Saturday, January 14, 2006

Come into my parlour, said the spider....

I can't help it - I keep going back to bugs!!

The inspirations for this panel were old, peeling Russian icons, spiders webs and an Egyptian necklace of gold flies.

In the panel, the flies are caught in the spiders web, in various stages of distress. One is newly caught, one has given up the fight and one is completely wrapped in silk.


(Click on photo for bigger image)

The picture frame is made of calico, with knotted and torn strips machine applied and heavily stitched. This was first given a watercolour dye wash in shades of dark blue, grey and purple. Then it was painted with gold metallic powder in fabric medium. The edges were burnt in a candle flame to give an old, distressed effect.

Here is a close up of the panel.


(Click on photo for bigger image)

The background fabric is a piece of distressed velvet. On top of that is a piece of hand made silk paper, lightly coloured with silk paints and embellished with scraps of coloured silk in shades of red and gold and a piece of netting from a bag of supermarket oranges, all applied with free machine stitching in rayon and metallic threads. The first fly was built up onto the background with free machine stitching in red rayon thread over gold painted fabric. The second fly was made from a piece of gold painted calico and a scrap of fur fabric. The eyes were padded metallic fabric, divided with a piece of metallic thread, laced over a piece of card. The third fly has painted calico wings embellished with free machine embroidery and the body is covered with gold glass beads. The spider body is padded velvet laced over a piece of card, embellished with metallic thread and the legs are fancy cord finished with a bead.

Its a kind of experimental stumpwork!

8 comments:

Val said...

Love the way you've done this especially the flies!

Conni said...

All I can say is "WOW!"

beche-la-mer said...

Tried to comment yesterday but blogger wasn't behaving -- this is great, Kay. Don't forget to add it to the science embroidery photos!

JacqueLynn said...

OH MY GOSH I just love this, so inventive, to full of texture. I haven't seen anything like this, and I LOVE it. Glad you love bugs, they work perfect for this

Jo in NZ said...

This is just amazing...as is all the prevoius art you've posted, and I've only looked at the first page!!
Off to 'blogline' you.

jenclair said...

I've taken a stroll off my "beaten path" and have found many new and interesting blogs today. You have some wonderful things here.

Unknown said...

you have a "way" with bugs...I should remember to check in with you more often...you always have such stunningly original and beautiful artwork thanks for being there when I do check...amazing!!! Ginger

arlee said...

I do love all of your bugs---and wish you'd do a tutorial for them! Insects are the coolest! :}