It has been a disgracefully long time since I last blogged, so I thought I would get going again with some idea of how I have been making some recent work.
I wanted to do something on urban decay - and have been obsessed with litter in general, photographing all sorts of rubbish.
I had also been thinking about looking at small area, i.e. how when you really observe a small space there is really a lot to be seen, even if it is only cracked paving and bits of rubbish that have fetched up there.
The larger one developed as I kept seeing all sorts of evidence of urban decay - crumbling buildings, graffiti, begging, rubbish, rubbish and more rubbish, with scavenging crows, and I eventually started doodling a street scene of nowhere in particular, but one allowing me to introduce some perspective which would emphasise the rubbish as it came closer to the bottom.
I wanted to do something on urban decay - and have been obsessed with litter in general, photographing all sorts of rubbish.
I had also been thinking about looking at small area, i.e. how when you really observe a small space there is really a lot to be seen, even if it is only cracked paving and bits of rubbish that have fetched up there.
The larger one developed as I kept seeing all sorts of evidence of urban decay - crumbling buildings, graffiti, begging, rubbish, rubbish and more rubbish, with scavenging crows, and I eventually started doodling a street scene of nowhere in particular, but one allowing me to introduce some perspective which would emphasise the rubbish as it came closer to the bottom.
 I started to paint from the top and gradually added pieces. |  I quite like to paint some pieces separately and then applique them onto the main quilt background. This way I can move them around as and when I want to. You can see the perspective lines marked out with string. |
 I find Steam a Seam 2 is very useful - like Bondaweb but you can keep peeling it off and moving it around the piece before finally ironing it on.  |    |
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All these thoughts have eventually lead to a largish quilt and three smaller pieces that I have mounted onto frames. They all have the title "Decay and Detritus", with the larger one having a supplementary title "Where do we go now". I shall be submitting them for jurying into the C Q West exhibition "Unfolding Stories 3" which will be shown at three venues this year. Starting at Harbour House in Kingsbridge, Devon 27th April to 2nd May, then Festival of Quilts 9th - 12th August and finally at the West Country Quilt Show in Bristol 30th August to 2nd September.
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