting and hand sewing.
The instruction was to create an accessory. It was at the time when air travel was restricted to one bag and I wanted to create something that enabled me to have all the documents and other travel requirements at my fingertips. The images show the result, a gilet with various pockets but that can also be zipped and press studded into a backpack.
Oriente (2010)
22 X 22 X 25 cm
Commercial cotton, stitch in ditch quilting, manipulated fabric to create openings
The brief was to create a work inspired by architecture. I chose the Oriente railway station in Lisbon, a magnificent structure comprising mainly steel and glass. I also made each of inside panels a different colour to reflect the vibrancy within the building and then displayed it with a mirror beneath for extra interest.
Underside (2010)
41cm X 23 cm
Commercial cotton, organza, silk, taffeta, cotton thread, cut work and machine quilting
A little piece inspired by the underside of a mushroom.
Round in Square (2010)
48cm X 48 cm
Commercial cottons, fused and cut and turned. No stitching.
A challenge I set myself and really enjoyed the outcome.
Blown Away (2009)
58 cm X 87 cm
Commercial cottons, organza, Markal paint rubbings, wire, cotton thread, machine embroidery (lichen) and machine quilting.
The brief was to create a rural scene. At the time I was living in France in a forest setting. This was very apt.