Detail of the Experimental Sample based on the theme of 'precious, secret, hidden and enclosed'

I picked up a partially opened false acacia seed pod while walking through the Botanic Gardens. Inside the velvety, shiny pod the dark seeds gleamed. This started me thinking about the theme of 'precious, hidden, secret and enclosed'. A few seed pods were woven into jute scrim and dipped in paper pulp to make the background. Jute string was dipped in paper pulp containing red onion skins. The string and background were painted and the texture accentuated by carefully rubbing with treasure gold. More seed pods were laid on silk velvet and trapped inside using strands of machine embroidery and paper frames. Hand embroidery was worked over the background to complement the jute scrim and the painting. I really liked this piece and was keen to work with these concepts again.