Module 1 Assessment piece

Finished at last!!

This assessment piece has undergone some changes since the first proposal, but the basic idea of a 'wishing tree' is still the same.

My friend and fellow artist who works in glass got married this year and also had a major restructure at work, so she's virtually had no time to work in her studio. This obviously meant I had to rethink my idea of working with her.

I finally decided to go back to the shapes I'd developed for the the prep exercise here. I decided to simplify them and make them more fluid.


1/1

I then made the decision to work with sheers and silk organza because I had in my mind that if I couldn't use glass then I wanted a fabric that would be translucent in the light.

Having decided on the shapes I made a 3 layered sandwhich, usually keeping the silk organza between the layers of sheers as it's very prone to fray and I didn't want any bulk so there was no seam finishing, I just did 2 rows of running stitch, in silk thread to hold the layers together.

As this was to be a 'wishing tree' I decided to make it for my family, so every leaf/shape has a different ornamentation and colour scheme to suit that person.


1/2

This one, for instance is mine as I have creative penchant for lizards in my designs.

I studied all the colour combinations very carefully to see how they would best show in the light, and I was also very particular in my choice of thread using hand dyed silk and metallic embroidery thread.


1/3

This shape has a dried sea holly trapped inside for a familly member who loves the seaside.


1/4

And this one is for someone who wears their heart on the their sleeve.


1/5

This is for someone who lives their life to the full and is open to any opportunity.


1/6

For a small person who loves all that glitters.


1/7

For someone who once sorted all by buttons into the correct oder and still loves order in their life.


1/8

One for my husband who loves his cider.

Once I'd got the idea for the leaves/shapes I then had to decide how to display them. This kept me from finishing the piece for quite a while, and then I found some very malleable wire in my local fabric/craft shop and I started to play. I loved the spiral shape and started by supporting it on a piece of driftwood, but that was too light, so then I thought it would be fitting to use this massive stone with a huge hole in it, as I'm very superstitious about picking up stones with holes in on the beach, for good luck. I had to leave my large collection behind when I moved, all except this one.

Finally the hanging device for the shapes is a piece of very fine wire decorated with beads and bent to fit the spiral.

I consider this piece as an ongoing item to be added to when a new family member arrives or needs a wish to be fulfilled. It is therefore a functional 3D piece.


1/9




1/10