Day of the Triffids
Carol Cook
Whimsical Creations: Designing and Creating Soft Sculptures
Lately, I've been diving into some old books on my shelf, and one quirky gem, John Wyndham's Day of the Triffids (1951), lit the spark for my latest creative journey. Imagine mysterious triffids winding their way through neighbourhood gardens—leaving everyone to wonder about their origins!
I love spending time in my garden, too. Often, I stumble upon patches of greenery I never planted, sparking a playful curiosity about what some left over fabric might become.
This project is a delightful mix of crafty skills: soft sculpture techniques, a new quilt structure, a dash of embroidery, a twist of wire work, a bit of crochet, and some imaginative designs. It's the perfect way to give those leftover scraps from your quilting or sewing projects a new purpose!
In our class, we focus on creating playful structures with vibrant fabric colours, bold contrasts, and exciting textures like patterned silk and velvet. With a sprinkle of embroidery and a few beads for extra sparkle, your creation is sure to stand out.
Whether your masterpiece becomes a charming vase or a whimsical sculpture that livens up your houseplants, the possibilities are endless. Get ready to explore, create, and most importantly—have fun!
Carol Cooke is a Canberra-based artist whose practice spans textiles and sculpture, creating both two-dimensional and three-dimensional works.
Her art is deeply rooted in drawing and extensive journaling, which support her creative exploration.
Textiles are her primary medium, enhanced by a diverse range of mixed-media techniques. As the author of Improv Embroidery and Contemplation Cloth, Carol embraces traditional embroidery stitches while discarding rigid patterns and rules to create unique, expressive works. Her art is driven by vivid imagination, inventiveness, and improvisational creativity.
Carol’s work sparks conversations around environmental, social, and political themes—past, present, and future. She is dedicated to daily stitching, continuously experimenting with embroidery techniques and documenting her process through journaling.
