meltedrachel

Today’s Squidoo Spotlight interview finds us talking to 100 Club Member MeltedRachel.

1.   Talk to us about your fascinating textiles art and specifically about melting.

I’m a full time textiles artist (well when I’m not doodling, writing or making lenses) and wanting to show off my textiles art is what brought me to Squidoo in the first place. This was my first ever lens when I only wanted to use Squidoo for pimping my art (shame on me):  Rachel’s Melted Fabrics

Basically I create layered, sewn textiles pieces and use heat to melt through the layers. It’s enjoyable to walk through fabric stores and ask “do you think this would melt?” and watch the shop assistants’ expressions.

I’ve been creating these melted fabrics since I finished my degree in costume (which you can find out more about here:  Costume Degree Year One

After unpicking a seam for the fifth time I decided that costume construction wasn’t for me. I can’t sew or draw in a straight line!

I first discovered “melting” by accident when I was experimenting with a fabric sample for one of my costume designs for this costume project: Revelation Costume Designs

I was using a medium called “puff binder” on my fabric sample – basically this is a medium that’s used for creating raised printing on fabric, but if you dollop it on it creates a popcorn effect. You need to use heat to make the binder puff up and that’s how I had my little melting mishap.

Several burnt textiles pieces and a nasty cough later I had perfected the art!

This sounds pretty nerdy but one of the most valuable reasons for making lenses for me now is evaluating my work. When you work for yourself it’s hard to take a step back and look at things from the outside but once I started making lenses I had to analyse things I’d done and why I’d arrived at certain points or design ideas. I’ve even had to evaluate the way I run my business whilst making this lens: Online Craft Business Tips I hadn’t been following my own advice, but setting it out in a lens brought to my attention the things I needed to work on to be more successful.

2.    On your lensography you mention several artists who inspire your work, which of those do you most admire and why?

With regards to my textiles work specifically I think it has to be Gustav Klimt. I’m a great fan of things that look pretty and what’s better than lots of gold sparkly paintings? I love patterns and fuss too and he’s the King of patterns and fuss. I also “borrowed” a couple of poses from his paintings which you will find in this lens, where I compare my work to his: Klimt Inspired Textiles

I’m working on a few lenses about Frida Kahlo at the moment. I think I find her very inspirational because she spent most of her life in a great deal of pain and yet still kept on painting. I’ve been very lucky *touch wood* with my health which is good because I have trouble being creative if I get a splinter! Well these are the three occasions where I sewed through my finger but I won’t go into that now!

3.   Which of your many lenses is your favorite and why?

I’ve got a soft spot for my Tower of London lens.

I think this was the first lens where I thought “OK, I’m making a lens about the Tower of London and I’m finding it excruciatingly boring. What can I do to amuse myself?”

If I was finding it boring then there was no way anyone else would find it interesting.

I decided I’d go “mad” and just write (and draw) about what I’d thought the tower was going to be like and how it disappointed me, and write an irreverent summary of some of the more interesting aspects.

I’ve always loved those drawings you get in kids’ books where there are cut away sections of buildings so I thought I’d make a doodle of what I thought the Tower should look like.

I suddenly had one of those “Aha!” moments. I could make doodles for my lenses! If I couldn’t find the perfect image then I could draw it!

4.    Prince William or Prince Harry and why?

Prince Harry definitely! He strikes me as being more fun and also I could fake as much A level Art coursework for him as he wanted.

Learn more about MeltedRachel by visiting her lensography:  The First 100 Melted Lenses