Cathartic Embroidey

I have at last finished an applique embroidery that I began in October knowing I would be returning to the UK very shortly to nurse my lovely father through his last weeks. Now back in the US I have set too to finish all the work I started before I begin any new projects. This is quite a large embroidery and very much about knowing you are going to meet a difficult time.

Puppet Challenge

I have been included as a participant in Clive Hicks-Jenkins' Artlog Puppet Challenge

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The theme for the challenge is Folktales, Fairy Tales, Myths and Legends. 

I am really excited to see what the other artists make and the Artlog is fabulous reading.

 I'm planing to make a flying ogre from a Chinese fairy tale called the Flying Ogre. I'm attempting to make a glove puppet that transforms from a little girl into the ogre, in the tale he disguises himself as a little girl.

Sorry this design work is all a bit rough, I don't have time to spend making the prep work wonderful. Anyway this is where my ideas are going but the final puppet will be less basic.

I had the idea to make a little girl glove puppet whose head will open and the ogre will be inside. 

I made a rough head toille to work out if the idea was plausible, how big to make the girls head so the ogre will fit inside and also plan where to place the ogre's features. I'm basing the ogre design on Chinese tiger baby hats.

Having reread the tale the girl should be barefoot with unbound hair so that design will change. 

Once a balloon is inflated inside the ogre's head he has a great flying action with those ears.

Mrs Punch/Judy Sketches

Smoking Cats

A few initial sketches of wayward pets

Embroidering Again

 I've decided to stop experimenting and continue perfecting the method of working on light under-painting with applique and embroidery on top to define the drawing. I keep making these things so big and now I have hours of sewing to go!

Some Software

A headbanging knitted automaton prototype.

A Pirates Tale

I have been in the UK for a few weeks looking after my Father, hence I sadly couldn't do my second month at the Torpedo Factory. I did lots of sorting for him and was delighted to come across a favorite childhood book that was only a vague memory.

The Pirates Tale is written by a 5 year old Janet Aitchison and is a crazy, colourful, very non politically correct story with lots of death and marrying children. It is full of fantastic illustrations by Jill McDonald and I can't believe I found it, I never expected to see this again.

A Second Devil in The Cupboard Automaton

It's is about half way through being made and this time the devil is going to be in the cupboard under the stairs.

He will be tormenting Mr Punch

Automaton Knitting a Robot

I have been working on a range of knitting girl automata, this one knitting a robot I finished yesterday.

Today a wonderful little boy came in to the studio and was really fascinated by her. He asked how long it would take for her to finish the robot. He then spent ages turning the crank to try and get her to knit more of it. (At lest 15 mins and then kept sneaking back in to get a few more turns) 

I can clearly remember when I thought that knitting was a skill that involved bashing sticks together to make woolen things. 

Caroline McCatty at the Torpedo Factory

I have some pictures for those of you too far away to come and see me. I am in studio 333, Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat and Sun all June and Aug. This is what's on the walls at the moment.

I will be making things in the back of the studio.