Writing Papers

While taking a break from sewing, I still needed something creative to do, just a quickie, to be a little creative. I have always enjoyed how other artists put writing into their art work, with rubber stamps, silk screen, or hand written with a pen. So I wrote out a full page of my handwriting, stream of consciousness, nature narrative, the birds, sky, mountains, rivers, trees, to the beach, sand and sea shells. It is a very personal addition to the artwork, as it is my own handwriting. I scanned it into the computer and printed out several copies that I could play with. The first thing I did, was use watercolor to paint the page with various colors. Blending warm and cool colors around the color wheel. I probably should have scanned this color version too, but I can always paint another. I wanted to make a card for my sister, so I painted some water color paper, with some background colors, and ripped the writing into flower petals, using the pink/red/purple colors. A blue/green stem and two leaves finished off the simple composition. I used gel medium to adhere the papers to the background. I was surprised that the printer ink did NOT smear, and neither did the water color paints when I put the gel medium on it. The colors glowed, so I had to screw it up! I painted some dots with sequin waste and acrylic paints, a few was good, but I got carried away and did too many. Then I did some darker ones for contrast, and it was too busy. So I went back over the dark ones with a white blend to have fresh brighter colors. I finished it off with gloss medium and a little bit of glitter paint.

It was a fun little project, done in little bits of stolen time, one layer at a time. I wrote a cheery note on the back for my sis, I was going to mail it plain, like a postcard, but decided to put it in an envelope. Getting fun snail mail is a wonderful surprise, no one writes letters any more, all I ever get in the mail is bills and ads. My husband has been getting some get well cards/thinking of you cards, and they really cheer him up. I like the look the writing gives to the art work, as a main design element or in the background, I can print it on fabric, run thru the computer, or layer it with a photo in the computer too. I might try printing it on the tissue paper, like I did the photo transfer for my "Leonardo Da Vinci" art quilt and gluing in to fabric with the gel medium. It brings to mind lots of "What Ifs?" and it's play time again!
I am linking this to Nina-Marie's "Off the Wall Friday" click here or click on the badge in the right hand column to see what other wonderful textile artists are doing.

Tablet Case

I haven't been sewing for about 3 weeks, getting ready for the quilt show took a lot of work. See The Fyber Cafe blog for the Umpqua Valley Quilt Show, and the display of textile art our group put together. Family visiting for Easter, and my husband being ill, also took quiet a bit of my attention. I got a new tablet while our tech savvy family was visiting, they helped me pick one out and get it set up. So I decided to make a case for it.

This is the whole view, of it folded open, it folds in half, with a pocket inside to hold the tablet. I used a Gelli print, that I made, but did not like, so I kept printing over it with more layers until I liked it. It has deep red undertones, with metallic blues printed on with some plastic needlepoint mesh in a circle. I pieced it with a red/purple Bali batik, to make the fabric large enough. I couched some yarns around two of the circles, then used a blanket stitch in lighter blue around the remaining circles. It has a full length Velcro closure on one side, and an elastic loop to hold the stylus. I used an extra stiff/extra thick interfacing with the top layer, and also a cotton batting with the lining for softness/padding.

The inside, with the tablet in a bottom pocket, with stylus at top.

Then of course I decided I need to bead it, so I added some circular star bursts with seed and bugle beads. I will add more beads as I get time, and my hand doesn't hurt. It is a little tight, as the fabric shrunk when I free motion quilted it, but it is ok for a first effort.
I am linking this to Nina-Marie's"Off the Wall Friday" click on the badge in the right hand column to see what exciting things other textile artists are doing.

Citra Solv

I was going to play with some Citra Solv on some National Geographic pages, to make some nice inked papers to use in my art work. I was told the ink would transfer to fabric very nicely and be permanent. I got out the rubber gloves, the magazine, a plastic covered board, and then....ta da... I knocked over the bottle of Citra Solv. I lost about half the bottle and some very choice words were shouted! The bottles are tall and tippy, so a BIG WARNING to everyone trying this technique. However my hard wood floors really liked it a lot! And my studio will smell nice and orangey for a very LONG time!! Check out some blogs and "Image Transfer with Citra Solv" on You Tube videos. Check out artist Cathy Taylor for basic info, and other artists - Susan Cornelis, Pam Tucker, Carol Andrews, and Terri Allen. I'll let you know how my attempts turn out.

Blue Stencil Pillow

My husband was whining about needing a new nap pillow for the couch, the other was so old it was wearing away. I had already discharged this piece of fabric when I was playing with my botanical stencils. It is a rich blue, linen type fabric, I've already made him a table topper with it. I quickly put on borders for the 16" square size,layered it with batting and a piece of muslin and free motion machine stitched it. I used rayon threads, light blue on the design and dark blue stipple in the background. I had an old pillow form in the closet that had lots of stuffing, not the wimpy flat things they call pillow forms now a days. He loves it, and snuggled right up for a nap. I'm connecting this to Nina-Marie's "Off the Wall Friday" click on the badge at right to see other wonderful textile artists!!

I'm Thinking

After thoughts on the previous post, I am thinking, that is what working on a series is about, how do I make it better. I know they make traditional stop watches with numbers. Now everything is digital. To convey a "STOP WATCH" maybe I should have some runners in the background. Or do I stitch an outline of a runner on the background fabric, to help add to the theme. So it is not just a clock but a timer. But I don't want to take away from the graphic quality, no distractions - KISS - Keep it Simple Stupid! Maybe a larger format, and maybe carve a medium size stamp with a runner, to stamp on the background fabric. That would be a little more subtle. I drew some sketches in my sketchbook, my stick figures need work! At least I am putting some thought into it, BEFORE I work with the fabric.

Signs of Spring Just to add some color to this post. Harebell or Hyacinth? I also have them in blue and purple, at least the deer did not get them this year.