Nicola Balakian takes over the Selvedge window
This month we have had the pleasure of welcoming Nicola Belakian’s work to our window. We found her last year at New Designers 2014 where we fell head over heels for her fun cable knitted carrot.
Her work in the window is based around the theme of harvest and is all hand crafted. Nicola uses jute from old grain sacks as the foundation upon which she embroiders her designs of peas, cabbages and carrots. She incorporates knitting to create a three dimensional effect when combined with her embroidery.
Her decision to use jute is an interesting one as the material itself has a long history. Jute was originally used to carry crops, coffee, potatoes and fertilisers. It was even made waterproof by steeping it in whale oil allowing it to be used as tarpaulin in the Crimean war. Sarah Jane Downing explored this transformative material in the 5th issue of Selvedge.
For more information you can email Nicola at nicolabalakian@hotmail.com
7 comments
I was really sorry to have missed the window display by this amazingly talented
Artist. The close-ups of your work on this website Nicola, are so intricate and beautifully detailed, it’s a dilemma to decide which is the best! As already commented on, using Jute was really clever and innovative. Please do some more, you have hit on a lovely theme!
Superb work. The idea of using jute is particularly innovative and links very well to the subject matter. Creating new items to enjoy from material that would otherwise have been thrown away is the icing on the cake! Well done!