Data: Fingerprints

Looking at my first drawings, I continued to look at the idea of fingerprints, incorporating the technique of machine stitch into my samples. I used a standard embroidery foot, following one of my previous drawings in my sketchbook, and attempting to follow the pattern on the machine. After looking at the sample, I decided that I actually preferred the reverse side of the piece, as some of the stitches had been pulled away from the fabric due to the tension settings. 

Workshop: Hand Knitting

Today I FINALLY mastered a skill I've always dreaded.... hand knitting. Being left handed has always put me off in the past, especially because I have to learn everything backwards, so in previous attempts I have usually just given in. However today I went in with an open mind, and with Lesley putting up with my moaning and constant errors, I managed to master the art of hand-knit quite quickly. The experience was a lot of fun, and I have to say I am ever s proud of my first sample!

Data: First Ideas

Today I have started putting down my first ideas of what 'data' means to me. In the previous unit, Origins, I was told that I should try to create more mark-making in my sketchbook- therefore I started to look at fingerprints. They create such a beautiful pattern, and it is intriguing that no two are the same. Firstly I played with the idea of my own mark-making through the use of finger-painting, then moved onto looking at the patterns that they make.

Further into this topic I feel I will have to start looking into other relevant work to do with the body- maybe the idea of body measurements, so that I don't become bored with the unit.  

Origins Evaluation

During the embroidery unit, I feel as though I have learnt to develop my work- in the terms of learning new skills, techniques and approaches to my work. The Origins unit; based upon the idea of journeys, has been a learning curve, and allowed my ideas to develop and grow through the use of new media and technique. At first, I was very overwhelmed with the idea of starting work at degree level, finding it rather strange, yet incredibly fascinating seeing very different styles of work together. Having said this, now that the unit has finished- there is a significant change to my ways of working, shown through both my practice and research.

 I have spent the first term in the textiles world of embroidery. This is something that I have always enjoyed, so being allowed to study this for the past six weeks has allowed my creativity to develop easily. I spent the first three weeks of the textiles world in hand embroidery, focusing on the idea of the exploration of stitch when combined with different fabrics. This taught me the differences between thicknesses of fabrics, and the best approaches whilst working with them. I don't think that I enjoyed hand embroidery as much as I could have done, mostly down to finding it difficult to organise both my stitching and sketchbook pieces at the same time. For the second part of the course, I studied machine embroidery. I have always felt more comfortable using machine stitch- I have really enjoyed being taught to use a range of new feet including the tailor-tack and pin-tuck, all of which have produced a good amount of samples that I am pleased with.

Whilst being critiqued on my work, one of the most valuable pieces of advice that I was given was to edit down my work. My style of work has always been based on detail- when using the Bernina machines I always prefer to fill the given space- however I have now realised that the most simple approaches can sometimes be the best. I was told in one critique that producing work is about quantity, not quality- the more you make, the more likely it is to end up with good work. Personally I disagree with this statement, as if I am creating work that I do not value, it usually goes straight into the bin.

I have found it hard linking the journey project and embroidery together at first- I now know that before starting my work I need to have a good idea of what I am trying to achieve, this way I know that I will always enjoy what it is I am trying to create. I really valued something that Kate said in a workshop once- it is best to collect everything into an invisible net, and then slowly edit it down, to create the best pieces of work.

I am going to tackle my next unit differently, in order to achieve the best work that I possibly can. To do this I will be looking closely at the relationships that can be found between both my practice and research, experiment with a wider variety of techniques and medias, and use my time a lot more effectively. I now know that I need to keep on top of my work at all times, else I panic and am unable to achieve my best. Overall I am very happy with the end result of this unit. I am definitely going into my new textile world with a lot more confidence, ideas and a positive attitude.

Exhibition: The First Cut

'The First Cut' has to be one of the most inspirational, and most beautiful exhibitions that I have seen in a long time. It was a real treat to be able to find the time to visit Manchester Art Gallery this afternoon. I have always been interested in the manipulation of papers, usually combining the media alongside threads, in order to create my pieces of work. I have chosen images of work that I felt most inspired my work- and also pieces that I feel I may be able to incorporate into my machine/ hand embroidery samples for the rest of the week.

Mia Pearlman

Rob Ryan

Peter Callesen

Andrew Singleton

Mia Pearlson

Claire Brewster

Origins Inspiration

Today a very close friend of mine, also studying art, came over to Manchester, and we decided to go and explore some of the galleries in Manchester for the afternoon. The most inspiring part of the day was finding this stack of beautiful vintage suitcases, in the Manchester Art Gallery. I feel that they will link beautifully in with my journeys sketchbook work. I am going to draw a collection of these objects and produce some expressive pieces, using water coloured paints, ink and fine-liner. It may also be a possibility to incorporate some actual luggage tags into the piece, to give a more personal touch to the pieces.

Machine Embroidery: Pin-Tuck Machine

I really enjoyed today's double needle and pin-tuck foot tutorial. The images below show my first attempts at sampling with this technique. I particularly enjoyed experimenting with the different weights of fabrics and corresponding feet/ needles, as each gave a variety of results. The way that the samples ended today, has inspired me to continue with this technique, experimenting with more thicknesses and fabrics in order to see the results.

Machine Embroidery Critique

This morning we were asked to have our eighteen new samples of edited work on the wall for a critique. I really enjoyed talking through my new samples- I felt that this week I have worked a lot harder, and listened to the advice that I was given last week regarding editing down my ideas and not putting too much detail into my pieces. I have also really enjoyed learning how to combine the tailor-tacking  stitches with the previous techniques that we've been taught over the past three weeks. Sampling has allowed my to realise where I am going right/ wrong with my pieces, and how to see the possibilities of the different techniques that we have been taught.

So far, my favourite technique is definitely using the embellishing machine. I love the way that the fibres are able to bond together, especially the lighter-weighted materials, as the machine allows total lack of control over how the end result will look.

Exhibition: Unit Twelve

This weekend I was able to visit the new exhibition at Unit Twelve. At the moment the exhibition is showing a range of local artists that have been chosen to showcase their work. Artist, Dionne Swift's work was the first that caught my eye. She is exhibiting two large silk screens, mono-printed onto calico and finished with machine stitch. I chose to look at these pieces as I am still taking part in my textiles world of embroidery. I love the way that the artist has used stitching in order to create a surface filled with texture and movement, as well as an equally beautiful colour palette.

Machine Embroidery: Tailor-Tack

For the next part of our machine embroidery course, we were asked to use the art of editing from our first samples, to create eighteen new samples. This week we were introduced to the tailor-tacking foot, and embellishing machine- two pieces of equipment that I've loved using and developing my ideas with. I feel that the below images are the best developed samples of work- I am fascinated with the collaborations that have been produced with both new techniques. If I have chance, I'd like to continue developing the selected samples further- maybe inverting the thread/ fabric colours in order to see the difference that this would create.

Machine Embroidery Critique

In the previous blog post I discussed that I needed to look at the term 'simplicity'. My task for this week is to look closely at the idea of editing my work,  therefore I decided to focus on one of my previous samples, and look closely at the ways that it could be split into more than one sample. This way I will be able to show my detailing without over-complicating my pieces.

Machine Embroidery Critique

Today we were able to put up our first machine embroidery samples onto the walls and critique our work. These samples were based upon fifteen drawings that we achieved in our first week of starting the course- using black oil bar, we were asked to interpret set sentences into a physical form of drawing, for example 'a twisted line that cuts the surface in half'. We were able to use a gray scale of materials and threads in order to achieve this. 

I found the critique very helpful and constructive when assessing my work- it was reassuring to hear positive comments about my pieces, and to be able to understand areas that I need to develop. I have a way of adding too much detail into my pieces, and learnt that it is more beneficial to be able to read what a piece is saying if it has less detailing in, as some of my pieces could easily be described as 'ten samples in one'.

A piece of advice that I found to be extremely useful regarding my attention to detailing was to photograph the pieces with a large lens, and create samples using parts of my pieces. With this advice, the next batch of samples that I am going to create shall be based around the term: 'simplicity'. I am really looking forward to manipulating my usual working methods and trying to use a more forward meaning in my pieces this week through the art of editing.

Exhibition: David Shrigley

10th October

HOW ARE YOU FEELING?

AN EXHIBITION OF STUFF BY

DAVID SHRIGLEY

AT CORNERHOUSE IN MANCHESTER

Today has been a very dull and rainy day in Manchester, so my flatmate and I decided to take a trip the Cornerhouse for a little inspiration. David Shrigley's 'How Are You Feeling?' exhibition is currently being shown- not the type of work that I am usually interested in, however I found a lot of his pieces ever so fascinating to read into and interpret in my own way. It is very clear that his pieces are packed with emotion, created, I believe through his own personal journey in life. The idea of journey held great inspiration for our own current unit, making me think about maybe incorporating my own emotion into some of my pieces. I enjoyed looking at David's use of lines and text, with many of the pieces holding very meaningful quotations and drawings.

Hand Embroidery Samples

I have been developing my technical file this week, learning french knots, fly stitch and chain stitch. My favourite stitches are the french knots- though a little fiddly at first, when building up an image their details become very intriguing. The below photographs show my interpretations of the given stitches, I am looking forward to incorporating these into my work.

Artist Research: Julia Jowett

This weekend I managed a trip home, and happily accepted the chance to have a look around my local gallery, Unit Twelve. It is my absolute favourite place to spend days looking at the beautiful art work and feel super inspired. As I am currently halfway through my Origins unit, looking at embroidery, I focused on the work of Julia Jowett.

I find her work very inspiring; her use of hand embroidery is incredible. Using gauzed material, Julia stitches all of her pieces of fabrics- the details are so intricate, and the amount of time that it takes to produce the pieces is outstanding. I am also very interested in the way that she uses wire, and creates a line with the material- I think that it could be very interesting to manipulate fabrics and threads in a way of creating repeat patterns.

Exhibition: Great Northern Contemporary

Since living in Manchester, I have found that it is impossible to ever be stuck for something craft-related to see/ experience in any free time I may have. This weekend I was lucky enough to be invited to the Great Northern by one of my friends that was holding a stall there. The GNCCF is an event that I have always admired, and read fantastic reviews about, so having such an opportunity on my doorstep would have been silly to have missed.

The fair was packed with a host of inspirational and amazing crafts people, working with every imaginable media- paper, embroidery, sculptor, metal. It was a fantastic even to be able to speak to a variety of these artists about their experiences in the art world, and even more wonderful to hear that a vast majority had in the past graduated from MMU. Two artists that I really enjoyed talking to were Holly Levell and Katie Almond. I have always been a fan of their art, so being able to speak to them both was amazing. I would love to be able to have my own stall here in the near future!