Surface Creation
This topic is best suited to a day long workshop which is purely experimental
and participants will produce a range of samples rather than a finished
product. The emphasis is first to raise and define surfaces, giving
depth and shape to fabric by a variety of means. Secondly to work with
the newly created surface and embellish it to create an atmosphere or
environment. However, this topic can also be covered in a more abstract
way through a talk with a variety of finished pieces and samples.
Surface Creation workday - Melt, twist, tie, burn, paint, cast and boil
Come for a day of play to create wonderfully tactile surfaces, exotic fabrics and unique pieces of textiles. Together we will investigate a variety of methods to create new and exciting surfaces, through fabric manipulation, oil bars and pastels, hot glue, packaging and much more !
In the morning we will work on various methods of fabric manipulation and enhancement to create starting points for our experiments plus small pieces for surface adornment. In the afternoon we will work with these pieces and add a wide range of creative materials to further transform the original pieces of fabric.
Surface Creation 2
3D forms, information coming soon...
Fabric jewellery
Make your own glad rags !!
Spend a day making beautiful richly textured fabric bracelets, chokers and elaborate fabric beads. Using simple techniques of bonding, distressing and layering with lace, ribbon, Vilene, beads, scraps of fabric, buttons and much more you will create highly individual accessories to your own ideas and colour schemes.
The day will start with a few basic techniques, then everyone will work on their own individual pieces at their own pace. Only very basic sewing experience needed and lots of help given. Most materials provided, small charge may be made for beads. From this day you should take home at least one finished choker or bracelet plus other samples. Great for special presents or a treat for yourself.
Altered Book
This sheet shows the cover, first two pages ( front and reverse ) and
the book stood open of the Autumn Woodland Book. Using pages from a
pre-made photo album as my basic shape, my intention was to create a
woodland environment, showing roots, twigs, leaves, soil, echoes of
'green man' imagery , and an autumnal colour palette. I used acrylic
paints, fabric dyes, wool, string, Japanese paper fibres, oil bars,
oil pastels, tissue paper, silk paper, found objects and PVA glue to
create a woodland atmosphere. I began by creating an interesting surface
and then overlaid paint, oil bars and pastels until the surface had
acquired the depth, intensity and interest I felt it needed
Experimentation with colour, texture and use of materials is key to all my workshops. My work is very free and whilst I have a good knowledge of Health & Safety I do encourage people to investigate the wonderful materials we have at our disposal nowadays.
Workshops on this theme
I day workshop - Single card mount or frame
Enhance one side of a card mount or page in this way to provide the
'frame' for a piece of work. The workshop will comprise experimentation
with a wide range of materials, and some students may complete the work
on the day.
2 day workshop - 3 page book
Day 1 - investigate textures, begin to create the pages.
Day 2 - Compile into a unique 'book'. This would involve some very simple
bookbinding techniques.
The longer time-span allows for 'play-time' with new materials, to produce
a more thought through and individual piece of work
Print and Stitch
This day long workshop is ideal for those who are not confident about
their drawing skills or want a new approach to design. Using mono-print
techniques we will create realistic prints of insects and wildlife that
we will then embellish with ink, paint, embossing, hand or machine stitching
and much more.
With a starting point of photocopied imagery plus fabric
and paint you will achieve a very realistic outline image of a dragonfly,
butterfly, beetle or some other insect. The simple mono-printing technique
means that everyone can achieve an interesting starting point for further
decoration as can be seen on the left here, showing the outline of a
dragonfly wing
Work then continues to embellish or deconstruct the image. Below you
can see work in progress with stitch just started on the upper part
of the wing. The pink piece of work on the right above is a finished
piece with stitching, lettering, and lustre finishes added
Copyright © 2008 Nicky Dillerstone . Design by Thomas Plaskitt
