Art and Mylar

Well, it’s back to doing yet more pieces for exhibition, although to be honest the particular design I’m posting today is almost more decoration than art. It owes a lot to my recent preoccupation with Mylar. If you’re not familiar with Mylar, it’s just thin transparent plastic sheeting. I think it’s mostly used for industrial purposes, such as food bags, emergency blankets and things like that. But it can be used in embroidery as well, because it’s so thin and flexible you can just applique it on to give an interesting shiny and transparent effect. I’ve used it a lot to make shiny things like fish scales, but I’ve been trying to come up with some new ways to use it. And then it occurred to me - what’s shinier and more transparent than glass! So of course it was then just a question of making some Mylar vases and designing some flowers to go in them

 

Mylar for the exhibition

 

The Mylar is just appliqueed on and then overstitched with decorative patterns to give an interesting texture. As always, though, the scan doesn’t really give a very accurate idea of the final effect but you can probably get some idea of how it looks. 

Comments

[Barbara Clemmensen]

I've seen lots of pictures of mylar used with embroidery, but not imaginatively -- typically just Christmas ornaments. This is elegant.

[Linda Vaias]

I like the blue wispy ones, are they flowers from your region? The large orange ones I am not familiar with, they seem large for the grouping.
I know it is always a chore to decide on colors for flowers. I have gone to completely off colors occasionally using cream and tan or gray shades.

I have not used the mylar, I wondered if it might be scratchy underneath, most of my flowers are on shirts.

The grouping is set up very well, it is well balanced, which I like so it is pleasing to the eye, at least for me. I also like some of the Asian styles. There is a many on Youtube who does some unique ones. I like to watch his ideas.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3vfxt5xsJQ&list=UULFpvswR0wPIEI8IbLW0i5xAA

[Sandra Lane]

Hi Mia, you have captured a glass effect very well with these vases, they look great. I am sure they will be a hit at your exhibition.

[Deb]

Where can we buy this design?