firstly i must say i never want to do this exercise again!!!! it was a nightmare! anyway the exercise in question was to take metallic threads and work firstly with a warm colour in the bobbin as above in 1. (orange)
then to take the same metallic with a cold colour in the bobbin as in 2 (grey)
finally in 3 the brief was to take the same metallic thread and work it with a range of bobbin colours to see how they appear and change the top colour. i chose yellows, with a fluorescent yellow in the middle. before this exercise which i was putting off for a long time, i worked on metallics on textile.
i first tried out various samples to see how things worked using a range of transfoils, metallic wrappers, 
glitter, paint and silver leaf
then on to actual larger samples,
6 is printed with textile paints and gold tissue applied
7 textile paints applied directly with a brush, and edge of card
8 using Markal paint sticks and fingers! working through stencils and torn paper to produce interesting edges.
9 on a semi transparent fabric textile paints worked through stencils
10 working again with paint and sellotape shapes to mask areas
11 using silver leaf with pva over tissue and card shapes 
12 using pieces of card to mask areas and then glitter applied through stencils onto pva
13 using transfoil shapes on transfer adhesive both positive and negative shapes and working some over paper shapes
14 using transfer adhesive to see how detailed you can use it, with sweet wrappers too
15 top shows transfoil applied with pva which gives it a much denser effect than the transfer adhesive, below using embossing glitter on machine stitch
and finally for this section using transfoil and transfer adhesive again to see how much detail you can achieve, this measures about 8cm across. more with actual metal to follow!!
Finally i have to say how disappointed i am not to be going to the 'Visual thinking Unpicked', 'Thinking Symposium' as i have just learnt that David Littler of Sampler Culture Clash will be running a workshop 'Looping something from nothing'. if anyone is signed up to do this workshop please report back i am dying to do one sometime!
Chapter 2, asks for couching to attach 'metallic' threads both conventional and unconventional. here follows my hand stitched samples. i used a wool flannel dyed navy blue. the first few samples are 'traditional' ways of couching threads. many of my couched threads are unconventional though. i realise i put no measurements on the photos but the above measures 8cm x 4cm approx. i have used a blue DMC metallic stranded thread with a cotton perle couching thread. the silver vertical pieces are metallic 'scoobies' cut into short lengths. 
next one, above: i have used the same DMC thread with cut-outs from a 'Tunnocks teacake' wrapper, mmm.... couching worked with a silk thread. 7cm x 4cm.
Next above: the wool background has been stencilled with metallic fabric paint to give added depth. the shapes are taken from shapes made by the movement of the hand in mid air when writing. the silver stranded thread was couched with silk. 9cm x 6cm approx.
a simple swirly patter that ended in a sort of 1950's triangle! threads as previous samples. 6cm x 5cm.
going for a more unconventional approach in the above sample i have used a gold card cut from a chocolate box with strips of woven metal 'fabric', all couched with a fine metallic thread. 8cm x 6cm.
above: various 'metallic' strips couched with silk thread. from top metallic Tyvek, gold 'brown' paper, vacuum packed coffee wrapper, chocolate wrapper and 'silver' parchment paper. all quite tricky to cut out but i am rather pleased with the effect achieved. 11cm x 8cm.
next one, trying to think of different ways of couching things down, the above metallic card pieces are couched with staples. 11cm x 8cm.
after my trip to ally pally i thought i would like to try knitting with plastic bags. the above is an experiment with vacuum packed coffee wrapper, which is thicker than a plastic bag and has a plastic coating over the foil. i cut strips and knitted them and then heat set with an iron. couched with silk. 11cm x 8cm.
above, the following are worked on a maroon wool flannel, twisted silver wire, couched with silk through the twisted 'purl' bits. 10cm x 6cm.
using a crocheted silver wire with random couching in silk thread. 10cm x 6cm.
above sample i have used a traditional metal wire strip from a collection of old threads used for 'goldwork' and couched it with silk thread. 10cm x 6cm.
i found these pins some time ago thinking they might come in useful and so they have! couched with silk thread. 10cm x 6cm. my next samples will be different ways of couching threads etc. using the sewing machine.
firstly i must say i never want to do this exercise again!!!! it was a nightmare! anyway the exercise in question was to take metallic threads and work firstly with a warm colour in the bobbin as above in 1. (orange)
then to take the same metallic with a cold colour in the bobbin as in 2 (grey)
finally in 3 the brief was to take the same metallic thread and work it with a range of bobbin colours to see how they appear and change the top colour. i chose yellows, with a fluorescent yellow in the middle. before this exercise which i was putting off for a long time, i worked on metallics on textile.
i first tried out various samples to see how things worked using a range of transfoils, metallic wrappers, 
glitter, paint and silver leaf
then on to actual larger samples, 6 is printed with textile paints and gold tissue applied
7 textile paints applied directly with a brush, and edge of card
8 using Markal paint sticks and fingers! working through stencils and torn paper to produce interesting edges.
9 on a semi transparent fabric textile paints worked through stencils
10 working again with paint and sellotape shapes to mask areas
11 using silver leaf with pva over tissue and card shapes 
12 using pieces of card to mask areas and then glitter applied through stencils onto pva
13 using transfoil shapes on transfer adhesive both positive and negative shapes and working some over paper shapes
14 using transfer adhesive to see how detailed you can use it, with sweet wrappers too
15 top shows transfoil applied with pva which gives it a much denser effect than the transfer adhesive, below using embossing glitter on machine stitch
and finally for this section using transfoil and transfer adhesive again to see how much detail you can achieve, this measures about 8cm across. more with actual metal to follow!!
