Code is three words stitched vertically–flowers evoke memories.
Materials–altered found frame, paint, PVA, dried flowers, cork, paper, bamboo fiber, tacks.
Scale–7.5″ x 10.25″ x 1.75″
Archive for the ‘Fiber’ Category
Flowers Evoke Memories
Saturday, June 11th, 2022A Part of My Dad’s Collection
Wednesday, June 1st, 2022When I visited my parents, before my dad became unwell, he would pull out his stamp collection and tell stories about the history of the stamps.
After my dad died, I snagged some of his collection. Not the stamps of value, but the cancelled ones were of value to me.
Piece in Progress
The photo will be inserted to the inside of the lid. The coco fiber blanket to line interior box bottom.
My Parents’ Wedding Photo and a Map of Marion Ohio where they lived for over 50 years.
Coils of Stamps
Coil 1
I used three different stamps, two colors of flowers, one butterfly.
The two colors of flower stamps were used for the code. The butterfly stamps were used for spacer between words.
The gold lines and stitching separated the letters in the words.
Coil 2
Used red thread to stitch each stamp with a single letter. All of the stamps used were flowers and birds.
The exception is the stamps used for the word part. I used four stamps that dealt with freedom and democracy.
Coil 3
All of the stamps were for air mail post.
There is a strip of an aeronautical chart on the back of the stamps, because it fits contextually but also for stability.
Beads for Closure
Tying the lid on didn’t quite work, so I made three beads to string onto the tie.
Two of the beads have stamps with images of endangered plants. The center bead has two stamps–one that states freedom of speech, the other a stamp cancelled with Marion, Ohio.
Completed Piece
The code is–A few memories of my dad.
Box Interior and Contents
Completed Piece
7.25″ x 3.75″ 4.25″
Materials–cancelled postage stamps, aeronautical chart, paper, found box, paint, wax, cocoa fiber, linen, red thread, cardboard tube, tree wrap, printed images, PVA.
Further from the Truth
Wednesday, June 1st, 2022The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it.
Truth piece with a few pieces made in 2010. Interesting to see them together.
Materials–Bamboo paper towel, tree wrap, linen fiber, oxidized safety pins and wire, roofing felt, hardware cloth, wood, wax.
Another Nearly Completed Piece–A Gift From My Mother
Sunday, May 15th, 2022This morning I applied liquid starch to the vessel. It is not yet dry.
Today is the anniversary of my mother’s death. The plant that she gave me is still doing well. It is a joy when a plant gift thrives.
Code-a gift from my mother
Materials–knitted linen, dried succulent flowers, wood, metal, beads, starch.
The succulent was a gift from my mother. The metal plate was amongst my father’s things in his workshop.
Dimensions–13.5cm x 16.5cm x 8cm
The plant is the Red Velvet Echeveria.
2020 July
2022 May
Nearly Completed–Old Men Plant Trees Book
Sunday, May 15th, 2022
2022 May 15
Combed the back side of the coco blanket liner for easier removal of the book. Also applied PVA to the interior to secure the blanket in place. It was staying in with friction, but PVA will prevent the blanket from pulling out when removing the book.
Added to the fiber to cover a paper bowl (paper left over from another piece). After the bowl dries, I plan to do some stitchwork and code.
2022 May 16
Application of wax to seal the cardboard, soften the feel of the material, and to add some age. Once set, I will give the wax a buff.
The wax is soft, easy to apply, and does not have a harsh odor. It mixes nicely with a variety of materials.
Wax applied to the book covers.
2022 May 17
The application of wax gives the cover a softer feel.
Dimensions
Box–15cm x 10.5cm x 9.5cm
Book Closed–4cm x 11.5cm x 7cm
Book Open–129.5cm
Materials–tree wrap, glassine envelopes, oak leaves, linen thread, coco fiber, found wooden box, wax, PVA, prints, recycled paper and cardboard.
Piece in Progress–Contemplate Something Beautiful
Sunday, April 17th, 2022I am working on a piece that has the code–contemplate something beautiful. The code is based on a masonic cipher. Or the common Pigpen Cipher.
I upcycled some green painters’ paper that was used as a template for a previous project. Made the blocks from tree wrap and cotton twine. Used safety pins and cotton thread to attach to the blocks to the background. Then used a solution of salt, peroxide, and white vinegar to age the metal. Unfortunately I used stainless washers for the twine icord at the top.
This morning the piece still wasn’t dry so I placed it outside to finish drying. When I checked on it, I found that a spent Brugmansia flower had fallen onto it.
I think it looks beautiful as part of the piece. Will I keep it? Maybe…
Further From the Truth
Friday, March 11th, 2022Another piece that I am attempting to complete.
The quote in code is–The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it.
January 10 2021
Attached code blocks to tree wrap squares with safety pins.
Drifts from Truth Layout, January 9 2021
Had thought about maybe stitching the blocks together.
March 9 2021
When I revisited the piece last week, I decided that I liked the safety pins.
Attached the blocks to a piece of thin paper with PVA. After a thorough drying, attached the blocks to a piece of roofing felt. Then I applied clear shellac. Didn’t expect the result to be so glossy.
I used the same processes and materials for the separate test piece. After a thorough drying, I sanded the exposed white bamboo areas, then applied a product that I hoped would replace roofing tar.
Not sure what I think of the result.
The second test–To dull the finish and age it a bit, I applied a thin application of Rust-Oleum 2X Painter’s Touch Ultra Cover Matte Clear Spray Paint.
Before I decide how to complete the piece, I am thinking about trying another test with paste wax.
I think that sanding the piece so that some of the code is frayed would be appropriate for the quote.
.
The quote is often attributed to George Orwell, but it seems that the author is Selwyn Duke.
Materials–Bamboo paper towel (white fabric), bamboo thread, safety pins, tree wrap, roofing felt, PVA, shellac.
A Gnawing Ache
Friday, March 4th, 2022I am in the process of completing all of the pieces that are in progress. A Gnawing Ache is a piece that I started in 2018 when I was dealing with grief.
I aged the razor blades, hardware cloth, and pins with a patina.
It occurred to be after I used patina on the pins that they would be stronger if I hadn’t covered the entire pin. The patina made the metal a bit fragile.
Code Used
One horizontal square for dots; two vertical squares for a dash.
Materials
Cotton, Hardware Cloth, Razor Blades, Pins, Patina, Wood (from an old swing), Cork, Stain, PVA, Sealant
Never Underestimate the Petty Vindictiveness of Those in Power
Friday, March 4th, 2022
The spikes were aged with a patina.
The pieces received an application of clear shellac with a solution of cloves in denatured alcohol.
Panel 1
The code at the top of the first panel has the–Take Notice.
Panel 2
Materials
Wood, Hardware Cloth, Cotton, Metal Spikes, Cork, Wool, Shellac, Denatured Alcohol, Cloves
Be Yourself Framed
Friday, March 4th, 2022I thought I completed the Be Yourself piece in September of 2020.
Not keen that the hardware cloth bows. Ran across a frame that I was planning to use for a different piece that didn’t work out. The frame seemed to fit.
Be Yourself Posted on September 2020
There was still a problem with the bowing so I added a piece of self adhesive Velcro to the bottom. It sort of worked, briefly.
I added tacks to the part of the Velcro strip attached to the frame and stitched the other part of the Velcro strip to the back of the piece.
Piece in frame attached with Velcro.
Sort of works, but still is not ideal.
The flannel stitched to the back of the piece is only stitched to the edges. The Velcro should have been attached to the hardware cloth. Learning experience for the next piece.