Breaking the "maker's block"

big felt beads!
Originally uploaded by MadeleineS.

Over the last few weeks, since Maker Faire really, I've been a bit stuck on this year's big project - Botanica Mathematica. I think it's the equivalent of writer's block but maybe easier to shift. Lots of excuses abound - not feeling well, having a break-in at the studio, being on a craft group committee, general fatigue and also some organisational tasks for Botanica. Anyway, my concentration is shot to pieces. If I'm not feeling good about the project on the one day a week I can get to the studio then it's a wasted day.

Last week I was tidying up as the burglary had left a bit of a mess and the new small studio now had all of the Alba ad Astra photos and the remains of several other collections lying on the floor. In the process I opened several boxes I'd kind of forgotten about, including this one full of half finished necklaces. So I sat down and finished them.

The beads are hand-rolled felt and the cords are all knitted. One is made from recycled silk from old saris and the other three are knitted in sock yarn that I dyed in the microwave. So there I was making again - and what's more the studio was tidy again!

During the week I started a geodesic dome hat and I've been knitting chanterelle mushrooms for Botanica Mathematica. We'll have a bucket load of them for our next outing at the Edinburgh Beltane Annual Gathering in a few weeks. Today I'm intending to start a hyperbolic patchwork that mimics the cell structure of liverworts.

Thank you, big felt beads for getting me going again.

Via Flickr:
four necklaces with felt beads on knitted cords

Helter Skelter Sleepwalking

Knitting Science
Originally uploaded by MadeleineS.

Writing, knitting, figuring, crocheting and partying have all featured this week. My life seems to rush by in such a helter skelter fashion that it feels like it'll go on without me if I just stood still. Of course, I don't really believe that so I keep doing stuff anyway and it keeps getting intertwined and confused. I end up exhausted - so much so I don't know how to stop.

On Monday, Heather from McAree Bros arrived at my work to collect a big bag of textile maths objects to use in their yarn store window display. So I had a 10 minute art break in the office day. Tuesday saw me at the Roslin Institute for an inspiring workshop on creative non-fiction writing (like this post but soooo much better!) and I've now got a whole new set of ideas that apply to the day job and the arty life. Wednesday evening was time to see where Julia and I would have our stall at Mini Maker Faire in Summerhall in a couple of weeks. That's going to be Botanica Mathematica's first proper public outing. I'm doing this as me and as part of ICMS so the lines are really blurred. On Thursday night we went to the opening party of the Edinburgh International Science Festival - met some old friends, did some schmoozing and played with lots of exhibits. Friday at the day job was full of prep for next week at the Festival and then suddenly it's Saturday! I've met friends for breakfast, worked in the studio and come full circle back to McAree Bros. Having photographed the finished window display I'm now sitting in Bon Papillon gallery cafe blogging about it. I don't feel I've been properly awake all week and yet all that stuff has happened. I wonder what it would be like if I did stop for a rest...

A second mission for the Alba ad Astranauts!

Alba ad Astra flies again
Originally uploaded by MadeleineS.

My work with Writers' Bloc investigating the Scottish Space Programme is now on display in HulaJuice Bar and Cafe, West Bow, off the Grassmarket, Edinburgh.

This is the first time since it's showing in Transreal Fiction during August 2009 that this contraversial body of work has been seen outside my studio. It may be your last chance to see it at all. Get down to Hula before "they" realise we're so close to the truth!!

Binary Bonsai

Binary Bonsai
Originally uploaded by MadeleineS.
Followers of the Hep Herd, should note that instructions for making Binary Bonsai are now on Botanica Mathematica blog and Ravelry group.

Have a shot at making one or two and let us know how you get on.

The start of something big!

L-system embroidery
Originally uploaded by MadeleineS.
Botanica Mathematica is my new collaboration with Julia Collins. We are using mathematical principles and textile techniques to generate a range of plant-like forms. The embroidery above uses L-system instructions to place the branches and you can see that after 3 iterations it's looking pretty naturalistic.

The project will use knitting, crochet, patchwork and embroidery to generate works, large and small. Our ultimate aim is to publish a few patterns so anyone who wants to can contribute a Fibonacci Flower or a Binary Bonsai to the textile herbarium. The patterns will appear on botanicamathematica.wordpress.com nextweek sometime. We also have a group on Ravelry where the patterns will be posted too. more details will follow here as soon as possible.

Witch Hazel Winter

Hamamelis intermedia Jelena
Originally uploaded by MadeleineS.

Plants are a constant fascination. This witch hazel in bloom in January for instance. The ragged petals are the inspiration for a collection of scarves I've been developing for a couple of years. (photo next time.)

The mathematics that governs the growth and development of plants has also captivated me, though the opportunity for study has been and still is, limited. That said, it forms the basis of my next big project - Botanica Mathematica. I want to make this a mass participation project and am working on a couple of patterns to release into the wild. How they are interpreted by individuals will be analogous to the effects of local environmental conditions. Actual mistakes might mimic genetic mutations. Collected images and specimens will form the final output.

Botanica Mathematica will have its own project blog but I'll make references to it here when things get interesting.

If you are interested in working from these patterns, leave a comment.

Year end musings

 
The last days of the year are upon us. I know the particular day on which the year changes is more than a little arbitrary but the culture of the year end is still strong.  Re-assesment (and self-assessment for the self-employed!) pervades our thinking.  And so this week I began giving away some of my artwork to family members as the start of some deck-clearing activity for the year to come.  No more cyanotypes of lace and leaves or of anything else for the time being.  A move to a smaller studio space means I have to focus on what I want to use it for - and that boils down to concept-based textile work and textile accessories.  

This year's concept project is in its early stages and involves textiles, maths and biology - no more to say until the research is underway in January.

The wearable part of my work will continue to explore the continuum from necklace to scarf to wrap to jacket.  I anticipate some larger felt pieces coming out of this small space.  I've also fallen heir to some lovely, pure wool, vintage blankets that may well form the basis of some domestic accessories (cushions and the like) with needle felted embellishments.

Anyway, the old year has made me very tired indeed but I'm bursting with ideas for the new one - I just hope for the time and the energy to carry them out.

Happy New Year to all of you out there in the blogosphere!