This is a project that I completed while taking classes in Lacoste France. It incorporated many different assignments. The first was a "stitch book", a collection of embroidery that commemorates my time in Lacoste. The second is an exploration of natural dyes. creating sample colors using natural materials that were found around the campus. I combined these two assignments to create a herd of turtles, some with embroidered and others with naturally dyed shells. At the end of the class, they were displayed at a public gallery show where I sold all but one.
Turtles
Embroidery practice and stitch book assignments.
The round embroidery hoop inspired me to make round motifs that became the inspiration for the turtle shells.
Natural dyeing with locally foraged ingredients.
I created a set of over 60 dye swatches using natural plants such as acorns, onions, rose hips and sweet gum tree balls. I developed a simple pattern and created a turtle for each dye swatch and embroidery sample.
The final display was a beautiful waterfall of over 80 unique turtles.
