THE TANKER PIPES

So many of the tankers are embelished with pipes of different sorts and useages, i.e. drain pipes, sewer pipes etc. I wanted to see what would happen if I threaded pipe into selected fabrics in different ways and am only at the initial stages of this experiment still with much to explore.

I thought I would add a few images of trials done today.

I had spotted a black and white striped drain tanker on the motorway at Bristol but was too eager to get home to follow it. I started with the old gold drain tanker which I had converted to black and white, looking at the opposing black and white stripes and chevrons within the round back of the drain tanker.

I began to experiment with the image

And then after spotting tankers with pipes of all sorts in strange places and for different purposes, I just had to experiment with what I could do with those! How can I represent them in fabric?

THE EXPLORATIONS.

My first experiment was with silk crepe georgette. I used two pipes here, one down each side of the silk. I did not feel this worked because the fabric was too transparent and the pipe was visible. Also, I feel contrasting colour is needed to show up the 'journey' of the pipes, the twist.

I moved on to Polyester Jersey to see what happens when contrast is used on a very stretchy fabric. I found my initial experiments intriguing. This one is a long piece using one pipe on one side only. I had been looking at the brake pipes also and felt an affinity with those in this example.

In this sample, I inserted the pipe on the diagonal, the bias of the fabric, and could see this as a collar or neck piece.



A longer and larger neck piece.

I imagined this piece as an idea for the front of a jacket perhaps. This piece has more fabric and one piece of pipe.

Here I am beginning to experiment with more pipes. this sample has three pipes inserted on the bias of the cloth. I find this sample exciting, thinking of a huge sculpture or teepee shape. Or tiny as an earing.

Searching for different thicknesses of pipe, I have found that the 'curling' works by using strimming line, to make tiny forms, such as earings etc. I have found giant pipes too to experiment with large pieces.

In this sample, I forced the pipe to be very taut in the fabric, thus forcing it to curve even more. At this stage, I see this as a feature neck piece on an evening gown?? Could it be a 'back' feature

Lots more to do but I was pleased with my day. I have begun to work with linen and heavy sisal rope. This hasn't really worked though. There has to be stretch in the fabric. I am now going to see what I can do with silk lycra.

Carol's copyright.

PARADISE PARK, HALE

The Big Owl. There is so much pattern in these birds. Paradise Park, Hale is a wonderful place to go. I now feel I know some of the birds there I have been so often. They have an ongoing conservation programme and many of their birds have been donated by people who could no longer cope with an adult bird. Many are found malnourished by the R.S.P.C.A.


The White Owl.

Feathers through the mesh.

One of the characters!

PEACOCK

Whilst at Trago Mills, Newton Abbot, I spotted a Peacock on a wall. I said, 'Please display your beautiful feathers for me!'

He squawked and said, 'Oh, all right then', and hopped into his stage and wow.

With the platform to himself, he opened his feathers and slowly turned, just to me.

'Do you fancy me now?' he said.

Oh, really!

And the colours (detail)

His tail!

A special moment.

Copyright images.

Birds

My last entry reminded me of my study of birds, noting how they spread their wings, the beautiful colours, their antics and personality.

The seagull has such bad press. There is something evil and yet characterful about him.. I remember tucking into a pasty in St. Ives when suddenly it was whipped from my hands. Their eyes say it all. So I sat and studied a group of seagulls, frolicking, scratching and preening their feathers. After a while, they became individuals.


Where is the orchestra?

I am so beautiful!


I can't quite reach.................

Seagull gown idea.

Why am I so enthralled with 'cutout'? I have always wanted to be a Textile Designer and Printer and 'see' images in a flat plane. On my B.A. (Hons.) at Farnham, my supporting study was Photography. This vision comes through in my work, the flat plane, placing the shapes within a rectangle, clipping and isolating 'design' and that love of asymmetric imagery.

And there is my desire to work from movement and sound.

Bird in the garden.