Tuesday 20 January 2009

'Swaledale Wall', Textile Wall Hanging.

Hello from a very blustery Yorkshire Dales. I'm in the attic trying to keep warm and hoping that it won't snow any more today. We've got to venture out later this evening to a meeting at my daughters school. I really don't want to go, and I certainly won't want to go if it snows again. In the dark it's a very bleak and winding 16 miles when the weather is bad. On the other hand though, when the sun is shining, it must be one of the most breathtaking school runs in the country!



I've been pondering what to show you today. I appear to be in between projects at the moment, so I thought you might like to see a pre blog project.

What do you think? Fancy a trip back in time? Have you got a cuppa and a bickie?

Good. Here we go then.

Today I will show you my 'Swaledale Wall', wall hanging.

This was a project from my one year, one afternoon a week, textile course that I did in 2005.
Our brief was to make a wall hanging. Yes, as simple as that, anything we liked.

Back in 2005 we still lived over in East Yorkshire and only holidayed in North Yorkshire. I don't think we'd even thought of moving here then.



But we came here for little breaks when ever we could.

My inspiration came from all the lovely mossy, lichen covered dry stone walls.

I especially remember taking lots of photos of fairy glade mossyness in a beautiful little place called Keld over in Swaledale. There are more pics of Keld on a previous post here


We stayed in Thwait. This was the view from our cottage window.



Look at all this lovely purpley Aubritia hanging down this wall in Muker. How could I resist!


Here are the pages from my sketch book.


I was seduced by the gardens and rockeries in Muker,


but my final working sketch took me back to the moss and lichen covered stone walls.


This piece for me was very different to what I usually do. It's much larger than I usually work (19" x 35") and much freer, not so precise. And certainly not as 'girly'!

Everything is hand stitched to a hessian backing fabric. I loosely felted merino wool to look like moss and lichen.


I hand painted calico to get stone colours and embellished them with lots of little straight stitches and crocheted bullion circles.


Each ivy leaf is made individually and some of them are attached to wire coils to make them spring off the hanging like real ivy would.


My 'Aubritia' is hairy green crocheted spirals with lots of little individually attached hand dyed fabric circles.

Not a very good photo, but it's the best I could manage with the lack of light today. Not to mention having to almost perch ontop of my book shelves to get the whole thing in shot.
I hope you enjoyed our little pre blog trip, maybe we can do it again some time.
How about it?

9 comments:

Sal said...

Wow..this is the nicest blog post!
I love your own sketches too..and the photos are fabulous!
I'm going back to read it all again..lovely..thank you for sharing ;-)

Joanne said...

Gosh your a very talented lady, from your drawings to the finished item it's all so beautiful. So many different textures. Well it looks amazing, thank you for sharing it with us.
Joanne xx

willywagtail said...

Wow! I am always in awe of your abilities. This is beautiful. Although I live in Australi, a fairly dry continent, I have always loved moss and lichen covered rocks. They always bring me great joy so thanks for sharing those wonderful photos too. I would love to go there. Cherrie

Shabby Chick said...

Wow I don't think I've ever seen such an intricate piece of work, it's lovely. The sketches and photos are absolutely gorgeous too. Yes please show us more from pre blog!

Mel xxx

Pink Feather Paradise said...

I love your textile wall art and hangings, this one is just beautiful. Seeing your sketch book makes me feel guilty for not haveing one on the go any more!

Do you sell your wall hangings anywhere?

Cheers Alex x

Pink Feather Paradise said...

I love the foxglove wall hanging and the embroidered flower felt, so if you ever make another like either of those I would love to buy one!

I have no clue about setting up shops on the internet, and I also lack confidence in selling my own work, I can't beleive people would want to buy anything! My brother wants me to do a grayscale "lord of the rings" type picture, so I will have to start researching that soon! but the problem I find is working out what to charge!

I love your work though and I would love to buy one of your pieces before you become so famous that I won't be able to afford one..... you never know!

XX Alex

Simone said...

The sketches are wonderful on their own without the wallhanging, talking of which is in a class of its own. Your meticulous handiwork is stunning and truly inspirational. Now there are wall hangings and there are wall hangings like yours. You must have put so many hours into this beautiful piece of art that I am sure its value is priceless.

Attic24 said...

The detail in all of your work is absolutely mind blowing, I love it. you have such talent and I admire your work enormously. Thanks for sharing
Lx

Thecraftytrundler said...

I just love the way you interpet whay you see into those gorgeous works of art. You are one talented lady. I don't know much about felting, but I
would love to have a go. You have inspired me!!!

HAPPY CRAFTING : )

Sharon xx