Mini Cooper Images

A week has passed and as of yet I have not been able to find a way to obtain photographs of a mini engine to work from. I have been to a local garage owned by engine enthusiast who rebuilds old and damaged engines. His very organised workshop was full of clean as well as oily car parts and whilst I could only recognise a few shapes like spark plugs and some damaged pistons,  I couldn't help but love the shapes and very gratefully brought a few piece home ready to start drawing. 

Today I sent another email to Mini at Oxford and await hopeful that they might let me take or perhaps pass on some photos of a mini engine for me to start working from. But, until then I will dust off the sewing machine after it's summer break and get started making some drawings form these wonderful old engine parts.

A Mini Cooper Engine in Machine Embroidered Thread

Plans are now getting under way to start my year three project - a BMW mini cooper petrol engine made from free motion machine embroidery. I am not sure how this will work - i.e. will it be 2D, 3D, complete, partial or even possible at all? But it is an exciting idea.

I hope that this idea will enable to continue exploring the need to be perfect for that is why I have had to take an interest in what is going on under the bonnet of my car. It is another job that I have taken on since being widowed and as per usual, I have to do it well - taking care to get instructions from the mini dealer and then doing the job regularly whilst also encouraging my son to help, just as his dad would have done. But, I think it may go even further - they are male dominated skills and before being widowed I just took them for granted but now these objects i.e. his drill, hammer and screw drivers are about more than just a job - they are a reminder that Carl is not here and that I must now take over but secretly I think I like the challenge, the challenge to succeed in a mans domain and prove that I can manage, but at what cost? How perfect do I really need to be.

Here are some images I have managed to gather to start the creative process rolling:

online image, mini

Courtesy of Mini Wellsway,  Bath

Petrol Engine, Mini Coutryman

But during the creative process I want to be thinking about the deeper issues of semiotics and linguistics. People might see a fragile embroidered car engine  - I might see strength through the power of a single stitch proving it is about more than just embroidery. It will cross the power of a mans world with the feminine skill of embroidery: this will help to make it very exciting.

An introduction for year three...

I am now at the start of my final year at Bath Spa University: this will be spread over two years as I continue part-time because I also work two days a week as a Midwife and take care of  my two sons. Last year ended really well (81% and 83% for my two modules)  but with work now being thrown into the mix and an impending degree show, what will happen? 

Well first, a few images from last year :

Now untitled

'We Should Smile More...'

These images were part of a series of work that explored my need to be perfect: free machine embroidery drawn for direct observation onto dissolvable fabric. Whilst every effort was made to draw well, stitches were not corrected once made and the removal of the backing fabric on completion of the work left the drawing to find it's own shape. An amount of fear would be evident as I lost control over my work and the threads became themselves without their support. How would I feel about the final result? Perfect, not perfect; which was best and which would I accept? 

Still unanswered, this project has now been moved to my Art module because  the idea of perfection is such an exciting area of investigation.

The other area that I worked with last year was the idea of 'Damage and Repair' as seen in these images...

This project was based on another personal subject - trying to repair damaged lives after the death of my husband (see  Art and Textiles blog - The Heart of It). Perhaps both subjects are intrinsically linked but I think they are both equally weighty elements worthy of separate discussion and investigation. 

Trying to repair the damage caused by Carls death has led me up the path of trying to be perfect, trying to be a dad and a mother at the same time whilst making sure that my degree is a worthy investment of my limited time. But is a flawless repair necessary, can we not just make the best of what we now have? Perhaps the cracks and fragmented pieces can have a  new identity, one that does not forget the past but makes the best of what we now have. And maybe some of these newly created shapes will show a greater beauty and appreciation.