Hare Today, Gone Tomorrow

Hare Today
Gone Tomorrow

I have been making a hare for quite a long time.  I learned the wirework armature technique at a workshop with Jo Smith in summer 2021.  

Preparing the hare armature

I didn't finish making all the armature body parts at the workshop but I did finish them quite soon after...

Hare Armature Body Parts 

Then they languished for quite a time until spring 2022 when I finished preparing them for the next phase...

The fire pit part

which involved fire in my old barbecue (which we'd used as a fire pit and still had some wood in) and lots of newspaper to keep the fire going.  The fire burnt off all the support for the wire leaving just the wire structure.  It took quite a long time but then I had all the parts...

I finally wired them together to make the completed hare armature...

Completed armature

Then came the task of partly covering my hare in fabric which I stitched on. It became much easier once I started using a curved needle...

Using a curved needle made stitching easier 

His paws have a bit of stitched detail and he is partly covered in a collage of stitched fabrics... 

He is only part stitched as I wanted some of the wire to be visible.  His stitched half is standing on some knitted grass with stitched dandelions and his wire half on a bare brick.  He could represent the present and the future if the destruction of the environment takes hold or he could just be showing how he is made - the interpretation is yours.

My Hare Today, Gone Tomorrow exhibit will be on display at the York Embroiderers & Stitchers(YES) exhibition  "A Celebration of Stitch" at the end of June 2022 - details here.   Do come along and see him for real!

Workshop with Priscilla Jones @ Made in Whitley Bay

Priscilla Jones - Spoons

Priscilla Jones - Tea Cup & Jug

Priscilla Jones - Flower

I have been intrigued by the work of Priscilla Jones since I first saw it at Farfield Mill in Sedburgh several years ago.  By magic (I think it was actually Twitter) I came across a workshop that Priscilla was doing that I could go to and had spaces!  It was at Made in Whitley Bay, a delightful cafe, gift shop and workshop venue run by the lovely & talented Jeannie Gallon.

Priscilla Jones

Priscilla has a degree in embroidery from Manchester Metropolitan University and creates amazing stitched 2D & 3D mixed media pieces.  Her work explores the concepts of identity, memory and nostalgia. 

Examples of Priscilla's Work

Priscilla was showing us how to make 3D wirework pieces using wire, fabric, wax, paint, thread, stitch & buttons.  After a demonstration we began to build up our wire structures ...

Wirework underway for Mandy, Anne & Shirley

and after a break for a delicious lunch ...

Delicious lunch prepared by Jeannie

went on to add fabric, wax, paint and decorate our pieces ...

Waxing and decorating - Jeannie, Mandy, Shirley & Anne

Finally they were finished - just in time for a show & tell:

Jeannie's Flower

Anne's Dish

Shirley's Jug & Flower

Mandy's Mermaid

My teacup, saucer & spoon

My spoon

It was a thoroughly fabulous day and I can certainly recommend a course with Priscilla or a course at Made.  I can't wait to make some more pieces!

And by the way - Jeannie has lots of lovely things to buy at Made including things she makes herself.  I snapped up these while I was there ...

Needlcase & Pin Cushion made by Jeannie Gallon

They were going to be a present but I might have to keep them for myself.