Alice Fox Part 3

A somewhat delayed part 3, things going on.

 It was really windy on this our third day, so a decision was made not to go for a walk. Most of us spent the day weaving, it was very quiet everybody was concentrating so hard. These weavings were all made with stuff found on the beach.

Alice Fox workshop day 2

On the beach again in the morning up at the end where the fishing boats are kept, lots of interesting finds, in the afternoon printing, something I haven't done before. There was a printing press available which I didn't use but I had lots of fun printing using rollers. Something I can do easily at home.

More rusty bits

Sea weed and rusty nails

Prints from sea weed and pampas grass

Prints from bits of found metal

Prints from a drinking straw and rubbings from shells

Alice Fox workshop day 1

Close up of Groyne (sea defences)

I have just got back from a four day workshop with Alice Fox,  http://www.alicefox.co.uk/ She was amazingly patient and calm with us all, we learnt loads about lots of different process and had a great if exhausting time.
Our day started with coffee and tea and then a walk on the beach collecting rusty metal and other flotsam and jetsam.

Rusty bracket on Groyne

I

Eastbourne beach

Collecting Day One

Rusty bits

More collecting day one

Wrapping and dyeing rusty bits

more rusty bits

and even more

In the afternoon we wrapped fabric and made marks on paper with the rusty bits we had collected which were thoroughy wetted with tea.
I had driven down the previous day and visited Charleston House near Lewes. I have been wanting to see this for years but somehow never managed it, it is a fascinating house where Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant lived. They were members of the Bloomsbury Group, Vanessa being Virginia Woolf's sister. The house is full of paintings by members of the group, even the walls and fireplaces are painted. I stayed with my good friend Liz (also taking part in the workshop)and her husband in a house we had rented on the marina, so great accomadation and company as well.

Onion skin dyeing

These were all dyed in the same pot with brown onion skins, the top photo is a more accurate colour. The linen was disappointing.

Wool, silk, linen and nettle

I will be using some of these in the pieces for the quarry exhibition.
Its North Somerset Arts Week this year and the brochures have just been delivered

Slow progress

This piece is growing but more slowly than I had hoped, life gets in the way. I am still hoping to produce another three pieces by June plus some smaller ones.

We are trying to find a house for my daughter. She is moving back with us in the meantime, her belongings arriving today and herself tomorrow. So more interruptions but good ones.

Read this

I have just finished reading Donna Tartt's The Goldfinch, this is an epic novel, a masterpiece so much more than just a story it takes you through the whole emotive range of human stupidity, cruelty and humanity. The last chapter brought tears to my eyes. The book is beautifully written and has hidden psychological depths, its a must read.

A little weaving, a little stitching

Quarry piece

Moth holes and Memories (top)

Moth Holes and Memories (bottom)

Detail

I am working on three different pieces at the moment, firstly the small 5x5" pieces which I think I have shown before, no new photos, and secondly a stitched piece using a mix of new and vintage textiles that are dyed using plant material.. These are my evening variations. I was none to pleased when I discovered moth in my woollen cloth but then decided to take advantage of it. The photos are against glass so you can see the holes but none of the images have turned out that well.
My third piece, daytime weaving, is for the Quarry exhibition in June, progress is slow and a bit haphazard but beginning to go the way I want now.
We have a bitterly cold wind blowing at present but the sun is shining and I have actually managed to do some gardening pruning two climbing roses that had got completely out of hand, one is going as it is very diseased and the other now has a new support so hopefully will be a little more controllable.
I plan quite a few changes again this summer.