RESOLUTION and LUTRADUR

The middle of the flower was very dense due to the petals all meeting at this point. I desperately wanted a circle of shiny beads but after working my way around the first ring, I realised it was never going to work; the holes in my finger were a perfect testament to that fact!

Having used a metallic thread on the background I thought it would be pleasing to mirror the effect in the centre. So, after much thought I settled on some black metal purl and set about constructing a little button of hoops. Quite effective and exactly what I was looking for.

I have spent some lovely afternoons with Jackson in my local woods where the leaves (not to mention a few branches!) have been falling fast. The floor has been transformed into a golden carpet of crispy crunchy foliage and I confess to wading and kicking my way through with great delight. This is Jackson’s first experience of Autumn and it has been very enjoyable to watch him chasing the leaves wearing a very comical expression on his face. I brought lots home, some still green but most a shade of brown and I started by pressing the leaves flat. All my good intentions of dyeing fabric were set aside as I reached for the acrylics and spent a few days painting Lutradur and leaf printing.

I painted the Lutradur and left it to dry on soft plastic. When dry this gave the reverse side an intense shiny finish on which to print with leaves. I tried using cotton and rayon threads (first picture) but wanted more shine to echo the the fabric's lustre so I settled for metallic threads. I used a soldering iron to cut out the leaves and a hot gun to distress the Lutradur. Some were cut and blasted while still stretched in the hoop giving a flat finish while others were out of the hoop and free to distress creating more of a 3D effect.

What's not to love about leaves! I seem to revisit Lutradur and leaves on a yearly basis but each time it is with fresh eyes and a different interpretation as I still find it a very satisfying process. I will probably still be doing this for many years to come!