Saturday, September 22, 2007

I ordered this DVD last Sunday afternoon from Odyssey Art Videos and it came on Tuesday which is excellent service. Odyssey produce some really good DVD’s and this one is no exception. I have watched it twice through already and know that I shall still watch it over again.

I have admired Clyde Ollivers work since seeing him exhibit at Ally Pally a few years back. What he does with stone, slate and stitch is amazing.
This DVD starts off by showing some of his previous works in exhibitions and private collections and then goes on to show you the man himself explaining his way of working which has certainly made me stop and think about the way I work and has also given me lots of inspiration.
I am not going to spoil it for you by giving you all the details, I will just say that it is definitely worth watching.
Clyde now has a blog at Sketches,Stitches & Stones.

I know some people don't actually read the words when looking at blogs so I am going to write the next bit in larger letters, just in case there is any confusion as to how old these pieces are :)

When sorting my boxes out the other day I came across some really old pieces - hidden away - which go back almost to C&G days where I was experimenting with machine knitted wire, something I keep meaning to try and rekindle.
The first photo shows two bags with close ups next to them. The flower and those long spidery things (??) on the first bag are made from machine knitted wire which has then been trapped between two layers of organza, free machined on, cut out and 'zapped' with the heat gun. The second bag has a lining of silk velvet. The wire has been machined down onto the velvet and beaded in places.

The next three bags are from where I was playing about with William Morris designs. The first two both have a base of a wire knitted bag and the tabs on the top are small copies of the design printed on paper then laminated. In the first one the laminated pieces have been added after completion with jump rings but in the second one they were woven onto the wire as I knitted it.
This bag here is not wire at all but I thought I would show it. I had seen bags similar to this design but made from laminated old advertisements in Covent Garden, London selling for mega money - so I decided to do my own version.
Once again, it's a William Morris design which has been printed onto Transfer Paper then ironed onto cotton. This has then been bonded on to synthetic velvet which was then laminated, cut into squares and joined together with split rings - hundreds of them!


There are four pieces like this in the next photo. They are made from hand dyed silk velvet which has been machine stitched then cut into squares. The bottom photo shows what the velvet looked like before encasing it in the wire.I used a machine knitted double bed quilting technique to create this piece, quite a tricky technique using wire.It was going to be a large vessel, about 12" wide by about 30" high - but like lots of things, I never actually got around to finishing it.The piece itself was based on a photograph of a lava flow.

This final piece is a little bit of nonsense that was attached to a bigger piece of nonsense. Its wire again but this time used as the base of a machine embroidered cord using a Madeira metallic thread then made into spirals with a bead attached at the ends.
I've got lots more pieces like these in boxes, goodness knows why I keep these either. Is this the same for everyone?

17 comments:

Sandy said...

The pieces might be old, but they were exciting for me to see-need to get back to my machines. Does the wire hurt them? I also have lots of samples laying around. Sandy

Carol said...

I know why your keeping them, it's for when you write your book! Soon i hope. They\are lovely and so innovative even if older, I still think they stand up as innovative now.

FARBTUPFER said...

Old or new, I love these bags!

Unknown said...

they may be old, but they are still very innovative and exciting,
gorgeous samples,

Terri Stegmiller said...

Wow Lynda, those pieces are amazing. Simply amazing!

Kim said...

Wonderful 'old' samples and thanks for the link to Clyde's work - I just love his stitched slate flakes.

Susan D said...

Lynda you're pieces may be a few years old but they have stood the test of time. BTW you are mentioned on Clyde Ollivers Blog.

gunnelsvensson said...

These bags are wonderful!

Anonymous said...

Yes, great stuff. Good thing you kept them. I fear I'm beginning my own collection like yours. I try to give many projects away, but I have a small stack of pieces I tried out and couldn't foist on anyone...*L*...We're gonna have some fun things to go through when we're gone, aren't we?

Joanna said...

All I can say is ...you are truely an inspiration. Beautiful!

Julie said...

I agree - really amazing work Lynda. You are a truly talented lady. Thank you,too, for the link to Clyde's work. I love the idea of mixing natural materials with fibre.

Digitalgran said...

Get out those boxes Lynda. These should all be on display somewhere for everyone to enjoy. you make me wish I hadn't sold all my knitting machines. I use printed transfer papers a lot, but you have just given me a new idea on using them.

Anonymous said...

Cool stuff Lynda!

neki desu said...

GAM those laminated bags are funky!!love them.
thanks for the Clyde Olliver link. was not familiar w his work and now i've found a new love.
and oohhh should see my bin of keepers.Now i'm trying to recycle all of it one way or another.

neki desu

Pat said...

I second all the comments above, these are not boxes but treasure chests.

shell said...

i love your stuff! the colour combinations are fabulous

Dianne said...

Wow, these bags are pretty cool. Love that 2nd knitted wire one!!