Saturday, November 26, 2011

Onion Peel


The Art Piece

As I started this design, I had in mind that it eventually would become a purse. I was given a gorgeous piece of burgundy velvet [my friend Alex bought it at an estate sale for 50cents], I had some tiny cones of silk yarn, some iridescent seed beads and an idea. I had never done any couching before, but this silk begged to be put with this velvet.  I also felt it really fit this challenge.

Velvet seems to have a life of its own as it slides and frays all over the place.   I stay stitched the velvet to the stabilizer. That seem to keep the velvet in place.   As I began to couch the silk yarn to the velvet I loved the look. It is lush! I had absolutely no idea I was stitching the shape of an onion cut pole-to-pole; I just liked the shape. It wasn't until I took a break for a dinner of my Oven Roasted Onion Soup, http://designerann.blogspot.com/2009/05/oven-roasted-onionsoup.html , that I realized after peeling and cutting over 4 pounds of onions, that shape was definitely in my mind.

After dinner I added the seed beads to bring out the dimensions of the velvet-polyester batting-satin layers. I used the polyester batting because I wanted it to be  very 'lumpy'; it is.  It is also very rich, lush, glowing and invites touch.  The beads are dark, but just the right tiny glow to fulfill the challenge. Today I finished making this work of art into an Arty Purse. I plan to use it New Years Eve at a wedding rehearsal dinner.  I often make things do not materialize into my inner vision.  It is so nice to make something I really like.

The Arty Purse Hanging on My Design Wall


The Arty Purse Sitting on a Table


6 comments:

  1. Great job, Ann.... Love the purse and the luminescence you've captured! Very effective on the found velvet!

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  2. How great to be able to find a purpose for a gorgeous bit of fabric like that velvet. Your stitching does what all good art does - suggest an image to the viewer. Bonus that you like it!

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  3. Your Onion Skin really is dynamic, high contrast, and colorful! It is deceptively simple. One might
    say it is "only" a few lines of stitching but I think it
    shows great skill to create something that speaks to the
    challenge so completely with minimal lines while capturing the essence of an onion. It also makes a great purse. Well done!

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  4. Such an interesting piece Ann, and the bag...well how clever of you. Nice work for this challenge.

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  5. Incredible to be able to carry this piece of art with you. Great job! I'm sure you will hear many compliments when you are out on the town.

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  6. Love that you're making "working pieces" with the challenge. And, I love how this glows...texture, movement...really nice job, Ann!

    Lisa Q.

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