Gabi McGrath

Ireland

www.gabimcgrath.com

Facebook: @byGabiMcGrath

Instagram: @gabimcgrath_

Artwork 1 

Reconnecting with growth -diary cover

Over the last couple of months, during lockdown I have reconnected with a lot of ideas that I have already recorded in my notebooks/ diaries some time ago. Letting those plans grow and to see them to come to fruition was a great positive experience for me at the middle of uncertainties. This diary cover is a visual representation of this experience but also a cosy cover for the notebook where the ideas were further developed. It is a functional object that I happily handle every day.

Materials and Techniques:

Extra fine Australian Merino, Cotton gauze, Silk chiffon with tulle and sequin embellishment from Avoca Ireland, plastic textured button

Wet, nuno felted technique with 3D frill 

Artwork size in CM: Width 16cm Length 22cm Depth 2cm

Artwork 2 

Soft dreams – diary cover

I use a lot of notebooks, journals and sketchbooks on a regular basis. In the last couple of months I have flown through a good few of them. These diaries carry my dreams and hopes. In difficult times these books remind me of those aspirations and reconnect me with my core values. This book cover was inspired by all these thoughts and hopes.

This is a functional piece where a buttoning mechanism safeguards my dreams.

Materials and Techniques:

Extra fine Australian Merino, Cotton gauze, Silk fabric from Avoca Ireland, plastic button with inlay

Wet, nuno felted technique with 3D frill 

Artwork size in CM: Width 16cm Length 22cm Depth 2cm

Artwork 3 

Summer memories – diary cover

It`s almost a year ago that I started working from home and online due to the current circumstances. Summer provided a little break from being mostly house bound though. This was the time when for a short while I could visit my loved ones and reconnect with friends who I could only communicate with virtually before. Besides being happy there were a lot of worries on my mind.

This book cover with this strong, contrasting embellishment is a representation of this mindset. In front of the “sunny” background there are some “wobbly” lines (uncertain thoughts) that are created by the effect yarn experiencing a huge shrinkage by the wool underneath.

Materials and Techniques:

Extra fine Australian Merino, Cotton Gauze, Effect yarn, handmade pre-felt, cotton embroidery thread

Wet, nuno felted technique with hand embroidery

Artwork size in CM: Width 16cm Length 22cm Depth 2cm