Dare to Differ

The Dare to Differ contemporary art quilt show begins tonight, at Marion's Gallery M.  It's open till 20th October so if you can hop down there and see many interesting quilts, mine amongst them.  My quilt is about the Strands of Life, each one being different; some we like more than others, some are comfortable and some are scratchy.  They all crowd in together and make up our whole life.  Here is a detail to intrigue you.  I have used all recycled items, because we have to take in life what we have, and work with it.  You will see the wrappers from embroidery cottons, bread tags (beads and straight), cords made from all manner of materials.

©Christine Linton

Detail of my "Strands" quilt

3D with bread tags

I have been playing with the last of my bread tag beads, and made this DNA double helix - simplified of course from the real thing.  I used some wires to thread the bread tag beads, and dug it into a sponge before twisting the two strands - not exactly as the diagram I found on the internet, partly because I couldn't make it go that way, and anyway this is art not science.  I used kebab sticks for support, and added bits of curly copper wire and broken jewelry, a piece of plastic peg - DNA can get contaminated.  An enjoyable experiment.  I have put on the video I took to try and show the effect.  Whether it works or not on the blog I will see.  It makes my eyes go a bit funny if I look at it for too long.

Bread Tag DNA 

©Christine Linton

detail showing bits of copper wire curled, bits of broken jewelry, piece of plastic peg 

©Christine Linton

Embroidered brooches

I have been trying out some motifs and brooches, using various sheer fabrics, beads, and embroidery.  This little hat started out as a piece of beading on several layers of fine and sheer fabrics, which I manipulated into a little bunch with beads, then held the outsides down with french knots.  After I had frayed out the edges carefully, I realised it looked like a hat!

©Christine Linton

My hat brooch