Sunday 9 November 2014

Making art from re cycled materials

Hello. You will be pleased to know there is no more waiting for the latest art work, it is done. Everything is stitched on in it's place, I just have to tidy the back up by covering the loose ends around the edges. I took the photo's while it was hanging on my living room wall, with the curtains wide open to get some light in. 
Each tree is made out of electric cable, first bound with strips from a light brown teeshirt, then a second coloured layer added. I decided to add some stitching to them. 


The weaving took ages and I found that some types of fabric wasn't suitable due to it easily fraying, and the heavier upholstery fabric didn't work well either, because I cut the strips too wide. This left the warp threads on show, to get rid of that the fabric had to be squashed up really tight.


The dark brown I used in the centre is felt, this didn't lie too well with too many ridges. I got over that problem by stitching over it with the same colour wool. 
I tried to use different types of fabric to give a variety of textures. A lot of it is cut up clothing, some of it is from the Scrapstore.

These pink flowers were given to me. They didn't have holes in them so I made four small holes in each one with a needle heated over a gas flame.



The orange fuzzy stuff in the bottom corner is a mesh fruit bag. There are other coloured mesh bits added as well.




And this is how it started out. I found this towel rack in a car boot sale for £1, and saw a picture in it. I got a friend to cut off the four legs with a hacksaw. 
Then a second one was given to me which is bigger than the first, and I thought it would make an interesting frame for the picture. Not really sure if it needs it, I'll think about it. 
The colours here are quite accurate to the real thing. I like it because it's bold and cheerful. I shall be taking it to the Scrapstore open day in Hull next Saturday, along with the fantasy forest picture I made. I am really getting into textile art, I enjoy the thought processes that go into it, and piecing it all together, then watching how it grows from a little seed into a fully fledged art work.

Tomorrow I am going to the AGM at the Scrapstore, and on Tuesday night I start a six week course at college to learn more about up-cycled textiles. They thought it might not go ahead but I had a phone call saying more people had applied, so I'm pleased about that. I've got more sewing projects here in the pipeline, plenty to get on with. Still not managed to connect the Hudl up the internet here yet, been busy with this. The next job will be to practice taking photo's with it, and finding how it all works. My brain is going to be steaming with all the new things to learn. Anyway, must go, it's barf night, I'm off for a soak. Toodle pip.

34 comments:

  1. It's brilliant Ilona...you are right, it's so cheerful and full of colour. I love all the little details you added.
    What an inspiring project.
    Jacquie x

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  2. That's looks fantastic! What a creative, imaginative mind you have to go from an old metal frame thingy to that! Great way to use up some old material/scraps too.

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  3. That is absolutely brilliant. Love all the colors. It's so detailed.

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  4. What a super job you made of this. It needs to be on display so lots of people can enjoy it! You are getting more and more skilled at this.. Jan F

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  5. Its beautiful! You have a good eye to see the potential in things like the towel rail.

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  6. Your textile artwork is awesome Ilona ! I really like the colours and textures you have used.
    AussieCheryl : )

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  7. Absolutely amazing! You have great artistic vision. Love it!

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  8. Another beautiful tapestry, Ilona. I say keep the frame, it really sets it off.

    There is a TV show about fashion designers in the U.S. called Project Runway. One of the challenges each season is to create fashion out of unconventional materials, everything from candy to construction materials. Here is a link to photos of the designs out of construction materials. A number of people used cording and tarps. My favorite is number 9, the one that won, made out of fencing and black plastic ties. http://www.mylifetime.com/shows/project-runway-all-stars/photos/season-4-episode-2-final-looks#id=9

    I hope that you enjoy your upcoming class.

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  9. Brilliant, love all the different textures & details what an effort you have put into it. Hope you get to display it at one of the shows you visit.

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  10. That is wonderful, you amaze me. We are the same age and I wish I had half of the enthusiasm and energy you have.

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  11. My goodness! That really turned out well. What a lot of work! It's worth selling as a piece of art. Well done.

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  12. Ilona, this is a wonderful piece of saori work! and great choices of colors and shapes and contrasts. This really is good art! thanks so much for walking us through it with you.

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  13. I haven't been looking at the snippets you've posted as I wanted to see this all finished.LOVE IT!!
    Jane x

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  14. Wow I am completely blown away. The last was amazing but this one tops that! You are truly an artist.

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  15. How imaginative and more than worth waiting for.

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  16. I have been waiting to see the finished art work, and must say it is as good as I thought it would be. Well done!

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  17. Creativity at its very best! I am so impressed, especially with the way you have used the colours. Well done indeed, love it!! Pam

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  18. Wow that's a fabulous picture. Love it and the other rack used as a frame really sets it off.
    Carolx

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  19. It's absolutely brilliant Ilona, you are so imaginative and clever with all your bits and bobs. I think the outer frame looks great, finishes it off really nicely. To be honest, I don't think you NEED to do a course in upcycled textiles, you are an expert already and could probably teach THEM a thing or two! I absolutely love this picture, so bright, colourful, sunny and cheerful, you have brought a smile to all our faces.

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  20. So detailed and full of colour! Made me smile. Jane.

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  21. wow - amazing work!

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  22. It is an absolute triumph Ilona, it should be hung somewhere for people to see, its too good for only one pair of eyes. I LOVE IT !!!!!!!!!!!
    Briony
    x

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  23. Absolutely amazing, you are so extremely talented:) I just love it♥ xx

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  24. It's lovely...vibrant and surreal. Curiously reminds me of The Magic Roundabout! Frame looks good...but it looks good without it too and it would make a good base for Textile Art III...

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  25. Excellent! I was trying to hink what it reinded me of and as Charlotte said, the magic roundaboout!

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  26. That looks fantastic, great job Ilona!

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  27. I wasn't too sure about this, when you first started putting it all together - now I think it looks absolutely brilliant and you used so much detail, with all the pretty flowers and things. Well done to you :)

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  28. Fabulous and eye-catching!
    Wendy (Wales)

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  29. So pretty! Love the details!

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  30. Love the creative artist in you, Iiona(very pretty pictures:)!

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  31. That is wonderful. I have never really tried textile art but my brain is buzzing with ideas now...... like I need another hobby :-)

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  32. Even better than I thought it would be, and I thought it was going to be wonderful! I love that you used perspective and that frame is perfect. Fun, fun piece!

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