Assessment piece

Finally finished the piece. I have a few more fish in hand in case they slump a bit more in the net.  When hung it is 5ft from the bar to the edge of the net.  In the middle it is 6 inches deep and the top of the net is 21 inches wide. The fish on the top layer are caught to the net so they stay in position. I used a shiny transparent thread to sew the net together and some of the fish to the net so I could leave the ends long to sparkle.

Close up of the bottom of the net.

Close up of the top of the net.

The digital picture quilted and machine stitched to show the ravaged sea bottom, areas still lively, the trawlers pushing forward and the wire currrency symbols showing what they are solely interested in.

Stretched out on the floor as I don't have a big enough bit of wall space to hang it up!

Design time 15 hours.

Construction time 63 hours approx

Cost £22 approx.

It fulfills the requirements for a wall hanging so I think it is fit for purpose. I am very pleased with it. The original design idea was to have the net hanging from the trawler picture on a concealed rod, but this did not prove to be practical. I think the idea of the net attached to the trawlers still works with the alternative hanging rod.  The hanging cords were handmade from a variegated wool sock yarn and were rather stretchy which is why they now have the 'arty' knots in them.  If I was making it again I would make these from a stiff cord instead.  The word ribbons made on solufleece and scrim were very stiff as I only partially dissolved the fabric; unfortunately they became much less stiff with handling so it was difficult to keep them in positions so they could be easily read.  If I was doing these again, I would experiment with various stiffeners.

Composite

This is the composite booklet compiled to show the process of research,

choosing the final design and sampling for the various areas of the finished piece.  

Top to bottom:

1. The booklet opened up

2. The front page showing the digital image and a fabric translation

3. Inside front showing research, initial designs, cords,  fabric samples and the making of the net

4. Middle pages showing fish pictures, fabric samples, and fabric translations of deep sea creatures and plants.

5. Inside back showing samples of decorated papers as background to the digital image process and the making of the basic support structure.

6. Back cover showing the larger working design, the cord used for the net and the wire currency samples.

Records and authentication

Chapter 12 Research Three Artists.

unfish

Extras for the net - the devastated sea bottom has to give up everything to the net  -  so here are seaweeds, corals, starfish , sea anemones and sea urchins.

Chapter 11 assessment piece

This is the final piece mocked up to show positioning - still finishing to do on the pole, the word ribbons and the digital piece, a few more corals and a starfish to finish.  Saving the hand sewing for Wimbledon so I don't feel guilty!!

asesssment piece progress

The bubble fish

Tried to stitch the bubble wrap with the machine but the needle dragged and stuck so I stitched these by hand.  I used 505 on one side and laid my fillings, then put the second bubble wrap fish shape on the top and stitched around with a sparkly thread.

Fish with various fabric manipulations.

Top - orange-red silk gathered and stayed with greeny blue raw silk panels and a bluey-green edging in twisted silk waste.

Middle - peachy orange silk corded with deep orange perle, topped with couched raw silk waste.

Bottom - pin-tucked green silk with a variegated thick and thin yarn edging.

I've deliberately given them all long tails as when they are all stuffed into the net I want a bit of chaos to emerge to give the feeling of panic in the entrapment.

This is the support for the net so that it will lie fairly flat against the wall when hung. It's made from pelmet vilene and fish, coral and seaweed shapes are bonded to it. They are deliberately vague as it is just a background which will be covered by the stuffed fish when the net is attached.

This is the back of the vilene support. I used my random-dyed drop cloth cut and sewn into wave formations and attached to the front to give a smooth edge all round.

net trial

Quarter size trial of the net. The lace is made freely with the bubble wrap background as a rough guide to distances.  I like the irregularity caused by having to add bobbins ad hoc to allow for the irregular widening of the net. This will further distort when the fish, corals and seaweed are stuffed in. The cords will gather at the top ends of the net to form the hawsers.

Fish with edge

Following Sian's injunction to consider my edges - here are some edgy fish!

Assessment piece - sampling for the net

While deciding how to make the net for the fish I've sampled a few cords and I think I'll use a Torchon lace background stitch to make the net - I'll use oversize bobbins and mark out the shape on the lawn with sharp twigs for pins as I haven't a large enough lace pillow to make it in one.
From the top -
1. A bulky wool yarn finger corded by hand - too heavy for the net - but may be great for the connecting hawsers to the ship panel.
2. the bulky yarn finger-corded with a thin black and silver metallic yarn - like the unevenness of it but a little too stretchy for purpose.
3. as above but corded with a dark blue nylon filament yarn - again too stretchy.
4.The bulky yarn twisted with the black metallic and the dark blue filament and machine corded with a black/multicolour in the bobbin- like this the best - not too thick or thin - not too stretchy - has glints from the metallic threads like the sea water clinging.
5. Finger corded wool sock yarn - very attractive but not quite dark enough and a little too stretchy.
6, 7 and 8. Lovely blue/orange silk waste yarn - machine-corded with black/silver metallic or dark blue or both - love the hairy look but it blended in with the fish too much so the net pattern was lost.
9 and 10 Thinner black and dark blue yarns machine corded - too thin.

Research study for Diploma

Thinking about the Diploma on holiday - getting very snap-happy with the camera - have chosen Boundaries as my theme and the mind map shows the tributaries that are springing up so far.