No progress on my exhibition pieces in the last few days, as I had another deadline to meet today. I am one of the artist contributors to a book which is being published at the end of the year. The "coffee table" book will have amazing artistic photos of beautiful meals created by a chef accompanied by images of textile/fibre art inspired by the relevant fruit or vegetable . As you can see, I was allocated 'mushrooms". I had all sorts of great ideas of art dolls with mushroom hats and I made a number of drawings and patterns. However, when I made a sample mushroom cap to practise the "hats", I liked the little mushrooms.... so, in my workroom, just on the shelf above, I spotted a small gourd. Surely everyone has gourds on their shelves just waiting for an opportunity to be used in an art project? This gourd became the base, on top of which I created a rocky earthy surface with air dry clay, with the addition of embedded pockets of handmade felt. The embedded felt resembles mossy patches. I poked small pieces of wire into the clay and built the mushroom on them. The mushrooms themselves are machine and hand sewn eco-dyed cotton fabric, with a pleated silk polyester mix. Then a few tufts of wool and fibre stitched to the mossy patches for grass.... done!
Forget the flowers... what about mushrooms as a table centrepiece for the next dinner party?
This week I've been working on fish and sticks .... The sticks are the message stick art dolls which were very popular, attracting some attention and a few orders at the Wise Women exhibition. Each of the message stick dolls are from the Wise Women series, each with her own personality and message of wisdom, handwritten on a handmade timber tag. I gather the sticks during my walks around my neighbourhood and the tags are made from special bits of timber, some collected by me or my husband or from off cuts gifted to us from another doll making friend whose husband makes bagpipes. These dolls start off very simply with a wrap around a stick, in the general shape of a body. 'Naked" message stick dolls - strips of wadding wrapped around found sticks. Then I usually wrap other layers of fabric, wool, and/or fibres, over which I do some simple embroidery. I sculpt or mould small face masks for these dolls. I really like using "sari ribbon" as wrapping str
Wilma, I must find more time to explore your posts, both current and previous. Since finding you online through Empress Wu Designs, and making the exciting family connection in the process, I have felt drawn to your blog.
ReplyDeleteYour mushrooms are absolutely wonderful - such delicate, life-like detail and amazing earthy colours. You are, indeed, a master when it comes to your magical,original creations.
Best of luck with your pending exhibition!
Carolyn Simmons Logan
Thanks Carolyn - it was such serendipity to make contact with you via family history. Did you receive the latest document and photo I emailed last week?
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ReplyDeleteYes, I did receive your last email with attachments, and also received an email through Ancestry.ca from Peter. I am so far behind in my responses, and do apologize. Each email I receive is like a gift for me. I truly appreciate your time and effort, especially considering you have such a very busy schedule now with deadlines to meet. Thank you, Wilma, so very much. Will be in touch soon.
Carolyn
.ca