"Reflections" by Beryl Allain

Artist’s Statement: "I am predominately a felt maker, although I do enjoy working with screenprints and monoprints. Felt is so versatile and can convey very many different moods. It can be hard or soft - detailed or simple, vibrant or calming, manipulated or stitched and sculpted, in fact the possibilities of its creativity are endless. I like to start with the raw fleece, this allows me to be part of the whole process of metamorphasising natural fibre into a living piece of cloth. Hand dyeing gives me a random control over the colours produced. Fleeces from different sheep produce unique results. The process of making the felt is very much ‘hands on’ and quite labour intensive. One has a certain amount of control combined with randomness. I find this very exciting as one can never be totally sure what the result will be. Felt making can be addictive and I am almost certainly ensnared by it. All my designs are taken from what I see in the world around me. I work on ideas in my sketch books until I arrive at something which pleases me. The design will influence what type of fleeces to choose and what form the piece may take". Beryl Allain Right: "Pohutukawa" Wall Hanging EX.1 $570 This was inspired by the blooms of the Pohutukawas along the Treasured Pathway in contrast, with the surrounding hills and ever-changing colour of the sea. Felt is the perfect medium for blending and capturing other fibres to create the image I was looking for. I use my sewing machine as a pencil for drawing in the detail needed to complete the work. (All prices are in NZ$)

"Mussel Beds" EX.2 $425 This piece lay as a thumbnail drawing in my sketch book for over a year, after we had come back from a weekend in Keneperu Sound. A simple sketch of the mussel beds led me to a more contemporary interpretation. Again my sewing machine was used to 'draw' the movement in the piece.	"Tapa and Beyond" EX.5 $345 The random geometric patterns of Tapa mats fascinates me. The skill required to create this is enormous and handed down the generations. I have explored the ideas of working in another medium, and this is the resulting piece. I used a plain silk background to emulate the 'creases' found in the original pieces. The random geometric patterns were stitched from the back and then the painstaking task of cutting out took place. The technique used is similar to reverse appliqué. Materials used were silk and fleece from a New Zealand half-breed sheep called Antonius.

"River Bed" EX.4 $210 The design for this piece has been in my sketchbook for some time. It came from my many journeys around the South Island viewing the variety of ever changing river beds. As each flood came down it would wash away or add to the wide expanses, leaving a different image each time. The unstoppable forces of nature could provide a new vista each day giving endless possibilities for the textile artist. Materials used included Merino and Corriedale fleece.	"Paua" EX.3 $315 I have an amazing Paua shell and for some time wondered whether the patterns and iridescent colours could be reproduced. It took months to layout the fleece and each night I would do a small piece until I ended up with something that pleased me. On the whole I think it was a successful outcome and I am very happy with the finished article. The fleeces used are from Angus breeds of sheep, some hand dyed by me.

Cushion (rear) full cover cutout EX.17 $121 Cushion (left) cutout pieces EX.18 $121 Cushion (right) oblong cutout EX.19 $96	Dotty Rust & Green bag EX.9 $96 Dotty Green & Red bag EX.10 $96 Dotty Lilac & Orange bag EX.11 $96 Heart Purple & Lime bag EX.12 $75 Pink Cut Diamond bag EX.23 $120 Orange purse EX.24 $30

Multi Stripe bag (large) EX.15 $165 Multi Stripe bag (small) EX.16 $96 Multi Stripe purse EX.20 $30	Paua bag (large) EX.13 $150 Paua bag (small) EX.14 $96 Paua purses EX.21 EX.22 (each) $30
"Triptych" wall hangings (set of three) EX.8 $450	"Lunar Reflections" wall hanging EX.6 $315
	"Lunar Reflections" wall hanging EX.7 $276
	"Lunar Reflections" (above) These pieces were influenced by the view l have of the moon reflecting on the Haven. The Boulder Bank situated between two bodies of water creates surreal reflections, ones that have to be seen to be believed. The changing light and colours in the earth, sea and sky make the most beautiful scenes imaginable. It was only a short step to change the colours and textures, resulting in these pieces displayed. The fleeces used are from various sheep breeds and were hand dyed by me.