Dyeing... again and watermarks in silk and stitch

In preparation for the next few pieces of work I have dyed stacks of silk ( love my scrap silk supplies).

 silk drying on the grapevine clothes line

I've printed  some of my photos from Croatia and now am experimenting with how to make watery marks with the silk. 

watery marks using layer organza and cut back technique

It's in the bag, journey in a suitcase

Artisan books, my most favourite bookshop, has an artist book exhibition each year and today I completed my entry - hopefully it will be accepted..ugh.  The show isn't until September, it is always wonderful.
I'm so excited as usually I am spending late night completing it at the last minute, but it has been a very cold, wet and blustery day here in melbourne so it was easy to stay inside and knuckle down.

I have made a little suitcase book before, it is made using a large matchbox!  I decided that I could make a little friend for the first suitcase.Then came the difficult decision, what on earth do I put in it?? This year there was no theme for the artist book show.
Finally decision made,  it would be a little journey from the Swiss Alps to Venice by train, all in pictures of course!
So here it is.

and here is one of the little stitched birds flying (on a spring) over the mountains, and the wood engraved trees!

this little boat is a pop out on tabs. 

HART ART

HART ART  is Hartwell primary school's art show.
This year it is on from next Thursday night 8 August until Saturday 10 August.

Opening night 7 pm Thursday 8 August

Exhibition opening times

Friday 9 August
9-11 am and 2-5 pm

Saturday 10
11 am - 4 pm

If you live in eastern Melbourne this might be a great way to pick up some art and support a primary school at the same time.

Here's my work wrapped and ready to deliver. This represents a ridiculous amount of time to get these ready to go.... ah the joys of exhibiting!

Black and White

Black and white is not even normally in my spectrum, I am a colour girl!!

So for me to accept the challenge of working in black and white is progress of sorts.

The reason for this madness??? well, travelling to Switzerland in early spring is the motivation. There was still heaps of snow and the magnificence of those snowy alps just drew me in.

I have been working steadily on various experiments in order to depict the beauty and awe I felt when in the alps.

I will give you a peep at the experiments. These involve wood engravings on slices of fruit tree wood, printed in white on a black background.

printed on paper

wood engraving, printed on black silk 

                                                   lines in the snow

                                           
                                                        paintings for idea making

                                                    birds, painted and stitched on silk

                                                 snow covered village from above, painted and stitched on silk