From an old album / de um album velho

This was done as a possible entry for a Quilt exhibition in Europe (Belgium) a few years ago. The art work had to be done around the kymono shape and the title of the exhibition was Ky-monologue.

Here I mixed soft sculpture with shibory, free seweing, aplique and fabric manipulation.

I quite enjoyed doing it. The fact that it had to be real size kymono allowed me to use the hands (mine obviously) in real size as well. I think it really represents the monologues I still do while deciding what comes next: my hands move in front of me touching and turning all sorts of things. Here it's as if I can whatch them from another angle.

Este trabalho foi feito como entrada para uma exposicao de quilts na Europa (Belgica). O trabalho tinha que ser apresentado na forma de quimono mas com o tema: Ky-monologue.

Tecnicamente juntei soft-sculture ( escultura de pano?) a shibori, costura livre, aplique e manipulacao de tecido.

Gostei imenso de o fazer. Porque tinha que ser baseado em tamanho real, pude aplicar as maos (minhas claro) em tamanho real tambem. Acho que representa bem os monologos que ainda faco comigo mesma enquanto decido o que vem a seguir: as minhas maos movem-se em frente de mim, tocando e produzindo toda uma serie de coisas.

Mas aqui, posso vejo-as de um angulo diferente.

Old work / antigos trabalhos

I've been doing some spring cleaning and came across some images of previous art works done. Thought I would post here.
In all I have fused fabrics onto each other or onto paper. The lines are in free stitching.
What made me do them?
The first is a mixture of urban and colours. I remember doing it during a hot summer, so the colours are a big part of it, but there was some breeze and the see through colours reflect that.


Tenho andado a fazer uma pequena limpeza e dei com algumas imagens de antigos trabalhos meus. Pensei em partilhar aqui.
Em todos fundi tecidos uns com os outros ou com papel. As linhas sao feitas cosendo em ponto livre.
O que me levou a faze-los?
O primeiro e uma mistura de urbano e cores. Lembro-me de que era verao - dai que as cores jogam um papel importante - e havia uma briza que a transparencia dos tecidos reproduz.

The next two are speak from themselves. Although not a very good gardener, I do need to be close to it. I like to feel and smell the wet soil and see the plants sprout and bloom.

O dois seguintes trabalhos falam por si proprios. Apezar de nao ser boa jardineira, preciso sempre de estar perto de um. Gosto de sentir o cheiro do solo molhado e ver as plantas a rebentar e florir.

Brooches / Pregadeiras

These are photos of the last brooches I am taking to the St. George's Fair tomorrow. The base are felt and the faces are made with threads, organzas and sewed on (top stitched).

I am taking along the Fabric Books, knitted soft toys and a set of new Pet Bags. I don't have photos yet of these so I will be taking them tomorrow while in exhibition.

Of course I am not leaving behind all my recycled goods: triangle bags, felted bags, recycled notebooks...

I expect it will be a nice sunny day!

Esta e uma colagem com as fotos das pregadeiras de feltro que levo para a feira de amanha (Dia de S. Jorge). A base e feltro, mas as faces sao feitas com fios multicolores, organzas e cosidos. Levo tambem Livros de Pano, bonecos felpados e um novo grupo de Bolsas Mascote. Nao tirei ainda fotos destes ultimos, mas vou faze-lo amanha enqanto expostos.

Claro que nao deixo atras os meus produtos reciclados: bolsas triangulo, sacolas felpadas, blocos reciclados...

Espero que seja um dia cheio de sol!

Latest works / Os ultimos trabalhos

I have been busy elsewhere. These are some of my last works. Some will go to the Catmose exhibition, in October, and others for the LCB, in November. I will post more information here at a later stage.

Tenho andado ocupada por outros lados, mas estao aqui alguns dos meus ultimos trabalhos. Uns irao para a exposicao em Catmose, Outubro; outros para a de Novembro no LCB. Mais tarde darei mais informacao sobre estas.

This one is still in progress. I'm hoping to finish very soon. It definitely has to do with the autumn winds...

Este esta ainda em processo, mas conto acabar bem depressa. Nao ha duvida de que tem a ver com os ventos outonais...

After a not very happy start - I left it on the table for days, before I could go back to it - it sort of made it's way through. Quite pleased with it.

Nao se pode dizer que estivesse muito satisfeita com este trabalho no inicio - deixei-o dias seguido na mesa sem lhe tocar - mas eventualmente ganhou a minha atencao. Estou bem satisfeita.

It has to do with being a grandmother and kings and queens stories... It just needs the story to go with it.

Tem a ver com o ser avo e estorias de reis e rainhas... So falta a dita cuja a acompanhar.

EMPORIO

Officially I am at Emporio(http://www.facebook.com/projecto.emporio), at Viseu, Portugal ! Alongside an exhibition on the 100 years of the Portuguese Republic.

Oficialmente exposta na Emporio (http://www.facebook.com/projecto.emporio), em Viseu! Em paralelo com a exposicao alegorica aos 100 anos da Republica Portuguesa.

Public Benches / Bancos Publicos

I am still working on this one. Started to be a vessel (the background) but decided to change. I like the fact that it looks as if there is a lot of reflex through the jagged greens. Part of a series of "Public bench".

Ainda estou a trabalha-la. De inicio era para ser um dos meus "receptaculos" mas mudei de ideia. Gosto do efeito de reflexo que consegui com a area verde. Parece vidro partido. Faz parte da serie" Bancos publicos".

in process / em processo

Another piece I am working on. The picture doesn't show much, but the vertical pieces are textured and create depth. It reminds me of what you see when driving on a road with trees.

Mais uma peca em que estou a trabalhar. A foto nao mostra, mas as formas verticais sao em relevo. Faz-me lembrar o que se ve quando se guia por uma estrada com arvores.

Fabric Vessels

Orange

Size: 13cm x 13cm x 31cm

Black

Size: 13cm x 13cm x 33cm

Blue
Size: 7cm x 12cm x 12cm (base) x 43cm (hight)

These are the last fabric vessels I've made. With Organza, metallic fabrics, free stitching, on felt and chintz. They are hollow and without bottom. They can be free standing or be more "usable" by placing them over another recipient.

Size:

As ultimas destas pecas feitas. Sao de organza,tecidos metalicos com bordado livre sobre feltro e cetim. Nao teem fundo. Expostas por si so, tambem podem ser mais utilitarias, se forem colocadas por cima de outro recepiente.

Back In Leicester

In June I went with my husband to Portugal (Canas de Senhorim) with all my machines, fabrics and everything else I could fit into the car . Took us less than two days to get there. I know, it's a bit crazy all the rush, but we couldn't wait.
Once there, I occupied the old wine crusher room, set up a table and open my suitcases (there were overflowing a bit) on one half. The other half was shared by my mother and her fantastic hand embroidered slippers and Mark with his "writing gear". An industrious trio I can tell you.
I spent, apart from the last few days, working from morning until evening, producing a lot, both for fairs and art works. That place has a good vibe: the people (parents and family) the village atmosphere, the good weather, although we had a few days of cold and bits of rain, the food, the coffee, the wine... What more could you ask for?
And here are some cultural activities in the area :
- A Gala from a School of Ballroom Dance from Torres Vedras held in aid of AMI - at Nelas. There were around 50 dancers and they all stayed overnight at Casas do Visconde. Amazing how so much people could fit there, albeit camping a bit.
- The Theatre Festival ( called: Stage for Two or Less) at Carregal do Sal organized by NACO http://doisoumenos.wordpress.com/2010/04/. The NACO building used to be an old primary school of just two classrooms, Transforming it into a small theatre was a feat but the stage is so small... ence the name. However, the level of plays and actors is very good and worth going there.
- The "Maiorca" Ballet by Companhia Paulo Ribeiro http://www.pauloribeiro.com/ at Coimbra, with my sister (Leonor Keil) in the cast and Pedro Burmester on the Piano. I loved it. Based on the records of George Sands during the time spent in Maiorca by her and Chopin.
- The visits to Viseu and the "discovery" of Emporio http://www.projectopatrimonio.com/ in the heart of the city, next to the Cathedral, filled with wonderfull things: from old books to toys and clothes, were I am currently holding an exhibition.
They are organizing a new exhibition , to be held during August, in the back garden, with 5 local artists under the theme: The Republic. A fantastic theme: We have 100 years of republic and each artist corresponds to 20. My mother (Lira Keil Amaral) is one of the artists invited. The artworks will be placed outdoors, with a daily visual record of it's weathering.
The other project they are involved in is the brand new festival of short films done by people from Viseu District and/or about the District itself.
- At Casas do Visconde (where we stayed) there was an guided exhibition on Modern Dance and the Body, to which all classes from the local primary and secondary schools came everyday (one at a time obviously) with their teachers and assistants . My mother was the guide - the best you can get ever! The way she puts those minds at work and the final music session, with classic music but where the children had to dance as they felt it better. Afterwards, if there was time left, the children would cross the yard to see me recycling the plastics. There would be a quick chat on environmental issues and they would go back to the schools full with new ideas and new ways of seeing the world. What a fantastic way of learning and growing!
Still at Casas do Visconde, there was the first ever Craft and Jumble Sale Fair. Supposed to be only for one day and in aid of the Tai Chi Association from Gouveia, was such a success that had to be kept open for another three days! And one complains about the backwardsness of the rural villages.
I put a link here but it is of a local link... http://www.canasdesenhorim.org/content/view/111%22, they have not got a website, which is a shame.
Unfortunately I've just realised that I erased the only photo I had of the fantastic working place I had made for myself there.

Memory series / serie Memorias

Obidos
Funchal

I have finished the first two pieces: Obidos and Funchal. Just need to mount them. As always the results surprised me. It is so different when I take the backing paper: it's as if the work takes a flight of its own...

This series is based on the houses I've lived in, but I've just found out that I've lived in 28 houses (until now). My list was incomplete! If I make two a week... it will take quite a while to finish it.
The good bit is that from each I can take new ideas for other works. Maybe I shouldn't put a time limit or production time (ugh, sounds like a factory process).
I need to add that the images don't do justice to the final pieces. The shine of the fabrics don't allow me to take photos with flash or any other light aid.



Terminei as duas primeiras pecas: Obidos e Funchal. Falta monta-las. Como sempre os resultados surpreenderam-me, tao diferente ficam quando o papel de tras e retirado. As pecas tomam identidade individual e ficam independentes de mim mesma...

A serie e baseada nas casas em que vivi ate a data, mas descobri que tinha a minha lista incompleta: foram 28. Se fizer duas por semana... ainda me levara um bom tempito. O lado bom e que cada uma delas me leva a novas ideias para outras pecas. Talvez nao deva por tempo limite ou de producao (bah, parece que estou a falar de producao industrial).
Tenho a acrescentar que as imagens nao fazem justica as pecas finais. O brilho dos tecidos impede-me de poder tirar fotos com ajuda de flash ou outra luz indirecta.

Work in progress, Trabalho em processo

I've started a new series. Called it "memory series". Until now I have lived in more than 20 houses and from all of them I have memories: smells (difficult to visualise) to feelings and/or special objects. It is the first time I work with a kind of layout behind, which until now have been avoiding for finding it too restrictive. However, I am glad to find that it doesn't stop me making changes and alterations as I go along.

The photos are of the first two pieces I have just started. There is still a lot to be done and quite a few things to change.

Iniciei uma nova serie de trabalhos. Chamo de "Serie Memorias". Ate a data morei em mais de 20 casas e de todas elas tenho memorias: cheiros (dificeis de visualisar), sentimentos e ou objectos. Pela primeira vez utilizo sketches, coisa que sempre evitei por achar muito limitante. No entanto fico satisfeita em descobrir que nao me impede de fazer alteracoes a medida que vou avancando.

As fotos sao dos dois primeiros trabalhos iniciados. Ainda ha muito para fazer e outro tanto para alterar.