The devil is in the detail

Week 30

I am behind with this challenge because I just didn't have the skill to execute the design.  Now maybe I should have changed the design, but I really wanted to do this series so I have been practicing.  Then at the Textile Exhibition that was held in Brisbane I found the thread for the job.  It is from WonderFil and the thread is called Razzle.  Every surface on the Pagoda is carved with all kinds of designs.  My next five designs are inspired by some of the repeat patterns on the walls.  I personally think that some of them could be made into quilting or embroidery patterns.

I have selected a leaf pattern that is featured on the edges of some of the door ways.  I have changed it a bit by making it a bit rounder.  In fact I drew it so many times that I was seeing it in my sleep.  I wound the thread onto the bobbin and sewed it in reverse.  I was going to have three bands but decided it would look better as a central feature.  All this practice is improving my skills and hopefully I will be able to catch up over the next week.

Week 29

At the top of the faces of the Goddess is this horrible monster.  It is only very small in size and hidden behind the crowns on her heads I think it represents death, although I can't be sure.  But next to all the serenity of those faces it is rather disturbing.

I painted a side view of this devil and just one of the skulls onto some fabrics and then drew in the details with a pen.  I then put it onto some visofix and cut out the shape.  I ironed this onto a background that I quilted in pretty colours to contrast with the ugliness of the face.  I found doing this weeks piece distasteful but it is part of the statue.

The coils of the ear ring I think is supposed to be a snake.  There are lots of other details on this statue but I have limited the pieces to 5, the same as the other pieces.  Time to move on to some of the other details of the Pagoda

Week 28

So now to the faces of the Goddess.  She has so many faces and all are just a little different one from the other.  So I have decided to take just three.  Well actually two, one is a reverse image of another. 

She never looks you in the eye, you have to get down low and look up to get this view, but if you do she looks straight at you.

When I photographed her she had this slight golden glow all around her so I have accentuated this by adding a sort of aura.  Then when you looked at some of the faces you could see that the details had been painted on.  So, I printed the image I manipulated and then painted on the features as they were on these parts of the statue. 

I only outlined some of the image with stitching as it is only 6" square and any more would have detracted from the details.  I have kept to the aquamarine colour for the background to link this piece to the others that have gone before.

week 27

The statue of the Goddess is blessed with so many details, each one as interesting as the next and I keep finding more detail the closer I look.  Because it is so dusty and uncared for you don't realise how beautiful some of the details are till you contemplate them.

This week I have taken the necklace as my inspiration.  On the statue it just looks like a relief and an attractive shape.

It is quiet small and not the right size or shape to fit a 6" block.  So, I had to redraw it to fit the shape.  Then I had to imagine what it might have looked like as a necklace.  I searched images of the Goddess on the net and all those in colour had the stones coloured blue.  This fitted my aquamarine theme for the Goddess.

  The Chinese Buddhist goddess of compassion is depicted here with many arms, heads and eyes, symbolizing her attentiveness to the needs of the suffering-her ability to see all things and perform miraculous deeds on behalf of those in need.   This Goddess has so many different forms in different countries