Out of the Doldrums

It is nearly a year since I last posted on this blog and I have been lost in the artistic equivalent of the Doldrums. Having designed my wall hanging by means of this paper collage, I was unable to make my vision happen. I wanted to use sumptuous fabrics and bold colours but everything looked clumsy and contrived; my head and my fingers were not in tune!

Thankfully I discovered print artist Dionne Swift and enrolled on her Workshop Wednesday courses which started last October. Not only does Dionne teach printing and devore (her personal passion) but she is also a fantastic business mentor. She quickly identified what was holding me back and with her support and encouragement I have finally created a wall hanging that I love.

Wall to Wall is a contemporary wall hanging inspired by the Pennine landscape and the dry-stone walls that define its character. Each stone is a small yet integral part of the landscape and its vista, providing both purpose and aesthete, connecting the near to the distant. A patchwork of layers is formed by the receding hills and escarpments which are brought into vivid relief by sunlight or cloud. The colour palette combines earthy moorland tones with the vibrant intensity produced by the flora and natural luminosity.

This piece is constructed from a number of fabrics, every one selected for its texture and surface qualities. The fabrics have been hand-dyed and each section of fabric has taken the dye in a slightly different way, giving natural pattern and interest. Finally a representation of a stone wall has been printed all over the hanging using discharge paste.

Design and photos copyright Claire Ketteman

Lost in the Landscape

I'm working on a wall hanging for a converted barn. Looking for inspiration I gaze out of my window at Haworth and the surrounding Pennine fells. Mostly when I look out I am checking the weather but when I really open my eyes I see an ever-changing landscape of textures and colours: dark peaty browns, lush mossy greens, the yellow ochre of lichens and the vibrant purples of bilberries and heather.

I notice how the dry stone walls define and shape the land. These 500 year old monuments provide a tangible link with our predecessors and much needed shelter for a myriad of creatures and plants living there today.

This will be my starting point.

Fruitful ideas

Wondering what I've been doing since January? Well here it is..... The Bilberry Tree is the name that my friend Helen and I have given our new creative partnership.

We want to share the fun we have making fabulous goodies and gifts with the rest of you. Craft parties are our thing... get together with your best friends and have a day making, sewing, cooking. It's much better for you than a spa day!

Why not take a look at our web site www.bilberrytree.co.uk. We're also teaching workshops at Texere Yarns for more details go to www.texeretribe.co.uk.

My Creative Roots

A number of things have happened recently that have set me thinking about my creative roots. Firstly my friend and creative partner, Helen wrote a moving piece in her blog http://www.dixonhill.org.uk/ about her mother's hands and of all the skills that she has taught her. More recently, my local branch of the Embroiderer's Guild challenged members to search for some textile-related family heirloom so I started digging around in various boxes and bags that I have inherited from both my mother and paternal grandmother. Amongst the collections of buttons, safety pins and assorted needles, I found some vintage lace rescued by my grandma and some hand turned straps left over from my wedding dress that had been made with love and skill by my mother. I felt an intense connection with both women who had taught me so much.

So when I was asked to design and make a wall hanging for a home with a very strong sense of family my thoughts immediately turned to my own family and how they have influenced and supported me on my creative journey.

My family have strong tradition of craft skills: cabinet maker, upholsterer, seamstress, engineer. From them I have been imbued with a love of making things with my hands, a curiosity for unusual materials and desire to create beautiful objects. These people have taught me, encouraged me and allowed me the freedom to make my own choices.

Follow my journey as I explore these themes and see where they lead me.

Patience, Practice and Perfectionism

I have enrolled on a course to learn more about machine embroidery. It's very satisfying to begin to take control of my sewing machine when I couldn't even make a button hole before! I have been practising my new-found skills by making a sketch book cover. I thought that some nice paisley motifs in patterned silk and crystal organza would be perfect on the warm green silk I had chosen.

However, my ideas did not match my skill and it took several attempts to get the right combination of patterns. I was so focused on my embroidery that I forgot to check what had happened to the main fabric - disaster! I realised that I had appliqued several layers of silk together. When I finally unpicked the last of the little loops and swirls that I had so carefully embroidered I realised that the foundation layer was damaged beyond repair. To add insult to injury, my newly repaired and serviced sewing machine decided to leave some irritating drops of oil on my work.

Thankfully a resourceful friend came to my rescue when she suggested adding some pretty ribbon to disguise the small holes and water marks.

My sketch book cover is complete and, whilst not quite perfect, it is still very pretty.

Fabulous Felted Flowers

To coincide with the opening of Presence VII exhibition on Saturday 21st November, I'm leading a workshop to make felted flowers. I had a lovely time making these examples with my girls. We got very messy and a bit wet but you have to agree the results are stunning!

The workshop is free and it's taking place at the Manor House Museum and Art Gallery in Ilkley West Yorkshire on Saturday 21st November 2009 12 noon until 2pm. No need to book, just drop in.

Headdresses

The first headdress I made was a commission for a ballet production of Sleeping Beauty. I was asked to make a headdress for Carabosse, the wicked fariy, something that was macabre and bird-like. I wanted to produce a headdress that was light and easy to wear and that would stay firmly anchored to the head throughout a dance routine. Here is my design made from knitted copper wire with additional yarns.

It looks even better when its worn! Thanks to Simone Clarke who danced Carabosse and to Hilary Barber for the photo.

For my Ice Dreams collection I made a headdress for a fairy tale. The structure reflected the formation of ice crystals in hoar frost and the confection of unravelling monofilament and mother of peal irise yarn reminds me of snow flurries.

Design and photos copyright Claire Ketteman except photo of Simone Clarke by Hilary Barber.