Automaton of a Fairy with a Bug

I have sent my first automaton through the post and it arrived all working and in one piece.

One of the highlights of each Christmas is the strange fairy that I receive from my friend Sue. We have been doing a fairy swap for years and this year I used my fairy for Sue to see if an automaton would survive a transatlantic crossing. The fairy is a bit experimental as I gave it strings to work the wings and arms, she has quite a puppet like suspended arm swing. But the automaton surviving the posting is great as I can now start selling them.

I think that I always come off the better for the swap as I get the most fabulous fairy from her. I have a superb enamel one this year.

 

Embroidery Experiment with Painted Faces

I have been struggling for ages to work out the best way to embroider characters so that they don't just look like badly drawn art. In the past I have used Biro to make the faces. Having looked at a Russian icon I thought that I would try and inset painted faces, a possible way forward if I work on my painting skills. I quite like the idea of contrasting the heavily embroidered cloth with painted elements. 

The Biro faces seem to fade over time, I made these about about 28 months ago 

And the original monkeys doodle.

Free Machining Embroidery and Applique Doodle

It's been a bit cold in the garage so I thought I would go back to playing with my sewing machine. I decided to do a random doodle to start me off. Somehow I always doodle scary cats.

The reverse is interesting.

And a previous scary cat doodle. Sorry the picture is so fuzzy but I have it in a frame to remind me not to make scary cats.

A Fabric Beetle

After being bothered by stink bugs I've had a go at making a fabric beetle. I thought this may be just the character that I need to add a bit of drama to some unfinished works.

He has a good creepy underside. I am going to enjoy making more beetles.

And now this problem piece has a sort of group dynamic and some composition.

Half Finished Things

After a few weeks of drawing I am going back to finish characters that had been half finished and very unresolved. I am still not sure about this one but I love her dress and her flower friend.

As I am posting this I have already had a better idea for the bugs in her hands. I think as she looks so disinterested the bugs that she's holding need to be doing something spectacular.

These two are a bit too benign. Agghhh still unresolved!

Automaton of a Boy with Gnats

I am working slowly through finishing automata as I have been completely sidetracked by the urge to draw. I also do need to get a camera to take moving images. In this automaton the gnats wobble wildly when he stamps his feet.

Drypoints of The Proximity of Insects

Three silly drypoints based on my insect obsessed work. I haven't done any printing for a while so these are my test pieces before I start some proper work. Now that I have done these I want to make them into embroidery pictures as I think this is the perfect line to convert to stitch.

Automaton of a Bug in a Box is Finished

Painting done and bug made, this is my favorite automaton so far and she still slams that lid with a good smack.

A few seconds looking at the bug and then smack! and the lid is shut.

Automaton of a Bug in an Box

Another automaton at the test stage. This one is based on a comment from the fabulously talented printmaker Sue Brown re. not letting people know that you are collecting dead insects as your friends may send you samples in match boxes which can be disarming!! So this is the sketch I made after her comment. 

And here is the automaton in the raw.

I did try to make a match box but the friction of the box inner and shell kept jamming, at the moment this has a good slam to the lid. I have a little shaping and sanding still to finish but I can't wait to get painting and making a disarming bug. 

Sue's work is wonderful and she has a beautiful blog!

Automaton of having Ants in the Pants

I have a few automata on the go at the moment and have just finished my first 'Insects are after me' automaton. This poor victim is being bothered by a couple of red ants and is stamping her feet to shake them off.