Wax Resist

This is a small piece using the original images from the Mayan Glyphs with wax resist. I like the colours and worked bullion knots just because I fancied doing some for the great texture.

I had forgotten how to work these, one of my favourite stitches. I knew there was an easier more successful technique and eventually remembered that I had learned it from Tracy Franklin’s book ‘Contemporary Whitework’; a book which I don’t own but have borrowed from the local library. I had to order it and this time plan to copy the instructions as I am sure to forget by the time I want to work them again.

Most of the machine embroidery was done after the hand stitching.
I used perle thread and some hand dyed cotton thread and quite a large needle with a big eye (don’t know the technical name,probably crewel).

Lemon Skin

Continuing with a theme for once, at least for a short time, I have worked on the close up of the lemon skin. I machined into the Indian rag paper, and tried some hand stitching. Eventually I added some lace and wax, and then some French Knots on top.

I also tried waxing over dress pattern tissue. It’s quite hard to get the effect over in a photo which is largely tactile due to the layers of wax.
I also did another collage using a photo of a banana plant leaf; the photo being much better than my artwork.

At the weekend we went to Art in Action at Waterperry Gardens. Some of the work was amazing, especially that of an embroiderer called Rosalind Wyatt who was showing how she uses stitched letters on antique textiles. Also inspiring was the felt work of Heather Belcher who uses a heat press (don’t ask me, I never heard of one before) to incorporate her drawings onto felt. My head was buzzing with new ideas, and of course I wanted to try them all - and all at once!!

Wax collage

Once again playing around with wax collage; this started with thinking of ideas of how to use the metal from coke cans. It has bits of crisp packet, metal, dress making pattern, lace and wool sandwiched between layers of wax. It is quite easy to stitch into and the holes can be sealed by ironing the wax.I've made it into a little book ,about 12cms high,using handmade paper. You may notice that I have spent a bit of time tidying the blog, and have put on some labels and a new profile. I’m also trying to get round other peoples’ blogs now that I have more free time

Wax Collage

I’ve never really liked encaustic art, but at the same time I’m fascinated by the use of wax on paper and fabric. Looking round the internet I came across images of wax collage and that, combined with finding a minute travel iron in a charity shop, meant that I had to have a go. Isn’t it funny how when you have an idea in the back of your mind you sometimes just come across exactly what you need without even looking; it was sold as a travel iron but I think it is really a craft iron which was never used.




Scraps of dress making tissue, old maps, drawings, thread and lace are sandwiched between layers of beeswax and then the wax is ironed smooth. On top I added some Peal Ex pigments.




The base was a piece of Indian Rag paper; you need something substantial, perhaps watercolour paper. It is quite easy to score and bend after waxing.
The surface is really tactile.

Batik

Just to show that I have done some batik with my new wax pot. I treated myself to it with the money from a few items I sold at a craft fair. I have used Jacquard Dye & Flow fabric paint on a silk background. Completed it has a beaded edge and tiny tassels on the bottom corners. The base fabric is from a Chinese silk blouse that was always too uncomfortable to wear; I know its very fashionable now to recycle. I worked into the image with a gold pen from Paperchase.