03. Postmarks and Stamps
The following work was inspired by stamps and postmarks.
3.1 Drawn thread embroidery based on stamps. Threads were withdrawn to form a grid and covered with machine stitching. The gaps were filled with with needle weaving over crossed threads.
3.2 Paper pulp was made with bought tissue paper in red and blue. A blue sheet was placed on top of the red and pressed into a piece of crochet. The crochet had a wavy pattern similiar to postmarks.
3.3 Drawn thread embroidery based on postmarks.
3.4 Blue thread was wrapped over a frame and then machined stitched in red in a wavy pattern. The sample on the right was developed further by wrapping another layer of thread after the first machining and adding more wavy lines.
3.5 Paper samples based on postmarks. Thread was layed in a wavy pattern over a sheet of paper pulp. A second sheet of pulp was cast over the top and pressed. When dry, the thread was ripped out of the paper. The sample on the right was made by placing a tissue over the top of the sheet of paper pulp and threads.
3.6 Slits were cut into a piece of fabric and the resulting strips were machined stitched. Hand embroidery using drawn thread techniques in various thicknesses of yarns.
3.7 Needle weaving and drawn thread work based on postmarks.
3.8 Paper made from pulped brown envelopes. Pressed on to a piece of wavy patterned crochet.
3.9 Red and blue threads were wrapped around a frame. Thick wavy lines were handstitched onto the grid. The grid was placed on top of a sheet of paper pulp. Strips of paper pulp were placed on top and the water was pressed out. A kebab stick was dipped into blue dye and pressed onto the pulp strips in several places. The dye spread into the pulp as it dried.
3.10 Reverse applique technique with paper. Two pieces of handmade paper were sandwiched together and a postmark inspired design was stitched. I used backstitch - I stitched on the back so that the "wrong side" was on the front of the sample. I then cut away the paper between the stitching. I think it would have been better if the paper could have been torn rather than cut but the top layer of paper had been stuck to fabric before I had thought about this. I'm going to try and think of ways to soften the edges a bit.
The top layer of paper was made from brown envelopes - there's the impression of a letter "T" made by pressing a drinking straw into the pulp. The bottom layer is made from computer listing paper. Little gold stars were mixed in the pulp - these tend to fall off the paper.
3.11 This is an in-progress sample. Handmade paper was backed with fabric and then cut into sections. The horizontal lines are wavy to suggest postmarks. My original idea was to put all the pieces together again using insertion stitches - the horizontal lines in bright red and the vertical lines in a different colour or thread weight. I decided instead to just do the horizontal lines and then take it from there. The pieces have now been joined and they are articulated - I'm sure that I can do something with this! Ideas:
- Embroider a border around the outside edge of the whole piece - this would lose some of the movement but it would enable me to...
- Weave fabric, paper or threads through the vertical slits to continue postmark theme. If the edges weren't joined then I could still weave in the centre portion.
- Each section is suggestive of a stamp. Develop this - add embroidery around edge of each "stamp". Add more paper or embroidery to centre of "stamps" - use real stamps in some way?
Things I wish I had thought off before I started:
- Instead of cutting the paper vertically, I could have torn it to make the edges softer. The individual pieces could have then been backed with fabric
- Decorating the paper in some way, perhaps using ink and script as in chapter 1.
3.11a This is the finished sample. I used threads withdrawn from another sample and threaded bunches of them through the edges and then tied them off. On the centre panel I stitched the same threads through the paper using running stitch. Both ends of the threads were left loose and showing on the right side. Each of the outside pieces was edged using one strand.
3.12 Squares of paper pulp were cast in a 5x3 grid. Threads were then laid across the squares and a further layer of paper pulp added. Cocktail sticks were laid across the squares to suggest letters or characters and the whole piece was pressed and left to dry.Ideas:
- Add dye to the paper pulp
- Have different colours of pulp on each side
- Add more threads
- Change thread weight/colour
- Add a border of paper pulp to make a page
3.13 Threads were withdrawn from dyed linen scrim and the grid was machine stitched. Squares of paper pulp were placed on the grid to suggest postage stamps. Dye powder in 3 shades of blue was sprinked on the wet pulp. The piece was then pressed and left to dry.Idea:
- Capital leters could also be formed/suggested using this method
3.14 Machine embroidery on handmade paper based on post marks. Zig zag and straight stitch was used on fabric backed paper.
3.15 This sample has been made by pressing an embroidery into wet paper pulp. The embroidery is based on postmarks and the threads used were chosen for their chunky quality rather than the finished effect. The dye from the fabric leeched into the paper pulp but this faded as the paper dried.
3.17 Postage stamps were torn in half diagonally and then stuck on to strips of paper to give a jagged edge. (I hope I haven't ruined a rare stamp!) The strips were folded along the edge of the paper and sewn to the paper with running stitch. Could also do this with envelopes, brown paper etc NB. Stamps are very cheap on Ebay. | Back to Pinboard |
