Even More Words

I just re-read an email from Siân which jogged my memory. Other words that should join the list are:

pipes
wires
tiles
furniture
fabrics, textiles

I am not really sure where this list would or should end. If I listed every single component that went in to the building of it, we could be here for months. So I think I might draw a line here. However, if someone thinks of something very clever please let me know.

More Words

As I suspected, there are many more words to go on this list, but as I hadn't expected, some of them were already on the list and got dropped off when I clicked to send the previous post.

Here are the extras:
MY HOME – LIST OF WORDS

timber
brick
glass
metal
stone
shiny
dull
smooth
rough
transparent
rippled
opaque
bubbly (old glass)
gardens
trees
flowers
vegetables
green
gravel
shade
shadows
water

I hope I haven't duplicated anything here, although nothing would surprise me.

More New Beginnings

The good - no, best - news is that I have finally settled on a Research Topic, and Siân is in agreement. Hurray. The topic is 'My Home' and the main reason for this choice is that my physical mobility is extremely limited and I live in a small town in the country with not much in the way of inspiration locally. Travelling is not an option, so I was compelled to choose something that was here, and what could be more 'here' than the home I live and work in?

I think this is going to be quite interesting. I had wanted to do something to do with architecture and had almost settled on 'Fenestration', however Siân felt that this could be a bit broad, so the thinking cap went back on and the next thing to come out was my own house.

The word list is done, as is the spider diagram both of which I will post (as soon as I work out how to do it).



MY HOME – LIST OF WORDS

shelter
protection
inside
outside
warmth
coolness
comfort
love
entertainment
change
stasis
celebration
design
colours
work
relaxation
happiness
sadness
food
housekeeping
friends
family

I guess there will be more words to add to this list. If anyone reading this has any suggestions, don't be shy, please let me know.

NEW BEGINNING

Another Distant Stitch student and I began our courses at the same time last year. Neither of us has achieved anything like the outcome we foresaw or wanted, so now we have decided, metaphorically speaking, to kick each other's butts in an effort to keep us on the straight and narrow. She lives in Kuwait, I live in Australia. Thank heavens for emails.

Anyway, I have decided to change tack altogether and have chosen an entirely different research topic: Fenestration - windows and doors. There is lots of scope to go absolutely mad, and there is also the opportunity to focus in on something specific. To this end I have prepared a list of words I associate with this topic, and have prepared a spider diagram, although they are not yet in a state where I can post them here. Next time.

even more words ....

It seems that the supply of words conjured by the notion of 'seed pod' is never ending. DB has come up with some:
clustered
impenetrable
forbidding
gnarled
attracting/attractive
spiky

I discovered some more as well:
green/fresh
dry
desiccated
open
closed

and probably a couple of important ones:
mathematical
Fibonacci
golden ratio

I hope that we have not duplicated any. If any other reader has anything to add to this list, please do.

'THE CAVE'

I thought that I would post a picture of my work space, which is affectionately known as 'The Cave' as it is almost 11 metres long and only 2.5 m wide. It used to be half that size, but we extended it, and could only go one way, so ... There is a bathroom, and a sink, a microwave (for dyeing), 2 overlockers, 1 vintage machine with vibrating shuttle, a 30-something year old Elna SU, a relatively new Elna, a Bernina Activa and a Bernina 200E. I think I probably have enough machines, but just in case there are a couple more oldies in the house.

I am afraid that the cave more often than not is terribly untidy. I have made myself a promise, that this week (health permitting) I will have a major tidy up, so that I can actually get in there to do my course work. By the way, the fridge has now been appropriated by my DB (Dearly Beloved) and taken to his workshop on the other side of the garden.

I do love my little cave, it is light because of the 3 roof windows, has heating and air conditioning so it is comfortable whatever the weather. I need to use it more often, I need to use it more often, I need to .......

more words

Today I have started work on my spider diagram, although I am not sure exactly what information I should put in it. For example is it general things, under 'Texture Study' a list of things such as rough, smooth, bumpy etc, or should it include how I propose to reproduce those textures. No, be more positive woman, I think it is probably all right and possibly even acceptable. I shall email it to Sian for her feedback.

I have also thought of a few new words to add to yesterday's list:
cocooning
hairy/fuzzy
knobbly
prickly
womblike
spokelike
fibonacci
golden section
aeroplanes
helicopters

I have no doubt that there will be others as time goes on.

research study theme

seed pods

I have decided to use Seed Pods as the theme for my research study.

Seed pods have long fascinated me – the sheer variety of shapes, scale, mass and colour is infinite but each has the same purpose: propagation of the species. And to put the icing on the cake, they are all quite beautifully and perfectly designed.

I have developed a strong interest in making three dimensional embroideries and vessels. The two interests seem to intersect and match perfectly, like peaches and cream.

One of my other passions is colour, and with seed pods I have the best of both worlds. On the one hand there is a wide range of hues represented in seed pods; on the other is the discipline of discerning and reproducing the infinite variations within say, brown or grey.

I believe that an up-close-and-personal study of various seed pods will enable me to produce a body of work ranging from wearable art to wall hangings and vessels in both large and small scale.


words associated with seed pods

small, large, tiny smooth,
rough, hard, soft, bumpy, heavy, light, symmetry
falling, flying, attaching, burrowing, adhering
shiny, matt, dark, light
round, cylindrical, pointed, flat, long, conical, ovoid
brown, grey, green, red, purple, black, yellow
trees, shrubs, garden flowers, bush/woodland flowers, grasses, vines
fruits, vegetables, eggs
cold, freezing, hot, fire
protection, propagation, reproduction
nurture, nourish, new life, death

In the beginning ...

.... there was darkness.

At least that is how I feel right now. I am sure that with Sian's guidance and input from other students and stitchers this situation will change. It is quite daunting to take on a task like this from a distance of 12 000 kms, although the internet makes if relatively easy. Imagine trying to do it without the help of a computer. Doesn't really bear thinking about.

I have read half of the first module book, and so I am beginning to get an idea of what is required and that it is indeed a serious undertaking, in terms of time and of effort. Out will come the sketching gear, watercolours, acrylics, pencils, crayons, etc etc that have been languishing somewhat over the past year or so. Into the house will come sketchbooks, largeish sheets of paper and strange and wonderful objects not to mention a certain amount of hair tearing and anguish. Doesn't it sound like a heap of fun? I can't wait to get started.