SUNFLOWER BROOCHES

I made these brooches, using the same shapes that I used to make the paper sunflowers. It was, of course, on a much smaller scale and I found that 8 petals of each size worked best.  Instead of paper, I raided my fabric stash and instead of gluing and stapling, I deployed hand and machine stitching.

Although it doesn't show up much in this photograph, they all have green leafy backs which hides the stitching and the fact that I slashed through the base felt circles to stuff the velvet centres from behind.  All the petals and centres were cut from a variety of textiles and left with raw edges, as I don't mind the fraying.  Different coloured felts could be used if a sharper finish is required.  Beads and/or embroidery could be added to the centres. As the fabric I selected had spots, I didn't opt for that option.  I also fabricated a small cushion out of vintage sacking to display them on and made some special tags.

FLOWER POWER

It is all about flowers at the moment - the Chelsea Flower Show has just gone and the garden centres are bursting with bedding plants. It made me think about the simplest flower shape. There are some shapes that are iconic, symbolic and instantly recognised throughout the world. The heart shape is an example, as is the flower shape with rounded petals and a centre.  It was particularly used in the 1960s - a version in black and white is the logo for Mary Quant to this day, and hippies and flower-power was a popular cult movement full of simple flower images. With current interest in everything retro it can be seen everywhere - in jewellery, soft furnishings and fashion.

In the above montage, the top brooch is a modern glass brooch made by Fran Davies.  She is a fellow member of the One Craft Gallery. The middle brooch is vintage 60s and the cream flower necklace is also vintage.

It is an easy shape to draw and make into a stamp or stencil, which can be layered up to represent all kinds of flowers.  I have used these simple flower shapes in many of my paintings and also for textile jewellery (see above).

When I wanted some new cushions for the conservatory, I drew several flower shapes and decided  that the simplest would be the most effective. I put together a background patchwork of materials with embroidery - one in shades of pink and red, and one in different black and white patterns.  I then drew a flower template, cut it out and swapped the petal section over. The cushions were then reconstructed using hand and machine embroidery and then put together with a plain black backing with a zip.