"I begin with an idea ... and then it becomes something else"
~ Picasso

Saturday 17 April 2010

Erosion Bundle Project - Bundle 1

Erosion bundle project - bundle hanging from garden shed corner
Project started - 1st January 2010
Opening of bundle - 15th April 2010
Finished project - 1st August 2010

Thursday 15th April was bundle day - the day for opening our bundles in the Erosion Bundle Project. I was very excited about this and had four bundles to open. I've posted about each bundle separately

This is the first bundle, hanging from the corner of our garden shed. The outer layer is calico

















The seam on the calico was interesting






















I made a little video of the bundle swinging, but forgot to turn the camera round (I can't rotate it, sorry). The birdsong is quite nice, though!



I was expecting the bundles to be crawling with insects, so the first job was to unravel a pair of latex gloves from a packet of 10 pairs (as they were all stuck together!) and don a pair to open the bundles

This bundle was not too bad and only contained a rather nasty spider and a few small insects just inside the calico. There were no other insects in the layers of paper and fabrics













Inside, I had to carefully peel the layers apart as many of the papers and fabrics were stuck together. Most of them came apart easily, but a few I left as I liked the textures and varying thicknesses of the layers

There were bits stuck together, dye and colour runs, distress from mould and rust, pieces of paper and also tin foil disintegrating and papers warped with lovely textures

I'm planning to make an art journal of my experiments in the Erosion Bundle Project and, time permitting, possibly a three dimensional piece for the final project. In this bundle there is a definite colour theme developing with a lot of the layers containing aqua, blue and brown so I shall pursue this further probably with umbel shapes and seedhead patterns

Here are some photos from bundle 1:






































18 comments:

Doreen G said...

Congratulations Carolyn your bundles are magnificent and I will be waiting for your journals when you do them.You made great choices with what you put into each bundle-things that would react to nature and you got the results that you were hoping for.
My buried bundle was attacked by ants and when I dug it up the fabrics around it had rotted and were very delicate to handle and the smell was horrible.
It is slowly going away.
Well done you.

Abigail Thomas said...

fantastic - so many bundles, some great outcomes! ive not opened mine yet because i started later than everyone else. good tip to be careful of creepy crawleys - I hadnt thought about that...

Kella said...

I have never heard of this before what a fabulous idea and project thanks for sharing, I might give this a go one day.

I think my ten year old would be fascinated by this form of art.

Sea said...

They all have turned out very interesting so far, but this bundle, especially the leaf is my favourite. Am presuming you have wrapped them back up and returned them to their places?

LOVE STITCHING RED said...

Thanks for the great comments!

The bundles don't go back into nature. The idea is that we incorporate our finds into a project or finished piece to be completed by 1st August. Then show and tell! I'm going to use the pieces in stitched collage and make a journal about the experiments, focusing on themes and colour schemes that come out of the bundles! I'm very excited about this project!

Kris said...

FANTASTIC~ I've had to look at least twice at all your photos. Each bundle gave you something different. I love them!! Your buried bundle is my favorite. It just screams erosion...and oh the colors you got from everything....just so wonderful. What excellent choices you made for your ingredients. Nature really did her thing for you ;)

Pom Pom said...

I've been wondering about your bundles! How ARE you? I've been thinking about you!

Anonymous said...

Hello. I've just looked through all the bundle posts -- and they are fascinating! can't wait to see them again, and to see what you do in your Journals with the various pieces.

martha brown said...

I am just loving these erosion bundles. The madder one is my favourite! I can't wait to see what you do with the bits of stuff!

Deborah said...

You have some great results! I love the rust and colors you achieved!

Unknown said...

I really love the leaf! I like the journal idea and I think that is what I want to do with my results also. This is great fun!
(hey)Jude
www.strawmountainblog.blogspot.com

Amelia said...

intriguing results. Look foward to seeing your journal entries.

Amelia.x

Judy Scott said...

this is amazing - you always inspire me the fourth picture down is gorgeous :)

solange said...

It is extraordinary. I love your idea and the result will be a very beautiful work.

CJ STITCHING AND BLOOMS said...

Hello Carolyn, I have not heard of Erosion Bundles before but yours were fantastic and I look forward to seeing the art you create with this theme. Hugs Judy

Sandra Scott Textile Artist said...

What an interesting idea, will try it one day although I am never to happy finding creepy crawlies in anything. Have a great weekend! the weather is going to be great.

Sharon Barfoot said...

This is so exciting to me Carolyn. I just think I will go out and make a bundle right now.

~ Phyllis ~ said...

This is so interesting. I would like to try a bundle sometime. With our high temperatures and high humidity everything would probably rot.
I love your "ocean" blog music. Very soothing.