Books, Books, Books II

Above: some pages from my textile Sketch Book
Inspired by the wonderful textile book of Louise Bourgeois, I have started my own, for fun and as an example for my textile students.

I am loving it as I don't know how anything is going to turn out, so I have the naive pleasure of innocent creation for creations sake . . . long may it continue.

Books, Books, Books I

It has been a weekend of books. Yesterday I attended a mammoth day attending a bookbinding workshop 7hrs non stop, with Isabelle Ting at Smails. but I am pleased with the results, especially the little blue one.

Derik Van Beers

Ceramic Skulls from Derik Van Beers, adorned with found objects, button's, domino's, pencil's junk and toys. Happy Halloween everyone.

Joe Crabtree Tin Can Skulls

Joe Crabtree's day of the dead sardine cans, if you don't eat your sardines they will come and get you.

Robin Romain

Lovely wire skulls from Robin Romain of Rawbone Studio, Robin also makes lots of 'day of the dead' style embroidered skulls and Joe Crabtree adds to their Halloween collection with his sardine can skulls.

Janice Nesser

Lovely photographs of aprons by artist Janice Nesser who works in both photography and textiles, this photograph is from a series called 'From My Grandmothers Blood' it is called, 'Tied to her apron strings.'

Samantha Cotterill

I have long admired the work of Mummysam, Samantha Cotterill, but I love her current journal pages there is something about textiles being used as paper and paper being used as textiles, and I love the humour and the humanity of these very personal works.

John Lumbus

Now you know I can't resist anything kinetic! A storm in a teacup! is one of the many Kinetic designs of John Lumbus, I love it. (thanks)

Jane Waggoner Deschner

Above Schuller Dreams

Above: Saint-Exupery Couple

Above: Maxim Roosevelt, Below: Mother T-shirt

Below: Family SuitJane Waggoner Deschner, finds photographs, and then stitches them together in a fabric of life. Now she is sewing the photographs together into wearable photo albums, the garment being a metaphor for the ways we identify ourselves. This is very pertinent in today's snapshot world of computers where in the land of facebook etc we send out images of ourselves to the world, images that we hope enable people to recognise us not only in a surface understanding but our spirit and character. Jane's work also works on the theme of legacy as these poor photos are lost, remnants of someones life but stitched together and bound to other peoples lives they speak to us of society and the essence of humanity.

Whitney Stansell

This is a sculptural piece made from ink, thread and 1950's and 1960's girl's dress patterns. The text on the garments is based on letters from Whitney Stansell's grandfather to her grandmother from two key events of their lives together. The sports jacket has letters written to his wife just after the birth of their first child, and the second prison uniform has letters from when he was incarcerated for money laundering. Whitney's work has a wonderful delicate quality, I love the layering of text and pattern, and the social history of this very personal piece of work

That strange woman is hanging out some strange washing again!

Paper hung out to dry 7.30am sun just up and a frosty crisp start to a beautiful autumn day, not a breath of wind.

Louise Bourgeois's Textile Book

When the media announces at the end of a year who has passed away, there is always at least one loss, that causes a lump in your throat. This year for me that 'lump in the throat' loss is Louise Bourgeois. I stumbled across her textile book Ode a L'Oubli (Ode to forgetfulness) at Peter Blum Gallery and then, when researching further, discovered that Bird In The House had featured it and the wonderful Lark Crafts. It is a beautiful and inspiring piece of work, a wordless book that speaks across time, holding between its covers a lifetime of gathered fabrics and techniques.

Robert Smails Letterpress

I haven't made sheets of paper for years. I have done my version, that I call paper felting and lots of paper pulp work with students, but it was an absolute treat to be able to make really fine linen paper, in the company of some lovely people, especially Joanne B Kaar. I also learnt some history, for I knew nothing of the venue of this workshop, except it was close to where I used to live.
The workshop was held for Robert Smail's Printing Press, Innerleithen, the last working Victorian printing press in Scotland. It is a gem of working history and somewhere I hope to visit often, especially if they continue to run such wonderful workshops as today's.

Joanne B Kaar IV

I have a weekend free of all responsibilities except cats and birds, so I am off to do a workshop with someone who's work I admire greatly and have featured heavily on this blog in the last few weeks, Joanne B Kaar. I can't wait . . . have a great weekend everyone. x

Joe Crabtree of Rawbone Studio

Wild and uncontrollable creativity, fueled by too many sardines. These fantastic tin can creations are the work of Joe Crabtree from Ron and Joe and then are shamelessly promoted by the wonderful Robin Romain of Rawbone Studio to view more of these fantastic fun recycled cans and the wonderful work of Robin Romain you can visit their shop.

Ginette Lapalme

Ginette Lapalme is an illustrator, zine creator and screenprinter who lives in Toronto, Canada. I love these sticks!

Linda Hutchins

Linda Hutchins works with the gossamer skill of a spider. These works are created by hand, sewing organza Linda creates a translucent shell, an exoskeleton mirroring the reality that is represented or encased. Linda's background is as a weaver and a software engineer and the exploration of line is a constant.

"line is the device that reoccurs throughout. It is a connector, a separator, a marker of boundaries,a spiraling circularity, and a thread that prevails."

Hank Adams

Above: Pea soup+Beans+Juicy Juice+Maple Syrup+TJ's Stew+Washabi power 2005

Above: Peas+Polyurethane+Tea 2005

Below: T J's Truffles 2005

These works are not typical of Hank Adams blown glass portraits, they have an irreverent anthropomorphism that is endearing and warm hearted. If I had nightmares about my recycling, they would be populated by Hank Adams creations, and hopefully I would wake up laughing. I also love their titles, the worst recipes ever.