Thursday 4 June 2009

Creative Surge

May was a month of creative energy, more of the 'planning and sampling' type than the actual 'doing' variety but very rewarding anyway.

We have organised a complete garden makeover, having been inspired by the Chelsea Flower Show,no doubt. Work should commence in the next week or two! This, plus the purchase of a new digital camera (the batteries in the old one would never last long enough so I ended up weighted down with lots of spare ones in my bag every time we went out!) has led to lots of 'before' photos being taken so that we can record work in progress and the finished design. Even Colin is excited and he doesn't like gardens and gardening!

I have bought a peg loom, something I have wanted for a long time. I have started a rug made from fleece tops as I thought this would be quick to make. The main fleece is a natural cream and I am introducing some hand dyed slivers here and there in a 'painterly' fashion which is very rewarding. I'm not sure how it will turn out and I'm wondering if there might be a possibility of felting it once made? Its all very experimental and as this particular fleece sheds like mad its very messy but if the sun keeps shining I may take it into the garden!
Other plans for the loom are to use up some of my yarn stash, recycle some fabrics by cutting them into strips and weaving them into rugs, shawls,cushions etc. and knitting long strips on the knitting machine and then either using them direct or felting them first! So many ideas so little time!

Last Saturday I did an experimental machine knitting workshop with Iris Bishop. We had a fabulous day playing with our machines and really pushing the boundaries! We ended up with lots of samples and endless ideas for producing fantastic fabrics including some which integrate recycled fabrics with knit weave techniques. The results were stunning and hard to believe that they were made on the knitting machine. I feel that there will be a great deal more experimenting with this technique, especially as recycling is the key word at the moment.

Speaking of recycling I did some paper making yesterday. It was actually silk paper but it started me thinking again about making paper from recycled paper, leaves, straw etc. As I am into garden mode at present I'm planning to use some flowers and leaves embedded in the paper together with lavender and rose petals to 'scent' the paper. I have done this before but not for some years so I think I'm ready to try this again. I seem to have an insatiable appetite for creativity at the moment blame it on the lovely weather and the spring with its baby birds and colourful flowers! Long may it continue!!!