Bridging Waters

This is what I've been working on for over a year, not only this,  there have been a couple of baby quilts, knitted items and various other things, but these three  have been occupying my mind. So that's over and now my mind is occupied with the next project, that's how I seem to work. I've enjoyed working on this exhibition, I think that the extra bonus of the wall hangings travelling to Canada to be exhibited with Articulation has made it extra special.

All the Material Girls made a 3 D piece inspired by water. The Mariners Rhyme started to run through my mind.

Day after day, day after day,

We stuck, nor breath nor motion;

As idle as a painted ship

Upon a painted ocean.

Water, water, every where,

And all the boards did shrink;

Water, water, every where,

Nor any drop to drink.

So that was it, my 3 D inspiration! It just left the problem of how to put it into practice, never one to avoid a problem I set about constructing a jug and glass from threads and a soluble medium. It has turned out not to be  the easiest thing to photograph.   In the gallery it is suspended from the ceiling, the jug is  see through without a backing it disappears into the room. I'm pleased with the overall effect of it  and I'll get a better image of it at some point! (thanks to Chrissythreads for this image)

It was also decided that as our inspiration for the Bridging Waters Exhibition was the River Thames we would each make a Thames Barge, we each picked a name from a hat, all are genuine Thames Barge names. I thought mine was very apt 'London Belle' and decided that it should be a party boat. When I worked in London I did go to plenty of office parties held on 'Party Boats' sadly never a Thames Barge.

The exhibition is centred around  the wall hangings, Articulation took their inspiration from the Bay of Fundy on the East coast of Canada and The Material Girls took inspiration  from the River Thames.  I took  inspiration from the locks on the Thames, I didn't use any particular Lock just an overall impression with a lot of artistic licence.

This stage of the tour ends on Friday. Then the complete body of work will be shown in May at a textile event and in September in Maldon. Then the hangings will be packed up and couriered to Canada and will be exhibited in various locations, I believe that it will be travelling for two years. Who knows I may even get to visit one of these shows???

Water, Water

London Belle - London Sky Line

Machine Embroidered Sail  Top Hat Dancer

London Belle Thames Barge

Lock

In the meantime life carries on,  this morning I took a deep breath, took the plunge and changed hairdressers. With everything crossed I went in for a haircut and a colour (I'm not brave enough yet to let the grey show through) I always find changing hairdressers traumatic, I've had a few disasters in the past. And, yes I know it will grow again but who wants to be forced to wear a hat for six weeks until it grows again. Anyway  I'm really pleased and I've found a great hairdresser just 5 minutes away from home and a good price too. My previous hairdresser was a very well known chain and very costly!