Monday 7th March

Close-up of organza 3D form abstracted from sea shell sketches. I wanted to create a feeling of light and movement, and something of the atmosphere of being on the beach. I like the delicate, almost ethereal quality captured here. Photographing it has solved the problem of the unpleasant, scratchy feel of the fabric, and made the unfinished nature of the sample - frayed edges, loose threads - a feature rather than a flaw. The samples are only a prop, not the end result.

Photograph of handmade felt sample, abstracted from shell sketch. Contrast enhanced in Photoshop. Light and delicate. Beautiful muted colour palette. I am pleased with how the black thread mimics the pencil lines in the drawing. The wispiness around the edges almost melts into the blue-grey background. How would it change if it is photographed against the skies and sand of Penbryn Beach?

Tyvek sample, melted and stitched. Photoshopped, softening monochrome effect with green/blue tint; blurred using wind filter. I like the shadows and melted edges. A beautiful organic form but does it lack the thready delicacy of the other photos? The paper makes a rustling frantic sound on the windy beach, which possibly the organza samples won't. Could try dyeing Tyvek to lose harsh white or can I just keep doing this digitally? Or make it wet so it picks up sand and detritus from the beach?

Another organza form, pinned together from discarded waste samples. Although this was photographed in my dining room, it looks like it was taken outside! The sun flooded through the window and I managed to capture the moment it transformed the piece. I like this one because of the threads and space. This was made spontaneously with no preconceived idea or sketches. How important is a design? Is it more honest if it is made instinctively?

This is my first sample made from hand-made paper. I used only tissue and loo roll(!), after talking to Dawn, so that it was as fragile and translucent as possible, aiming for the sheerness of an honesty plant. Nearly there. After trial and error, worked out the best way to make 3D paper was to squirt washing up liquid over silicone moulds, nabbed from ceramics! The wet pulp was laid onto J cloth then pushed and teased over the moulds. Although soaking wet, it did come away. Then it was blasted in the drier for ages. It just popped off the moulds. The forms were cast over bowl shaped moulds of different sizes so looked exactly like a rose when fitted inside each other. Not my intention, but they look so perfect that I'm reluctant to tear them into spirals. Wondering what else I could mould paper onto. The edges are thready with embedded silk and cotton. Possibly the most successful material when photographed. Do I like this more because it's natural, not made from man-made fibres? Will want to film in all weathers on the beach, so in the end it may just come down to which material is more practical and doesn't fall apart!

Have tried to put in video of felt sample I did with my digital camera, but couldn't get it to upload - need to ask Jason on Thurs. Have watched American Beauty and the carrier bag sequence has exactly the beauty and lyrical quality I'm after. Also viewed opening of Cinema Paradisio on Youtube. Here are links: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvD8EiibPVo; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yfpPpu7bik&feature=related