MODULE FOUR Chapter 1

 Drawing in 2H and 4H pencils

 Simplified birds based on drawings in an embroidery book. These might be useful  for prints in Chapter 2

 The photo on the right is original, taken of a hand reared duck on a friend's pond.  The water colour below is an exercise in shading.

 More original photos of friend's livestock, except the cockrel which is from the internet.



 More watercolour exercises...........

....... and the image lower right.

 Birds drawn on the ipad using a "Flowpaper" app

 I collected a number of feathers but thy were'nt very interesting so I used a range of filters on Photoshop Elements to generate more interesting images.

I love the range of patterns and tones on the eggs.

These camouflage images were photocopied from a book on birds

 I used the same book for the feet and beak drawings.

 These bone drawings were done using internet images on the ipad.

Chapter 10 finishing

 Arranging the eye pieces (above) and the eyes stitched in place

 The beak stitched in place

 and a close-up

 and the mane curled and twisted

What to use for the pole was a bit of a headache because I don't have access to a lathe  so I used a paintbrush handle, sanded off he varnish and painted it with Acrylic paint.

 I sketched ideas for decoration of the pole

 As the pole is tapered the beads had to be made in situ.  The dark pink bead neatens the tassel and is made with double sided tape to hold everything securly in place.

 Sticky backed Velcro at the top of the pole attaches it to the back of the mask

 The finished piece!!!!!!!

 I wouldn't say that this is the best ever, but I am quite pleased with the finished piece.  

   

 There has been so much to learn, try out and experiment with in this Module and I think I had some inspired ideas too. There were so much stitching, I had to get the maachine serviced and keep oiling it!!

I loved makng the backgrounds, edgings. braids and fringes but the tiny tassels were the best part.  This technique was new to me so I enjoyed experimenting with threads and various sizes of frame.

I am much happier with drawing and designing in general now but I found the distorting of shapes difficult.  I  need to remind myself to "think outside the box" at times.  I think my free stitching technique has improved and I don't think of using a frame for smaller pieces.    I have always collected materials and worked samples before starting a piece of work but this Module has taught me how to use  research and sketching to develop a design.  I have lots of ideas for future projects, thanks to chapter 8.

Chapter 10

I  stitched each colour for the mane, using sheer fabrics over printed or plain paper to give depth of colour.  Some of the smaller pieces are just paper and  some pieces are more heavily stitched than others.

 The base for the mask is made from two layers of pelmet Vilene sandwiched with Bondaweb.

 and backed with pink silk.  The strip of Velcro is for attaching the pole.

 The mane pieces arranged onto the base, laid over the mock-up to place them and held in place with reusable cellotape.  The biggert challenge was how to get the piece off the table and upside down onto the machine so it can be stitched from the back.  The was managed with the machine extension table and a fish slice!!

 The mane, stitched in place and the surplus trimmed away.  Some pieces are starting to curl but the thers will need to be twisted or curled slightly to help the mane to" flow".

Now to get the eyes and beak/nose right!!

Chapter 9 another sample

 The thrid eye!  The centre is a piece of Angelina over orange felt with free machining. I need to do this before cutting the outer circle to make it easier to control. The green and outer edge is finished with applied perle yarn.  I printed the pink silk for more depth of colour. 
 I am quite pleased with this eye and it looks right on the mock-up.

Chapter 9 Samples

 I printed some papers and painted them with Acrylic wax for strenmgth.  The patterns got lost under the stitching but they were fun to do and gave "thinking time"

 Mane samples.  The paper makes it possible to curve and curl the pieces for more interest but the pieces will need to be backed with fabric as these may show.

 I think the eye still needs work but the second one is a vast improvement on the first .

Chapter 9 Mock-up

 I photographed the mock-up without the beak but it doesn't look finished.  I prefer the second version.

 Mock-up painted with approximate colours and stitched indicated. Not all the paper is covered with paint but it gived the effect I want. 
I think the eyes may change after working some samples, but I quite like the stitches indicated on the mane.  these will be worked in toning and contracting colours.