Conspicuous Consumption: eat the rich - embroidered head

Today was handover day for the Yorkshire Art loop project. I had to hand on my piece to Gillian Holt, a ceramicist who makes beautifully delicate narrative works (you can see her work here). We met in a pub car park for the handover. Quite peculiar going to meet someone I've never met in a car park to hand over a gaudy clown head, bit like the mafia with red noses - anyway I'm wondering what Gillian will be inspired to make... I'm convinced that whatever it is it will be more tasteful than my offering. I felt vaguely embarrassed handing mine over - I'm wishing I'd shaken myself out of uber-bling carnival mode before I'd started.

Now though I need to think about my next projects...something for the 'Made in Bradford" showcase in a couple of weeks time, we're supposed to be putting in one of our (Burnett + Catt) costumes but I'm thinking it would be great to make something new for it.

I'm also thinking about new work for an exhibition "birds: elementals", a project conceived by the very talented Rockpool Candy which promises to be very exciting, and well travelled, as it will be showing in Northern Ireland, USA and New Zealand. Those birds' wings are going to be knackered.

Sofa Monkey + co in progress

I've been attempting to reupholster my old 1960's sofa - I've had it for years and it cost the grand sum of 20 quid form a second hand shop. I used to keep it in the studio and many artists over the years have taken their rejuvenating afternoon naps on it! Anyway I took it home when I moved house a few years back and finally got fed up of its muddy green velour, black paint and pancake flat cushion. I stripped the arms and base back to bare wood and bought it a new foam cushion.

My upholstery skills leave a lot to be desired so I'm aiming for quirky, psychedelic flower power over beautifully crafted. I've finished hand-sewing the bottom cushion together and put on some newly covered buttons - it's gone slightly baggy already so I can see myself having to redo it. I've used a mix of new and vintage fabrics patch-worked together with vintage edgings and military braid.

For the back rest I've decided to make a series of faces that will be patched together, again with braid and vintage edging - I've completed a monkey and a bird - I guess I need another 2 or 3 to finish it.

Projekt Dodai images - Burnett & Catt

A composite of images of artist works from the Projekt Dodai Exhibition, Ljubljana and (top) our Burnett & Catt stitched print exhibit. Further details of the exhibition in a previous post. Please click on the link to participate.
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