Friday, July 23, 2010

silk tree


I made this a while ago from silk fusion dried over the very fissured bark of a pine log. Woollen yarns fixed by embellisher machine and by hand, silk sari yarn hand couched, hand stitched and beaded. I am not one for handwork, but this was fun to do, and is one of my favourites. I've always meant to do another one, so maybe this will spur me on. About 14 inches by 4.

6 comments:

Carole said...

Hi Julia.... this Silk tree is very intriging... and so are the techniques you used. Between you and Carol I am inspired to try to use tree bark somewhere. I have only thought in terms of using it as a 'rubbing'. For this challenge and in the spirit of it, trying a new technique .... I am hoping you will. You mentioned you always meant to do another one... I hope you do and I truly hope you will post it to this challenge.
Thank you for sharing this piece with us.

Cherie in Del Mar said...

I agree with all that Carole has said...but, what is silk fusion? I don't know this technique. It looks terrific...so like bark. Please make another, and explain the technique :-)
Cherie

Jan said...

Nice piece. From a distance the bark almost looks real. I too want to know what silk fusion is?

Julia in NZ said...

Thanks for your comments. Silk fusion is another name for silk paper, I think. Silk tops layered and fused with wallpaper paste and then dried. I was a bit concerned that over time bugs would eat the paste, but the alternative is textile medium, which often leaves it much harder and with a slight plasticky shine. The paste leaves it very natural. And we don't have a lot of bugs in NZ anyway, not being humid where I am.

Art by Rhoda Forbes said...

Very interesting technique. This piece is wonderful, the colors are gorgeous.

Betty Warner said...

Beautiful colors.