ideas coming together

ideas for the upcoming exhibition at newark park, knitted and dyes lengths ontop of silk, for the outside piece I'm aiming to make 16, all roughly 2 meters long, Stephanie

Slavery

On the 26th March 2015 the Modern Slavery Act 2015 became law. James Brokenshire, Miniister of Immigration said that, 'it would send the strongest message to criminals,if you are involved in this disgusting trade in human beings, you will be arrested, you will be prosecuted and you will be locked  up. I printed parts of the act with my added drawings and text onto organdie. I made 12 boxes 3 1/2 " square. These will form the basis of my sampler.

Removing the dissolvable fabric from the drawings of the Stuart Casket

I have completed the stitching for the front of the Stuart casket and now have to remove the the dissolvable backing fabric. The work feels quite dense so I think it will hold quite well. 

The first stage in the process is to remove the excess fabric by cutting close to the drawing leaving border that is approximately 1cm all around.  Next, the drawings are carefully pinned onto some pieces of thick foam and then held under running water.  

Drawing pinned on foam board

Washing out the solufleece

Left to dry

Sometimes a second wash is required - it is important to make sure that enough of the dissolvable fabric has been removed otherwise the work will be dark because the colours can be darkened by the glue. But, it is also helpful for some glue to be left in the work to help stiffen it for mounting purposes.

Lateral thinking

From an exercise in the use of primary colours, a quilt at Newark Park and orange and yellow flowers came the idea for an outdoor piece for the exhibition. It will take the form of another screen, this time dyed, painted and stitched organdie over three five foot bamboo hoops joined together.

Newark Park.

The exhibition room has been repainted and looks very smart.

A view across the lake- the willow tree has fallen into the water. The storms brought a few trees down in the park.

Door knocker at Newark Park, Glos.

Peacocks on the door knocker at Newark Park.

The real thing posing on the wall outside the entrance.

Clutterbuck

For my sampler for Newark Park I machined a very small coat of arms of the Clutterbucks.

Feather tassels

Tiny feather tassels for my book tie, a peacock and a pheasant feather from scraps of silk and organza.

Slavery

In 1833 Parliament finally abolished slavery in the British Caribbean, Mauririus and the Cape. It also granted twenty million pounds in compensation to be paid by the British taxpayers to the former slave owners. To claim the monies it was expected that former slave owners were to return to the slaves location. Sarah Clutterbuck wrote this reply for her claim Nos: 439 and 440.

Slavery

Before independence the laws of the colonies could not be inconsistent with English Law. Chief Justice Lord William Mansfield (London 1772) held that English Law, 'did not support Slavery. 

I also found that in certain cultures a peacock represents Freedom.

Slavery

In my research I found out that Sarah Clutterbuck had inherited twelve slaves from her father, William Balfour of Martha Brae Jamaica and Edinburgh.

working on the screen

Painting organdie before or after stitching prior to dyeing, piecing, layering and stitching