Monday, August 31, 2009

New brooches

I realise I've been very quiet on the craft front lately, but I have been busily working away on several ideas and experimenting. My focus has been on developing the 3D felt brooches and playing with colour. This first one is a design that started with the colour combination. It's a birthday gift for my friend Sally, an artist who specialises in colourful abstractions. This watermelon colour is her favourite...


For this one, I wanted to see how I could incorporate fabric into the design. This, in turn, meant that I had to finish off the edges properly to minimise fraying, so the joins for the felt had to be more substantial as well. I hand-stitched all of these together and I think it has a marine, coral-like look to it...


From there, I became interested in the idea of the 3D felt pieces being like a patchwork and hand-stitched the joinery in this manner with embroidery thread. I think I went a bit overboard with the embroidery thread, doing little bits and pieces everywhere, but it was fun ;) I added the printed paper and white felt as a base to provide a plain foil to the heavily stitched front.


My daughter was playing with femo and I had an idea of making femo base plates for brooches, with holes for stitchery etc. We had fun making our shapes together but I think we need a lot more practice at developing sustainable structures! This one managed to hold its own and I decided to crochet a section onto it. It has sort-of worked but I'm still thinking about what it needs to be finished...


AND... last but not least, colour again! I was having a look at the lovely Tiel's work on her blog Tsk Tsk, and, feeling very inspired by her gorgeous triangle colour combinations, decided to have a go...


This 3D brooch actually has some very nice, unexpected variations to its form. I rather like it :)

So, what have you been experimenting with? If I don't already know you, leave a site address so I can visit your site for a peek :)

19 comments:

ELK said...

hello and what charming examples of an artist at work....i really enjoy your soft 3D pieces....I took a black and white series on my photo blog and will be posting it Monday morning(in Texas ;))

blue moss said...

your friend sally is very lucky....all your brooches look so fun
i've just been working, working on my cardigans and tanks and tees for my upcoming show...if i every get them done, i will post some pics for you to see :)
michelle

amy said...

your weekend sounds wonderful too :)
i love your new brooches, especially the one you made your friend!
the death mook is awesome, i forgot to put the link in my post about where i got it.
here's an old post about vignette press and the mook books - http://greygridpaper.blogspot.com/2009/06/vignette-press.html

:D

M* (Melanie) said...

So lovely Kylie. I think the first brooch would look lovely pinned to your new beret. I guess I better get a move on!

Karen Lewis Textiles said...

I love them - particularly the watermelon one - that red is divine. And the Fimo (that's what we call it in UK) is such a brilliant idea.

(P.S. Back from hols now so will get measurements and pincushion to you :-) x)

Jen Spinner said...

I love these! Especially the blue and the triangle one! So...
a) when are you going to have a contest? You probably have already done this, but I'm a new follower. (selfish)
b) when are we going to do a trade? (egalitarian)

Kickcan & Conkers said...

Can see you've been working hard Kylie. Nice work, always reminds me of your Bilbao post... The top red one is my favourite.

Amanda Nicole said...

Love the yellow and grey one. Your experiments and processes are so interesting!

annamaria potamiti said...

I loooove that last one. Triangles, I am thinking of Sonia Delaunay- just lovely Kylie! You are relaly moving with these beauties...I am intrigued by your use of Fimo, what a great concept! It seems like you are having lots of fun-and the Gods of Inspiration are with you,
take care,
Annamaria xxxx

at swim-two-birds said...

the triangle brooch is awesome! both the shape and the colours, love it:-)

Tammy said...

Wow ... how very creative of you Great work!

Evie said...

oh yay! thanks for sharing your latest works - you are so good! i especially love the 3rd one in the greys with a hint of yellow. perfect for the winter / spring transition xx

Unknown said...

they all look great kylie, i really like the colours on them! x

Jay Dee said...

Love these!! And I think your femo one is gorgeous just as it is!

Elisabeth Dunker said...

Beautiful brooches Kylie! So creative, all of them.

Mitsy / ArtMind said...

I love your brooches! They are simply unique!
I have been making brooches too and will sew through them. I'll show you in my blog soon...
I also like the crocheting brooch.
A contrasting color would stand out more I think. ;)

Anna Bartlett said...

I really like the way you were inspired by Tiel's work to produce such a lovely little piece. I find her work terrifically inspirational too. Keep up the good work with your magic fingers!

tiel said...

wow, this makes me smile! me inspiring you, inspires me!

Feltbug said...

Hello - i think your brooches are stunning - I am inspired too :)