Welcome to my new blog, I initially started back in 2014 writing about my embroidery, book mking and printing, and have continued to regualry document my exploits ever since, so make sure you bookmark the page.
Distractions, Distractions…… 3rd January 2022
There have been many things to think about over the past few weeks that have distracted me from spending time in the studio, apart from the ‘mind fog’ generated by the circumstances that we live in at the moment. Still I will get down to some serious art in the next few days as I… Continue reading Distractions, Distractions…… 3rd January 2022
A Mixed Bag – 6th December 2021
There has been too much weather around and it has influenced daily life and another week of rain is forecast. Several years ago our son, as a student, went to India and he brought back these bags for me, a lovely present. They are made from old silk saris with metal thread tambour work embroidery.… Continue reading A Mixed Bag – 6th December 2021
Looking and Thinking – 15th November 2021
Autumn is truly with us now as this image of standing underneath and looking skywards through our bright red Acer tree shows. In my last blog I used the word peaceful for the book that I had just completed and looking at the book that I finished recently that one is full of activity… Continue reading Looking and Thinking – 15th November 2021
Many Fragments – 25th October 2021
I’ve been working steadily through the weeks. no rush and enjoying every stage of making this book. The title, “ 2020/2021 Sample Book” popped up one day, maybe from working my way through my book shelves where there are images of salesmen’s books, company ledgers and individual diaries. So I began to make the components.… Continue reading Many Fragments – 25th October 2021
Following On – 4th October 2021
After I had allowed my prints, see my last blog, to dry I folded and/or stitched them into books. I had been following thoughts of ‘Subject to Alteration’. These books and their printed plates were designed to have alterations from the very beginning, it wasn’t something that evolved over time it was all in one… Continue reading Following On – 4th October 2021
It’s Quiet! – 13th September 2021
During the past couple of weeks I have only managed to dip into the studio a few times. There has been a lot of time spent gardening, autumn seems to be pressing against us here in the north of England and so I am reminded that there are plenty of outside jobs to be done.… Continue reading It’s Quiet! – 13th September 2021
Getting Out and About – 23rd August 2021
August 2019 was the last time that I had participated in an in-person event, so Art in the Pen in Skipton a mere 4 miles away from home was somewhat of an adventure, despite having taken part in it for many years. My friend, Joan Newall, a fellow artist book maker as usual joined me… Continue reading Getting Out and About – 23rd August 2021
A Bit of Everything – 2nd August 2021
There seems to have been everything happening since I last wrote, its been too hot to work in the studio or to print or to garden and then it was too wet to garden and I didn’t feel like spending time in the studio, so it was thinking and reading time. So it wasn’t wasted… Continue reading A Bit of Everything – 2nd August 2021
Wandering Off – 12th July 2021
Although I have continued to consider and explore ideas around the Vulnerable to Alteration theme I became diverted following a session folding paper into book formats. this usually happens in the afternoon between tea and the need to prepare supper, when my set tasks have been completed. I had been handling one of the C17th… Continue reading Wandering Off – 12th July 2021
Inching Forward – 21st June 2021
After giving much thought to ‘Vulnerable to Alteration’ over the last few weeks, my mind wandered around those words to ‘Alter and Adapt’ or perhaps ‘Adapt and Alter’ – the latter seeming to be appropriate during these times. I have over the years made my own clothes, from dresses to coats and suits. I remember… Continue reading Inching Forward – 21st June 2021
What’s Next? – May 31st 2021
Although I’m quite sure that there will be more on the subject of Alteration I wanted to turn my mind to an opportunity to apply for selection in an exhibition next year. On first considering the title I was stumped, it didn’t seem one for me, but that is the challenge. I didn’t feel that… Continue reading What’s Next? – May 31st 2021
Bringing it all Together – 17th May 2021
The four individual books are now complete. The covers had had a great deal of consideration given to them, in the end I used silk paper, as a reference to the original silk fabric used as inspiration, which I painted. The text was hand printed and I used the sewing machine to give a line… Continue reading Bringing it all Together – 17th May 2021
Vulnerable to Alteration – 3rd May 2021
Getting to this stage in the process of constructing the second set of books on the ‘Vulnerable to Alteration’ theme seems to have taken ages. It was back in the winter that these prints were made. Process Again 8th February 2021 and Back on Track 22nd February, see here and here. I do like to… Continue reading Vulnerable to Alteration – 3rd May 2021
Stitch and Print – 19th April 2021
My 12 ‘Postcards of the Collection’ have been completed, making 36 altogether. These are the Stitch designs And these the print designs. I decided to work these in red ink as red was the base colour for most of C18th printed fabrics. Different mordants were use and when mixed with the madder root (red) generated… Continue reading Stitch and Print – 19th April 2021
Woven – 5th April 2021
This last couple of weeks has seen me moving on to Woven, the textiles whereby their decorative details have been incorporated into the cloth at the point of making, here heavy silk fabrics from the C18th. I was aware that the process of designing each postcard could become mechanical as I have planned 12 designs,… Continue reading Woven – 5th April 2021
Collection – 22nd March 2021
I suspect that we have all collected items/things/stuff from being children. maybe it’s the beginning of honing ones eye, discovering our style, experiencing a little bit of control, it’s part of our human development. I could write a thesis, but I’m not going to! For the past 30 years I have collected fragments of antique… Continue reading Collection – 22nd March 2021
Juggling – 8th March 2021
There have been several elements to my work over the past fortnight and I am just pleased that I managed to complete one segment. The plates that I worked up from a second piece of Spitalfields silk, see here and here, still haven’t dried enough for me to fold the paper into the planed books… Continue reading Juggling – 8th March 2021
Back on Track – 22nd February 2021
It is a relief to be able to pop in and out of the studio now that the weather is back to ‘late winter’ normal and so I’ve been able to commence printing my second plate inspired by ‘Vulnerable to Normal’ see my last blog post. Inking up I had chosen silver with a touch… Continue reading Back on Track – 22nd February 2021
Process – Again! – 8th February 2021
I am aware that I frequently mention process, but it is essential to both printmaking and book construction. This flow of work has not been able to be maintained over the last couple of weeks mainly because of the inclement weather and my warm bloodied self to venture to the studio. Many times I have… Continue reading Process – Again! – 8th February 2021
Steady Progress – 25th January 2021
Despite the influences of the weather, rain, snow and ice over the last ten days I feel that I have been constructive and made a little progress and that wasn’t just trying out a different cake recipe! My aims were simple: To continue working with the idea of ‘Vulnerable to Alteration’ To formulate a plan… Continue reading Steady Progress – 25th January 2021
Disruptions – 11th January 2021
If I had had a plan then life hasn’t gone that way. I had hoped in these early days of 2021 I would form a plan for the next few months, but it snowed. So I moved into the house with books, paper and textile fragments to wait for it to get warmer. I haven’t… Continue reading Disruptions – 11th January 2021
A Bit of Everything – 28th December 2020
There have been so many distractions over the last few days that I’m almost amazed that i have achieved anything. My new plate worked and that was pleasing. I had printed trial samples of various colour percentages with my new silver ink and ended up with silver plus a little Winter Grey ( such an… Continue reading A Bit of Everything – 28th December 2020
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back – 14th December 2020
During my reading of the text books on my shelves, the words “vulnerable to alteration” stuck in my mind, it related to C18th dresses. In the past I have focussed on the reusing of textiles, often until they had become rags, but these words seemed to present a slightly different meaning and I had a… Continue reading One Step Forward, Two Steps Back – 14th December 2020
All Sorts of Things – 30th November 2020
I completed the book “Lace, Woven, Print, Stitch” and was happy in the way it turned out, a long book can be difficult as it becomes loose and floppy and the structure feels weak, but by stitching the 32cm pieces together so that a compact concertina style is constructed there is strength. Into each end… Continue reading All Sorts of Things – 30th November 2020
New Project? – 16th November 2020
There was a rush to the studio yesterday – we had decent enough light for me to take some photographs of the books that I had recently completed. So many days have been dark, damp and dreary lately so it was good to get that task out of the way. These three images are of… Continue reading New Project? – 16th November 2020
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Annwyn Dean 