Spring is nearly here after what seems an exceptionally long winter and I’m so grateful for the blue skies and sunshine and all the green things starting to poke their noses out of the earth. It’s a much needed reminder that nothing lasts forever and that better times are on their way. I love winter but this year more than ever I’m really ready for some light and warmth!
Free motion embroidery on silk organza
Usually by this point in the year I’d have a good few workshops under my belt and be busy planning the next ones but this year I ran my first full session this week, nearly at the end of February.
I ran my ‘Shadow Work’ session; it was online (obviously) but it was great to be gathered with people and to be sharing in a creative endeavour. I’m still finding there are quite a few challenges teaching over Zoom but it’s a fun experience and it means a lot less miles on my car! I can’t wait to be able to teach ‘in real life’ again; with textiles I want to be able to let people touch and feel the materials and work as it’s such a tactile medium and that’s the one thing that’s really hard to recreate online.
Like a lot of people I’ve been struggling to get motivated recently so the workshop was a good incentive to get making and to look back at some older work.
Shadow work is a term that covers a range of techniques and involves working with sheer fabrics. I love shadow work as it allows for lots of playing around with layers and transparency and there’s an inherent delicacy due to the materials.
For my exhibition ‘Whither Shall I Wander?’ at WWT Caerlaverock last year I made a big new shadow work piece inspired by the whooper swans flying over us.
Free motion embroidery on silk organza
I was really pleased with how it worked out, it’s worked in white on white so relies on the layers and light and I really enjoy this almost ethereal effect.
As well as being interested and inspired by birds I’m also fascinated by our connection with them and with the natural world; too often we see the natural world as a separate entity but we are very much a part of it. By creating these delicate, fragile seeming pieces I want to highlight the fragility and vulnerability of our natural world.
I hope my work encourages people to appreciate the environment and our fellow inhabitants and to be careful and respectful of our world.
I’ve also been experimenting with some of my naturally dyed materials and thinking a lot about the idea of cycles. With the warmer weather on it’s way and plants starting to grow again I’m looking forward to going out and collecting (carefully and responsibly) material for natural dyeing. I’ve also set up some rust dyeing on the beach which is coming along nicely!
I hope you’re all managing to find ways to stay positive and to be creative. Don’t forget you can keep up with my creative endeavours on social media or have a look at my website for more images of my work. Until next time, stay safe and be creative!
Helen
